Evening star., 1932-01-12
Amused by Rivals Claims.


Amused by Rivals Claims.
The endeavors Of Culbertson to prove
that every loss I sustained was entirely
due to my system, while his system was
responsible for his gains, is rather
amusing, when it was not pitiful. To
quote from a Culbertson syndicated
article:
"A fortunate result for us was re-
corded on hand 239, in which, due to
the official system opening bid of two
no trumps, our opponents played hand
for game, which, using approach
methods, could easily have been bid for
a slam, which was made laid down"
On this deal only IL tricks could
have been made, unless the low card
of worthless four-card suit was estab-
lished by playing the ace, king and low
card from the three-card suit in the
corresponding hand. Possibly a dozen
times Culbertson pointed out that he
was fortunate in making slams that he
could not bid, because they depended
upon a flnesSe or the lucky break of a
suit.
Quoting again from the same article:
Il blame myself for our failure to
reach q slam on the third hand of
coby passed, opened with a bid of one
spade. Mr.. Lenz passed and 1, with a
part-score of 40, made the bid of two
hearts. Every one passed and I made
six hearts, although both king of clubs
and king of hearts were unfavorably
situated. I think I could bid this hand
better another time"
Early Hand Recalled.
A casual Culbertson summary tends
to show that his system can do no
wrong, while the official system must be
at least 100 per cent wrong, but, never
theless, I will continue to play it and
glory in the handicap : am allowing the
other fellows.
Just word should be said anent one
of the early hands I played and made
bad mess of:
LEM.
S.-A 6
H.-A @
"a g Slo'' 81
CULBERTsON. Mrs. CULBERTsoN.
SIX 98 43 $50 72
H.-9 3 HI 10 81 6 5
D.-5 DJ
Go 8 CA J2
JAcoBY.
So j
H-K 2
D.-KL-s
C.-K Q 765
Bidding:
South. West. North. East.
Pass Diamonds Pass
8 Clubs Pass 3 No Trump Pass
No Trump Pass Pass Pass
After my partner had bid four no
trumps, Culbertson went into a partial
trance for several minutes and I was
a bit frightened that he had died.
The hesitation could have been a
psychic attempt to keep me out Of a
slam bid or merely consideration Of
spade sacrif1cial declaration.
Culbertson Made Similar Error.
However, when the dummy went
down the slam in diamonds was at once
apparent, and was sorry that my part
ner had not given me one support in
that suit. I played the hand like
Door drib, under the impression that the
declaration was really diamonds, and
was defeated two tricks before l dis
covered my error. There was no excuse
for my mistake and I am not attempt
ing the slightest justification, but was
rather surprised in Culbertson stating,
as he did the following day, that had
bid and played the deal badly and say
ing nothing Of my mental lapse, which,
of course, he knew. l have received
dozens of letters from readers of Cul-
bertson's newspaper articles asking me
to explain how I could have played
hand so terribly.
Curiously enough, Culbertson made
precisely similar error on hand 1l9 and
was SO fused that he twice led out of
the wrong hand during che play of the
deal. I hardly felt it would be playing
cricket to speak of it during the match,
but now that it is over 1 think it is OF
interest that I knew after the play OF
the first trick of Ely's miSapprehension
as to the declaration he was playing.
He was defeated on the deal only be-
cause he had forgotten what suit he
was playing and would have had SIM
pie game hand If played at the correct
declaration. will be glad to explain
this interesting deal in tomorrow's
article.
(Copyright, 1922