Evening star., 1942-07-26
In Local Bridge Circles
By Frank B. Lord.

The war has tendency to stimu-
late bridge activities. The game
promotes morale by giving tired
war workers an opportunity for
pleasurable pastime at small ex-
pense; 1t seeks no privileges or pri-
critics but, on the other hand, con-
tributes financial aid to the war
ef1ort and to war agencies. The
effect that the war does have upon
contract, however, is to localize it
to certain extent.
With present conditions of travel
and hotel accommodations it is diff
cult Tor players to make long jour-
neys to take part in national bridge
matches, and they are therefore
obliged. more or less, to conf1ne
themselves to regional events. This
is one of the reasons why the an
nual summer tourney, which for
many years has been held at As
bury Park, N. j.. has been trans
terred to New York City for the
first week of August.
Another reason is the fact that
the Government may take over
some OF the facilities at Asburv
necessary for holding the tourna-
ment there. Already it has COM
mandeered several large hotels at
Atlantic City, and it is possible that
IL may at any time command the
Dig Convention Hall at Asburv. the
scene OF past bridge performances.
Moreover, the land lights along the
Jersey coast often silhouette ships
short distance at sea and cause
tnem to become targets for sub
marines. making necessary the
dimming of illumination. It would
0e embarrassing and confusing. at
least. If while a grand slam were
oelng played blackout should sud-
denly be ordered.
When the possibilities of such a
situation came to the knowledge
OF Bill" McKenney, the alert sec
retary of the American Contract
Bridge League, he promptly ar
ranged for holding the tournament
at the Park Central Hotel in New
YORK, where all accommodations
and conveniences are available.
Washington players have ALWAYS
taken a keen interest in the sum-
mer tournament, and its removal
TO New York will not interfere with
their participation, even if thew
nave to forego the added attrac-
tons which Asbury offers. The
program will remain the same as
arranged. Next wear if
conditions are favorable the tourna-
ment Will be returned to the Jersey
resort.
The super-skill which a PLAYER ar.
qulres at bridge is seldom lost even
when there is hiatus in exercis-
ing IL. 1t seems to return with the
magic touch Of the cards. Mrs
Huth kavanaugh is an examnle
Severa years ago Mrs. Kayanaueh
was considered one of the act play-
ers OF washington. She won MANY
prizes In local and regional games
ana was looked upon as a very for
midable opponent. Circumstances
oohged her to take bridge "vaca-
llon'' and for nearly two years she
played little If at all. Last week she
returned to the arena in the tourna-
ment at Lynchburg, Va. Selecting
LOUIS Newman, another bridge
celebrity, as her partner, she
romped away from her adversaries
IN the open pair game, which was
the most important match of the
series. Her rivals declared that she
played the best bridge of her career,
and the result seemed to indicate
That such was the case. The pair
was top by a wide margin in both
sessions OF the event. They finished {
With a score that was 40 points
ahead OF the runners-up and three
and one-half boards to the good.
Mr.. Newman graciously acknowl-
edged that she was the better man"
of the pair and said he would not |
undertake to predict what she