The Washington times., 1926-12-10

The participants and their cards
were as follows:
Mr.. Work. dealer, South: Spades,
J, 10, 5; hearts, A, K. a: diamonds,
A, J, 9, 6, 8; clubs, K, z.
e. X. Leech, Bronxville, N. Y,
West: Spades. X. @, 8, z, 2;
hearts, @, 10, s.; diamonds, K, @,
10, 5; clubs, 5.
Frank III. Bachman, Philadelphia,
north: Spades, 8, A; hearts, g.,
8. 3; diamonds, 2; clubs, A, Q. J..
Mr.. Whitehead, East: Spades,
A, 6, 8; hearts, J., 8, Z, q; diamonds,
8, z, 4; clubs, 6, 4, 2.
Mr.. Work opened the bidding
with one no-trump. He preferred
felt that the no-trump would give
distributed strength. He explained.
however, that with slightly
weaker hand he would have started
with diamond; that is, If a, small
heart had been substituted for his
kirg. or IL his unprotected suit
had been Of only two cards In
stead of three.
On the latter point he was EN-.
phatic. He stressed the fact that
this. slight difference in distribution
makes a great difference in results.
Spade Bid Justified
Mr.. Leech, West" the next bid
der, held cards that would. have
justified an original spade bid. but
hardly after a no-trump on his
right. Yet his hand was too strong
to pass. He felt that the best
thing to do was too hold the bidding
open by an informatory double,
which would call for bid, by his
partner. Should his partner, White
head. bid two clubs, Leech was
prepared to take out with two
spades. Any other suit bid by
Whitehead, Leech would let stand.
Upon reaching this decision, Leech
doubled.
Mr.. Bachman, NORTH" was
tempted to pass and thus conceal
his club strength from the oppon-1
ents. He could then have bid up
to four II necessary. and perhaps
have obtained a double which he
would have welcomed. However.
by conceaIing his club strength
from his opponents, he would also
have deceived his partner, VINO
would place him with long weak
clubs If they were not bid until
the second round. Therefore Bach
man bid three clubs instead OF two
This bid told his partner. Work
that he had long and strong club
suit and probably nothing eise.
Mr.. Whitehead, East" by Mr..
Bachman's intervening bid, was re-
lieved Of the obligation to respond
to Mr.. Leech's informatory double.
He would have had to bid two
hearts had Mr.. Bachman passed,
but his hand was not strong enough
a free bid Of three hearts He
passed.
Mr.. Work also passed. Two no
trump was tempting, but he feared
the spade suit.
Mr.. Leech, realizing from Mr..
Whitehead's pass that >the latter
had a very weak hand, also passed.
He was pleased, under the circum.
stances that the opponents were
In q minor suit instead Of no.
trump.
Mr.. Bachman therefore, became
Declarer, with his contract three
clubs.
Mr.. Whitehead opened with the
2 OF hearts. the fourth best card
Of his only four-card suit.
Here is where Mr.. BachInan
showed the generaIship character,
istic Of successful players. Before
playing a card he paused to take
stock OF his assets and plan how
best to utilize them. He saw that
he might lose two spades and one
heart trick, which would prevent
his going game, although he would
make his contract.
His only chance for game was
to secure a spade or heart dis
card. The only way to do this
was to make two diamond tricks II.
Dummy. Dummy's ace was gnod
for one diamond trick. Mr.. Bach
mans problem was how to get
another.
He had five diamonds in Dummy
and one in his own hand. This left
seven for the adversaries, which
were apt to be divided 4-3. If so,
his fifth diamond would be good. To
work his plan, he would have to get
back in Dummy three times after
winning the first trick there; twice
to lead diamonds and once to cash
the established "thirteener." After
the first trick was taken in Dummy
there would be Just three entries left
One high heart and the king and
Z Of clubs.
With this plan decided upon, Mr..
Bachman played Dummy's king Of