CONTRACT BRIDGE Card-Reading Better Than Superstition

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 3

CONTRACT BRIDGE Card-Reading Better Than Superstition

'Contributed by J.R W.) All games have their superstitions, and bridge being a card game has more than its share. They come into effect even before the start of play, for some players dislike the colour green, so naturally cannot use green cards, scorers or pencils. Some have kibitzers, or watchers, whom they regard as being either very lucky or very unlucky for them, while others refuse to be overlooked at all. In most cases woe betide any kibitzer who compliments a player on the cards he is holding, for everyone knows such comments will ensure the victim will immediately commence a run of shocking luck.

The myths and legends surrounding the cut are innumerable. The player cutting the highest card has the choice of seats and packs, and since he may consult with his partner before making the fateful choice, it is a wonder anything is ever decided. To cut an ace or any card in the heart suit is generally

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regarded favourably, so that pack will be played with. On the other hand to cut the ace or queen of spades, the nine of diamonds or about two dozen other cards is a major disaster and that pack is inflicted on the luckless opponents. Many players just believe the cards which won the ’ast rubber will win the next, so the choice for them is easy. This superstition is even mor effective in regard to the choice of seats, for some three-quarters of players who have the opportunity will choose the seats occupied by t’ j pair who won the last rubber. For many, such superstitions are childish — they just refuse to play with their backs to a wall. Kings and Queens Once play begins, a new set of myths arises. A misdeal i-. frequently regarded as the harbinger of disaster, for many are convinced that when the new deal is completed their hand will be dreadful. The king of clubs is reputed to be singleton more often than any other card, but it is the various queens which attract the strangest superstitions. An old one is that the queen will usually be accompanied by the nine of its own suit. Another is that the queen will be in the hand sitting over the one containing the knave . Most of these superstitions have little basis in logic, and

none of them has anything like the value of a little cardreading. Take this deal which was no problem to an expert: N. S—KJ72 H—AJS D—loB3 C—lo 7 3 W. E. S—loB4 S—Q5 H—63 H—QlO4 D—94 D—AKJ76S C—KQJB6S C—94 S. S—A963 H—K9B72 D—Q2 C—A2 The auction was: W N E S ID 1H 2C 2H 3D 3H All pass. Against South’s contract of three hearts, West led a diamond. East won with the king, made his ace and continued with the jack. Since if he trumped there was too much danger of being overruffed the declarer discarded his small club. There was in any event no way in which he could avoid the loss of a club trick. East switched to the nine of clubs won by South who played off the ace and king of hearts. This left East’s queen outstanding as the master trump. The declarer then made the ace and king of spades, and when the queen fell North’s jack was able to draw the ten and he had four tricks in the suit East could trump whenever he wished, but this was the only remaining trick for the defence. Having lost only three diamonds and one heart, South made his contract with four tricks in hearts, four in spades and one in clubs. In planning his play, he had been guided more by the acution than by superstition. East opened the bidding and rebid at the three level. The early play disclosed he bad the top diamonds, and when he switched to the nine of clubs, he presumably had no higher card in the suit. To justify his calling he was marked with the two major suit queens. Eight of his cards were known, six diamonds and two clubs, so one of the queens would be only once guarded. By playing off the ace and king of both suits, the declarer made it immaterial which it was.