CONTRACT BRIDGE Defender’s Foresight Reaps Reward

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31343, 13 April 1967, Page 9

CONTRACT BRIDGE Defender’s Foresight Reaps Reward

(ContributaA by

J.R.W.

In normal competition play, or in rubber it is impossible to make accurate comparisons of the ability of different players, for so many extraneous factors intervene: lucky leads, fortunate guesses in taking finesses, opponents’ mistakes are only some of them.

The Par Contest was devised to eMminaite these factors. The competitors sit either north-south or easUwest throughout the contest, all playing the same pre-set hands, and score points for bidding to the correct contract, making the best opening lead, and for playing and defending the deal correctly. Direct comparison of all the pairs playing the same way is therefore possible.

A famous Par Contest was staged nearly ten years ago by the “British Bridge World’’ magazine as part of the celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of the granting of letters patent to Thomas de la Rue and Company, Ltd., for the manufacture of playing cards. Bridge players from all over the world were invited to take

part in the various evente. One of the easiest of the hands set in the Par Contest will show how tins form of competition works.

With North the dealer, and East-West only vulnerable, it was expected the bidding would be: W. N. E. S. 1H No No Dble 2H 2S AH Pass After North’s obvious opening bid of one heart, neither East nor South can call, so it is up to West. On his hand many average players would be content to pass and let the opponents have the contract, but this is a very pessimistic view. Since North is limited to strength by his failure to open with a stronger call, and South’s weakness is apparent to all, it should be obvious that East is marked with at least a few high cards. West should, therefore, double, asking his partner to bid a suit The opener repeats his six-card suit but East is quite strong to call two spades, the final contract Thinking Ahead South has an obvious lead to the singleton heart and when the ace and Ung are played off it Is clear that the third round can be trumped. That with the two black sees will be five tricks for the defence. In view of South’s weakness it is unlikely that a sixth trick will be made from high cards, but by thinking ahead. North can tee a far more probable way of b the hand. At toe third trick i

he plays bls ace of clubs, then his other dub. When East leads spades, North wins toe first round and only now leads a heart for his partner to ruff, then he trumps the dub return for toe sixth and defeating trick.

As toe cards lie this is not a bad result for East-West, for North is very likely to make two hearts. He will win a spade opening lead with toe ace, to play off toe ace king and another heart. This gives him five tricks in trumps to add to toe tws blade aces, and he can establish toe eighth trick in diamonds. Par Awards

In the contest North-South scored two par points for calling two hearts or for allowing East-West to play in one no-trump or two spades, one point for making toe opening lead of toe singleton heart, and four for making six tricks to defence. East-West scored three points for criling one notramp or one or two spades or for allowing NorthSouth to play to three hearts. The total par points available on all toe hands for both toe East-West and the NorthSouth pairs was 100, and toe winning score of an English pair was 77.

This deal, posing problems for both sides, was an excellent par hand, for it passed the tost tost a good player would be annoyed with himself if he missed toe best line of play, while a less than good player would learn something. Many per hands, however, feature elaborate squeeze plays to hands of wildly freakish distribution, where toe final contract itself is by no mesns desreut It is ususl, therefore, after toe auction is over for toe players to consult an instruction slip which comes with the board containing toe cards. This tells them the recommended

bidding, and also which hand Is to play what contract, thus ensuring that everyone is Faced with toe same problems. The hand-setters also have toe power to award or cancel par points should any untoward event occur, such as an untatontional revoke.