The sun., 1918-08-11
Boston Player Argues
That 1t Is Not a Con-
vention. but a Com
bination Of Sound In
ference and Strategy if
Properly Used
BY r. F. FOSTER.

The article published on July IL upon
the objections made by many persons
to the growing use Of conventions at
auction. and especially to the indis-
eliminate use Of the suit and no trump
doubles, has called forth a number OF
letters Expressing very varied views
on the subject.
There does not seem to be ma
jority In favor of any particular view.
but there does appear to be unani-
nous agreement that the practice OF
doubling one trick bids has gone too
far to be eradicated now. and that
such declarations will always be part
Of the game.
A few think that all contentious
should be abolished by legislation. IL
that were possible. Others think there |
should be some DEFINITE standard |
strength demanded from those who !
double. as IL that were any more pos
sible than the other.
Persons who are not familiar with |
the task Of framing laws for games |
overlook the fact that no law Is worth |
anything IL its infraction cannot be /,
detected in time to. prevent possible |
injury to the opponents. How could |
The adversaries tell whether or not the
doubler had strength enough to double |
until the hand was laid down. 1t is
then too late to take UP the cards and |
resume the bidding.
A bright and shining exception to
the general run Of the letters received
Is one from a member OF the Tennis
and Racquet Club OF Boston. who In
sists that these doubles are not neces-
sarily conventions at all. Although he
is widely known as very strong
player he does not wish his name pub
lished for fear OF becoming involved
in a burdensome correspondence with
persons who might not agree with him.
Here Is what he says:
differences From q Double.
1T seems to me that the double Of
one no trump or OF one Of suit is
not a convention, but a combination of
sound inference and strategy. provided
OF course it is properly used. The
chief occasions for It's use are when
there is score.
Suppose the score is 81 ali in the
rubber game. z bids one no trump or
one Of a suit. A doubles. passes. What
| Is to infer?
First he assumes rs bid 20 have
been sound. What must A have to war
rant a double? A evidently is not
afraid of some other make. nor is A
perfectly sure Of defeating rs first
make. since II A we're perfectly sure OF
making so or more and were afraid Of
another make, would not double. but
would pass.
Next can infer from this double
that A has quite a strong hand, since IL
A were weak the double would increase
his loss If let stand. and II not allowed
to stand A. with a weak hand. Is not
much better of in any other make and
Is very likely worse off.
'B then infers from AS double that
A Is quite strong but is not absolutely
sure OF defeating rs initial bid. What
is p to do?
IF 3 let's the double stand he has a
chance to win 100 or 200. but a risk of
losing ESQ for rubber. so for contract
and the doubled value OF the tricks IL z
makes his one odd II on the other
hand takes out the double then it is
A r that may possibly lose only so or
| 100. but have the chance Of winning
, rubber worth several hundred points
! Does it need any convention to tell
| B that in the long run he will make
| money by taking A out of the dc.ble?
! III knows that his partner b Is
a sound bidder who will bid properly,
are there not many hands on which
| at the score OF 81 all in the rubber
game A will double rs bid OF one. in the
practical certainty that B will take him
out. even II there is no convention?
Eject of the Score.
| Inc score is the controlling factor
when Il comes TO these doubles of one.
! At love all in the hrst or second game
| Is often just as we'll of to let z
play his one bid undoubled as he is
| II he doubles. II doubles a one bid
when there is no score he should have
a very strong hand in fact SO strong
| hand that he is practically sure OF
gains at any make by A B or Of
penalties at any make by 2.
Even at the score Of 81 all in the
rubber game A should have a pretty
strong hand. in my opinion. at least
an ace above an average hand, to war
rant a double.
| BIS proper make Is again to be
| based on inference and not on conven-
ton. A mas doubled instead of bid
ding himself. Therefore A must have
an all round hand. therefore the best
make for the combined hands is prob
ably BIS longest suit. II. however. rs
| initial bid was in this suit then no trump
may be a. safe bid for B, rather tina
to let the double stand or 10 bid two
in the suit in which z has already de-
clared strength.
II very seldom bid second hand over
a no trump, but IL it Is the rubber game
with score on both sides COR
even on one eide) I will, II have a
strong hand, double rather than bid my
own suit, provided my partner Is a
sound bidder. I know he will make a
try for rubber or will make sure that
the opponents shall bid a higher con-
tract II they are going to try for rub
Der, and when my partner shows his
suit that may be better for the combined
hands than my own long suit. II II is
not can bid my own suit on the next
round
THE whole theory OF the double of
one Is not a convention. but is the fact
that the rubber is worth $50 to 800
and the game is worth 1875 to 200, In
both cases including the honors and the
points below the line in the Anal hand,
, while to be set so or 100 or even 200
Cess honors), or to set the opponents Is
usually worth less than rubber.
THE taking out OF the double of one
, is no more a convention than the taking
out OF the double Of two or three or four.
|, Any double says: i think this double is
better than any other make. but I can
only see my own hand. II my partner
then thinks We can make more Cor lose
lesS) by a make, my partner should try
, for the biggest profits. -"
| There are two points In this letter
that will focus the attention. One is the
statement that the doubler should have
ii ace above average. which means six
tricks. The other Is that his partner
, should bid no trump II his longest suit
Is the one doubled. As the longest suit
may be only four small cards, the nc
trumper may be trifle risky. but here
Ia an example OF It, played at the
KnIckerbocker:
ri n n Ia