THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 19

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

The suit-directing convention, a new and valuable method- of signalling in defensive play, has recently been introduced, and will prove of great assistance to players who are defending a contract. The convention is used, given favourable conditions,. to direct your partner to lead a desired suit at the first opportunity. To make this signal, you must follow suit with a distinctive arid easily-recognisable card on- the trick 'which is being played. The play of an unnecessarily high card on your partner's lead shows that you desire a lead of the higher of the two plain suits, while the play of a card I which is apparently the lowest, shows the desire for the lead of the lower of the two plain suits. The convention, when the opportunity for using it arises, often brings about the defeat of a contract, by eliminating the necessity for guessing the suit which should be led. A study of the hands given below will show the working of the convention.

South opened the three of- clubs, which North read as a singleton and won with the-Ace. Using the suitdirecting convention in order to guide his partner as to the lead he required, North led back the Queen of clubs instead of a small club. A small club would have, told-his partner to lead the lower of the two plain suits—a diamond; whereas the high club directed the lead of the higher suit—a heart. South trumped the club, and led back a heart in response to North's signal. North won the trick with the Ace, and returned another club, and the contract was defeated. It will be seen that any lead other than a heart by South after ruffing the club would have enabled East to make his contract. When defending a no-trump contract the suit-directing convention can at times be used by a player, to signal for the lead of a particular suit should his partner obtain the lead." In the hand illustrated below, a contract of three no-trumps was defeated by the use of this signal by West, .which showed the partner a definite entry in a particular suit, spades, and enabled West to play the setting trick, the Queen of hearts. South dealer. East-West vulnerable. ,

WEEKLY CHAT ON CONTRACT,; Specially Written for "The Post" by "Approach Bid" THE SUIT-DIRECTING CONVENTION

East won with the ten. The Jack was returned by East,, which South allowed to win. On. the five of hearts which followed,' West wanted to tell his partner that his entry-card was the Ace of spades. ' Using the suit-directing convention he played the King instead of the Queen of hearts to the trick, thus showing that he had a definite entry in the higher of the ' two remaining suits, in case his partner should hold the King of clubs and get the lead. A diamond lead.instead of a spade would have given East his .'contract. , There are occasions when the opening leader, having .won the. first trick, finds it necessary to shift to another suit, but does not know which .of the plain suits to lead next.. .A suit-direct-ing signal can sometimes be ,used very effectively when this position arises, as in the following hand:—

West led the King of diamonds, on which East played the Queen. East, having considered the bidding, placed South with probably two five-card suits. If that were the case, West could only hold two hearts, and, if given the opportunity, could ruff the third round of the suit As East held the Aces of both spades and hearts he'was in a position to direct the lead of a suit from his partner. The playing of the 1 Queen of diamonds instead of "a low- diamond on the first trick demanded the lead of a heart from West, being the higher of the two plain suits. West therefore played the nine of hearts, which was taken by East, who returned a small heart. When trumps were led, East took the first trick with his Ace,.and led. his third heart, which was trumped by West, thus defeating the contract by one trick. FLOWER HEADDRESSES Headdress fashions worn by brides are now inspiring. the latest evening hairdressing styles. Lilies of the valley, rosebuds, and gar.denias to match, the colour of the wearer's dress are banked high on the forehead, states a London writer.' ■ " •' The Victorian chignon is revived in the 'clusters of flowers placed in;the nape of the neck, which is a variation of/the: same fashion./ They can be twined among rows of formal curls, or arranged like a "bun" at the back of a smoothly-waved head. Bridesmaids' fashions also show their influence, on evening hairdressing. Juliet caps -of ;massed blossoms, are being chosen; by debutantes ,to wear, at country house dances-which will be giyen during, the .holidays. Tiny blossoms are arranged on-trellis work, and the,, caps are set towards the back of the head and surrounded by. brushedup ,curls. At;: \ ;. . .;;\v : '. ■' ' '"'•'..