Evening star., 1938-07-31
In Local Bridge Circles
Bridge Event of Year Opens Tomorrow.
By Frank B. Lord.

~ RIDGE POINTER: The first
* opportunity overcall in the
opponents bid suit indicates
- q very strong hand and de-
mands take out by partner even If
he has marlborough. He has at least
four suit. It Is equivalent to
an opening two bid and Is game
demand. 1t shows that the player
making the overcall has first-round
control Of the adversary's suit, either
the ace or . void In that suit Occa-
sionally with advanced players the
singleton OF the opponents suit may
not be an ace. but compensating val
ues are indicated, and the bidding
must be kept open until game Is
reached. Later In the bidding. II
patrner has opened, the overcal in
opponents bid suit Is an invitation
to \ slam.
THEY are of for Asbury Park. N. J.
"A formidable delegation of
Washington bridge players-to attend
the 18th annual summer session of the
national championships of the Amer
lean Contract Bridge League which
begins there tomorrow and will con-
tinue through Monday Of next week.
The meeting Is the biggest happening
Of the year In the world of bridge
and attracts some Of the best players
from all parts OF the country. It is
of Importance both nationally and
locally. and especially so to WASH
ington fans. as its counterpart, the
winter national championship matches,
were held here for the first time last
November December, and went into
the record As the most successful in
the history OF contract bridge in
America.
The games will be played IN Con-
vention Hall on the boardwalk rather
than as last year in the high school
auditorium. That Is much more pleas
ing to the participants. as it affords
them closer contact with the ocean,
the bathing beach. the hot-dog stands
and the many summer attractions
along Asbury's. seaside promenade.
Ordinarily. bridge players want quiet
and seclusion for their struggles. yet
when the summer gayeties and diver
sions are SO near they want to be
among them instead of being shunted
to remote part Of the resort. They
wish to be q part Of the atmosphere
Of the citys attractions Hence, the
Convention Hall meeting place has
the approval of the players
The event will signalize the first
summer session Of the league since
the smalgamation OF the American
Bridge League and the United States
Bridge Association last September,
and as result the attendance in
all events Is expected to establish
new records
The program will start tomorrow
afternoon with play in the mixed
team of four championship This
event, one Of the most popular on
the schedule. Is anticipated to be q
record breaker in the number of
teams entered. Monday and Tuesday
evenings and Wednesday afternoon
will be given over to the mems pair
championship and the women's pair
championship. which will be con-
Quoted simultaneously. As used to
be the custom in the time New
England country churches. the men
will be seated on one side Of the hall
and the women on the other while
they contest separately for bridge
honors.
The grand national masters team
Of four will replace the national
knockout team OF four on the pro-
gram this year. The knockout team
of four match, which was merged
with the Vanderbilt, was played in
New York three months ago. Asbury
will thus this year see two great
masters events instead Of one as pre-
viously. the other being the grand
masters pair match. which is the
blue ribbon event Of all bridge cir
cles. and in which victory IS the
most highly priced Of all bridge
achievements. The team of four game
will be played Wednesday and Thurs
day evenings. Friday afternoon and
Saturday evening, with further ses-
sions on Sunday and Monday. ce-
pending upon the size Of the entry
list.
The grand national masters pair
contest for the Won Zedtwitz Trophy
will begin Thursday afternoon and
sessions are scheduled for Friday eve
ming and Saturday and Sunday after
moons. These two matches afford