Evening star., 1939-06-18

ent ways, out always the contract
was either in no trump or diamonds,
and the size of the contract and the
method OF reaching it varied with
most OF the l3 different pairs that
played 1t. West has 51a honor
tricks and not unfavorahle distribu-
ton. 1t would seem that a two
bid OF some sort is demanded, Ger
tainly a two no-trump bid. Those
who were timid bid only one no.
trump and got tWo-diamond re-
sponse. One or two players in
South's position put in a nuisance
bid of two hearts, which was a bit
dangerous. and they went no further.
There was at least one instance
where West raised East's diamond
bid to three and thereupon East
bid three no-trump.
With singleton heart this was
somewhat dangerous, even though
West had opened with a trump
and raised the diamond bid In this
case five no-trump was made with
out difficulty, although six was Just
as easy if West had noted South S
first discard of the eight of hearts,
which in the circumstances indi-
Gated that he probably held the
ace. After exhausting the diamonds,
leading the three of hearts up to
the king would have given North
and South only one trick, the ace of
lol
stead, and West refused to finesse
the jack, five no-trump was made.
In other cases where the Jack was
flnessed only four no-trump was
made, as North Immediately threw
declarer in the lead with a club
and obliged West to lead away from
the king OF hearts. 1t would seem
that the best bid in the circum-
stances is six diamonds, which can
not be defeated by any defense. One
South player led the queen of hearts
and the declarer made seven dia-
monds by going up with the king
Only one player reached a small
slam in no-trump and only two be-
side the one who made seven dia-
monds on a six bid reached a small
slam in that suit.
Alvin Roth, l13 Nineteenth street
NV, and Oscar j. Brotman, 1900
New Hampshire avenue NV. won
second place, East and West, in the
United States championship of the
eighth annual World Bridge Olym-
pic. according TO the announcement
made recently by William E. Nc
kenney, executive secretary of the
American Contract Bridge League
! which sponsored the event. The
North and South players to win sec
ond place were Mr. and Mrs. Vincent
Healy, 220 East Walton place, Chi
cago Several units of the Olympic
were played in Washington, the
Roth-Brotman pair playing at the
Cheeks Studio, 1928 Decatur place
NV.
The American teams winning first
place were Mrs. C. C. Covington. 1924
West Pierce street. and Anton Bugge,
29l5 Arbor avenue, Houston. Tex,
North and South, and Mrs. Marcella
Miller. l22 Spruce street. and Man.
dell Shimberg. 326 Arch avenue,
Leavenworth, Kans., East and West.
The widely separated locations of
the players on the winning teams
are explained by Mr.. McKenney as
due to the fact that the play of the
hands was scored against a pre-
established par and that the best
North and South pair was teamed
with the best East and West pair in
the final ratings. The members of
the winning foursomes did not play
together.
The world Olympic games were
played on the night of April 27 and
consisted of 20 rounds of duplicate
contract. all participants in all ma
tions throughout the world playing
the same hands. Bridge enthusiasts
in 40 countries and in many princi-
palities. provinces, states, munich
palities and towns took part in the