Evening star., 1931-12-30

LEM (NORTH.
So 8
H.-A J 10
DIX 10 4
CA J 9
CULBERTSON MRS. CULBERTSON
(WEST). east.
SO 8 30 s.-J
H.-K @ H-9 a 3 2
D.-A 9 Do J 7 2
C.-1O 7 2 CO 8
LIGGETT (sOUTH.
S.-A K 76
H-6
D.-8 6 5
C.-K 5 4 3
The bidding:
NORTH. East. South. West.
no trump Pass 2spades Pass
Pass Pass
Accurate Defense Required.
If Lenz had chosen the approach
bid of one slub rather than the official
system bid of one on trump with his
hand our opponents would have
reached the best bid in the combined
hands and would thus have scored the
game and rubber and materially re-
duced our lead. Against the contract
of two spades, however, accurate de-
fense was required and I chose as my
opening lead the nine Of diamonds.
Liggett played the ten of diamonds and
20" won with the knave. The Rand
was developed so that we subsequently
took four more tricks, defeating the
contract one trick and paving the way
to the winning of the rubber on the
next hand.
oswald Jacoby's brilliant play has
been a factor throughout the match.
In retiring from the contest, he issued
the following statement:
In the excitement, quite natural TO
many bridge matches, F.aVe been un-
fortunately misquoted both in regards
to my partner, Mr.. LenZ, and my OPP
ponent, Mr.. Culbertson.
II consider Mr. CulbertSon one OF
the few truly great practical and ana
lytical players in the world, and no
list of the first five players of the
world can reasonably be made up with
out including his name.
while we all make mistakes, have
learned during this match to respect.
more even than before his subtle and
most imaginative game.
"As for Mr. Lenz, it would be, to say
the least, presumptuous on my part
not to hold him in highest regards
both as a gentleman and as the grand
old man of bridge to whom we all owe
so much.
Ideas Are Radically Distinct.
"Our differences are of ideas and
methods of treating bridge, not OF per-
sonal friendship. However, I have now
become convinced that these ideas are
so radically distinct that it would be
unfair to him for me to re-enter the
match.
Il will always remember with graft
tude the high honor that Mr.. Lenz has
done me by selecting me as his partner
and only regret that I could not have
done better"
Differences of viewpoints cannot be
compromised. I heartily regret Jaco-
by's retirement because 1 consider him
truly foeman worthy of any ones steel,
as I do my opponent, Mr.. Lenz. How
ever, the matter of an understanding
and responsive partnership is important.
Even more important than any Sys-
tenn is the partnership adoption. Adapt
ability is the basic law of the survival
of the fittest' in bridge and no player,
however perfect technically, can claim
to be an expert or indeed be even a
winning player, unless he learns now TO
play bad partners as well as he can
play bad cards. Players who bemoan
bad partners are certainly less justified
than they who bemoan bad cards.
Partners (and Opponents) can be large
ly controlled and guided by superior
skill and understanding
Morale Is Important
Partners morale or emotional state
is as important for allies at the bridge
table as for an army in battle, and
player who can maintain a high morale
with his partner under adversely, and
more important still, under the intoxi-
cation of approaching victory possesses,
Of course, a tremendous asset. This
question of morale is automatically
solved by those who realize that part
nership is simply a sporting proposition,
we are drawn together for better or
worse and, therefore, like comrades,
should stand by cheerfully and cou-
rageously regardless of our success or
failures
This does not mean that a partner
should be flattered unnecessarily. The
Russians say very well, Praise the goat
and next time she will refuse her milk"
A tragic example of the invisible
reefs of distribution occurred last night
in the first hand of the 1O6th rubber
which with its bidding was as follows:
West-Dealer.
LEM (NORTH).