CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23148, 21 September 1938, Page 8

CONTRACT BRIDGE

j TELEVISION POSSIBILITY i j GAME AS A SPECTACLE

BY C. 1.. p:\STOATF

It is interesting to note that recently a definite attempt was made in London, according to Mr. Norman de V. Hart, in the Daily Telegraph, to televise a game of contract bridge, at one of the theatres. By means of special devices the whole game, together with tho players, was projecled on the screen successfully.

The idea is not altogether a novel one, as two or three years ago an attempt was made in New York to project the principal games in one of the big tournaments, by means of a "Bridgoscope," with an expert commentator criticising the bidding and play. From what I can gather, howover, the latest attempt is much more complete, and is actually a picture of tho game, showing tho four players, with the four hands all shown on a board, each card being tipped over as it is played. So that the four players shall not see all tho hands, two cameras are used, one for the board and one for the players, both images being thrown on tho screen.

It is therefore not outside the bounds of possibility that at some future date big bridge will be made a spectacle, as other games are, and that tho public will find it a very interesting diversion following the progress of matches where the participants are the picked representatives of their different clubs or countries. It must bo remembered that tho modern game of contract bridge has made astonishing progress and its followers are increasing every day.

NEW BOOK ON BRIDGE "Beating the Culbertsons," by Dr. Paul Stern (T. Werner Laurie, Limited, London). Following up his previous book on the Austrian system of bidding, Dr. Stern has compiled a very interesting account of tho final match ovor 96 boards for the world's championship, when the Austrian team was so successful. A detailed account of each hand gives the different bidding by each side and the result, with an expert commentary on the bidding and play. To the bridge enthusiast it makes very interesting reading, and shows clearly the difference in the two bidding systems used, as well as what mistakes were made in play. At tho end of the book a minute synopsis is tabled, giving percentages of part-score, game and slam hands, and how they were handled by each side. No. 42 is an interesting hand, where there was a swing of 820 points to the Austrians. Both sides reached a contract of four spades and. while the Austrians made their contract, the Americans were set one, doubled.

LAST WEEK'S HAND South dealer. Both sides vul.

South is in a contract of four hearts uud West leads the spade king, followed by the queen. This is a doubledummy problem where you are supposed to sec all four hands. South's best play, after trumping the second lead of spades, is to lead a small trump to West's blank king. Whatever return is made will be extremely helpful. A diamond is probably West's best lead. This means no diamond loser, and three tricks only are lost, a spade, heart and club. If a club is returned you can make an overtrick by winning with the ten and running every trump. West gets squeezed. With only live cards left to him he must hold the spade ace, the. guarded diamond king and the doubly-guarded club queen, a physical impossibility.

CURRENT EVENTS Northern Contract Bridge Club. Parcontract (played August 15, 1938). — North-South: Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, 130 points, 1; Morgan and Eastgate, 127, 2. East-West: Mitchell and Yock, 123 points, 1; Watson and Lamb, 121, 2. Match-point pairs, Grattan Cup:— North-South: Tucker and Wylie, 62.4 per cent, 1; Misses MacCormick, 61.S per cent, 2; Eastgate and Bruce-Smith, 60.7 per cent, 3. East-west: Morgan and Watson, 69.4 per cent. 1; Mesdames Hume and Brodie, 61.1 per cent, 2; Mrs. Williams and Lamb, 60 per cent, 3. The final of the club teams-of-four championship: Morgan and Mrs] Watson, Wylie and Watson defeated Dr. Mackenzie, Bruce-Smith, Mitchell and Eastgate. Auckland Club. Championship pairs, second round. North-South: Mrs. Sheldon and Barnes, 61 per cent, 1; Kastgate and Dr. Mackenzie. 59.4 per cent. 2; Bruce-Smith and Mitchell, 59.1 per cent, 3. East-West: Mrs. Blomfield and Heighway. 61 per cent, 1; Mrs. Watson and Morgan. 60 per cent, 2; Mrs. Heiglnvav and Cox, 57.5 per cent, 3. ..

Miss Coutts'.—North-South: Mendamos Lewins and Canter. 66.1 per cent. 1; Miss Gudgeon and Miss B. Gudgeon, 55.1 per cent, 2, East-West: Mrs. Israel and Miss Maidens. 61.2 per cent, 1: Miss Preeee and Miss Blackburn, 55.7 per cent. 2.

NEXT WEEK'S HAND West dealer. Both sides vul.

Tho bidding:— West North East South I <> pass 2 «t» 4 A , pass pass double pass pass pass West opens the Heart King. How must declarer play to ensuro his contract ?