The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-28

DRIDGE players who tuned in on
40 the radio bridge game broad
cast from Station WFBM, Tuesday,
we're given an insight into the very
logical processes by which the mast
ers Of the game work what appear as
miracles to the uninitiated.
Paired with Milton G. Work at
the radio table was E. v. Shepard
of New York, the recognized author
ity on the mathematical features
of the game; while Wilbur c. White
head played with r. j. Leibenderfer
Of New York, noted as bridge
analyst and player.
The hands were: Shepard, South,
the dealer; Spades, A, S; hearts, K,
3; diamonds, 10, Z, 8, 2, clubs, j. 10,
7, 5, 2. Whitehead West; Spades K,
q, j, 6; hearts, j, 10, 9; diamonds,
A, K, 8; clubs, A 9 3. Work, North
Spades, 9, 7, 4; hearts, 8, 4, 2;
diamonds, J, 9, g.. 5, 4; clubs, K, 4.
Leibenderfer East: Spades 10, 8, 3,
2; hearts, A, @, 7, 6, 3; diamonds,
@; clubs, @, 8, 6.
Shepard, the dealer, lacking the
two quick tricks required for an
initial bid, passed. Whitehead, West,
bid one no trump, preferring it to
his alternative bid of one spade, on
account Of the 4-3-3-3 distribution
of his hand which is better adapted
TO no trump play.
Had his spade suit been one card
longer, and the lowest card missing
from any of his other suits, he
would have bid the major instead of
no trump.
Work, North, passed; and Leiben-
derfer, East, took his partner out
of the no trump by bidding two
hearts. He did this in accord with
the present practice of showing a
five-card major suit of reasonable
strength over partners no trump,
regardless of the distribution of the
hand.
Such a bid gives the no trump
bidder the option either of passing
and trying. for game at the major,
or of rebidding the no trump with
assurance that dummy will be help
full.
In this connection it was pointed
out by Work that a take-out Of
partners no trump should not be
made with a weak five-card major
even when the hand contains a
worthless singleton.
Such take-out is liable to prove
dangerous, as the no trump bidder
may not like the major and will
rebid the no trump; then find too
little assistance in the dummy hand
to enable him to make his contract
In this case, however, the singleton
queen of diamonds was not worth
less; and the major suit was far
from weak. Moreover, the hand
had some assistance for the no
trump in every suit.
Il
A FTER East's two-heart bid,
IN Shepard, South, passed. So did
whitehead, West, as he had normal
support for the hearts, including
two honors, and only a single stop
per in clubs, which might prove
troublesome at No Trump. Work,
North, passed; giving East the bid
for two hearts.
Shepard opened the play with the
five of clubs, the fourth-best cord
of his longest suit. Whitehead's
hand was spread for Dummy, and
Leibenderfer, the dealer, played
from it the ace Of clubs.
This play of the ace, where the
average player would have CHANGED
playing one Of dummy's small clubs,
was arrived at after this very pref
ty reasoning by Leibenderfer.
If Shepard, South, led from a
four-card club suit, Work, North,
held three clubs. One of these prob
ably was the king, since Shepard
presumably would have better open
ing leai than one away from king
AN opening which, against suit
bid, Is consistently avoided by good
players.
If, however, Shepard's club suit
was Of five cards, Work, North
could have but two. If one of them
were the king, Work would win the
trick. if declarer did not play
dummy's ace, and would Immediate
ly return the suit, so as to be able
to ruff the third round.
Z Declarer's plan of play had to
consider the most dangerous con-
tingency-in this case, that Shep-
ards opening was from a five-card
suit. In this event, if North were