The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-07
GREAT BRIDGE
 CONTEST WILL
 OPEN TONIGHT
Ely CulbertsOn Will Be- gin His Assault on the System of Sidney s. LenZ
BY H. ALLEN SMITH


 United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, Dec Ely Culbert- sons assault upon the new official system of contract bridge bidding will begin tonight.
 After an hour of pretentious opening ceremonies, Culbertson will sit down for the first eight rubbers of his 150-rubber match with Sidney s. Lenz, an acknowl- edged contract master.
 Theoretically 1t will be a bitter fight between Culbertson's ap- proach-for system and the off, cial system developed by Lenz and his colleagues of bridge headquar- ters, Inc, an organization popu- larly supposed to have been formed for the purpose of challenging Gull bertson's dominance of the bridge world.
 But over and above the clash of the bridge bidding systems will be the battle of the actual players enemies in every sense of the word save the fact that they can sit down at a card table together and adhere to the common side of ethics without coming to blows
 Culbertson and his wife, Joseph inc, his playing partner, will em- ploy an opening two bid to force partner to keep the bidding going. Lenz and Oswald Jacoby will use two bid to invite an answering bid from partner, but the Lenz two bid will not be a demand bid.
 If Culbertson makes an opening bid of two in any suit, he is indi- eating that his hand contains five or more tricks, whereas Lenz's two bid indicates three or three and one-half tricks. Lenz's forcing bid of three is a sign that he holds 9 or 10 tricks.
 This issue, of what should con- stitute a forcing bid, is the prime point of difference and the cause Of million or so quarrels in the United States.
 Both Lenz and Culbertson stand to lose a huge. though intangible. amount of prestige in the six-week battle. Financial losses, over and above the money actual wagered on the outcome. will be reflected in loss of followers. with conse- quent decreases in book sales. and lecture fees. Culbertson claimed to- day that if he and Mrs Culbertson lose. he will he out at least a half million dollars.
 We know that 90 per cent of the contract players in America use our system of bidding" Culbertson said. Tf we lose hundreds of thous- ands will swing over to Lenz and the official system. But if Lenz Is defeated he will lose completely the small group which follows him as an authority. but he will remain one of the worlds greatest card players"
 The first 75 rubbers will he played in Culbertson's expensive apartment in the Hotel Chatham. Two press rooms have been es- tablished next to the Culbertson suite and telegraph companies have installed special wires into two other rooms to handle installed special wires Into two other rooms 10 handle the descriptions sent out by newspaper and press service re porters.
 Tonight, Mir and Mrs cuibertson, Lens and Jacoby will be introduced 10 a National radio audience at o'clock. Movie cameras will record d hand or two of play, reporters will hA permitted to enteF the room and obtain e brief idea of the phv. nlcal layout, and at about 2 o'clock. lens and CuibortAon will start bof1is bardlng each other with trunnps,