The sun., 1918-07-14
and Growing o.
lection to the Misuse
of the Double as a
Means Of Conveying
Information From One
Partner to the Other
By r. r. FOSTER.

There seems TO be a growing and gen.
eral objection to the indiscrimlnate use
OF some OF the ultra conventional bids in
modern auction: those which are purely
artificial and have no meaning unless
II ere has been a previous understanding
between partners that they are to be
used. IT may not be necessary to put
the actual question to a partner. as he
may be a member Of the same club or
his game may be familiar, but with
strangers It is a common practice to ask
II such bids shall be made.
Those who remember tire rising tide
OF protest against the high spade bids
Just before they were abolished seem to
think we are threatened with a similar
flood of objections to two OF our pet con-
ventions, tho suit and the no trump
doubles. The original intention OF the
double when the game of auction was
framed was exclusively TO penalize rash
bidding and to prevent speculative
declarations.
But there IL a class Of players who
are always on the lookout for some way
otaveiding mistakes. of getting an ad-
vantage, or of making more out OF II Q
hands than the average player. Upon
finding that one trick bids were seldom
or never worth a double, these efficiency
experts began to cast around for some
use to which this privilege might be put.
and hit upon the idea OF doubling to
give information to the partner.
Tie consequence has been that we
have now two doubles in common use
among the educated class Of players
which are exactly opposed to the orig
inal purpose OF tho bid. Ono IL the
Patton double. showing that the doubler
Of no trump bid also has a no trumper
but does not want to play II. nor does
he want to penalixe the one who bid II
first. What he wants is to have his
partner pick out trump suit.
Then there IA the suit double. which is
claimed as original with several persons
TIE first authentic instance Of it's use
was during a whist congress at Niagara
Falls some years ago. when Lenz and
Frost tried II out. Tho object Of this
bid Is to show the partner that the
doubler has no trumper except for his
weakness in the suit rat he doubles
This again Is clearly a direct contra
diction OF the original meaning Of the
double as there is not the slightest in
tention Of penalizing the bidder who Is
doubled.
A number OF letters have been re-
ceived by The SCN protesting against
the growing use OF conventions. and ex-
pressing fear II at they will eventually
ruin auction. just a. they undoubtedly
ruined duplicate whist. Two Of these
letters, which were received on the same
day. may he interesting One Is from
prominent player at the Bridge Club
and The Players. The other is from the
author Of the Encyclopedia OF Playing
Cards and Gaming" member OF the
Portland and Bath clubs In London
Hero is the one from New York:
-Four or five years ago. In the days
of the two club and five spade bids at
auction. I urged the abolition of all
convention bids or doubles These
were eliminated in most clubs. and the
change OF spades to tie value OF nine
points a trick did away with some of
others
Il am of the opinion that the game
OF auction would be improved by the
elimination OF the doubled no TRUMP
and doubled suit bid conventions, as
these are merely attempts 20 tell the
partner what tie bidder holds We
might as well have the convention of
holding up three fingers after suit bid
to show the partner that the player has
TIE three other suits. or two fingers. to
ask the partner TO bid two IN HIS longest
ing the two club bid. and In others the
two diamond bid. as an invitation for
no trump declaration.
Il have watched the workings OF tNe
doubled no trump convention and have
FOUND that II works to the advantage
Of the first declarer a 3 often as other
wise, either by warning him against
going on because Of weakness In n suit
or by leading his partner to make
suit bid. think It might be the subject
of an interesting article to ask the
oninion OF your readers regarding the
elimination OF all convention bids or
doubles wHIppEN GRAHAM
The following is from Frederic Jessel:
TT ere is much in the American sys-
tenn OF play OF which ] cannot speak too
highly. but 7 detest all so-called con-
ventions. and am sorry to see so MANY
OF your best players advocating all sorts
OF fancy doubles and calls and take
outs. I am still OF the same opinion
with regard to taking the partner out
OF no trumps or OF overcalling his major
suits with minor suits, and am always
declaiminR here against any system Of
calling against your own partner"
There is one point in connection with
these conventions which is seldom men
toned in criticising their use. and that
that holding up the fingers might lust
as we'll be used to convey the message
10 the partner. there IL still no guaran-
tee that the message should ever have
been sent. One player will double with
only three tricks: another will refuse TO
do SO with less than six
1t would be interesting. as suggested,
to have an expression OF opinion by
auction players generally not only as to
the desirability Of abolishing these arti-
fcial conventions but how to do it, The
high spade bids were abolished only by
eliminating the lower value of the spade
suit Then again the great mass of auc-
ton players do not trouble themselves to
express opinions; they follow example
They have friend who knows a man
that belongs TO The Whist Club. or who
plays for 10 cents a point. and he does
so and so. therefore 1t must be the cor
rect thing.
The great trouble with these conven-
lions Is that the average player does
not understand their limitations. Take
this hand
~ IN