Bridge history with good value

Press, 8 March 1978, Page 13

Bridge history with good value

CONTRACT BRIDGE

By.

J.R.Wignall

The American Contract Bridge League’s latest publication, “No Passing Fancy,” sub-titled “Fifty Years of Contract Bridge,” can be read with great interest. It comes in a soft-cover version and contains 128 pages; and at New Zealand price of about $4 represents splendid value. The editor. Sue Emery, who edits the A.C.B.L. Bulletin, is a player of distinctly above average standard, writes in a breezy style and has obviously researched her subject very deeply.

Starting with the origins of contract bridge in 1927, she traces its development through 50 years to the present day. The only possible criticism is that she concentrates on the American scene, making only scant reference to the parallel growth of bridge in Europe and elsewhere. If one ignores this aspect, the story is fascinating. There is the development of contract from the earlier game of auction bridge, the rivalry in the early days between two organisations each of which wanted to dominate before they eventually merged, the tremendous growth in popularity during the heyday of Culbertson, and the more recent burgeoning of the American Contract Bridge League into a multi-million dollar enterprise with its own computer, headquarters and permanent staff.

The book is also studded with pleasant trivia, such as the origins of the word kibitzer, a bridge term for onlooker. The discussion apparently dates back to 1933. when a correspondent in the “Contract Bridge Magazine” explained that kibitz in German is the green plover, a very inquisitive bird that likes to watch other birds building their nests. There are many stories about bridge kibitzers, but a classic and allegedly true tale concerned four players at a New York club and their one onlooker.

The contract was five diamonds doubled. With a defender on lead to the 10th trick, the declarer spread his hand, claiming the balance, just making his contract. The opposition agreed, but then the kibitzer joined in, pointing out a defensive lead that would have defeated the contract at the point.

Bitter discussion followed and eventually the matter was referred to the club card committee who produced a judgment of Solomon. Their decision was that the declarer should be credited with the score for making five

diamonds doubled, and the defenders with the score for defeating him by one trick. The kibitzer was ordered to make up the difference — and serve him right for interfering. There are many interesting deals from the past.

This hand stars Howard Schenken, certainly one of the best players of all time: N. A AK7S V J 964 ♦ AQ6 A AK W. E. A Q 932 A 1064 » AKIO V — ♦ 10 3 ♦ KJ9854 A J 854 A Q 1073 S. A J 8 V Q 87532 ♦ 72 A 962 After a pre-emptive three diamond opening bid from the dealer East, Schenken as South finished in the reasonable contract of four hearts: W. N. E. S. 34 No No 3NT No 4V All Pass West’s opening lead of the 10 of diamonds presented the declarer with quite a problem. Had he known that West held two cards in diamonds, the winning play would be to duck the first trick in dummy, and win the diamond continuation with the ace. The South goes about his business of drawing trumps and collecting 10 tricks, his only losers being one diamond trick and two top hearts. It seemed to Schenken, however, that it was very likely the three-diamond bidder would have a sevencard suit, leaving West with a singleton. Clearly it would be suicidal in this case to duck the first diamond trick, for then East wins, gives his partner a diamond ruff and subsequently the defenders collect the ace and king of hearts to defeat the contract. So Schenken took the

opening lead with the ace of diamonds but suspiciously did not continue, as most players would, by leading a heart to his queen. Had he done so, West would win, lead his second diamond to his partner and when another diamond came back would make both his 10 and ace of trumps for four tricks to the defence.

Realising the danger, Schenken after winning the first trick, cashed the ace and king of spades then ruffed a spade to gain an entry to his hand. Now he led trumps towards dummy and the defence was helpless. West took his king, and led a diamond to his partner, but when a third diamond came South merely ruffed with the queen of hearts. West could over-ruff if he wanted but could make only two tricks in trumps.

Apart from fine hands like this the book contains much that can be enjoyed by players with only a limited knowledge of bridge.