Evening star., 1944-12-17
By Frank B. Lord

u
By Frank B. Lord
Washington players who attended
the 18th annual tournament Of the
American Contract Bridge League
last week in Atlantic City did moi
return home burdened with trophies
won in the major championship
games, but they did add substan-
TALLY to their master point rating
William Cheeks, who supervised the
social features Of the meet. gathered
In 5 master points, Mrs. Jack Ben.
NETT 41a. Mrs. Harold Young 3, Mrs
Cheeks 2 and Mrs. Frederic Ebersor
/. The three women each won 8
point by coming fourth in the WON.
ems pair game, which was again wor
by last years winners, Mrs. Wilker-
son Wagar of Atlanta, Mrs. Heller
Sobel of New York, Mrs. j. e. Fol.
line OF Richmond and Mrs. Ralph
Young of Philadelphia. Mr.. Cheek.
won his points chiefly in the spe.
cial games, playing with Mrs. Cheek,
and Mrs. Bennett.
In the series of games played
throughout the week, Mrs. Heller
Sobel made the best record by com.
ing either first or second and BY
being third In the open pair witt
Charles Goren. The classic of thu
event, the open pair match, wa.
taken by Ambrose Cosner anc
Ralph Hirschberg of New York aftel
a difficult struggle in three session.
OF play. A. S. Frank and A. s. Gold.
smith of Cleveland were second, anc
Mr.. Goren and Mrs. Sobel third
Mrs. Sobel, playing with Sidney Sid
idor, also won the mixed pair con.
test. The team of four match wa.
won by the foursome of Charlie;
Solomon, Mrs. Colder, Stanley Fin.
kel and "Skippy" Becker, with Mis-.
Ruth Sherman as alternate.
Miss E. P. S. wants to know i
there are any conditions which war,
rant player In bidding a three.
card suit, If a slam try Is not in.
| dicated.
There is, of course, no excuse fol
opening bid on q three-card suit
but, according to some authorities
such a bid is permissible in certain
circumstances. Mr.. Goren cites one
If the dealer has made an openin,
bid Of one, the adversary on hi
left has doubled and the third han,
has passed, it is obligatory upol
the fourth hand player to make
bid, unless he feels very sure tina
the bid of one can be set. TIL
responding hand cannot otherwis
pass his partners double.
Holding a quick stopper in tn
bid suit, the responder may call on
no trump, and if that is overcalled
he should leave the rest to hi
partner. who has the strong hand
he has indicated three quick tricks
If the only four card in the re
spending hand is the original bid
der's suit and is without stopper
the hand may then bid a three
card suit. II it can be made at tn
level OF one OF if the suit headet
by an ace or is the K-Q-X, SO mucl
the better. After that, the burdel
or responsibility is upon the doubler
1t was he who started the trouble
1t is true that double of one n,
part score does not mean game, bu
If 1t Is made, especially with one o
two extra tricks, the expense i
heavy upon the doubling side.
Many excellent players in Wash
lngton follow the practice of bid
ding on a three-card suit to shov
an ace when partner has made al
original forcing two bid in a suit
The convention is not UNIVERSAL,
used. but Is quite general here. l
shows the two bidder that his part
ner does not have an entirely blanl
hand, and he feels more assurance
in going to game which his bid ha
advertised either in his suit or il
no trump, If he knows that hi
dummy will have an ace.
Except in these circumstances,
three card bid is not warranted un
less it is in connection with a Sian
invitation.
The British Missions Stan Clul
has entered the field of duplicate
players under the tutelage of Mrs
N. S. Dixon, who has been givini
its members a course of instruction
in the game. In their first attemp
at duplicate, they played in tn,
clubs headquarters, converted
garage in the rear of 1915 @ street
The winners were w. A. Ward ane
Miss Anne Young, first, north anc
south, and Mr.. and Mrs. A. H
T xrroe frrt