Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-25

and writers ALL including almost
every man woman with national or
international standing as an authority
on the game. Contract bridge, real experts
now know it, then was young. 1t has advanced
by leaps and bounds since that time.
1t was natural that each would have his own
ideas about the best bidding tactics to apply to
the new conditions brought about by the new
game. 1t was inevitable that each would de-
velop his or her own syst tenn, somewhat differ
ent from every other s. STEM unless, perhaps
some one of them restrained himself and de-
cided to be neutral so he could interpret and
pass along the ideas of all, to help clear up the
confusion he saw certain to come at count
less bridge tables where new partners would
meet for the first time each favoring a differ
ent system.
At the beginning systems based
theories. for there not enough actual expe-
rience then to prove anything very emphatically.
Three years having passed, there is now
wealth of experience. Each theory has been
tested exhaustively, its strong and weak points
aScertained It is hard to believe that any one
of those brilliant minds has learned nothing
about the game in three years, that any of
them Is 20 welded to his ideas of three years
ago that he knows no more now than he did
then.
1t would have been a fine thing for the game
If that band of life students of bridge had
joined hands three years ago and agreed to
make an investigation of every conceivable way
Of treating each bidding situation, with a prom
Use to get together three years later, pool the
results of their research and then build up a
system what had been learned No such
agreement was made at that time, but the
research was conducted just the same as if
there had been one. Each pursued his own
inveStiga tons along lines which his mind
dictated, and the more progressive of them
kept learning new facts and improving their
systems, frankly withdrawing their older advice
to substitute some which they had learned
was better
Then. at last came a throwing together Of all
That information. The findings of all IT were
combined when the Advisory Council of Bridge
Headquarters began its series of meetings last
June. Only 16 of the II authorities became
members of it, but the facts learned by all II
were utilized. Caring not who had been the
discoverer of a bit of knowledge, considering it
only for its soundness and value, they c6ncen-
trated on the task of getting up the best syS-
tenn Of which they were all capable.
AS consequence of their laborS the world
OF bridge now Is beginning to make use of what
they have called 1.-The official system" based
upon thorough investigation of all known ways
OF bidding. the most thoroughly worked out
system the game has known.
Readers have wondered why the conductor
OF the Bridge Forum joined in that effort;
why he did rot remain entirely aloof and con-
tinue merely to be an interpreter of existing
conditions Primarily, because he could not
have done so consistently. His effort has been
always to allay confusion at the bridge table
and enable players to obtain a greater measure
OF success and pleasure from the game. This
movement to reduce a number Of widely used
methods to single one was emphatically in
line with that purpose. He wishes all IT of
the authorities could have joined and made the
job complete. Even though one did not join
and continued to stick to a system devised
three years before much would be accom-
plished. The list of prominent systems would
be cut down from a large number to two.
Remaining interpreter the Bridge Forum
win continue to strive to clarity the situation
1or its readers 1t also will present a thorough
summary of the various features of the new
system and the reasons for them just as in
the past it has covered the older approach
forcing method and the other methods that
now have been discarded. It is the policy of
the Bridge Forum to have its readers, as far as
possible enabled to play successfully with any
partner, no matter what system that partner
knows.
A Lac Week.
What occurs if, after double of a three
heart bid the other three players pass and the