The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07
NEW COUNT TESTED
ROYAL AUCTION
Western Player Would Make
All Suits Equal in Value
i'm the Score.
MORE SCIENCE. LESS LUCK

\ number OF letters have been received
making various comments on the pro-
posed change in the laws OF auction thH,t
will eliminate the lower value of the
spade suit. 1t is rather curious that
many OF them inquire II this IL to be the
end OF the matter or II more changes
may he expected Some of the posi-
biities OF the future are suggested.
among them this from G. \. Keefc of
Chicago:
AN these changes in the values Of
the suits. notably THAI which brought
them within one point OF each other.
show that players at large realize the
game il unbalanced and that too much
hinges on luck in cards held to make the
game purely a scientific game. In its
present condition It cannot hold a rush
light TO whist, straight or duplicate.
1T seems to me that the outcome OF
all this experimenting with the suit
values. jumpin- the lowest one to the
top and cutting the ground from under
some Of the others. will be to return to
the original order, no trumps heart. dia-
uond. club and spade. but that AN these
viii have the same value when scored.
uutraul<ing one another only In the bli-
ding. I think that -four odd. which is
the aiorty Of the odd tricks over the
book, should bc game In anything.
Nv" have tried this in a sOCiJI way.
among good players. aud find IL so far
superior to the present system that We
viii never go back. Some of us prefer
to make all declarations ten trick, and
three odd To- win the game"
II is evident that something Of tits
Kind Is needed IN order to carry to its
Legitimate conclusion the work begun by
,-lauging the Old values OF =. Z. i. IS au.
10. to 6. :, \, and 10. The change
would not have been made n the wisdom
Of il had not been apparent. The suits
must be kept In some order OF prece-
d'nce IN the bidding but why In play?
one can hardly see any good reason
i'r making it easier to win. the game
.t no trump than iu anything else, UNI
"ss IL is TO induce players to take bigger
chances on the no-trump bids. Why
should player who holds a sound club
uoclarat ion. good for four odd any time
Ice shut out by bid Of three royals
which IL not good for any more? The
club hand must bid Ave TO overcall
.
what the hand is worth the other must
overbld his cards to get 1t.
The higher one goes, the worse It gets
Any player who can just go game at
royals, with four odd. can shut out a
player who has "A came hand lt clubs or
diamonds, worth FIVE odd, because II
takes six to overcall the royals.
one point taken by Mr.. Keefe Is the;
there is no reason for making one suit
any better than another in game OF
science like auction. when II Is all in the
luck of the deal. If the change he sug-
gcsts were adopted, the difference in the
bidding, 50 far as one suit outranking
another is concerned. would not be worm
talking about hut the difference in allow
/ ing the opponents to play the hand would
be very marked IL they could go game
with three odd at anything
As an illustration OF this. here is q
hand sent TO THE SUN from Phlladel.
] phia I'm which the point was the wisdom
| OF As bidding clubs on the first round