The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-11
THAT one SPADE BID
AT ROYAL AUCTION
Good Players Who Object to
Making All the SHIFTS
Equal in Value.
TAKEOUTS AND DENIALS

Among the letters that have been re-
ceived with remarks on the proposed
changes in the laws Of auction 10
noticeable that those from players OF
Acknowledged standing all regret any
step that would eliminate variety from
the game, either in the bidding or the
play.
While levellins all the suits to the
same trick taking value toward game
would undoubtedly equalize things in the
matter Of holding cards. making black
cards Just As good a. red and ciucs a.
good a. spades. these good players point
out that It would put an end TO the many
Interesting situations that now arise In
the bidding. owing TO the distinction
made between the major and minor suits.
Major Patton. president Of the Knick-
erbocker whist CLUB. represents large
class Of players who wish 10 retain the
double value OF the spade suit, but TO
abolish the compulsory call by the dealer.
The argument which these players pre-.
sent Is about like this
II there Is no compulsory bid. a call OF
one spade will mean just what a call OF
one club or one diamond means now
two tricks In the suit regardless OF
length or outside cards. As II IL now.
player must call two spades to show this
strength, and the extra trick bid re-
quires him to have an extra trick In
| some suit other than spades. This has
| led some persons TO call the two spade
| bid a two suit no trumper.
II the two tricks could be shown By
/ III d.
suits in the minor division-spades, clubs
| and diamonds-and three In tho major
divison--hearts, royals and no trumps.
| The minor suits are SOW generally rec
| ognized as supporting suits-oHere to
the partner OF tricks that will assist a
| better declaration from MIN. Tho major
| suits and no trumps are distinctly game
going decla rations. The distinction Is
that the bidder never wants to play Q
minor suit for trumps II he bids only one
trick. whereas he is quite willing to play
| a major suit for trumps even TX ne
bids one only.
| Under the present system OF monop-
olizing the one spade bid for the purpose
Of passing players are required to bid
two 20 show anything In the suit Itself
and three TO show the length without
the tops. II the compulsory bid were
abolished we could bid one to show the
suit and two to show the length without
the tops. Then bid OF one In any
suit. even clubs. would overcall It.
Those who object to the two spade
bid must base their objection on th'
same grounds a. to the three spade bid
But whe.l a PLAYER bids two In any sui
he shows that he wants that suit FOL
the trumps. no matter what his partnel
has. Two hearts or two royals means
that no,lnng else will suit his hand. ant
Ne does not want his partner to den,
the suit. even If he has not ono In hi!
hand
The same IL largely trns Of the pres
ent three spade bid, which would b
two spades. II says that spades are thu
only trumps that viii NJ tho declarer'
hand. but as he does not bid royals h
denies the tops. The partner 10 oblige'
to change the bid to royals II he ha
the tops. or he can call one trick !,
anything II the spades arc all agains
him.
The mere fac. Of the third hand be
ing able to take the dealer out Of a tw
spade bid with one In any suit. evel
clubs. would be distinct gain. and a
the same time II would give the sec
ond hand an opportunity OF showing
supporting suit Just as cheaply as IL tn
dealer had passed.
These takeout and denial BIDS are
| very prominent feature OF modern &uC
ton. and several letters have BEEN ser
to THE Sun indorsing the principle
laid down in the article printed o
March IS. touching the duty Of IN
third hand In warning his partner tha
his no trumper would find no winnin
cards in the dummy.
The theory Of all these takeouts
: briefly this II the dunmy's cards ar
n played as part OF no trumper the
are good for nothing as trick winner
unless the declarer has tho tops of II
suits and can put dummy In. But
i the longest suit In the dummy is
It trump suit the hand Is probably soc
j. for two or three tricks
In other words the takeout says
r Partner, II leave YOU alone YOU VI
e have to do II all yourself, But
> YOU let me name the trump I can ad
Il two or three tricks to those you have
d your own hand"
l. One correspondent sends the follow
|, ing deal. in which a curious situatio
Il is developed for taking chances: