CHRISTMAS BRIDGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 15

CHRISTMAS BRIDGE

Christmas Bridge is a game of its own. It bears only a faint resemblance, to auction bridge, from which it is supposed to be derived. It is quite a distinct game from club bridge. It is so called because it is usually played at Christmas time with maiden aunts, cousins and relations, young and old. Everybody professes to know it, but the charm of the game is that everybody plays it differently. Nobody knows the laws or rules. “Let’s have a game of bridge, ’’ says someone; “I haven't played since last Christmas, hut I shall "pick it up as I gc along.” There is a great deal of discussion as to partners, and one woman is highly indignant at the idea that the ace oounts lowest in cutting. “It never used to iu my days,” she asserts. “It must be in the new rules.” There is generally someone who assumes an air of authority and takes matters in hand. He becomes unpopular after a short time and bread hints are thrown out that he is inventing rules for his base purpose to his ad. vantage. The scoring causes great agitation.

No one is quite sure how many honour;, were in one hand, and heated argument® take place over the score of the penalties for failure of contract. ‘l’m cure you are scoring all wrong. We couldn’t have lost as much as that. Why, I had a lovely hand.” Everybody talks at once. Nobody known whose deal it is. Revokes are frequent, but undetected. Plavers ruff their partners’ best cards and frequently gather- up tricks that do not belong to them. Sometimes the game assumes the aspect of “grab.” Elderly spinsters especially 6how a remarkable agility in scrubbing up tricks. ‘•l’m sure that trick is ours,” says one.

“No, no; I played the ace; it is mine,” says another. No one is quite sure who played it, and the trick often goes to the player who is quickest in picking it up. There are dour auction bridgers who take tho game so seriously they can never relax at it. To them it is positive torture to take part in this form of ‘ ‘humble-puppy. ’ ’ But to those who enter into tlie spirit of it. Christmas bridge is great fun, and the less you know about it the more you are likely to Slljoy it.