CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 266, 10 November 1933, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

PASSING A FORCED BID

(By ELY CUI,BEiRTSON.)

Unquestionably the us.e of psychic bida has added a tremendous thrill to ContracMor many players. To putguess an opponent at the bridge table is an accomplishment,: particularly when the opponent happens to be one of the world's outstanding players. To leave one of the world's ranking players short of game after a forcing bid has 'been made is one of the "major crimes in the decalogue of almost all players of the game.

Mr. Raymond Balfe, who plays bridge at Crockford's Club, New York, is, no doubt, one of the most brilliant Contract players in the world. His use of deceptive tactics has gained him the reputation as one of the most difficult of all opponents. He is not, however, much of a user of complicated psychic 'bids, but occasionally, with a fine partner, he likes to open the bidding first hand with a se'mipsyehic lead-directing bid. This type of psychic bid is considered one of the most dangerous, inasmuch as wifch little honour strength it is entirely possible to find a partner with a vsry fine hand.

Recently, in a rubber game, Mr. Balfe was playing with Mr. Oswald Jacoby as a partner. He healt himself this hand: Spades, 3*2; Hearts, 0 5 4; Diamonds, 7 3; Clubs, KQB 7 6 4. Both sides were vulnerable, but despite this Mr. Balfe boldly bid one Club. The next hand passed, and Mr. Jacoby bid two Spades, holding: Spades, A Q J 10 4; Hearts, A K J 10; Diamonds, A 0; Clubs, 3 2. Obviously, Mr. Balfe was "on the spot." He knew that after Mr. Jaeoby's forcing bid a game might well be lost if he passed, 'but if ho bid again a losing slam might be contracted for. Accordingly, weighing the question from both sides, he decided that the risk of loss, through a further bid, was greater than the chance of game, and he passed, and Mr. Jacoby made three Spades.

The bidding of this hand has in it a very fine lesson to those \vho make psychic and semi-psychic opening bids. With almost all players it i<* part of their gospel never to pass a forcing bid, and this, is unquestionably .the safest rule in the long run, as to pass such a bid has a tendency to break down partnership moral. HoweveY, a very fine player i» a law unto himself, and the pass in this .instance worked advantageously because a game could not have been made at any contract. The probabilities are, had Mr. Balfe not passed his worthless hand, a losing game would have been contracted for.

In order to. settle in advance any question as to what I would have done had I made the. bid by Mr. Balfe and my partner had responded" with a force, I wish to say, with emphasis, that I would not have passed. My own opinion is that it is better to take an occasional penalty than to risk shattering partnership moral by refusing to respond to a forcing bid. I would never pass a forcing bid made by my partner, even while in , the soundest slumber.

The bidding and play of the hand printed 'below will be discussed next week:

Study the hand, decide how you would bid and play it, and then compare the results you obtain with those shown in next week's article.