The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25
A PLAN TO IMPROVE
DUPLICATE AUCTION
Why Not Change Scoring Sys-
tenn by Giving a Bonus for
a Contract Fulfilled?
WHIST CONGRESS- TO MEET
By r. T.

The tw~enty-sixth annual congress OF
the American Whist League meets at
Spring Lake. y. j., this week, and the
next few days aill probably settle
whether or not the league will take over
the official management OF all matters
connected with auction bridge. The last
W days of the past week were devoted
entirely to auction bridge under the fol-
lowing conditions OF play:
FAIR MATCH FOR MEN oNLy.
Each pair will play n match against
every other pair on the Howell system
the number Of deals to be arranged to
suit the number OF entrants. The
average score on each set Of deals played
without changing adversaries will he
found. and the pairs making that aver
age will he credited with half a match.
More than average wins a match less
than average loses II. The pair win
ming the greatest number OF matches
will win the championship. Second
prize will go to the pair making a
better total point score than that made
BY the cha mpions. but not ne good a
match score.
TROPHY FOR TEAMS OF FOUR.
This will be open TO mixed teams.
men and women. II such desire TO enter.
or all women teams may compete. Each
team will play an equal number OF deals
against every other team. the match
being divided into two sessions. Ties
will count half a match. The best asere-
gate match score wins the trophy. IL the
match score should turn out to be q tie.
either in this or the pair contest, the
higher point score will win.
There will be special price for in
dividual top scores in both these con
tests.
PROGRESSIVE PAIRS.
TOP score pins will be awarded TO
me players making the highest point
score at each session in every section.
INDIVIDUAL rRoPHY
"A special prize will be given TO tho
Individual player making the highest ag-
gregate point score during the meeting.
counting all games In which he or she
may take part"
Since the publication OF the compars-
tive results at straight auction and du.
plicate printed in THE SuN three weeks
ago a number Of suggestions have been
received which have for their object the
use Of these averages az a basis for ar
S4ving nj the equity ~ a anne
The table of averages then published
Indicates that abou, IS per cent. Of the
hands played win the game outright,
while about 1 per cent. more win II with
the assistance OF = previous score. This
makes a total Of abort half the hands
played. Outside Of this about IS per
cent. make the contract without reaching
game.
system of scoring players are getting
. bonus Of 1875 on half ne hands played
1ust because they go game. while on a
quarter Of the hands played they get
nothing extra. no matter how well they
bid and play them.
II We take the exact figures published
on June 4 as a basis and calculate tAa'
~ hands out OF 100 are each worth 1925
points extra We get q total Of 6,loj
points in premiums. Divide this by the
whole number ~ hands that make their
contract regardless OF winning the game
and We find the average is So points a
hand.
II this Is so THE Sun has the follow.
ing suggestion TO make WHY would
Il not he better in a duplicate contest,
where there are no rubbers and should
therefore be no games. to give every
player that gets the winning declara-
ton n fulnls his contract the average
value Of such hands, IS points bonus
instead OF giving him a bonus only wher
he happens TO get what would be Il
game II he were playing rubbers.
II he plays 100 deals at duplicate h,
Should DO Just as wei! of II ne got s.
for every fulfilled contract as he nov
h when ne gets 1875 every time HI
seaches or passes 30 points in his tricl
score.
Then what il the use of changing Il
the final result is the same?
TIT advantages would he many. The
elimination OF the luck OF going game
through the mistakes OF an opponent OF
being prevented from going game by q
freak play would bs a great gain.
Another advantage OF this system
would he that there would be just a,