AMERICANS CONVENTIONS AT BRIDGE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17632, 8 December 1922, Page 11

AMERICANS CONVENTIONS AT BRIDGE.

A great deal has been written about American Bridge contentions, and tho attitude "of most English ■ wri tera and authorities is unreservedly condemnatory. There is n'o doubt a great prejuiiieo in this country against artificial conventions, and I am bound to admit that I eharo it. But it is well to understand thoroughly tho principles of the system before dismissing it. Mr Ernest Bergholt, the well-known expert, has done a real service to Bridge players by his ventilation of tne matter and by drawing from itfl I originator, Mr "Wilbur 0. Whitehead, l managing director of the Knickerbocker j s\ lust Liub, JJew York, a lucid explaai ction of the conventions, which he publishes in the "'Field." Mr Whitehead points out that in order to distinguish clearly between anegative (or informatory) double and a positive (or business), double, it has to be borne in mind: (1) 'lhat any doublo of an adverse suit bid of one, . two, or three, or of an adverse no-trump bid of one, if made at the first opportunity, and if j partner h3B hot yet bid or doubled, is I a negative double meant to force a bid ! from partner. j In response to the doublo partner's duty will be: (a) If he holds two major suits c 7 ! four, or more to call the spades first I (regardless generally cf high-card j strength) unless the hearts be the i longer. (b) If ho holds a major and a minor suit of four or more cards each to call the rnajorsuit first. (c) If he holds two minor suits of four or more to call the diamonds first, save only when the clubs are considerably longer or stronger. (2) That any double of an auverso | suit bid of four or more; of an_adverse '■ no-trump bid of two or more; or of any j bid whatsoever when tho double is not made at the first oppportunity, or when ! partner has previously Lid or doubled, jis a positive double, meant to play ' against and defeat the bid doubled. I (3) The don bier's partner has always | the option of leaving in a negative i double when his own cards and tho | strength shown by tho doubler warrant 1 tho presumption that the opponent will j not make his contract. ' Tlve obiect of a negative double is to develop the best bid for game t>etween the two hands.—A. E. Mnnuing Fc*« ter,, in London "Daily Mail."