The Washington times., 1932-07-21
Contract
Bridge
BY E. v. Shepard
Complete Standardization

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and Contract Bridge are mod
ern forms of Whist. The
family tree dates back more
than two centuries. Attempts at
Standardization antedate the
memory of living players. These
attempts were made by prom
inent players who thought that
everyone should adopt their
views. Such dreams are futile.
Any cut-to-pattern game means
stagnation. Progress comes
through trials of new ideas,
and the temporary adoption of
the best suggestions.
Contract Bridge is a game of
infinite variety of holdings and
situations, both in bidding and
play. Rules of procedure are
intended to cover only cases
of reasonably frequent occur
renee. Hair-Splitting rules di-
vert too much attention from
necessary careful consideration
of what actually takes place.
Thought concerning happenings
is of more Importance than
deep consideration Of general
rules.
Various names have been at
tached to the numerous types
of bidding, that really differ
only slightly among themselves.
They are so nearly OF equal
efficiency that l have rated
them alike in my own mind.
OF course every teacher must
give clients what they wish to
learn.
'Suit-Over. Suit
Progressive players every
where want to acquire the
game most perfectly embrac-
ing modernity, simplicity, eff
cheney and logical procedure.
At last that type Of game has
arrived. consider what I have
named the "Suit-OVer-Suit" best
meets the needs Of both ex-
pert and average player. Also
it best meets the wishes OF
teachers, as it is the most SIM
pie game to teach.
Suit-over,suit bidding is, Of
course, of the approach-forcing
type, including all the valuable
features of the one-over-one
game, carried out to logical
conclusions. The famous -Four
Horsemen" now follow this
type of bidding. So also do
the following younger for
midable contenders for national
and metropolitan champion
ships: Richard L. Frey, Samuel
Fry. Edward Hymes, jr., Charles
Kesler, Charles S. Lochridge,
Chester j. Mum, John Rau,
Richard F. Sentner, Louis Wat
son. There are host Of other
club and tournament players
who favor this new type OF
bidding, did space permit men,
ton of their names. con-
slider it the coming best game.
Five years ago the Knicker-
booker system of bidding was
evolved by a famous body OF
experts belonging to that club.
The amended system now is
known as the One-OVer-One.
1t was favored by the great
majority of tournament players.
as a means of keeping the
bidding as low as possible while
showing suit distributions.
Keep Bidding Open
Having no semi-forcing bid,
as the official system has, an
opening bid of one of a suit
may show strength only a frac-
ton of a trick below what is
required for an opening de-
mand bid of two.
AS game may lurk in hold
ings that do not promise much
until bidding has progressed to
a certain stage, every endeavor
must be made to keep bidding
open for an exchange of
information between partners.
To hold down contracts, a
minimum response of one of
any suit higher than the one
bid named by the opening
bidder, obligates a response
from the first bidder. For
example: South opens bidding
with One Club. Unless a bid
interveneS, North's bid Of One
Diamond, One Heart or One
Spade, obligates another bid
from South, unless East inter-
poses a bid. If no bid is made
by East, South may rebid
clubs, support his partners
declaration, or show another
biddable suit. In case his
opening bid of One Club
showed the full value of his
hand, South must bid One No
Trump. He cannot pass. To
morrow this subject will be
continued.
(Copyrieht. 1892. King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)