Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16
AUCTION BRIDGE LESSONS.
BY R. F. FOSTER;
Author of "Foster's Complete Bridge"
No. 8.

AS those who have followed these les
sons so far have probably foreseen.
neither of the systems explained is bet
ter than the other. nor is either a good
system to follow to the exclusion of the
other. The secret Of success in auction
is in the blending Of the two methods, so
as to give to the bidding the same variety
that one gives to the betting in poker.
The really frst-class auction player never
plays a wooden game, and his adver-
saries are never safe in taking liberties
under the impression that they are quite
sure what he is bidding for.
But before We come to the blending of
the systems We must look at the second
round of the bids, which is known as
'overcalling," and comes into play when
the bidders get down to business and de-
clare the suit that is really wanted to
play the hand. It should be an axiom
never to pull the adversaries out Of a
black make unless the score is far
enough advanced for them to go game.
Second hand especially should pass any
spade call by the dealer unless he is very
anxious to show his partner what to lead
in case third hand goes no trumps.
For the second hand to overcan a spade
with one heart, holding five to the king
jack and only one outside ace or king, is
to expose himself to serious loss; but
with six diamonds to the ace king, and
nothing else, second hand should show
the suit while he can do so for one trick.
Unless he has sure trick, such as ace,
or king and queen, he should not mention
the suit on the first round.
The moment the bids pass the defensive
or the information seeking stage and the
declarations reach the red salts or no
<p,,v fo irao "a frsl W q
Of your hand If you can overcall with
any safety. Suppose the dealer starts
with one spade, on either system. and
third hand calls one diamond. If the
fourth player and the dealer pass, it is
time for The second player. who has
passed the spade call. to declare himself,
or the hand will be played as diamond.
If he goes nO-trumps. he knows that
diamonds will be led. and he should be
able to stop that suit. If ne Is weak in
diamonds he may be able to overcall with
a heart or two clubs, which will at least
force the adversar1es up bit. as it Is
always unwise to let a player or with
one-trick contract, except in no-trumps,
it gives him such a good chance to get his
score within reach of the game. for his
bid on the next deal. When your partner
passes a suit call on his, right and you
have nothing in the suit, 1t is very prob
able that the make suits your partner and
that he can defeat It. If you have three
or four cards in the called suit, however,
this Is very unlikely and you should over
call If you can.
player should overcall the dealers no
trumper only when he has a long red
suit and nothing outside. But If the sec
ond hand overcalls the no-trumper and
third hand has nothing in the suit, but
has three or more sure tricks in any
other suit. he should overcall; not by
going two no-trumps, but by naming the
suit. Suppose the dealer starts. with one
no-trump, being a bridge player, and sec
ond hand says two diamonds. II the third
hand holds the ace. king and queen of
spades. be should at once bid six spades.
as his partner must have nothing i'll
spades, but should have the diamonds
stopped. and he will then go on to two
monds stopped, he should double, in
stead of overcalling.
A player should always overcall his
partners red suit if he cannot support it.
but has a good suit Of his own. For ex-
ample: Your partner may bid diamond
with only FIVE of them. and you may
have only one or none, but have five or
six good hearts. Overcall the diamond
hearts and be able to assist you. II he
overcalls you in turn by going back to
diamonds. let him alone, no matter what
you have You have warned him and
that Is enough. He may have eight or
nine diamonds and no hearts.
When your partner has declared q suit,
say diamonds, and 1t is overcalled by the
intervening player with q heart or no.
trump. It Is dangerous to 0vercall by go
ing an extra trick in your partners suit
unless you have something unusual, for
this reason: Whom your partner declares
he is naturally counting on average as
sistance from you, as he never expects to
take all the tricks himself Therefore. II
he is bid up to two diamonds and over
called with two hearts and you go three
diamonds on only average cards, such
as two sure tricks, you invite disaster. be-
cause your partner has discounted those
two tricks and expects you to have them
to help out his two-tick bid. But II you
have three top llonors in a suit, or no
hearts at all. SO that you can trump
that suit with your little diamonds, Ii
would be perfectly proper to overcall with
three diamonds. The ability. to ruff the
suit called by the adversary is always a
cannot have hoped for In his declara-
ton.
Overcalling to keep the other side from
going game is q legitimate risk il the loss
may not be too great One should never
be afraid to take a loss IL 1t saves the
rubber or the first game. Suppose the
adversaries are 16 or 20 up and bid hearts
from making two by cards. You should
overcall, In order to see II they are strong
enough to bid TWO hearts. Then, II your
partner cannot do anything, You should
overcall with three diamonds or even four
clubs or two no-trumps, whichever YOU
think you will lose the least on. II you
have no hearts call trump, so that YOU
can ruff hearts If you have the hearts
stopped the no-trumper may be safer.
II they are strong enough to risk bidding
three hearts let them try to make 1t.
Many players are too anxious to pull