CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 7

CONTRACT BRIDGE

ETIQUETTE OF THE GAME THINGS TO BE AVOIDED HY FINESSB All interested bridge correspondent from the Bay of Plenty has written me suggesting that ] write an article on bridge etiquette. It is a very large question, and a lot more could be written on the subject than could be encompassed in this space. My correspondent makes reference to an incident which occurred in an important match, where one of the players made important deductions from the physical mannerisms of one of his opponents after the play of one of his own cards and brought the hand to a successful conclusion thereafter. Well, of course, if your opponents are foolish enough to give themselves away, 1 do not think it is in any nay unethical to take advantage of it. If you play against the same opponents long enough there is no doubt that an observant player will notice slight eccentricities which denote certain things in the way of cards held. This may be quite unknown to the delinquent himself, and they may be so slight that only a keen observer will notice them. There is one thing, however, which is quite unethical, and and that is watching the place in a player's hand from which ho draws a card and making inferences therefrom. Deliberate Sell-penalty With one's own partner, however, it is a different matter and it would be unethical to take advantage of mannerisms which might be conscious or unconscious. In fact,-1 have more than once seen .a verv honourable partner deliberately penalise himself by adopting a different line of play, because of such an incident, which he would not have done had there been no indication of any kind from his partner. In the recently-published new rules or laws of the game, the etiquette, or "proprieties," as they are termed, aro set out at some length and attached to each of the five periods of the laws. As is stated, the object of this is to enlighten players who in many cases fail to appreciate when or how they are improperly conveying information to their partners, and which is often a far more reprehensible offence than a mere unintentional violation of a law, which is punished by a stated penalty. While on the subject of penalties, 1 have often noticed that some players are averse to enforcing the proper penalty for an infringement; others, while taking some, are averse to taking a more serious penalty. This, of course, is wrong. As the laws state: "Although the word 'may' is used in connection with the application of certain penalties, harmony and the interests of the game are best served by a uniform enforcement." Unconscious OfTencea And how often do we unconsciously offend in the matter of etiquette. An intonation of the voice, however slight, will be illuminative to partner and opponents alike, while the user is perhaps totally unconscious, and _would swear that he or she is speaking in an ordinary tone. Bidding, for instance, should be confined to the precise words necessary, and no remarks should be added. And, of course, the score, or the state of the score, should be quite unconnected with your bid; what I mean is, you should never make any reference to the score, inquire what it is or confirm what you yourself have marked down, and then immediately follow with your bid. Althought you may mean nothing by this there is just the possibility that your partner, unwillingly perhaps, may draw inferences of some sort from your remarks; it is placing your partner in an unenviable position unnecessarily. In the list of proprieties stated in the Auction period, the first calls attention to avoiding any undue delay in making a call which may result in conveying improper information to a partner. I am afraid the majority of players are prone to- this, one of the worst breaches of etiquette. I refer more particularly to a player making a prolonged study of his hand, wrinkling his brows, and then finally passing. What could be more illuminative? He might just as well say, "1 have had a good look at my hand, partner, and while I would very much like to make a bid, perhaps I have not quite enough, and will wait to hear from you." The Habit o! Delay Bridge players on the whole get into the habit of' dwelling, both in bidding and play. They should practise in making a quick decision as regards the potentialities of their bidding strength, both when making an opening bid, and when replying to their partner, and rebidding their own hand. Particularly as regai'ds the latter, a lot of time can be saved if, after having made an opening bid, they study their hand as to its rebiddable values while the other three players are bidding. I have seen players deliberately dwell when they have only one card they can possibly plav. Another fault is pulling one card from their hand, holding it, putting it back and then drawing another, and so on. Try and make up your mind as quickly as possible and adhere to it. You are making the game far more pleasant for your companions. Another thing to he avoided is the varying of the formulae in calling. You should say "no bid"; "one heart"; "one spade"; "two diamonds"; "double avoid stating the number of tricks or the denomination; "six spades avoid "little slam." Minor Breaches Other little breaches of etiquette ■which are oftop committed unconsciously are the following: Indicating in any way approval or disapproval of a partner's call or play; volunteering information which should only be given in reply to a question; failing to keep the tricks in correct order and distinct from one another, or nllowing some to be placed on the opposite side of the table, thus perhaps deceiving your opponents; playing a card with special emphasis; calling attention to the number of tricks needed to complete or defeat the contract, or to the fact that it has already been fulfilled; preparing to gather a trick before all four hands have played to it. Partners should never employ an unusual convention in bidding or play without informing tho opponents of its significance. A good plnyer is generally on tho watch against breaches of etiquette, which are, as a rule, due more to carelessness than anything else.

NEW BOOK ON BRIDGE Culbertson's New Contract Selfteacher. By Ely Culbortson. London: Faber and Faber, Limited. This is a revised version of a similar work published previously. Works on contract by this author need no introduction, and are well known to the public. In this latest work, which covers 72 pages, he traverses at greater, length the various stages of bidding based on hi.s ]9-'55 revised system, which is somewhat different from that of 1934. Space will not permit detailing these changes, whether they are good or not, it is perhaps to he regretted from the ordinary player's point of view that such changes aro necessary. The part of the book devoted to the play of the hand is, as usual, set out splendidly and at some length. The book should materially help beginners who wish to teAch themselves.