CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

MASTERS OF THE GAME.

(By ELY CULBBRTSON.) ,

Mr. Edward Hymes, jun., lijus long_ been known as one of the most fantastic bidders the game of Contract bridge lias ever produced. Boca use of* his reputation for unusual and startling bids, he is often able to score remarkable results on normal hands, principally because his opponents are always looking for something unexpected. Actually, he is one of the soundest dummy and defensive players in the UjS.A., and the fact that his bidding is not always sound is because he really enjoys , the game more than anybody else, and not because he lacks knowledge of the proper principles. The following hand is ail illustration of his faultless technique in play: South dealer. , Neither side vulnerable.

The Bidding. South West North East 1 A Pass 2 N.T. Pass 3 * Pass 4 A Pass Pass Dbl. Redbl. Pass Pass Pass The bidding was quite normal. North might have preferred three no trump to four Spades, but he felt that the suit contract was a little safler. West's'double was not the best in the world, but a set of at least one trick looked fairly certain. North's redouble cannot be criticised. The natural opening was the Club King, which Mr. Hymes won in the dummy with the Ace. Returning to his own hand with the Ace of Spades, he found that the suit was banked against him. His next lead, therefore, was a Heart, which West won with the Ace. A Club was sashed, and Mr. Hymes allowed to ruff the third round of that suit. At this point the hand was a spread, provided West originally held three Hearts and three Diamonds. 'if lie held less in cither suit, the contract could not Le made. Mr. Hymes, therefore, took three rounds of Diamonds and then led the King of Hearts. This was followed by the Queen of Hearts, and Mr. Hymes ruffed. When West followed, everything was all right, because the Spade 9 now put West in the lead, and this unfortunate player was forced to lead up to the King-ten tenace. The bidding and play of the hand printed below will be discussed next week: South dealer. Both sides vulnerable.

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.