Judge — October 1933 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

Judge Slams and Finesses By Zero-Doceus UCTION writers emphasize the leading of the fourth best from your longest and strongest suit. In Con- tract, however, the fourth best lead usually means that you had three better leads. From an article by Mr. Ely Culbert- son in the September issue of the British Bridge World, page 249, second column, fourth line:— “I would add that successful slam bid- ding is practically impossible with the four-five no trump convention.” That makes it unanimous. C. F. Waltman of Reading, Penna., shed real tears, and this is the reason why— Spades Hearts A K Q AK Q Diamonds A K Q J Clubs A K Q He was actually dealt these cards in a game of rubber bridge. He took one look at the hand, decided that the boys were playing a practical joke on him, and threw it in. Between sobs, Mr. Waltman will state that they were play- ing for low stakes. We wish to congratulate Mr. M. S. Reilly on his successful management of the Auction Bridge Club of Chicago, which is recognized as one of the out- standing clubs of that city. “The element of chance makes a game interesting; mastery of chance makes it thrilling."—Dorothy Rice Sims. Movie directors evidently don’t know that there are no 5’s in Contract scor- ing any more; otherwise how will they account for the 2165 score in a recent movie release? To show the depths to which genius will descend, Mrs. H. B. Enderton con- tributes the following remark of Lieu- tenant Wally Hastings, who was gradu- ated from the United States Military Academy with the highest grades ever made by a West Point cadet and who is now one of the most enthusiastic Con- tract players stationed at the Point: Mrs, Hastings: “I bid three no trump.” Opponent: “Let’s see, a three no trump bid is made on a count of what?” Wally Hastings: “On account of her not being vulnerable.” One bright ray has been discovered against a murky background, From the English Press we are very pleased to learn that Mike Gottlieb made so favor- able an impression on the British play- ers and public. It seems that he not only gave an exhibition of fine card playing, but his manners and deportment were at all times such that they evoked the praise of the English commentators. Ely Culbertson writes, in the London “Daily Telegraph” : “I think systems are worn out and people are getting tired oj them. This is probably the last Match I shall play in which the Culbertson system will be played against any other system.” Inside Information By Margaret Fitch Van Alyea FEW weeks ago the chairman of what is for some reason called the Entertainment Committee, asked me to speak at a meeting of her club. I ad- mitted the date she suggested was con- venient for me but hesitated to promise to speak until I knew what subject she had selected for me. “Why bridge!” She answered with such undue em- phasis that I could hardly refrain from telling her that I felt I could also speak, if pressed, on such subjects as “Should All Children Go to Sunday School?” or “Why Amateur Theatricals ?” However, I showed great self-control and asked for a few specific details concerning the occasion. She told me that the members wished me to speak for about twenty minutes during luncheon, and that in that time I was to teach them the Sims System. Unfortunately, I contracted a bad sore throat and could not fulfill the engagement. It so happened that a few days later two friends of mine dropped in to say that they were on their way to play a set game of rubber bridge against two Sims players, and they were afraid that unless they had an unusual run of good luck their chances of winning were slight as they still played the Ark Sys- tem (abbreviation for any Archaic Sys- tem). It was unusual to be asked so soon again to teach the system in a few minutes, so I decided to jot down just a few “tips” on what to expect from a Sims opponent. If, by chance, I were playing as the partner of Sir Derrick Wernher or Johnny Rau or Mr. Sims, himself, I should always open the bidding at the one level, and would never open with a bid of two or three in a suit unless I had not more than two or three losing cards in my hand; thus, I would not force my partner to keep the bidding open for a game contract without a sure game in my own hand. In a duplicate match I saw an exponent of one of the Ark systems bid three hearts on the fol- lowing,—a holding which a Sims player would consider very suitable for an opening bid of one: 18 Spades K 10 x Hearts A J 10x xxx Diamonds A K x Clubs Consider carefully a Sims player's opening bid of one no trump. This bid is never shaded in any position and guarantees at least three primary tricks, plus some secondary values. Some peo- ple who use a less perfect system bid one no trump when they have quite a few face cards and feel they must say something, while others refuse to bid the no trump when, even though they have the requisite number of tricks, their hands contain a biddable five card suit. When I bid one no trump it dos. not deny a good five card suit, and many times the player on my left will choose as his opening lead a card of the very suit which I have refused to bid. I bid and made one no trump on the following hand and a player of another system bid one heart on the same board and was defeated. Spades A J Hearts AQ Diamonds K J Clubs K x It happened that the player on the leit had a long string of hearts and opened into my tenace. Beware of a Sims player’s pass! Do not take it for granted that because I deal and refuse to open it is always tre that I have a mediocre or poor hand. Ii T held, for instance, the following cards. nothing could induce me to bid, though any Ark player would consider himsei justified in bidding one diamond. Spades x x x Hearts x x x Diamonds A K x x Clubs AY x. x The practice of passing hands such 3 this, which contain three primary tricks but which do not contain a natural rebid. makes it possible to score enormow penalties against the opponents who ste? out a little gaily. It is practically impossible to give yo enough inside information in such a fer moments, and my best advice, if you pit to play against a Sims team, is—don't. x Jxx x comicbooks.com