BRIDGE OLYMPIC

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3825, 23 October 1936, Page 12

BRIDGE OLYMPIC

COMPETITION IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

The Australian and New Zealand Bridge Olympic was played by all bridge clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday evening of last week.

The tournament is played by means of set hands arranged by an expert committee, working in connection with the Sydney Bridge Club. Hands are prepared which provide a test in bidding and play, covering most of the intricate types that are met with in the game. Many require finesse play, some entry making play, cross ruff, safety play, Vienna coup, and several required a knowledge of the squeeze to get the contract. Particulars of the hands reached the tournament director a day or so before the play, with instructions that the envelope was not to be opened until that date. The tournament director in each centre opened the en velope and prepared the 16 sets of hands, placing the cards for North, South, East and West players in separate envelopes, marked with the number ot the set and the position of the player. On the commencement of play the conditions were read to the players, and the hands distributed to the players, who commenced to play.

Each player took Uli hand from the envelope, checked it with a slip showing what cards should be there, and the bidding proceeded as in rubber play. On completion of the bidding, particulars of which were recorded on the score sheet, a fifth envelope was opened, and from this was drawn a slip which gave the contract in which the hand was to be played, and the card which was to be led by the opening leader. The player appointed on the slip to play the hand, then played the hand in the contract specified. The bidding is done so that the controlling committee may award marks for the bidding, but the hand is not played in the contract arrived at. It is played by the contract directed by the committee, so that it is played in the same contract at all 'tables throughout Australia and New Zealand. The committee is then able to give marks for the plan of the hand. The hands are passed to all tables until each table has played ail the hands. Score sheets are sent to the committee in Sydney for the award of marks.

It is of interest to chronicle that three Te Awamutu teams competed. The results, of course, are not yet available. They are expected about November 20th.