Evening star., 1938-10-09
Bv Frank B. Lord.

Bridge pointer. Distribution Is the
uncertain factor in every deal and
not infrequently 1t upsets the calcula-
tions of the experts. There is no rule
that can govern 1t positively. Only
experience and analysis can give
the declarer 4 guide. When the bid
ding by adversaries and the opening
lead afford no definite information,
If the number Of cards in q given suit
held by the adversaries, as may be
determined after the first lead is made
by adding the number Of cards Of the
given suit, held by dummy and de-
clarer, Is six, the distribution is likely
to be four and two; If 1t Is four, the
distribution Is likely to be three and
one; II the number Is five, then calcu-
late on an adverse distribution Of
three and two; If it Is three. then cal
culate that the distribution is two and
one. However, holding nine Of q suit
with ace and king, calculate that the
division will be two and two. When
the distribution of the suit between
the adversaries Is not even and there
Is an outstanding ranking card. calcu-
late that this card Is held by the ad"
versary having the greater number OF
cards Of that suit.
Most of the TOO bridge players who
heard Ely Culbertson's lecture on con-
tract last Wednesday at Woodward d
Lothrop's could scarcely fail to be
impressed with that feature Of his talk
which dealt with the subject of pen
atty doubles" Apart from the pleas
antries, the personalities and the de-
velopment Of the game to which he
which dealt with the subject Of pen
atty doubles" 1t is q phase of the
game in which many Washington
players are deficient, although per-
haps no more SO than players else
where. 1t Is call that often means a
wide difference in the score Of a game,
and its use Is altogether too infre-
quent, particularly in loose bidding.
Mr.. Culbertspn pointed out that
there are two types Of penalty dou-
blers, one conservative or tight
doubler and the other light dou-
bier; the first is one who often waits
too long to make the double and al
lows his partner to get into con-
tract which cannot be made and is
perhaps doubled himself rather than
to make the double at the first oppor-
tunity and exact the penalty for his
own side. The other is the light dou-
bled who doubles too soon. Women.
he said. as rule are weaker on the
point of penalty doubling than men.
When partner makes an original bid
which is overcalled by second hand at
= higher level in a suit in which third
hand is strong and doubles the over
call that is the time for partner to
accept the double and remain silent
rather than to attempt a rescue which
is often disastrous. A part score be-
low the line is very poor Offset for
several hundred above the line re-
sulting from penalty double, but
many players fail to recognize the fact.
In this connection and with the use
OF a chart Mr.. Culbertson discussed
the forcing pass. He showed typical
hand where one side had reached .
four heart contract in bidding over q
three spade call and the spade bidder
had passed although he would have
been able to make four spades. in order
to permit his partner to make double
Of the four heart bid. Declarer was
set far more than could be made If
the spade bidder had been allowed to
make his contract.
Mr.. Culbertson described the ideal
no-trump bid rs one where the dis
tribution is 3-3-3-4 and pointed
out the futility OF an overcall in q
minor suit simply because the bidder
has four honors in his suit. Four
honors, he said, had cost the bridge
players OF the country million dol
lars. He showed q chart of such q
deal which is not usual, where such 4
bid had resulted in a loss to the
declarer which was twice what he
would have suffered had the no.
trump bidder been left alone with that
bid.
The pass, Mr.. Culbertson said, is the
most eloquent bid in bridge. Many
people know how to bid, but few know
how to pass He illustrated this point by
the story of the two women who had
never played contract or auction, only
old-fashioned whist, who were induced
to take 4 hand in q tournament. and
who never made q single bid, yet won
the championship.
The Allies of the Federal Bridge