The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01
POINTS IN BIDDING
AT ROYAL AUCTION
Three Things the Best Players
DO Not Desire to DO
Nowadays.
MODERN THEORY or GAME

''' llp-l NlllhlUk Nllfl ~ A'l tEAt'N VI
auction bridge Of to-day az distinguished
from the game played year ago may be
stated as three things that the best play
ers do no. want to do that Is. the modern
players. who thoroughly understand the
theory OF the game az It should be played.
!. No one wants TO play clubs or dla-
monds for trumps
=. No one wants 10 pay hand at no
trunrs.
.. No one wants the declaration unless
Il Will go game
These are subject OF course. to certain
notifications. As that famous Mississippi
gambler Capt. Dale used to remark.
Circumstances alter cases. but not prin-
cipies, and that is why the citizen some
times wins" The term citizen being
polite equivalent for a person who was
not a professional gambler.
With regard TO tho circumstances that
might alter the hrst case II might de-
v'lop from the bidding that the best dec
'nratlon for the combined hands was
diamond or a club FOR the trump. but no
good player starts the bidding with the
idea that 10 would Ike 10 work for eleven
advanced enough 10 make club or a
diamond just az good as a hear, or a
royal, but that does not affect the general
princ.pl" that clubs and diamonds are
bid originally to support better dsclsra-
ton in tho hand Of thA partner.
The second proposition will probably be
met with the immediate retort that every
ono likes TO play no trumrer therefore
tho statement that no good player want.
TO play tho hand at that declaration can
not be true. Nevertheless II IL true in
principle. because tho best players CON
t!nually bid no trumps--bid them more
freely than they ever debut always iu
the hope that the partner has safer cal.
in l.. arta cor royals.
'S,fe's hvst" e tIN motto of Gid.
modern Jy.dEe plgyer lie bids no uuups
20 show general support roy \ najo. suit
Z his rsrtucr has live cards OF H. II
tn suit named does not suit him he can
90 back to tho no trumper Nothing IS
80 indicative OF sound bidding az IN.
readiness 10 drop an alleged no trumpcr
In favor OF the partners hearts or royals.
But II II the third proposition that
stumps nlnA-ten'hs OF those 10 whom
II - explained FOR the Hrst time. There
only ono possible reason for wanting
70 pla: "a hand that cannot possibly gu
game. and that e to D'vcnt the other
side from going game
" tho other S.dH cannot e. game ard
You cam = e. gam c,th"s. let thcm
play T.. That Is the iaw and the Eospl
Of modern bidding.
The old style Of bidding was TO look
over the cards and consider whether they
were worth the contract or not. and II
they we're 10 make the bid. Many per
sons measure IN a hand TO sec n {, is
worth b'd. aud ~ Il does not COST too
much TO overall some previous bid they
declare something.
The modern ri"yer will mako hid
OF ca"'ls that ~" not good FOR tho con-
tract only when 10 does not want to
plal the hand This is Wha, leads hin
% call clubs or diamonds with on', a
coupl" ~ tricks In tho suit. IIe never
wants that suit To- tho trump
With the possibility Of q declaration
that q In tho game going class no
,rumps hearts ~ royals the modern idea
e TO count M the tricks that can prob
ably lie MAI" against the other side's
declaration. II th"ro Is ono. AID then 10
count IN the tricks that they can prob
ably make agaius, Yours. original ard
forced declarations h, the dealer are a
thiUg apart Of course and are purely
convent onal
II tho other side makes declaration
hat seems likely 20 70 game you must bid
YOUR hand 20 ia full value Nr even be-
yond Il, whether YOU can go game or not.
II they cannot go game but there IL n
fair chance that Won car YOU must bid.
but II they cannot go game and you can
no, either YOU should pass.
This IL about tn" hardest thing for
any person 70 learn, letting the other
side play the hand when neither side
can win the game. II you slip up on the
play yor may drop eight or nine points
more. r. they slip up they DIR y hfty.
You are playing a game with about TO