THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 19

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Weekly Chat on Contract Specially Written for "The Post",by "Approach Bid"

THE AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC

The Australian Olympic, which was. held on October 14, is run on somewhat different lines irom the World Bridge Olympic. In the American contest, the sixteen set hands are bid and played as in ordinary rubber bridge. In the Australian tournament sixteen sefhands are played, but, accompanying each hand as it travels from table to table, is an envelope containing a printed slip, stating the contract at which, the hand is to be played, the opening lead, and in some cases the second lead also. After the bidding of the hand is finished, the opening lead is made, the card being played face down on the table. The North player then opens the envelope, and reads the instructions on .the printed slip to the players at the table. It does not matter how the hand has been already bid, it must be played at the contract set put in the instructions, and, if the correct lead has not been made, the card led must be taken back into the hand and the lead made as directed. The hands set for the contest were most interesting and instructive, illustrating fine points of play in both attack and defence. Hand No. 1:— .' * 0-5. ', 9 J.10.5.4.J. '4 X.10.9.4.2. i ' ♦7' . ■ ■ 4 ™. kSmE ♦ K.Q.J.10.4.3.2 * Q. 9.8.8; s j fi. . + A.Q.5. . g I ♦ 5.6.3. Jf, A.Q.6.2. , " Sonth. . | Jf, 5.4. . 4 A.S. 9 X.7.3. + J. 7. Jf, K.J.10.9.8.3. North dealer. Love all. ' INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTH. East to play the hand in 4 spades. South to lead the Jack of clubs. On the club lead, the Queen is finessed, and a small heart is then led to East's singleton-Ace. At trick three he leads a trump, which is taken immediately by South, who leads a club to be ruffed by his partner. North is now forced to lead up to dummy's hand, and can only play a small heart. East discards a losing diamond and South wins the trick with the King. A diamond is led through dummy's Ace Queen,' but it is too late to break the contract, as the Ace is put up at once, and East is able to discard his last diamond on dummy's Queen of hearts. Hand No. 2:— £ A.K.J.10.9.4. « A.4. . ♦ B. ■ A.6.3.3. 4 7.6.5. — .sorrsT A S-3-2----9 X.5.2. ■ -f, i 1$ J. 10.7. 4 9.8.7. > a ♦ A.K.J.10.5.4. £ Q.J.10.4. Sniuh. ft 9. A Q. 9 Q.f1.G.5.3. + Q. 3.2. Jf, X.5.7.2. East dealer. North-South vulnerable. INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTH. j North to play the.hand in 4 spades. I East to lead King of diamonds, .and

to follow with 9 of clubs.

North wins the lead at trick two with the Ace of clubs. There are apparently four losers between the two hands, two clubs, one heart, and one diamond. If, by losing one heart trick, North can create a means of throwing away losing clubs, he finds' a way to his contract.

When Souths hand is laid down, North sees a possibility of making his contract if he can establish the heart suit in dummy,. and so provide discards for, his losing clubs. For this plan to be successful, however, the opposition hearts must be held 3 and 2, and North must play for that possibility. As the hearts cannot be established until the third round of the suit, two rounds must be played before either of dummy's only two entry cards can be forced out. North, there- j fore, immediately on getting the lead. I plays the Ace and then a small heart. The four-spade contract can then be made against any defence. Nothing can possibly be lest by this procedure, while there is a chance of making the contract if the distribution is favourable. Hand No. 3:— 4 A..1.9. y .T. 5.4.2. ' * A.X.5. : * K.Q.7. ! * K.Q.10.2. - yorth . I £ T. 8.5.3. V 9.7. i ~ (• Q. 10.3. J. 10.9.3. :> IB ♦ 8-7.6.4.2. Jf, 5.4.2. I South. I ; . * 5.4. i 9 A.X.5.6. : 4 Q. . ; Jf, A.J.10.9.5.6. . : South dealer. East-West vulnerable. INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTH. '! South to play the hand in 7 clubs. West leads King of spades. : At trick two South leads the singleton Queen of diamonds, then enters dummy's hand with a trump. The Ace and King ol diamonds are played, on which South discards two hearts. He ruffs a third round of hearts, which establishes dummy's Jack, on which South discards his losing spade after drawing the opposition trump-. The play of three rounds of hearts before drawing trumps is unusual, but it is the only way in which the contract, can be made, as a trump must be left in North's hand to provide an entry for the established heart trick.

Apple Cream.—Pare and core four or six large apples, and cut them into quarters. Dissolve half an ounce of gelatine in sufficient water to cover it. Put the apples with the rind and juice of a small lemon in a covered jar, with sugar to sweeten. Bake the apples till they fall, take out the lemon rind and beat the apples to apulp. Mix thoroughly with the gelatine, and, when nearly cool, add half a cupful of. cream which has been whipped till firm. A few drops of cochineal may be added for colouring purposes. Put the preparation into a wet mould and turn out when set. ,