What Odds Now?

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31421, 14 July 1967, Page 1

What Odds Now?

For the second time in less than a month a complete suit has been dealt in a hand in a South Island bridge game. The odds against being dealt a complete unspecified suit have been computed as 158,753,389,199 to one, but in a contract bridge game in Westport Mrs T. Moynihan dealt herself all 13 spades, the highest ranking suit in bridge. Mrs Moynihan wan partnered by Mrs J. Woodward, president of the Westport Bridge Club, and their opponents were Mrs H. Lovell and Miss M. Lovell. Mrs Moynihan, who is described by Mrs Woodward as being “a very conservative bidder,” opened six spades. Miss Lovell passed and Mrs Woodward bld seven spades. Mrs Lovell and Miss Lovell realised that one of them should have called seven no-trumps. The bridge correspondent of "The Press,”

“JJtW.”, said that this would have forced Mrs Woodward to double the contract, but as she could not lead a spade Mrs Moynihan’s hand would have been useless in defence. As the cards lay the bid of seven notrumps would have been defeated by four tricks and a grand slam would have been saved at a cost of only 700 points. “J.R.W.” said that It was an amazing coincidence that two complete suits should have been dealt in the South Island in such a short time, as it would take more than 1000 yean for 900 players, each dealing 30 hands an hour for 15 hours a day, to deal the 158,753,389,899 hands required to give one chanee of a complete suit “The Press” reported an auction bridge game on July 17 tn which Mr M. O. Sinclair, of Perry street dealt himself a complete hand of hearts.