The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-07
DENYING SUITS
AT ROYAL AUCTION
Warming Bids One Of the Most
Prominent Features Of the
Modern Game.
THE SCORE At DUPLICATE
BY r. F. FOSTER.

Letters with regard to the matter.
discussed in last Sundays article. OF
eliminating the score of i25 for a gaine
in duplicate auction show h a the hrst
question to suggest itself to those who
have given thought to the subject will
be the increased tendency 10 play for
penalties.
If there is to he no bonus for winning
the game II would seem to he better to
play for so points a trick than for be-
tween 6 and 10. and hat no one would
make a bid except on a comparative CO..
tainty, for fear Of being set.
In connection with this point II may
he worth while to note that one OF the
leading authorities on the game. W. c.
Whitehead. does not think that the pres
cnt penalty limit. zoe In duplicate. is
enough TO compensate for the possihili-
ties OF the opposing hands when they
are strong enough to secure such a heavy
penalty. lie thinks 1t should he at least
$50. II not 400.
II that Is SO. II would seem Ia be an
easy matter to deduct the possible l25
from the present. or the fait limit. and
hold the penalties down 20 zoo or 2o0.
These penalties are an integral part OF
tn" game. Bonuses are not.
There are apparently a large number
of players who insist that II there were
no - 'OT ~ GdlUP NpU III UlIilttle INV
would all ne playing FOR the larger value.
80 a trick. az that would bring the larger
returns. While there may hc something
in this il must not he forgotten that II
would Ne foolish to let the opponents play
the hand unless setting their contract
was a comparative certainty. How ottc'
4, this the case"
What is to he gained by letting tn"
opponents play the hand at one heart. In
The hope Of scoring 30 or 100 against
them. only to find that they can maize
rs and Is. when YOU could easily have
made % and 81 on spades
The attempt to pick M some penalties
that were not by any means sure shows
a loss Of the difference between their
score Of 30 points and your possibility
~ 81. These So points are sacrificed In
the hone Of setting the heart contract
for ~ least 100 Suppose YOU had done
So. they. would still Rave ls honors 10
score. leaving YOUR net gain 81 a loss
~ . points on the deal.
Tur Sun will soon have some Stats
'lrs. complied from n large number Of
actual scores in which nothing was taken
Tor winning n game and the whole play
was normal. hut always with the posi-
hiiities Of penalties in view. Those who
discuss this matter must not forget that
while one ma take a sting to save n
| rubber when playing for a stake and the
ruhber r. worth ESQ, in duplicate there
8 no rubber and the largest bonus is
only 1875.
DENYING PARTNERS SUITS.
srhr most prominent features Of mod
,rn auction are the boldneSs in declaring
no trumrers. the readiness to double
one trick bids aud the promp,itude with
which players viii deny assistance in
she partners bids
T. safety Of al! bids made on aver.
age depends pu one tang and one only,
and that Is confidence hat the partner
will not leave YOU in the lurch 4 the
hwd does not a. his h.ud. III order 10
MAINTAIN this confidence modern player
are sometimes called upon to make dee
arl;iuns that would seem little better
tnau ridiculous to those who were not
familiar with the theory upon which they
are based.
one Of the surost signs that II player
= not up to date L. his habit Of leaving
! MS partner in with declarations that he
auuot support. The modern player IL
a.N,ys ready 10 warn his partner when
lr - On dangerous ground n he does
| not care much now far he has to :,
| ritt these waiutuK~. He viii keep IL VI
| uutl he gets aim where he Will be safe
~ force. the opponents 10 come to his
! rct,Io w'th n bid. The beginner at his
| denying part % the game usually gives
up TOO soon,
Sometimes the partner will neglect tc
| denN 4 suit on the first round Of bids
Sometimes he will deny the first sui,
and forget to deny the second also. One
| can see examples ~ all kinds at any
| c,uh. Here are a few samples. The frs,
r from a big duplicate am played oi
March %