Evening star., 1940-07-21
BRIDGE
The Game and
Its Players
By Frank B. Lord.


tention Of any OF the recognized To-
cal bridge experts at this time, 1t Is
necessary to direct the conversation
toward some phase of the 14th an
nual world and national contract
bridge championship contests to be
conducted during the week of August
5 at Asbury Park, N. j. The tour
nament will be under direction of
the American Contract Bridge
League, which holds two conclaves
each year, one In the summer, al
ways at Asbury Park, and one In the
winter, In whatever city the league
may select. Last years winter tour.
nament was held at Pittsburgh and
this years winter meet will take
place In Philadelphia.
The league represents what is
rather freely termed the organized
players, that is, the duplicate players
who. although their number is much
smaller than those who play rubber
bridge. are nevertheless the ones
who put on the big bridge shows
and give the game it's wide popu-
larity. If the league recognized pro-
fessionals, its members and those
who participate in its competitions
might be so called, but it Is the
boast OF the organization that 1t has
no professional players, only ex-
perts, since there are never any
competitions for money, but only
for trophies. prizes and honors. The
field OF the league comprises all Of
the territory east Of the Mississippi:
The Pacific Coast has its own
league. but the two are not rivals
and often individual members par
ticipate in the events of both Or
ganizations. Only distance prevents
more frequent competition.
The league does not operate for
profit except when it devotes its
proceeds to some charitable purpose.
This year promises to provide the
biggest tournament in the history
Of contract. All of the stars of the
game are scheduled to attend, in
GLIDING a large contingent from
Washington, OF whom some rate
high In the official listings of the
league. Many of them are arranging
their vacations for the tournament.
Seven events are listed for the
week, beginning with the national
championship mems pairs, the ma
tional championship women's pairs
and mixed team competitions on the
opening day. Other events include
the world championship master
pairs, the world championship mas
ter teams and two non-master con-
tests for teams and pairs. Twice
each day, afternoon and evening,
there will be open duplicates, each
game being a separate contest for
prizes, and at the end of the week
another prize will be awarded to the
player making the best average in
five selected scores. Non-members
OF the league will be eligible for
these events. In each contest. both
major and minor, master points
will be awarded the winners and
runners-up which will enable some
to get their names on the coveted
list and will add to the ratings of
others. In some events the num-
ber Of master points to be awarded
will be as high as y, while in some
of the minor ones the award will
drop to one. In amateur matches,
those holding 10 or more master
points will not be eligible, thus af-
fording opportunity for less skillful
players to get recognition.
The league is making a special
effort to enlist the interest of nom
participants in its event. To this
end there will be an expansion of
seating facilities for spectators. Or
dinarily, 1t is difficult for more than
a very few persons to watch the play
at any table. A special arena will
be constructed for kibitzers which
will permit relatively large num-
Der of onlookers to follow the play.
A schedule will be arranged so
that every celebrated player at some
time during the tournament will
play In the "pen" where his skill
will be under observation of spec
tators.
Washington has been favored dur
ing the past week with an influx
of prominent out-of- town players.
Among those who have met some
Of the local talent IN play we're Mr..
and Mrs. Frank r Postell. San
Francisco; Ridgeway Bishop, Chi
cago, former vice president of the
A. c. B. L.; E. j. Binet, Cleveland;
Henry Brodie, New York; Mrs. Jean
Rohelder, Norfolk; Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Remlinger, Miami, and John
Finnerty, Buffalo.
The Railroad Administrator
Bridge Club began its summer Sc
ries of games last Tuesday at 2O10
r street NV. The prizes won in
the spring series by Mrs. Dorothy
Whitcomb and Mrs Jean Henry
were presented by William Cheeks.