New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28

failure TO lead trumps at the first or
second trick, just enough tricks could
have been secured if West in the latter
play had trumped with the queen in
stead of the nine. The final result
would have shown five tricks instead of
four.
East's timidity in leading trumps up
TO the declarer accentuates a fault
common with many players. They give
precedence to inferred strength of the
opponents in place of positive infor-
nation supplied by their partner.
Answering the inquiries of W. D. F..
Ridgewood. n. j., and F. P. P,
Scranton, Penn. and others, we give
herewith, through the courtesy of S.
s. LEM, the rules of duplicate auction
as played by the Knickerbocker Whist
Club of New York City.
Duplicate auction players are divided
into pairs and the pairs are divided
into two sides, North and South and
East and West. The game is played
with duplicate whist trays and the
hands are all dealt and placed in the
trays without turning any trump card.
The movements of the players are the
same as in duplicate whist, North and
South sitting still and East and West
moving to the higher numbered table
at the end of each set, the boards
moving in the opposite direction. Ex-
perience has taught that twenty-eight
deals, or as near thereto as possible,
is the best number of hands to play.
The rubber is eliminated and 1875
points is taken in the honor column
for winning each game. If there is an
unfinished game, the pair in the lead
on trick score take a bonus of fifty
points at the completion of each table.
Where a hand is doubled the maximum
penalty that may be taken by the win
ming pair is 300 points, aside from any
trick score. If larger penalty than
300 is made the losing pair must &C
cept their loss in full, but the winning
pair take but 800. and the difference in
order TO keep balance of score is
carried to deficit column. This is
done for the reason that, without some
limitation, one poor bid might lose
enough upon one hand TO give a top
score TO adversarles upon that one
play.
The score is kept as in straight auc-
ton, and the difference for each table
Cor match is marked upon the score
cards, one pair taking the net plus and
the other sufficient minus to strike a
balance on each side Of the table.
In balancing the scores the total
plus both ways of the table" must
equal the total minus. II must be
borne in mind that the deficit" must
always be added to the plus score
column.
Where a series of games is played
1t is necessary to reduce the scores to
an average in order to obtain the net
plus or minus each way of the table.
and the North and South and East and
West scores should be figured sepa-
arstely. The plus COR miaus) is sub
tracted, and the net result is divided
by the number Of tables, giving the
average that way of the table. In this
average the deficit" does not figure
al all
Answering as. f. w." of Fort Ed
ward, n. Y, the honor count at auc-
ton remains unchanged with the sdop-
ton OF the higher values for small and
big slams. IL the dealer starts the
bidding with mo bid" and all PLAYERS
pass the deal passes to the next player,
no penalty being exacted for the non
playing OF a hand. In auction, as well
as In other card games, mushroom
growths Will constantly appear. I'm
perlals, reverse count, etc, are PLAYED
IN different localities, but have not re-
celved any official recognition. and are
not played in circles where the game
receives just recognition for its sci
entihc value. Any authorized change
In the laws OF auction will be duly
noted IN these columns.