The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
TWO SUIT HANDS
AT ROYAL AUCTION
Modern Theory Makes the First
Bid ON the Suit. Of
Higher Value.
REASONS FOR THE CHOICE
Interesting Illustrations of the
Tactics Of the Game From
Actual Play.
REASONS FOR THE CHOICE

Considerable attention has lately been
given 10 the choice of suits at royal
auction when the player finds himself
with a hand containing two suits which
are about equal In length and strength,
and the reasons for choosing one or tho
other are roughly stated in two different
ways. according to the system in which,
the reasoner believes.
The old argument in favor Of declaring
the weaker Of the two suits first, meaning
the suit Of less scoring value, was that
In case the declaration was doubled the
player could pull himself out with the
other suit without increasing the contract.
The distinction between winning and losing
suits. although much more married before
the advent Of the new count. was not then
as IL 10 now.
Suppose that a dealer found himself
with hve clubs and five diamonds, both
about alike In length and strength and
bid the club. II he was doubled he could
shift to the diamond for ono trick bid.
But II he began with the diamond and
was doubled he would have to 70 to two
clubs to pull himself out.
The same hid true Of any two suits.
and whether the player held equals in
clubs and hearts or diamonds and royals
he was advised to bid the suit Of lower
scoring value first. 30 as to leave himself
a place 10 Jump to In case he found he
had incautiouely stepped into the OPP
ponents' strong suit.
But doubling one trick bids has long
been out OF fashiSi. except in exceptional
cases hich none but the expert IL familiar
with. Very few persons understand the
spade. The Old reasons for the selection
Of the weaker suit therefore no longer
hold. Other and better reasons for the
selection OF the higher scoring suit have
taken their place.
The modern theory is that II Is the
partner, and not the original declarer.
who will probably have to do the taking
out, and that this task will fall upon
him not because the suit first shown has
been doubled. but because IL has been
overcalled. What the modern bidder
wants Is not place to jump to for safety
but place where his partner can help
him to stand up and fight.
When this system OF bidding on the
higher value sui; first Is thoroughly under
stood II carries with II u further posi-.
bility of inference for the partner, atten.
ton to which 10 strongly invited In white
heads Conventions" and that IL that the
declarer Of either of the losing suits,
clubs and diamonds. cannot have q game
going declaration In hand.
The theory Of the modern selection as
between two suits 10 that II the higher
value is called first. say diamond in
stead Of a club, and It is overcallcd by an
opponent the club can be shown for
two tricks. IL the partner likes the club
better than the diamond lie can pass
again. II he likes the diamond better
than the club he can indicate his prefer
<nce without increasing the contract. az
two diamonds will overcall two clubs Had
the club been shown first the partner
would have TO bid three to get back to il II
It suited him better than the diamond.
The manner in which this system OF
showing two almost equal suits works out
In practice IL sometimes extremely inter-
est!ng. but II II not often that both sides
have AN opportunity to resort TO the same
tactics In the same deal. Here Is the only
case OF the Kind the writer can recall.