Evening star., 1937-11-30
BY FRANK b. LORD,

Washington players slightly out
played the visiting contract aces last
night at the opening games of the
llth annual bridge tournament held
in the Hotel Shoreham under auspices
Of the American Contract Bridge
League. with the Washington Bridge
League acting as host.
In seven sections where average was
ITO, and in an eighth where average
was 72, local pairs made three of the
five highest scores. Mrs. Thomas
Brahany and her partner, Mrs. B. j.
Lloyd, went over the top with 1927
points; Mr.. and Mrs. L. G. Quigley
was second with lat points, DR.. and
Mrs. A. J. Steinberg were third with
l451a points. DR.. F. c. Blanck and
F. J. Halleuer fourth with las points
and J. c. Bishop and Raymond Kerr
fifth with 140 points. The first, third
and fourth pairs were Washington
players.
The ballroom OF the Shoreham pre-
sented picture of riotous color as
approximately 400 players sat down
and made their opening bids. The
play was in the nature of a prelim-
mary test Of skill and ability with
local pairs matched generally against
those from out Of town, as the real
national championship contests will
not begin until this afternoon. With
few exceptions. Washington players
sat in east and west positions, while
the visitors sat north and south. The
arrangement was made to afford
opportunity for forming acquaintance
among the players.
Cross Section Of Capital Life.
Washington social, professional and
business life was we'll represented.
Among the prominent personages TAX
ing part in the tournament were Mrs.
Frederick Van Nuys, wife of Senator
Van Nuys of Indiana; Mrs. Pat Nc
Carran, wife of the Senator from
Nevada; Col. Edward Clifford, former
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury;
Mrs. Royal c. Johnson, wife of former
Representative johnson of South Da-
kota; Capt. H. c. Train, U. S. N;
Comdr. F. c. Dunham, Col. E. B.
Gray, U. S. A.: 1t. Comdr. w. A.
Corley. U. S. N. retired, and many
others. More than 200 kibitzers
formed an interested audience which
watched the contestants from q dis
tance.
Ely Culbertson, regarded as the
country's bridge leader, was present
for a short time, but was too i'll to
take part in the games. He will play
later IN the week. Among the nobility
Of bridge from out of town were Baron
Waldemer Won zwedtwitz, Sir Derrick
j. Wernher, Gordon NJ Gibbs, presi-
dent of the national league; w. E.
McKenney, secretary of the league:
Mrs. A. M. Sobel, Mrs. Helen Rock
well of Warren, Pa, and others.
Participants stated that the run of
hands was average, with only a few
exceptional ones with which skillful
players were able to demonstrate their
ability by making difhcult contracts.
Small Slam Is Sample.
Among these was one played in
Section A. John c. Atchison. with
G. E. Stewart, both of Washington,
In partnership. Mr.. Atchison made a
small slam on the following deal:
North.
YAK 10 962
<1064
&74
West. East.
AKJ 109 AA52
vs. v
>J75 <A9832
"A jos %K95 3
AQs43
vQJ7543
<KQ
&8
Both sides vulnerable.
East-Daler.
M1. AtCAAl0Ol, SlttluS GhSt Upcucu
the bidding with one club; South bid
one no-trump, West one spade, and
North three hearts. On the second
round East bid four spades, which
South doubled; West, then bid five
clubs which North passed. On the
third round East bid five diamonds,
South passed and West bid six clubs
which NORTH passed.
The bidding was an example of ace
showing on the part Of East and a
response by West showing fits for his
partners hand. South led the queen
OF hearts, trumped by the declarer,
who, after exhausting all adversely
held trumps, led the ace of diamonds.
When South played the queen the
e. -