Ellsworth American., 1909-12-22
AUCTION BRIDGE.

AUCTION BRIDGE.
Game Gradually Growing to be the
Most Popular Of All.
The following excellent description Of
auction bridge is taken from the current
number OF Whist.
"Auction bridge is fast pushing its way
to the front and bids fair to usurp the
place SO long held by the parent game %
the most popular card game in existence.
The endless variety to auction coupled
with the fact that game may be won from
almost any stage by holding two good
hands, maintains the interest throughout
the entire rubber.
''The fact also that long deferred win
generlly results in largely enhanced profits
tends to keep every player on the gut
ciue Whether it is better to set the
maker or steal away the bid becomes
much mooted question, and he who uses
the best judgment in this situation is
bound to become a successful player.
With two prominent exceptions, the game
of auction closely follows the lines Of
bridge. These two are, first in the method
Of determining the maker of the trump,
and second, the variation in the scoring,
caused by the maker not fulfilling his con-
tract.
"a rubber is won by the side first scor-
ing two games OF thirty points, the same as
at bridge, but there is a bonus Of $50
points Gnstead Of 1907 for the victors.
The scoring toward winning these games
is exactly as at bridge, provided the maker
secures the number OF tricks he bids.
s.The declar ,tion is not confined to the
dealer or his partner, but every player in
turn has the right Of making declaration
by over bidding any previous one. The
value Of the tricks is exactly the same as
at bridge, and the bidding starts with the
dealer, who must declare to win at least
the odd trick In some suit or at no trunps.
"Each player In turn, beginning with the
dealers left-hand adversary, may either
pass, double the previous declaration or
bid on his own account. But each success
sive bid must be of greater value than the
preceding one, and may either be more
tricks in the previously declared suit, or an
equal or smaller number of tricks in some
thai the value Of the tricks declared is
greater than the previous declaration. At
the same time, if the value Of the tricks
declared in suit is equal to the value of
a smaller number Of tricks in more ex-
pensive, the bid holds good.
'sThus, according to the bridge value
OF suit, one odd trick in diamonds out
bids two odd tricks in spades; but three
odd tricks in spades are better than one
in diamonds leach being equal to six
points, and two odd tricks in clubs out
bid one in hearts leach being equal to
eight. The double only increases the
value of the tricks for scoring, and not
for declaring purposes. So, il two hearts
are doubled the value Of each trick be-
comes sixteen in play, and the declaration
would be worth thirty-two if scored, but
three diamonds is better bid, although
its value is but eighteen il won.
"No player is allowed second bid un-
less his declaration has been either
doubled or outbid either by his partner or
the adversaries before his turn comes
round again. The play Of the two COM
bined hands always rests with the player
who makes the final call. When two
partners have both made declarations in
the same suit, the partner who made the
first call in that particular suit is the
player who must play the hands, his
partner becoming the dummy, and his
lcRk -, - a hano bo Jao dor
'sThe side that fulfills its contract
scores the full value Of its declaration
and Of all tricks over and above the con.
tract below the line, but should it fail
in its undertaking it scores nothing at
all, with the exception of its honors.
Thus, suppose the contracting side has
declared to make two odd tricks in
hearts, and actually makes five, it scores
forty and game below; il on the other
hand, it makes only one odd trick, it
scores nothing; but for each and every
trick it is short OF it pays penalty Of
fifty points, or 100 points if doubled, or
200 IL redoubled.
scored by the adversary in his honor
column above the line, but do not in any
way assist him toward winning the game.
This is one OF the most difficult points for
the beginner to grasp, and he must lay it
well to heart that he cannot under any
conceivable possibility score below the
line on the adversary's declaration.
Though the deciarer loses grand slam,
the other side does not score one point be-
low the line.
"Another point to remember is that the
losses paid in penalty tricks are quite ire
spective Of the suit in which the contract
is made. The declarer loses fifty points
for every trick he is short Of, whether the
make be no trumps or spades. The only
exception is in the case when one spade has
won the declaration. In this instance the
maximum count is fixed at 100 points"
The Life-Savers.