MAKING A LIVING.

Northern Advocate, 8 January 1920, Page 1

MAKING A LIVING.

CARDS AS A PROFESSION

WORKED UPON A SYSTEM,

Everyone who plays cards regularly at clubs knows a few men and women who are reputed to be"professionals,"

writes Mr A. E. M. Foster in, the

"Daily Mail." That is to say, they play card games, generally auction bridge, not primarily for pleasure and amusement, but for a livelihood. There is nothing disgraceful about it, nor is there any suggestion that they play unfairly. But everyone realises that they are out to make money, and that their card winnings are their chief source of subsist .'.nee. They are generally charming people, and go about their business in a quiet, unostentatious fashion, and would resent being dubbed "professionals." They don't talk about their winnings, but they succeed in making quite comfortable incomes. How is it done? How does one become a professional card player? Well, like every other 'business it needs training, constant attention and hard work.

"The great thing," said one, whom I found in an expansive mood basking in the sun at the seaside, "is to keep fit. I confess I make a living out of auction bridge, but I could never do it unless I paid strict attention to my physical and mental health. The man who isn' fit or who is overstrung hasn't a chance in the long run. I keej myself in trim by regular exercise."

"How did you come to take up cards as a business?" I asked.

"Well, when I came down from Oxford on my governor's death I found myself stranded. I had expensive tastes. I had to do something for a living, and I took up cards, in which I was always interested.

"I worked really hard, and studied the thing from 'books. I went in for problem solving and cultivated my memory. I used to deal out hands, and memorise every card. Now when I am playing seriously I could tell you at the end of a hand every card down to a two which each player held. It is no trouble to me. I trained myself for cards just as another man would for rowing, iboxingV or swimming. People talk about ' certain players having a 'card sense.' Well, of course, •i- be a good player one must have some natural aptitude for the game, but what is called card sense can be learnt and developed tremendously. And then to do any good you must study men and women. There's a tremendous lot of human nature in cards, and the successful exponent must be a bit of a psychologist.

"I have my regular business hours, and they seldom exceed four hours a day on six days of the week, either afternoon or evening, but not both. One should never allow oneself to get jaded or tired. Some 'regulars' make a rule of stopping when they have won a certain sum. But I don't believe in that. It means that when they are in a bad run they go in for long sittings. That is the way to get 'rattled.' "

"And do you always keep in training?" I asked. "Do you never get out of hand and do foolish things, make wild declarations and commit horrible mistakes?"

"Everybody makes mistakes," he replied, "in bridge as /-» war. And one gets stale and nervy and panicky. Then one must knock off for a day or two and do a little mental discipline. I take up figures. You know that I never keep the score on paper when playing bridge. I carry it in my memory. It i 3 quite easy after a little practice, and I very seldom go wrong."

"It all sounds horribly like hard work," I said.

"I don't recommend it as a career parents should advise their sons, but it suits me, and after all there are worse ways of making a living."