The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-30

There are two conventions which
I am continually asked about by all
classes of players. One of these Is
the so-called spade convention ana
the other is the "informatory pass
Both of these are part and parcel
of the conventional double To peglh
with the spade convention, TINS Is
simply a term given to sltualoH
that asks the partner TO give the pref
erence to the spade suit when ne Is
picking out a bid as an answer 10
The circumstances vary with the ma
ture of the bid doubled. The first
thing to remember. that the bid which
is doubled must never be space,
leaves the possibility or SPADE plu
by the partner open. The condluon
of the double is that the douoIer
should always be reaGy to support a
spade bid, however weak the call
NAV be, even four to the nine
The convention therefore amounts
to this: In answer TO the douole o.
ANYTHING but a spade the partner
should call spades if he mas four OF
them. in preference to any other suit
even four good hearts or five or more
clubs or diamonds. one or when OF
course must be the suit doubled.
Suppose the dealer calls a club,
second hand doubles ana third hand
passes. If the fourth hand holds TOUR
spades to the nine, four hearts TO tI1e
ace, queen and five diamonds to the
ace. king. queen, he should bid the
spades. That is what his partner
wants; or if his partner does not want
spades he will be found ready and
willing to call wfnt he has.
This may seem to contradict the
basic principle of the spade conVen-
ton: that the doubler always wants
a spade take out But suppose the
doubIer of q club bid by the dealer
holds four hearts to the ace, jack six
diamonds to the ace, king, queen, two
spades only, say ace and ten, and one
club. He may get heart Dld from
his partner If he doubles He cannot
get a club, but might get no-trumps'
If he gets a spade for an answer he
will have to bid his diamonds, but net
until he has tried to get better CON-
tract. e,s
ney Lenz's suggestions for passing the
buck. one should be pretty sure tha1
ones partner understands it or there
may be trouble.
This comes up in only one sltua-
ton and that a rather uncommon one
but still possible, and it is well to be
prepared for it when it happens. The
dealer bids a suit, second hano dou-
bles and third hand bids. There Is no
conpulsion on the third hand to take
out the double, because it is taken
out. If the partner insists on BID
he can double again. Passing in this
situation usually shows no suit OF 1lVe
The informatory pass. so called. is
passing when it seems imperative 10
make a bid This can happen only
when the third hand redoubies the
double.
This usually happens in no-trump,
ers if it happens at all. If the third
hand can assist a doubled suit he does
so. If he has a Jno-trumper, but none
of the suit, he can redouble, but tnat
does not make it any more expensive
for the fourth hand to answer tine
double. When it is a no-trumper that
Is doubled and redoubled this situa-
ton may come up.
The partner has only one four-card
suit. weak clubs or diamonds. but has
three hearts and three spades, about
equal By passing he gives the in
formation that he has not four spades
or hearts, but exactly three of each.
The doubIer can take his pick.
Some players have tried to extend
this fnformatory pass to cases in
which the third hand does not re-
double a no-trumper, but calls suit