Evening star., 1935-03-28
CULBERTSON TOPS
S|MS3,29PO|NT
Retains Edge at End of 23
Rubbers in 150-Rub-
ber Match.
BY the Associated Press.

!, BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, March 2s.-Ely Cul-
bertson retained the edge In his 150-
rubber bridge argument with P. Hal
Sims today, as they neared the end
of the first week Of play.
Culbertson and his wife Josephine
saw their lead increased to $3.50
points at the end of of % rubbers,
although at one time during last
nights play their advantage was only
900 points.
Sims, who is playing with his wife
Dorothy in the test of the different
systems of bidding, made desperate
attempt to take the lead in the final
rubber last night. Trailing by 1850
points as they went into the last rub
ber, Sims, with both sides vulnerable,
bid a small slam in diamonds.
Culbertsons Make Slam.
He went down two, doubled, and
on the next hand the Culbertsons
came through with a small slam lay
down, carrying the rubber by 1880
points.
The Culbertson's started yesterdays
play with a lead of 1,750 points and
made virtually their entire gain in
the afternoon session, when, in four
rubbers, they boosted their score to
: $3.50. In five rubbers last night they
gained only 20 points.
The Simses rallied in the night
; session by taking the first three rub
bers and reducing the Culberston lead
: to 600. Then the tide turned and the
Culbertsons won the last two rubbers,
! the twenty-second and twenty-third
: Of the match.
Both sides were guilty of faulty
bidding throughout yesterdays play,
and more than a few hands were not
bid to their full strength. There were
frequent sets also.
. Flaws Seen in Bidding.
One observer within the inclosure
= at Crockfords Club. where the match
!: is being played, remarked at the end
of the nights playing that both Sims
and Culbertson tossed away thousands
Of points by not getting the full value
Of their hands.
Extreme cordiaNty prevailed among
all four players, and If any Of the
ringside kibitzers came expecting to
see fireworks they were disappointed.
During a recess, however, Culbert-
son offered to wager Sims $50 to $100
that the Simses would be the first to
indulge In any marital explosives.
Sims rejected the bet.
It's Darling" and "Angel."
"I don't want to be under any re-
strictions," he said.
Sims has been calling his wife
darling" and "angel" when refer
ring to her playing or bidding.
Thus far, ISL hands have been
dealt and Culbertson accountants are
carefully tabulating the distribution
of aces and kings. The Simses hold
q slight advantage, with 300 aces and
312 kings to 2e5 aces and 292 kings
for the Culbertsons.
Mrs. Sims has frequently employed
the one-club bid to denote supporting
strength In the other suits, and Mrs
CulbertSon, apparently assuming East
had a short club suit, opened the
jack of clubs Dummy covered with
the queen, which held. The king of
clubs was then played which South's
ace took. South led the four of hearts
which West took with the seven.
West now led a small club to dunn
my's nine, played the ten and fol-
lowed by taking three rounds of dia-
monds, ending in dummy. West then
led a small spade, covered South's
king with the ace and took the queen
and jack Of spades.
The hand was worth sec points to
the Sims side. Culbertson said he
thought the double was justified, al
though the hand cannot be set.
The players will meet for an after
noon session today, but will have no
night session. Two sessions tomorrow
will conclude the first weeks play.