The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-12-30
EASY LESSONS IN
! AUCTION BRIDGE
BY PAUL II. SEYMOUR
Author Of "Highlights on Auction Bridge"
Article Four.
Bidding
Copyright. By Hoyls. Jr.,

THE first thing to be learned about
i bidding is that its object is to dis
cover as nearly as possible what
trump will produce the best results
from the twenty-six cards held by two
partners. II the twenty-six cards
were placed face up on the table
either player could see at once how
the best results could be obtained, but
In regular play each player sees thir-
teen cards only and must form his
opinion Of his partners hand by his
bidding.
Therefore, 1t is Of the utmost Inn
portance that every bid should have
a definite meaning or. in other words,
that every player by his bidding
should tell his partner as much Of the
truth as possible and nothing but the
truth.
Frequently when the dealer bids
one of a suit and second hand passes,
third hand will say, 81 do not have
to bid because my partner has 1t
now" and again a player will say,
"Well, partner. 1 hate to take it away
from you, but ! am going to bid so
and So" These examples show an
entire misconception of the science Of
bidding. Auction is distinctly part
nership game and the object of the
bidding is cooperation.
If a player makes bid which
seems to his partner to be the best
declaration for the two hands, that
partner should assist the declaration
to the extent of his ability, but If the
partner thinks from his hand that that
declaration would be disastrous or
that he can make better one, he
should bid accordingly. Each player
should pay strict attention to every
bid and try to visualize the hand OF
the player making it. In this way
bidding becomes easier and more
scientific.
Bids are classified as original, de-
fensive, assisting, secondary and pre-
emptive.
An original bid is the first bid made,
whether by dealer or by second, third
or fourth hand after one, two or three
passes. There can, of course, be but
one original bid for each deal.
A defensive bid is one made on less
than original bidding strength after
an opponent has bid. Because an orig
inal bid assumes the offensive the
next bid may be made on slightly less
strength for the sake of defense.
An assisting bid is one made after
q partner has bid 1t may be raise
a denial or a take-out, according to
circumstances.
A secondary bid is one made by a
player who has previously bid or
passed-that is, any bid after the first
round
A pre-emptive bid is one which is
higher than necessary and is made in
an effort to shut out a bid from the
opponents.
Before definite rules for bidding can
be given some system of valuing
cards must be agreed upon and the
one called the "quick trick method"
is by far the most scientific and ac-
curate. This requires several more
definitions.
A quick trick is card or combina-
ton of cards which will take a trick
on the first or second round of a suit,
or a combination which will win the
third round after winning first or sec
ond-this, of course, makes two quick
tricks. Thus an Ace is the only one
card which can be called a quick
trick, and the K Q is the only COM
bination of two cards to fulfill the
requirement. That the King, Queen
combination is one quick trick may
easily be seen, because if the King is
led it will be lost to the Ace and if
the Queen is then led it will take the
second trick.
The A Q combination is called two
quick tricks in the trump suit or in
no trump, because the A would take
the first trick, the Q would lose to the
King in the second trick, and the J
would take the third trick. However,
in a plain suit this combination would
not be two quick tricks because the
third round of suit is so often
trumped An exactly similar combina-
ton is the X Q J. which is two quick
tricks in trump suit or in no trump,
but not in plain suit
A guarded King will take trick if
the Ace is held by the right-hand OPP
ponent, but will be lost if the Ace is
held by the opponent on the left. AS
the chances of the Ace being upon one
side or the other are even, that is
$3.50, King is called a half quick
trick. A Queen with two or more
guards has just half as good chance
of taking trick as King, and so is
counted as quarter of quick trick.
A quick trick is sometimes consid-
cred to be just the same as sure
trick, but there is distinction which
should be made. A quick trick must
win on the first, second, or third
round, while a sure trick Is a card
which will win any round Of that suit.
In a plain suit quick and sure tricks
are identical, but in a trump all the
cards remaining after 1t has been led
three times usually are good and SO
are called sure tricks, while, Of course,
they are not quick tricks.
When a King Is accompanied by the
Ace, it will win every time and SO
1t then acquires the value of the Ace
or a whole quick trick. In the same
manner Queen with the King rises
from a quarter to half quick trick In
value-or, as has been said. King.