Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-15
BRIDGE TALKS
BY MRS. JOHN MUNCE. JR.

In the formulate given for bids Of Ave-
card suits it was stated that while five
card SUITS headed by ace, king; ace,
queen and jack, or stronger, warranted
a one bid. If they are greater In num-
Der and stronger 1t makes the one bid
stronger. But there are two important
points to be emphasized in regard to
this which many players do not seem 10
realize:
FIRST, that extra length (say, for ex-
ample, six or seven OF suit instead
| of fve), and no high-card strength, does
not warrant bid of one.
Second. that neither added length nor
strength necessarily warrants an initial
bid of more than one. Initial BIDS OF
more than one will be taken up later)
| AS an example of where added length
would not justify bid of more than
one would be ace, king and four small
ones of the same suit, although 1t Is
stronger than the ace, king and three
of the same suit.
Another example: Ace, king and three
small cards of the same suit, With q
side ace. would not warrant a bid OF
more than one. although undoubtedly
stronger than the ace, king and three
small cards.
Another illustration While ace, queen
and three small cards of the same suit,
or ace, jack, 10-spot and two small
cards of the same suit, If accompanied
by sufficient side strength, might justify
an initial suit bid of one, neither the
ace. queen and four small cards OF the
same suit, or the ace, jack, 10-spot and
three small cards of the same suit, with
out side strength, would warrant bid
Of one.
The minimum one bid with the hold
ing ace, king and three small ones and
no side strength Is, under certain con.
ditions, most advantageous, and the
bidder after making the one bid SHOULD
not take part further in the auction
The bid is not only valuable In a de-
fensive way but most important In ar
offensive game. MANY hands contain
a suit bid of one, but at the same time
be better qualified for some other bid
Alternate bids will be written of later.
Continuing the discussion of initia
suit bids of at least five cards, whel
the bid is made partly on side strength
you should be giving your partner tn
same information as when bidding OF
ace, king and three small cards of tn
same suit-namely, that your han'
contains two tricks.
AS to initial five-card suit bids o
one, with king high, the following com
binations are generally accepted: Hold
ing king, queen, jack and two small
cards, or king, queen and three small
cards, you should have one trick OF
the side to bid one. With a king
jack, 10-spot and two small cards, ant
holding an ace and queen OF anothe
suit, or one quick trick and king
you bid one. Holding the king, jacl
ovoI fIroo cyoo11 cards mr. king 10-Cn0
and three small cards, you must hav
two quick tricks on the side to bid one
Due to its value In a no-trump dec
laration of bidders partner, it is advis
able to include in fve-card suit bid
of one. Minor hands which contain
five cards headed by queen, jack ant
three small cards, or queen, 1O-spo
and three small cards with at leaS
two quick tricks on the side.
In discussing jack high initial sui
bids of one, they should only be BIZ
when holding at least five cards head
ed by jack, 10-spot, accompanied b,
two very strong suits and one yer.
weak suit. In other words, when yo'
have side strength containing tire
quick tricks.
It may strike you that the require
ment for the one bid on the Stroni
hve-card suit, headed by ace and KING
is much weaker and inconsistent witt
the no-trump requirement for an ini
tial one bid, which requirement Is TIVE
tricks and high-card strength abov
, the average. This seemingly incon
sistency explains itself when the char
, acteristic differences between suit bid
and no trumps are duly considered ant
, a comparison of these characteristic
is made.