Evening star., 1933-10-03
Conquering Contract
BY P. HAL SIMS

has yet been suggested to me. Others
seem to agree; it has been, or Is being
universally adopted by contract writer's
and players in the sense In which we
use it.
A Definition.
A signoff response or rebid Is one
which warns the partner that as far
as the bidder knows at that moment,
he has no further information Of a
positive character to give. 1t does not
forbid the partner to continue bidding
it warns him to do SO only on his
own responsibility. 1t does not pro-
claim that under no conditions can you
take any further constructive part in
the bidding. Sometimes you will quite
properly make a signof srespcnse, but
your partner will then rebid his hand
in a manner which throws fresh light
on the value of your holdings in his
support, so that your next response can
be very positive one, eclipSing your
preliminary signoff. Remember also
that quite often you will sign of by
actually increasing the contract. That
Is the case when you revert from q new
declaration back to one in which you
are already known to have a At: Fer
instance, the bidding having been-one
heart, two hearts, two no trumps, three
hearts, three no trumps-if the re-
sponder now goes four hearts, that is
nothing but a sign-of Of the most un-
mistakable kind, merely seeking greater
safety in the suit contract, presumably
on distributional grounds. If the bid
ding were one heart, two hearts, three
no trumps, here again the rebid to four
hearts is no acceptance of the slam try
made by the opening bidder, but q
sign-o1 into q supposedly safer or
easier, though higher, contract. .
A Negative Definition.
I can make it still clearer by adding
this: No rebid or response Is a sign -oh
if it either
Cd Takes the bidding. or Is driving
the partner to take the bidding beyond
a contract for two odd; or
(2) If it breaks new ground q. e.,
shows a fresh suit or makes a positive
move in no trumps) in such manner as
to drive the bidding beyond contract
larly when partner may have to deny
or get you out Of bid Of two no
trumps
Do not consider these explanations as
applying after an opening bid of one no
trump has been made. As you know,
there is special bidding procedure
then, and we have our own way OF sign
ing off in a suit, as very fully explained
in earlier articles. The princinle is the
same as you see, but it woul,. only be
confusing if did not make 1t clear that
what I am explaining now in connec-
ton with sign-offs is meant for the
bidding which can follow an opening
bid of one in suit.
Illustrative Bidding Sequences.
Assuming the opponents do not over
call-by doing so they make it easy for
you to sign off by passing, at least on
the first opportunity-th opening
bidder is signing of by merely rebidding
his suit. One heart, one spade or one
no trump. two hearts. The same ap-
plies II the bidding is one heart, two
diamonds or two clubs, two hearts. On
the contrary, if the bidding goes one
heart one no trump, two no trumpS,
now the opener Is definitely not signing
off, but strongly inviting continuance,
as if the responder makes another move,
either by seeking safety in belated
heart raise or by bidding a weak suit
himself, then the bidding Is ipso facto
apply to one heart, one no trump, two
spades. Opener, despite the preliminary
weak response Of one no trump, is driv-
ing his partner to bid beyond the two
level, even If only from dismay. To bid
thus, he must feel practically sure Of
making three odd in hearts on his own
13 cards, relying on the partner for no
more than one trick and one entry into
dummy.
Copyright, 1g33)
Mr. Sims will answer all inquiries on con-
tract that are addressed to this newspaper,
with self-addressed. stamped envelope.