Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-16
BRIDGE TALKS
BY MRS. JOHN MUNCE, JR.

Auction bridge, so called. because in
privilege of playing the hand, is one Of
. the youngest and most popular men,
bers of the whist family.
A great many persons have wrong
impression about auction bridge, be-
lieving it quite complicated game and
difficult to learn. but this impression
is erroneous. It is the purpose of these
papers to explain the simple funda-
mentals of auction bridge.
The system which 1 propose to follow
is that accepted and used by IS per
cent of the best players in this country,
the generally and now universally ac-
cepted conventions.
The primary laws of the game are
based on common sense, with the rules
and conventions evolved from expert
ence. Many players would have you
believe that they are natural players
and have card sense, but as the con-
ventions of the game have been
evolved along certain lines. for GER
tain purposes; 1t is much more desirable
to have as partner one who under
stands these conventions than one who
has to depend on the bluff1ng neces-
sary when the conventions are not
known.
These discussions are written to en-
able any one unfamiliar with auction
bridge to acquire quickly and easily a
knowledge of its fundamentals. The
first few discussions will deal entirely
with the mechanics of the game These
mechanics are just as necessary in
learning to play auction bridge as it is
necessary for you to know your letters
If you are to read your newspaper.
Auction bridge is game PLAYED by
four people, sitting around a card table,
two will be partners playing against the
other two 1t is customary to use two
decks of playing cards.
Before play begins the question of
who shall be partners is determined by
drawing cards The draw Is managed
as follows: The entire pack is placed
face down on the table and each player
takes one card by lifting it from the
pack and showing its face. If a player
shows more than one card or takes
one of the four cards at either end
of the pack, it is a misdraw and he
must draw again. In other words, al
ways in drawing let your card be four
cards from either end.
The two people drawing the two
highest cards become partners, playing
against the two drawing the two low
est cards. The respective values of
the cards in the draw are the same
as in the bidding and in the play; in
each of the four suits the ace is the
highest card, king next. queen next.
jack next. ten next, and so on down
through the spot cards, the deuce (the
two-spoD being lowest. AS for the
suits the spade is the highest. the heart
next, the diamond next and the club
lowest. When cards of the same de-
nomination are drawn (namelv, two
or more sevens). the value of the re-
spective suits determines which is high.
II the four players happen to draw as
follows: The ace of spades jack of
hearts, jack of diamonds and seven
spot of clubs the persons holding the
ace of spades and the Jack of hearts,
the two highest cards, would become
partners against the holders of the
other two cards.
The person drawing the highest card
(ace of spades) would be the first dealer
and would also have the choice of
seats and If. as is customary, you are
using two packs of cards with different
backs, he would have the choice be-
tween the two packs. The partner of
the dealer. the player who drew the
jack of hearts. the second highest carS,
would sit opposite the dealer
The opponent who drew the higher
of the two lower cards (the Jack of
diamonds) would have the choice of
the two un0ccupied seats, and naturally
the player drawing the lowest card
would take the only seat left.