The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09

to pass upon 4. n $50 Of these 1000
do not vote for tiger subs that does
not mean that they are opposed to the
bid. They may not know what II means
even.
II the vote for abolishing shades AZ
two polls 700 II may be taken as a fair
expression Of opinion. because almost
every one has tried the now game during
the past year. or since It was adopted in
England.
II the votes on nullos or reverse bids
were cast only by those who had played
them long enough to Judge their value
the percentage in favor Of them would
probably be AZ high as or even higher
than that In favor OF any other change
proposed. One must play a new scale Of
values for time In order to judge It's
merits. The writer tried to reverse bids
for an evening and found them very
confusing. Further acquaintance with
them has shown that this soon wears of
ana the CAIRNS OF the game become an
parent
Here 10 what Harry Boardman, the
famous problem composer. has to cay on
the subject;
when players totally unknown to
each other. as far apart a. New Hamp-
shire and Vancouver. are driven TO
adopt such scheme A. reverse bids.
or anything OF the kind. It Ia pretty
good evidence OF the crying need OF
some way to relieve the monotony when
luck runs all ono way, az 1t often does
as the game Is now played.
I'VE reverse both trumps and no
trumps. because confning II to no
trumpe seems to us like cutting of
dogs tail by inches 80 that 1t won't
hurt 40 much. Reverse no trumpers are
not common, but the player who cannot
find a bid Of some kind in his hand
when reverse trumps are allowed must
be playing In extraordinary hard luck.
THE disadvantages OF reverse bids
are a little too much In evidence at the
start and the great advantage OF the
system cannot be appreciated until after
one has had considerable experience
with H. No ono who has once mas
tered 1t will ever 90 back.
None Of us was at all anxious to try
II or had any faith In II as practical
system. but ar last We staxted It one
evening for FUN II went fairly well,
but We did not care 20 have any more
Of II that evening. The next evening
we had another try at II and kept nib
bling at II for week or so. and coon
got used to II. We have played notr-
ing else all winter.
ave have found the reverse BIDS force
the high card holders 10 DID the ruiz
value OF their hands. and change a dull
one sided AFFAIR of pure luck into keen
contest Of skill. In so many hands
under the old system a player got the
contract cheap. lost two or three tricks
IN the play and yet won the game. There
10 something radically wrong with a
game that allows a player TO bungle
his cards and yet win out.
THE SuS II continually calling at
tention to the weakness OF optimism In
the bidding. One OF the great advantages
of the reverse bid Is that IL is such an
effective check on the partners opti-
mism. Suppose he has bid two royals
doubled. and you have only the deuce
and no good direct takeouts but enough
small cards to declare two no trumps
reversed. This not only puts darnper
on your partner but smokes out the
| opponents and starts them to biddins
| vigorously on their strong suit"
! The tskeouts are certainly an inter
esting feature OF the reverse bids be
| cause all the high and DANGEROUS cara.
[ in the hands OF the opponents are a
/ once reduced to low cards. Many play
ers strongly object to weak take"uts
! but n weak takeout under the presen,
I system may he turned into a very strong
/ one In reverse bids. Here 10 an illus
! tration Of this situation which came ui
the other day In trying the new bids: