CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22928, 5 January 1938, Page 19

CONTRACT BRIDGE

REVIEWING PAST YEAR i STYLES OF PLAY BY 0. L. EASTGATE This is a 'time of the year when the majority of bridge players are" Content (for a little while) to put their cards and score-sheets away and forget there is such a vastly intriguing game as contract. Bridge columns, however, have to go on, however sparsely read. I am not forgetting the "old guard," who scout the idea of any "off" season, and take advantage of holiday nights to have an extra long sitting, secure in the thought that they will not have to turn out so early. During the past 12 months there has been no diminution of bridge interest in this corner of the world, rather the reverse. There have been plenty of stimulating competitions for those to whom this type of play specially appeals, with most rubber bridge played privately. When bridge clubs first started here, I remember there were a few growls from some members that there were not enough "club" nights for ordinary play, but experience soon proved that on these nights the attendance was always less than on those fights when duplicate play was indulged in. Nowada/s, there is such a variety in the tournament venue that the interest is well sustained.

There is no doubt that players generally lean toward a. tournament where the cards are colourful for all, and this is where set hands and "kickstart" deals provide a welcome change. The latter type could, perhaps, be exploited a little more in the coming year. Talking of colourful hands, the following came under my notice recently and is worthy of reproduction:— South dealer. Neither side vul.

The suggested bidding goes as follows: — South West North East I ♦ pass 2, 9? pass 3 pass 4 A ? pass 5 0 pass 6 pass pass pass

You who use asking bids will no doubt question the four-spade bid by North as, by the unnecessary jump in spades, it is an asking bid, but setting the club suit, I have reproduced this hand on purpose to show that when North, who is in charge of the bidding, jumps to six hearts, he clearly asks to be let alone, ;and does not want to revert to plubs. His heart suit is so beautifully &olid that he need not worry much about what his partner holds in it. If he bid only five hearts over the five-diamond bid, this would be another ask. His jump to six hearts shows a definite choice of suits, and practically commands his partner to pass. J v: ' ; ' t LAST WEEK'S HAND

The bidding: North/ East ' South West 1 pass 2 4k pass 2 N.T. pass 3 P a «» 3 A pas* 4 N.T. pass '5 NT. pa*» 6 A (final bid)

The bidding proceeds normally via the four-five no-trump convention! : to the small slam in spades. The-success of the contract appears to hinge on the successful, finesse of the trump suit, but when it is discovered on the second lead of thumps that West has four to the king ; it looks as if both a trump and a diamond trick must be lost. The contract can he made, however, by the use of a rather rare play called the "smother play" and which is probably unknown here except to a favoured few who have had experience of this mode. * West Jeads the diamond queen. Declarer takes this with the ace and tries the trump finesse, which holds. When East shows out on the second lead, South strips the hand and dummy of diamonds and clubs and then leads the ace, king and another heart, hoping that East will have to take the trick. He cannot avoid this and has to lead a diamond or a club: declarer, who is down to the last two cards, the 10-9 of trumps ruffs: West, who has the K-8 of trumps left, is helpless. If he over-ruffs with the king, dummy takes with the ace of spades; if he underruffs with the 8, dummy throws the last heart, and the ace of takes the last trick. So the contract is fulfilled. __ NEW BOOKS ON BRIDGE "Cillhertson's Contract in Ten Minutes," by Josephine Culbertson (Faber and Faber). This is a summarised version of the Culbertson system, 60 pages, and is the first work to be actuallv published under the name or Mrs.. Culbertson, who, however, has had no small hand in or the many Culbertson booKS on bridge. This work is confined to the bidding or the system, and has in addition covered all the latest slam bidding technique. It is handv for the pocket, and is definitely up-to-date, while its conciseness should be of great help to those who do not care for a voluminous work. It can he thoroughly recommended to all grades of players.

This lintid provides a very bright and unususi tut of play, and is a good one to sharpen tfc* wits for the New lear, The bidding went as follows: South West North East I * 4 * 4 * P*» past pass pass West opens the club tjueen: can you make the contract against r any defence P