Evening star., 1945-02-25
Bridge e
Bv Frank B. Lord

The Governments ban on conven-
tions, which seeks to prevent the
assembling OF more than so persons
requiring railroad and bus trans
portation and hotel accommoda-
tions, served TO keep Washington
bridge players from attending the
18th annual Eastern contract cham
pionschip games, which were in
play throughout the past week at
the Park Central Hotel in New
York City. The Eastern has hereto
fore been one Of the big events on
the yearly bridge calendar, and local
players frequently have participated.
This year, however. the contest
ants were chiefly those residing
within the metropolitan area and
who did not require the use Of
public conveyances or hotel facili-
ties. The program opened on Sat-
urday afternoon and will be con-
cluded tonight, thus affording eight
days of play. The trophy donors
again win contribute the money
usually spent for trophies to the
War Orphans Fund, sponsored by
the American Contract Bridge
League, under which the tourna-
ment was conducted. Already the
league has awarded II scholarships,
and 1t expects to pay for Is more
this year.
All the games in the Eastern were
open, without restriction, except the
amateur pair match. There were
flve principal events, including the
amateur pairs for the Liberman IT,
ties In two sessions on the afternoon
and evening Of the first day: the
mixed pairs for the George Reith
memorial titles, in two sessions last
Sunday, followed BY the open teams
for the Reisinger titles, with qualify
ing rounds on Monday and Tuesday,
and knockout rounds on Wednesday
and Thursday, and the final round
on Friday night; the women's pairs
for the Wainwright titles. In two
sessions on Thursday and Friday
afternoons and concluding with the
open pairs for the Goldman titles,
in two sessions, yesterday afternoon
and evening, and final session
tonight. Eugene r. Smith Of WASH
ington was one Of the co-winners
OF this event last year.
The Government team gained one
board last Tuesday night in its first
position in the series Of the Federal
Bridge League. The Army four
some is now fve boards behind 1t.
The Government players won 141a
out of "a boards in section A, but
the best record of the session was
made by the Gripers, who won II
boards out Of "a in section B and
thus advanced to section A. The
Allies remain at the head of the
second division.
The Redskins took 151z boards
out Of "a in section c and advanced
to the second section, leaving the
Stays leading in section c. In sec
ton D the Nu Aces won l4h boards
out Of d. but the Jeeps remained
at the top OF that section.
Director Paul E. Golden announced
on Tuesday night that, in view of
the IL o'clock curfew, the games Of
the Federal hereafter will begin at
8 o'clock sharp in order to turn of
all lights at midnight Penalties will
be imposed on those teams that are
not ready to begin play at the des-
ignated time. Next Tuesday the
league will play its usual monthly
master point game, which is open
to players who are not members Of
the league.
The master point game at Mrs. D.
E. Stephans Euclid street studio Is
played on the third Monday Of each
month, instead Of on Thursday, as
heretofore stated. AT the session last
Monday the winners, North and
South, were Mr.. and Mrs John
Donnelly, first, and Mrs. r. D. Shell
don and Mrs. John Dever, second
East and West, Mrs. Agnes Young
and Mrs. M. E. Reddy, first, and
James G. Stone and Mrs. Catherine
Cotter, second. Under the arrange
ment Of the American Contract
Bridge League, which makes the
awards, master points are given both
to North and South and to East
and Mast u,i >, parc