Judge — April 5, 1930 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ne this department ae tedly the most remarkable ca a Contract player ean win the game and rubbe inst any possible distribution of the cards and against any defense of the adversaries ifter the opening lead is made, it would seem that an alibi was out of all reason. Yet suc deal was re- cently played at one of our leading rlubs and: both the Declarant and his partner disputed mightily over the “bad bidding” that resulted in a 500- point penalty. It was rather curious that no stion was taken as to the play, it being conceded that the “breaks were terrible.” Oddly enough, the prevailing idea of very many players is that Contract is mostly a bidding game—much more so than Auction. I can sce no reason to change my opinion that in Contract, as in Auction, the play of the cards is just as important, if not more so, than the bidding. To arrive at the proper declaration is of little use, unless the player possesses the ability to win the xame, if it is obtainable. os 9 AQS oO AG & AQI10863 The Bidding North East South 2 Clubs] Pass | 2 Spades 4 Clubs] Pass [4 No Trumps North was bitter in his lamentation that he was not permitted by his part- ner to hold the contract at four Clubs nd make the declaration together with a hundred honors, South's plaint was that the bid of four Clubs should not have been made. At three No Trumps, two hundred points would have been saved, and if North had then gone back to four Clubs, South would have permitted it to hold—so he said. The opening lead was the seven of Hearts, upon which dummy played low and the King won. East switched to the low Spade and the suit was continued until 1 played the Ace. tant Club finesse went astray and the Now the all-impor- contract went on the rocks for three tricks. What is wrong with the picture? As the Heart finesse is not essential to win. the game, it should not be | taken. The Ace should be played at once and South should take the second trick with the King of Diamonds. | Now the nine of Clubs is led and— win or lose—ten tricks must be won before West can possibly get in to lead through the guarded Queen of Hearts. While it is true that a trick or two might be gained by taking the finesse on the first play, it is assuredly not worth while to gamble away the game on the chance that the cards will lay just right. The penalties at Con- tract are too severe to fool with, when the game is waiting to be won. It | should have been apparent on this deal that if East could win the first trick some other suit would be re- turned and a first-class guesser might even have been able to divine the suit that would be led. P18 Hotels that keep ahead of your demands ‘The traveling public didn’t de- mand a bath with every room, or circulating ice water, or a morning paper under the door at no cost—unti/ Hotels Statler inaugurated these improve- ments. There are also bed-head reading lamps, full-length mir- rors, colorful furnishings, even threaded needles in the pin- cushions in every room. In restaurants there is the widest varicty, ranging from formal a la carte service to lunchroom or cafeterias. But it is in Statler Service that this policy of keeping ahead of your demands is most noticeable. Statler employees are not only instructed but are trained in courtesy and helpful- ness. They, too, keep ahead of your demands. HOTELS STATLER BOSTON DETROIT BUFFALO ST.LOUIS CLEVELAND NEW YORK [Motel Pennsylrania\ comicbooks.com