The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
MODERN WAY TO BID
AT ROYAL AUCTION
Practical Demonstration Of One
Tenet Of the New
School.
A COMMON, COSTLY ERROR
Advantages Of Playing for
Penalties When You
Can't Go Game.

|
among the authorities or "A difference OF
opinion among the players during the
transition stage from the old system 10
the new in any game more or less psrti-
san feeling Is always displayed. accom-
panied by enthusiastic statements which
are based more on the particular bias and
I imagination of the speaker than on the
/ facts.
| In tho many discussions on royal auc-
ton that one hears at the clubs and else
where II is noticeable that In the argu-
ments put forward by those who are loud
est in their criticism OF the conventions
of the modern game there is curious
| undercurrent Of inaccuracy In the analy-
! els of hands presented as examples When
, ever 1t Is possible to get down to the fact.
IL will invariably be found that the fall
lacy sought TO be exposed is not in the
convention but In the bidding. and that
the remarkable results which N-e cited are
not In consequence OF biddlO which Is
diametricslly opposed TO modern conven-
ton but In spite OF II.
Ono OF the tenents OF the modern school
| is that " " useless to overcall a declsra-
ton which you do not think can go game
when YOU have no hope OF going game
yourself Let them play Il, say the ad-
coates OF this theory. because every time
hey make a slip you get so points a
trick Every time you make = clip all
they get " or g.
one OF the most common and also the
most expensive errors IN the game is for
the second hand to ovorcall q nd truruper
with a suit when the hand is not strong
enough to make its contract even unless
the partner has su%i strength that the no
truinper would be defeated, or at least
kept from getting anywhere near game.
The amount of loose logic and the num-
Der of Tina ginary cases that can be cited
to Justify this ri%culous system OF bid
ding by second hand when there ~ no
hop. OF going game make one wonder
where these players got their ideas OF the
game, and cause the bystander to ask
II they took down the cards held in the
hands they cite. Nothing f. more com
mon than to fnd that one player must
have held sixteen cards or else the spades
were NOT as stated
Here Is n typical case which well serv,
to illustrate the manner IN which he
average mind approaches the subject and
the sort of talk that goes down With those
who are not .Nact!ng as to details The
incident occurred IN one of the best known
clubs In New Work
Jones. who does not believe IN the
modern theory that the only things worth
while In modern auction are to make
game to save game and 20 get penalties.
and who is always willing to struggle
through a hand for the sake OF ten or
twelve points on TIA. score when he .
offered two or three hundred In penalties
n he would only take them. finds SMITH
at the cub and asks his opinion about a
hand played the night before.
The reason Jones appeals to Smith ic
because he knows Smith b.longs to the
modern school ard is what players OF the
old school call IA conservative bidder
There being 4 gallery present TO listen 10
tho. fun. the following conversation en-
sues
Say. Smith. what would you do with
this hand? Your partner deals and bids
a spade. On your right, one no trump
You hold six hearts to the acc king
nve diamonds 10 the queen and two small
singietons in the black suits"
Pass. OF cotyse."
Laughter from those present who are
IN the secret
why. you have six trunp.. q two
suffer. in fact. and two .ingletons," en-.
plains Jones.
They are not trumps unless am LEFT
In with the bid" retorts Smith. They are
simply two tricks In hearts. and IL my
partner has spade hand and there is =
no truinper on my right. there IL about
as much chance 10 70 game In hearts as
there is 10 sell last year. telephone d.
rectories TO people that can; read"
But you might make two by cards.
which Is all you have to BID" suggests
Jonee.
III my partner has enough assistance
for me- TO make two by cards at hearts.
the no truinper will never 20 game
should let them play it,"
More laughter from the audience, who
know what is coming.
We'll" drawls Jones insinuatingly "if
you pass and let them play 1t. what viii
you Lead
small heart. Of course. Unless part
ner can win the FIRST round. or can get
In later on something or other and return
the heart, there is nothing TO IT."
In that case" rejoins Jones with q
smile. you lose a little slam. bee use
the queen OF hearts is on your right
with the Jack and ten and they make
sil the diamonds and spades In the pack"
This knockdown argument against letting
the no trunper alone Is accepted without
further question by the bystanders, but
not by Smith. who remarks
Then you would have simply been
wasting your breath by bidding hearts
against such combination. and they
could have set you for about 400 II they
dropped the no trumper and doubled
you"
This analysis OF the situation brought
forth more laughter from the audience.
who knew how the hand had actually
come out.
But did bid two hearts" remon-
strates Jones, and when the player on
my left went two royals and both the
others passed went three hearts and
finally four" Here Jones paused for a
moment for effect before adding: whats
more, ] held 1t at four hearts. and made
fve by cards. How do you explain thai? 90
an the FIRST place. will explain part
OF It by betting you so to that they
would never have made the little slam
you talk about at no trumps and doubt
II they would make the odd. II your