Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-16
BY ROGER BATCHELDER.
pecial Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November 16 (N.A.N.AO
THE battle of the systems" will be
on in the world Of contract bridge
starting December 7, and 1T should
prove to be the most important and
significant card game on record.
Ely Culbertson, father of the system
that bears his name, and Sydney d.
LEM, past master at whist, auction and
contract, bitter rivals over the suprem-
acy in their field, shook hands yester-
their sometimes outspoken differences
and organized the "thousand-and-one-
hand" bridge tournament.
They signed an agreement for the
play and posted the $5,000-to-S1 900
wager suggested by Mr.. Culbertson, the
proceeds to go to charity.
Not even the Vanderbilt Cup tourna-
ment which ended last night, caused
such a ripple of interest as this pros
pectiye tourney.
Nationwide Controversy.
While it has come to be publicly an
amicable professional matter, the re-
peated challenges of Mr.. CulbertSon, the
colorful Anglo-Russian born Of artsto-
cratic family, who came here penniless
to make a fortune from teaching peo-
pie how to play cards, rlettled Mr.. Lenz,
who was long ago established and sue.
ceeded in finally creating Nationwide
controversy among card players.
Mr.. LenZ said some time ago that
he would not shake hands with Mr..
slightest friction at their meeting. Mr..
Lenz sat on divan with Mrs. Culbert-
son, who will be her husbands partner,
and Oswald Jacoby, a young insurance
actuary, who is LenZ's partner at the
bridge table and one of the best players
in the country.
Mr.. Culbertson looked across at Mr..
Lenz while the photographers made
their cameras click. Mr.. LEM nodded
turned away for an instant. Before
long, there were furtive glances, and
each wore broad grin.
Mrs. Culbertson. attractively gowned
in black velvet, watched closely.
How about it, asked one of the
rivals, holding out his hand.
THE game is bigger than we are"
said the other. Shake on it."
All sat down for lunch in the suite.
There came mostly contract talk, but
Culbertson spoke of Russia. world
difficulties and the night clubs of
London.
See Hard Situations.
His wife and Mr.. Jacoby, who will be
opponents in the match to come, took
their bridge seriously. They argued
about situations that had taken place
in the Vanderbilt tourney, and even
spoke of those which they might have
to decide in their coming match.
Technical details were discussed. and
lit was agreed that there should be $50
rubbers, the first to start at pm. on
December Z. It will be held privately
in the Culbertson suite, and the broad
casting arranged for the first night may
be continued. The tournament, the
first half of which will be played at the
Hotel Chatham and the second half
at the Waldorf Astoria, will be resumed
the following Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, with the stipulation that it
be concluded by January Is.
1t is possible that after the first IS
rubbers Waldemar Won Zedtwitz or
Theodore A. Lightner may relieve Mrs
Culbertson.
The agreement was signed in the
presence Of Ralph J. Leibenderfer. rep
resenting Mr.. Culbertson; Fred L. Regain.
president Of Judge Magazine Co., rep
resenting Mr.. LEM; Lieut.. Alfred M.
Gruenther of West Point, who will be
Il. y.
bridge editor of the London Times, who
will function with NJ. H. Aylesworth
head of the National Broadcasting Co.,
in case Of a close decision.
This will be the most important
match in history. as we'll as the long
est" said Mr. Culbertson, "and it is
about time that doubt concerning the
merits of the alleged official system
and my, own were cleared up. No one
who holds for the other system could
be better qualified than Mr.. LEM. and
I consider him one. of the three or four
best card players in the world.
Luck Will Be Absent.
1T do not see how this can fail to
settle the controversy, because the ele-
ment of luck will be practically absent.
and in 1000 hands we shall strike an
even balance. In the average CHAMPION
ship. decided by 20 hands and some
times won or lost by the play of a sin
gle card. this method of publicly or pri-
vately finding the best system would be
useless. If played regularly, this plan of
ours would require eight hours a day
for two weeks.
IT certainly concede the skill of Mr.
LEM; If he would play nv system
think that 1t would be matter of toss
ing a coin.
THE game means so much to us who
love 1t that it is ridiculous for us to
fence about with different ends in view
I am confident of the results, and I can
promise that 1t will be a fine. snapnv
tournament that should interest every
one who understands it. Naturaliv the
results will depend on the play itself
and the bidding. which are controversial
matters at present. and the cards held"
"Quite So" said Mr.. LEM.
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