Evening star., 1931-12-07

/ 'SdltlDuSQ fITSU PAEf
man in competition, news of which
will have fast international transmits.
sion.
To the fact that his wife will be hi,
partner and is largely responsible fol
his success in a game which has brought
him romance and riches, Ely Culbertsor
attributes the widespread interest in hi,
contract bridge match with Sidney S
Lenz and Oswald Jacopy.
Doors to Be Locked.
After a little ceremony at q o,cIock
tonight the elaborate drawing room of
Culbertsons skyscraper apartment off
Park avenue will be cleared of ali but
players, referees, Scorekeeper and but
Ter. The doors will be locked New
decks OF cards will be shuffled by the
referee. A quartet will cut. Then begins
test OF rival bidding systems in a
game which has spread like optimism
during bull market, displarino its
parent, auction bridge, more ranidlv
than auction did whist.
Culbertson and Lenz have contracted
to play $50 rubberS by January is
Ihey VIII move across Park avenue from
the chatham to the Waldorf after a
whlle. Culbertson estimates there will
be 600 hands. The duration of the
matcn VIII be almost six weeks There
Will be play every Monday, Tuesday,
thursday and Saturday night. Further
sessions will be ordered If necessary,
The last rubber of session must start
before 1890 am.
Culbertson has posted $4,000 against
$i,oo0 by Lenz. Any winnings 90 to
charities specified in the contract.
But much more than $4,000 is in
vowed. The prestige of victory will
aod enormously to the potential in
come of the winner from writings,
lectures and the like on the best
system. Somebody's income tax will
take sharp drop asd Uncle Sam
won I De able TO do anything about it.
Whist Club Ethics.
Laws and Ethics of Contract Bridge.
as pupllshed by the Whist Club of
New York, will prevail This means
the same regulations that govern anv
social game. The man on the spot
to see that they are enforced will be
Lieut.. Alfred M Gruenther, who is
attached to West Point and as an avo-
cation Is specialist in the conduct of
bridge tournaments. He bosses them
smartly: His uniform lends emphasis
to dicta
To Lenz and Culbertson this is no
cleverly staged thing by two men who
nave displayed great practical knowl-
edge Of psychology in their game and
great advertising ability in making
themselves known Nor will 1t end in
a no-decision dispute. They regard it
as a knock-down, drag-out fight-gen-
tlemanly, CT course; they are friends
which will send into the discard one
or, the other system of contracting to
take so many tricks. In the game of
contract only tricks bid count toward
game, unlike auction.
The rivals methods Of playing once
the dummy is down are alike. In fact
Culbertson has freely said Lenz is one
of the 10 best. Many players regard
Lenz as Incompatible in Sherlock
Holmes ability to deduce from bids,
leads, dummy and conventions long
established In whist and auction lust
what each player holds They think
also he Is the master of all In squeeze
and elimination plays, grand coups and
the like.
VIII Test Two-Bids.
To the average amateur player of
contract the match probably will test
original bids of two more than any,
thing else. Such bids are forcing in
sne Culbertson system, requiring part
ner 10 continue at least until a game
contract Is reached Lenz makes
original bids of two fewer cards than
Culbertson, and the bid merely invites
partner to continue on if possible. Lenz
thinks there Is too much of a difference
of card values between Culbertson bids
of one and bids of two Culbertson
argues that when an original bid of
one Is made with hand much stronger
nan the minimum, If the partner can't
go on there is not game in the two
hands.
Here's the genesis of the row: Some
elloWs in New York clubs tried to pep
lp auction. Harold s. Vanderbilt. Wealth.
abroad executive and amateur Yachts
nan, is credited by his chum, Culbert-
on, with first starting contract. MANY
'xpertS published articles and books,
including Culbertson. The SNOWFALL
tarted gently doWnhill when Culbert-
on came out. 1t gained momentum,
md other experts became alarmed.
They patched up their differences to
ievlSe so-called official system, the
alking point being the necessity of
'Vertlng confusion. Would Culbertson
20 in? Get aboard my bandwagon, he
in effect. Came an official
convention. Culbertson was roasted.
ie challenged the ace of the Official
ystem, Lenz.
Just before the battle of champions
hey say:
>Culbertson-Such outstanding players
night win in spite of the handicap of
he so-called official system.
Lenz-We cannot fail to win, given
Freak in the cards.
Culbertson estimates the factor of
uck IN the match at per cent.