New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-11

formatory bidding, and, II tnolo ';iT 10
understood and correctly used WIZ DC
~ inestimable assistance toward aI
rivinO at sound game making deeiai"
tons between partners. -.
Miss MONTGOMERY comedies that
,vben the game score Is eighteen OF
over. the convention governing nv
Ono Club or One Diamond bid by thc
dealer should be ignored the MINOR
suits and the major suits stanGlhg on
an equality when only two tricks III
anv suit are needed to make games
Tben the Club or Diamond bid shoulu
show length as well as the possession
~ two top cards or their equivalent'
IN this she differs from Mr. CLARK. VINO
nuts ouening Club and DIAMOND Dius
mo The merely "informatory" CATE
CORY az all stages.
Miss Montgomery also stands strong
IN for these two informatory conven,,
tons: Cd doubling by the secono
nlaver of a one-trick suit declaration
in order to show weakness In that SUIT
and strength in the other three, tnus
inviting the partner to declare either
no trumps or his own longest SUIT
I2) doubling by the third hand OF the
suit declaration called by the second
hand after the dealer has BID no
trumps. This indicates to the dealer
very strong protection in the sun
named and guarantees him support
either in going on with his no trunps
or in an effort 70 set back the adyer-
saries.
On the whole, as the length of her
hook indicates, Miss Montgomery
rather favors very gradual abandon
ment Of the complications when as,
tinguished the old game. Her method
of instruction by means OF questions
and answers also works against con-
densation, and she goes more FULLY INTO
questions of play than do Mr.. clark
and Mr.. Metcalfe.
Mr.. Ehlermann's little book does not
deal with the theory OF the game II
laws down no rules or conventions LOT
bidding. On the contrary, 1t calls at
tention to certain aspects OF biddlhg
and play in which the negligent player
finds himself at a disadvantage com
pared with the alert and thoroughly
grounded player. This is, therefore
not a book for beginners, but for the
initiated. Most of its suggestions are
interesting; many of them are acute
o ana llllillludN4hSs my 49,
as we have said, outside the con-
troversy as to the real character and
trend of the revised game. Both Mr.
Ehlermann and Miss Montgomery pub
lish as appendices the 1915 rules OF the
New York Whist Club.
Mr.. Ferguson writes OF auction from
the point of view OF the player, rather
than of the teacher or theorizer. Like
Mr.. Metcalfe, he is very strong for
simplification. In fact, he goes even
further than Mr.. Metcalfe does, in con-
demning all doubling conventions. lie
says 1t is out of date, even in New
York, to double an original no-trump
declaration for the purpose Of notify
ing a partner to declare his best suit,
or TO double an original suit declara-
ton for the purpose of notifying a
partner to declare no trumps. Ito also
opposes taking out one no-trump bid
with five weak hearts or five weak
spades. So, after all, there is no agree
ment whatever among the auction doc
tors. Mr.. Ferguson's little handbook
has the added merit of furnishing the
rules of progressive auction and of
three-handed auction, as well as the
regular rules of the Knickerbocker
Whist Club of New York.