The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-12
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u dealt and bid 10 trump. 4 two
hearts. The argument in favor Of this
declaration Is that 4 has elk trumps
and a missing suit. 1t looks as II some
persons would never learn that no suit
is trumps until the bidding is finished.
What A actually holds IL six worth
less little hearts and a possible trick In
spades. yet he undertakes to win the
game against "A no trumper. II A can
90 game with his partners assistance
the combined hands should be strong
enough to save II against the no
trumper. II they are not strong enough
10 save the game at no trumps. they
win never make their contract at hearts.
and may be doubled and set for several
hundred points.
Now look at the c~ompensating errors
that lead A to believe that his bidding
was all right and that him
10 make tho sam me sort OF bids on hand
after hand afterward, always vita the
memory OF this glorious success as his
excuse.
i bid two spades ana r assisted his
partners hearts, bidding three. u bid
three spades.
This bid Is a gem, Y has not a trick
In the spade suit nor In hearts, and IL
opposed by players who think they ara
strong enough to win nine tricks against
an alleged no trumper. II Y wants to
take q chance. his proper bid would be
four clubs. but there is no necessity to
risk It.
1t should have been very fortunate
for z hat A went ahead with four hearts
which held tho contract. although why
Y or 2 did not double II either of them
thought the other had any sure tricks
In spades Is a mystery. The greater
mystery Ia that A went game OF the
hand. This IL how no did II:
Deceived by his partners absurd sup
port of the spade bid. Y led n spade and
the Jack won the fret trick. There 10
no escape after that. The singleton club
- taken out Of BIS hand at once. and
u flies to trumps.
Too late. Dummy wins with the ace
and leads a diamond. with the result
that A gets in three rufus in that suit
n 3 rufts two clubs. Then . trump
lead KNOCKS N king and queen to-
gsther and A gsts In with the long
trump 20 make W tricks In spadea
-Four BY cards and the game. Proving
that AZ heart bid was absolutely soundf
This certainly looks like q knockdown
argument ia favor OF the second hands
bidding . suit against a no trimper. e.
pscially as the take out suit II 30 weak.
But let US look into the matter . little
more closely In order to see whether II
Is the suit bid that wins or the bad
play against II that loses.
We have two fundamental principles
to maintain. First. that II the suit Is
strong enough 20 makc the contract with
the partners assistance y. should he ablt
10 save the game against q no truInper
az the hand with the Ions suit has tn
cad. Second. that IL the original no
trumper IL not reasonably sure OF game
he should let the suit bid alone and play
70 save tho game. Let us see how these
principles apply to this hand.
II A sits tight and says nothing about
the hearts, but leads a small one, b plays
ace and returns the ten, clearing the suit.
Some time later A u make the Jack
Of clubs and two spade tricks or . dla-
mond and two spades. together with an
other trick in hearts. That saves the
game.
Now for the other side OF tho ques-
ton. which involves the second principle,
VS. two spade bid IL all right. but this
moment Is goes to three hearts Y should
havo dropped the matter. his assistance
TO tine spade bid being quite unwarranted
This would leave A to play the hand
at hearts, and We come to another funda
mental principle. this time In the matter
81 opening leads.
Few persons seem to recognize the In
portance of considering that II their
partner has n no trumper Il In a hand
with which he n probably win more
tricks without a trump suit than with
one. whether the trump suit be with hin
or opposed Ia him..
If this ID admitted. even as a theory
~ must obviously be to the interest O
tho no trump hand to have tho trump,
ont OF It's way II they are opposed to Il
just as surely as 1t Is to the interest O
. player with II long trump suit TO ex
naust his opponents trumps 80 a. TO do
lend his own high cards In plain anita