THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 19

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Weekly Chat on Contract Specially Written fob "The Post" by "Approach Bid" •

SLAMS DECIDE WORLD TEAMS-OF-FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

The final match in this contest was decided largely by the bidding and making by the Austrian team of two grand slams, neither of which was bid by the Americans.

Both slams were bid during the final .session of twenty-four boards, with the Austrians leading by seven hundred points. They were more enterprising than their opponents in their slambidding, with happy results. Mr. Culbertson holds the opinion that a grand slam should be bid only when twelve winners are a certainty, and when the thirteenth will fail to materialise only in the case of a very bad break. Justifiable odds for a grand slam, therefore, he considers should be better than two to one. After the final, Mr. Culbertson challenged the winners of the pair championship, Schneider and Jellinck, to a 150-rubber match. Although the challenge has not yet been accepted it is probable that a syndicate will be formed to back the Austrian pair, who are regarded by their supporters as a perfect pair. It is even claimed that they never make a mistake. The two slam hands1 follow:— * a.3. 9 X.10.5. * AJf, A.10.8.7.6.3.L North. | Sauth. I ▲ K.J.8.4. J A.T.S. 4 J. 8.3. + X.5.d. The Austrian pair bid seven clubs. With a losing trick in hearts, North had to depend on a successful finesse in spades. As East held the Queen, the grand slam was made. In the second hand a contract of seven no-trumps was reached by the Austrians: — * K.T.3. ; V A. I A..T.7.6.3.2. jf, ii.c.a. . "NortlT H £ & I I South. . J A A.Q.IV K.Q.10.3.2. | K.S.I. * A.4. The slam in this case depended on

the division of the adverse, diamonds. Fortune favoured the bidders,, as the i suit broke 2-2, and the grand slam was made, though the declarer had an .anxious moment when. he led the second round' of diamonds. A BRIDGE TRAGEDY. It very seldom happens that the call of a lead from a defender as a penalty for a lead out of turn reacts against the declarer,. as he naturally calls the lead which suits, his own hand best. In the following hand, however, the call of a lead brought disaster to a pair who were playing a grand slam contract, doubled and redoubled. The lead called was the. only one which could possibly have defeated the-con-tract, the leader's partner being void in that suit. If A.K.q,g. , K.J.7.4. Jf, A.K.J.10.5. A.K.S.C. szzfc 1 A q.J.10.7.1. y \0.7.G.5.3.2. I-j - V - ' -A. -| « 10.9.6.3.3.J Jf, 0.7.1. '*" South. I Jf, 8. £ U. 4.3.2. ' ' • ' * J. 4. ■ 4 A.Q.B. Jf, Q. 6.3.2. North dealer. Both sides vulnerable The bidding:— North. Hast... South: i • /, West, i Jf, Fuss :\ Jf, ■ Fa S3 1 X.T. 3'ass 5 •' rat!> 7JL lass Puss ' Houbto Redouble Tas3 l'aas ; I'ass West—out of turn—lea the King ,oi spades. North, being now entitled to. call a lead front East, considered his hand. His partner had shown the Ace of diamonds, in a conventional response to the four no-trumps bid, so that an excellent opportunity presented itself for a lead up to his own KingJack. He therefore called ; for the lead of a diamond from East' (who had been about to lead the Queen of spades when his partner led out of turn). East duly led a diamond, which West, feeling that this was too gopdto be true, ruffed! "These rules certainly have their points," he remarked, as he entered a plus score of'- 300 points, instead of a minus score-of 2660, points. North's remarks are not recorded.,