WINNERS FOR SPRING

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 19

WINNERS FOR SPRING

INTRIGUING NEW STYLES

Now that,the rush of the first spring openings, is over, both in London and in Paris,. I/find: that out of the vast number of intriguing new- styles the following stand the best: chance-'of becoming universally -.popular, states the' London ; correspondent' of : • the "Sydney Morning Herald":-^- ---..-...,-. . DAY. ■'..[. '\■' ' Skirts i shorter and .tighter. ( . ' Blouses frilly.. , '..--. : "Shakespearean'' jackets—with ruffled sleeves and big yellow clasp fasteners of 'metal made to imitate gold: Starched linen collars —sometimes two; to three inches deep and giving an amusingly masculine effect to black morning frocks. I recommend these to all office workers. . ~',.. Lilac silk or lace trimmings on the cuffs of afternoon dresses. Square-toed: shoes with the blocked "Cuban" heel, which has enjoyed favour' for so long.' -■ • < - Grey-mist silk stockings or gunmetal. Both equally flattering to the most difficult leg. "■■■■■''. • ■ .. ■ • '. EVENING. . • First and most important—the evening "costume.;1 This, is a tailor-made fashion, and the smartest creations are almost exactly the same as an ordinary town suit—with; o^ie big exception —the material. Stiff silks in'gay colours are the most popular ;in Paris for-this style. The.sleeves, too, can be more "eloquent." ' Huge puffs' of tight pleating make a pleasing contrast to the tailored skirt; '■ ' .'.: . ;. . . • . Low-cut sandals in matching colours should be worn—and flesh-tinted stockings. • ■ • .

Thick, stiff silks and heavy velvets form-the materials for the rest of the evening-dress fashions.

High neckline in the front,- accentuated waistline, and ankle^length skirts are their main feature.

After an opsning three-bid, which is usually made, on a; hand of freakish distribution, it will often happen that the hands, are freakish, all. round the table, when an opponent may be able to overcall the opening bid hr spite of the attempt to shut' out- opposition bidding. (Holding a. higher; ranking .suit than the opening bidder, an overcall can be made-at the range .o£ threeodd). When partner has opened with a three-bid and the second hand makes ah overcall, there is no necessity for the responding hand to bid, therefore a free bid of three no-trumps by him over the opposing call indicates a sure stopper in the opponent's suit, with some honour values.in the other two suits. If the responding hand passes the opponent's overcall, and the opening bidder doubles the adverse bid, the double is meant for penalties, and shows the powerful type of three-bid. The responding hand, however, may go out of the ■ double into .his partner's suit if holding a worthless hand, or with length in trumps-'-but no defensive values. In the latter case, an immediate raise in - partner's ■* suit should be given over the intervening bid in preference to a pass. This raise does not show high card values in the responding hand, as would,a free raise of an opening .bid of. one, 'but may.be given on distributional values —trump length and a singleton. For instance, if partner's three-heart opening bid .is overcalled '. with ".three spades, the responding hand holding: 4 7.5.2. 9J. 7.6.3. 4 Q.,9.5.3,2. \'.Jf, 7. should give an immediate ;raise to four hearts. ' : ' ' :

■ The opening three-bid "has: shown at' least seven certain winners, and the responding hand should make. at.least two ruffing tricks. If the opening, bid was the pure shut-out type,- there must be game for the opponents, While if the three-bidder is strong enough to double three spades, - the game in hearts is probably a better !prbposition. with the responding hand's lack of defensive values. \ .' ;

Overcalls of three-bids should rarely > be doubled by the responding: hand without two tricks in the overcaller's suit; for instance, suppose North opens the bidding with three spades, and is overcalled by East with four hearts, South holding1 47. 9Q. 10.9.3. Jf, K.J.9.2. should double, and his partner can take advantage of the double as suits his hand best; but South holding 4 8.3.2. fi.!.(, + 5.4.2. Jf. Q.D.6.3. should pass. The latter example is shown as a pass by the responding hand in "The Bridge World's" explanation of the opening ihree-bid ■ and responses. South has an Ace and' a Queen. As we are told /that a raise of partner's opening three-bid is allowed by the responding hand if holding: one honour-trick, a pass by South would,

seem to deny the posseispion of any definite honour<-trick .valued Even if North's opening three^tiß-v- is of Jhe pure shut-out type, the 'pjartoership is, at the worst, only two-triteks'short of a four-spade contract, mWolving no undue loss if doubled while yattempting to save the game. On the offier hand, if the responding hand] passes',the fourheart overcall, the opening-^ pidder, holding '■-, the pure . :shut- rout -type of three-bid, would not be prepared to risk a contract of-four spadepvwith # silent partner, and the probability of a three-trick penalty double : against him—Boo points if' vulnerable. '- ■' '

The following hand' illustrates th'« possibilities of the opening thre»2-bid when used in'conjunction wisu the asking-bid, after partner's response of three no-trumps over an oppctertion overcall. -.• . . . . ,

' .■ .'■" ■■♦-■■■■■■■ :.•■.'■■■ - ■ ■ V K-4-'- ; 4 A.K.Q.9.7.5.2. -■■ '- 4..A..1.T.2. .. . ; ♦ 5.7.4. .North. > K-Q-J-10.9.6. ' V 7- 6- 2- S ' s # A:Q.10.9.: Jf, 10.5.5.3. ■ "■ South. ■.; <jk A.5.5.2.. If j;5.5.3.' .... :. ' ■ • • 4-6.3. -"■ •' ;" : . *-K.Q.6.' . 1 - North dealer. Both sides vulnerable. . ■ • ■ . The bidding:—' North. East. . South. ' West. 3 + 3 £ (1) . 3X.1. (2) Pass . 4 jj, (3) Pass i (4) Pass. : ; 54» (3' Pass .5 X.T. (6) ' Pibs , 6 Pass Pass Pass 1. East has seven playing tricks,! and ■Is therefore justified in making aa ; overcall of three spades. 2. Souths hand contains two honourtricks, including- the- Ace of East's suit., Over East's overcall he makes a free bid of three no-trumps. 3. North sees a possibility of a slam' after the three no-trump response, if he can find a fit in his partner's hand. He. makes an asking bid of four clubs, hoping to receive a favourable: reply . ' 4. South responds with four spades, showing the Ace -of that suit and second-round control in clubs.. 5. North can now see twelve tricks, if South holds the Queen as~ well as the King of Spades—not too much to expect after the three no-trump response. He therefore makes a second asking bid in the same suit as the first asking bid—clubs. • n

■6. South, having shown secondround control in clubs, now proceeds to sjtiow third-round control also, by bidding five no-trumps. (When the second asking-bid follows a previous positive response, the 'responding hand shows third-round control bybidding the minimum number of notrumps. Lacking third-round control he. signs off in the partner's suit. .