The sun., 1912-08-04
THE FIVE CARD SUIT
AND A NO TRUMP BID
A Situation at Royal Auction
Which the Experts Are
Discussing.
SHOULD THE PARTNER PASS
Interesting Hands Showing the
Possibilities in an
Overcall.
SHOULD THE PARTNER PASS

An interesting question has been 10.
Ing the rounds Of the royrl auction
players lately as to whether It IL not
wise to overcall a no trumper with any
five card suit. whether the rest Of the
hand IL bust or not
This seems to be move In the direc.
ton OF what Cavendish used to call
an extension Of principle. In the old
game II was long held that II the third
hand had Ave cards Of a winning suit,
such as hearts. ne should overcali his
partners no trumper. because many no
trumpers were largely speculative and
a heart make with q no trumper on the
table to help It was always safe game.
But the only suits with which II was
thought worth while to overcall were
the red ones. as they were the only
suits In which It was possible to 20
game from zero. No good player would
dream OF overcalllng with q cub or a
spade. because that would practically
force the original declarer either to 20
back to his no trumper with q heavier
contract on his hands or to abandon
any hope Of going game on that deal.
Now that all tho suits are winning
suits. why not overcall the no trumper
with any one Of them that contains Ave
cards? That is the question the experts
are beginning to ask.
Looking at II from the cth.- side OF
the table. II the player with the i've
card suit had the original declaration
and knew that his partner had a no
trumper to help him. would he have
an. hesitation in pushing fis own call
to two tricks? II the answer to this
is In the affirmative. then why not call |
two tricks on the same cards under the !
same conditions II the no trumper has
been shown?
The object,rs, on the other hand. ask |
what IL the use? II the dealer has a
no trumper and you have a good nve
ard suit. with possible tricks In other
'uits SO that your hand IL net q bust,
what better assistance can your partner
lsk for than to have you keep still and
" haNS sOuI t.uIlu on TIE JADlG
answer to his no trump.r?
Both sides agree that II the third
iand holds bus: outside his one
ong suit and the second hand passes
he should overcall the no trumper a.
warning. 1t Is when the hand IL
lot bust but pretty strong com.
OF cards. almost a no trumper
n Itself sometimes. that the doubt
rises as to the best course to pursue.
The danger that the conservative
'layers seek to avoid Is the missing
uit. An original no trumper shows
oth!ng except that the hand IL above ,
verage and protected In three suits.
What these suits are there Is no {
means OF knowing unless the third ,
and has the fourth suit solid. Even
hen II must be remembered that the
ays OF the sporty no trumper are
ot quite passed. "
Several Interesting hands have lately
cen sent to THE SrN from various I
arts of the country by players who J
re evidently In sympathy with the
heory of overcalling an original no
rumper by the dealer with any good $
We card suit whether the rest OF the J
and is bust or not. While It must {
e admitted that the combination Of
circumstances that will defeat the !
layer who refuses to overcall IL not G
kelly to arise very often, Il 10 Just
. we'll to avoid the possibility of
'ss however remote II may be.
Here Is one Of the examples sent
shows how two partners who imaR-
ie they have everything their own
'ay may he let down when the third
and does not overcall: