Evening star., 1948-12-19
THE SUNDAY STAR washington, D. G.
SUNDAY DECEMBER ~. 1sA.
Bridge Players
By Margaret L. Fisher

Whether to finesse or play for
cropping the queen Is q well-known
bridge headache, but to Charles C..
Johnson this was a fateful decision
as the 1g48 world masters mixed
pair title hung in the balance last
week in Miami.
While playing the last two boards
against the ultimate victors, Mrs.
Wilkinson Wager of Atlanta and
John Crawford of Philadelphia, Mr..
johnson was confronted with such
a decision and chose the wrong
line of play, going down one trick
doubled, vulnerable. This and other
near bottom board against the win
ners caused the terrific swing Of
65 match points that separated Mr..
johnson and his partner, Mrs.
Frank Myers Of Richmond, from
first place. However. they won run
nerup honors and to Mr.. johnson
goes credit for making the best
showing among the washington
participants in the 22d National.
Other local troupers who collected
national master point awards in the
Florida classic were Fred L. Karpin
and John Parish who, together with
their teammates. Irwin, Fisher of
Baltimore ana Or. Arthur Salasky
of Newport News. Va, finished
fourth in the open team event; Mr..
and Mrs. George L. Kathan. who
lost the Tamiami pair match on
Friday evening by half match
point; Kathleen McNutt, who paired
with Clarence Myers of Miami to
place in the Hospitality pair event,
initial game of the tournament, and
later took second honors with Mrs.
r c. Bayliss of Richmond in Spe-
cial game on December IL; DR.. and
Mrs. A. ]. steinberg who led the
Bougainvillea pairs on December 7,
and James G. Stone and his former
Washington partner, Mrs. Frederick
Eberson, who occupied second posi-
ton in an early session of the open
pair championship match last week
end. Mrs. Kathan also teamed with
former local player Mrs. Jeff Long,
and Mrs. Breckenridge Long and
Mrs. Harold Young, both Wash
ingtonians. to rest third in the
women's team game on December 9.
Final master point game Of the
Washington Bridge Leagues current
season was held at the Hotel Roose-
welt, Mrs. E. P. Cotter-John Moore
and Mrs. Ann Scruggs-Mrs. E. A.
st. John topping the north-south
fields in sections A and B, respec-
lively. Victor Barton-E. G. Harris,
jr., and the Bernard Rossons cap
tured east-west awards.
Second honors were shared by DR..
W. S. Benedict-David Murray, Mrs,
Howard G. Campbell William Pois-
SAINT, Frieda Kenyon Emily Reeder
and j. Thomas Breen-Capt. Wood
worth.
The two remaining 194S league
games on December % and 20 will
feature team-of-four playon and
concurrent rating point pair con-
tests, all scores to count in consid-
Grafton Of seasonal averages for in
dividual prizes.
The revolutionary system Of bid
ding introduced by Mai. John S.
Phillips in his new book, entitled
Precision Bidding for Better
Bridge" promises to cause quite a
stir among members Of the league.
Maj Phillips. who Is stationed
at nearby Andrews Field, XII
bitzed at last Wednesdays game,
later awarding copy of his
new book to each Of the win
ners.
Team-of-four playon continues
ut the Federal Bridge League. the
Bafhers (Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sher-
man, DR.. Lynn Edminster, Mrs. G.
3. Graham, Edward D. Stewart)
leading section A foursomes in the
December IS session with 14l1 out
Of "a boards. In section 3 the
Allies CMrs. June Hodgkins. r. H.
Higgins, Goodwin B. Graham, o. r.
Mathews tied with the Owls (Dr.
Emily Grewe, Mrs. Ann Scruggs,
c. z. Richter, Col. II. A. Walker) to
top their field, each team winning
IA boards.
Miss Laura Hunter and Rush
Buckley, q frst-time partnership,
paired to annex the 1948 mixed pair
title at Arlington Farms Duplicate
Club in the two session champion
ship match concluded December IL.
They not only topped the field, but
also led each round. Runnerup
Awards were earned nv Mrs .Iohn n