Evening star., 1939-01-22
In Local Bridge Circles
Skillful Defense Wins Many Top Scores

UOp QOIlOIS Ill Spduco VI CWO VI IIleIH
and the queen doubleton of dia-
monds, an assumption that it would
be unwise to rely upon.
: East's pass when his side has a
part score indicates weakness, and
West can scarcely risk vulnerable
overcall at the level Of four when
his partner passes an opportunity to
make an opening bid. 1t is neces-
sary for North only to have the
spades stopped with a card as low
as the jack in order to enable South
to make three no trump unless West
should hold and play the A K @ of
spades and reserving his ace of dia-
monds should lay down a heart for
his fourth lead. thus forcing South
to lead away from her king of dia-
monds after winning with the ace
of hearts and running seven clubs.
South would still make three no
trump if her partner held the queen
doubleton of diamonds and the king
of hearts. With q diamond lead
and a return of diamonds, South
could make three no trump regard
less of the location of the spades.
for she. would then win seven clubs,
one heart and one diamond, nine
tricks. OF course, it is possible to
defeat the contract one or more
tricks with certain unfavorable
distribution and with North hold
ing blank hand. The chances,
however, are about four to one in
favor of the success of three no
trump contract, and with that per-
centage there. should be no hesita-
ton in making the bid.
If there is some enthusiastic bridge
fan who seeks fame in the world OF
contract and the gratitude of his
fellow players, he can achieve both
by offering another challenge cup.
Col. Edward Clifford. former Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury, an
ardent lover of the game, inaugu-
rated the idea four years ago, and
its proved to be a big success. Dur
ing that time the challenge cup was
in play Al times at the Washington
Bridge League, and was finally won
for permanent possession by team
composed of Mr.. and Mrs. James H.
Lemon, Lewis r. Watson, jr.; Mrs.
M. r. West and Louis Newman, the
latter substituting for Mrs. West
when she became too i'll to play.
The condition imposed by Col.
Clifford was that the team winning
it Is times, not successfully, but a
total of Is times when challenged,
should have it permanently. Origi-
nally, it was placed in the hands of
the District championship team,
whose duty it was to play in defend
ing their title to it against all chal-
lengers. There were various pre-
liminary matches for the right to
challenge the holders whoever they
might be, until finally the contest
was reduced to two teams, one of
whom by repeated successes seemed
destined to be the final victors The
second team was a siX-man team
composed of LIE Roy Thurtell, Simon
Gerber, DR.. E. B. Conolly, Herbert
Shepard, Tom Hanlin and William
Mcintyre, the last two named being
finally eliminated by reason of alb
sence from Washington. This team
won the cup IA times. Six wins were
made by team composed of Thur
tell, Mcintyre, Benton Brooks and O
Brotman. Twice it was won by the
Lemons playing with A. P. Stockvis
and Tom Hamlin and twice by q
team composed of DR.. A. j. Stein
berg, Martin May, H. r. King and
A. I. Westrich; once by D. c. Elliott
Mark Lake, Col Clifford and 1t
Comdr. w. A. Corley. and once by
F. c. Brown. F. S. Smith, Benton
Brooks and o. L. Veerhoff.
The deciding match came when
the Lemon team and the Thurtel
team, each with IA victories. were SET
against each other, the former win
ming by 1000 margin.
The names of the various winners
are all inscribed upon the cup anc
now there is an opening for the
offering of another similar trophy
with the assurance that the contes,
for it will be productive of a spirited
battle of the cards and afford a high
degree of interest.
Is there another player who will
be benefactor?
The Executive Committee of the
Federal Bridge League has decided
that new teams entering the second
half of the season series of games
will start at par so far as season
averages are concerned. This de-