AUCTION BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 6

AUCTION BRIDGE.

SUPER CONTRACT BRIDGE.

($y A. E. MANNING FOSTER.)

American contract bridge is undoubtedly catching on in England. 41tliough to the best of my knowledge it ia only being played regularly at one London Club (Crockford's in Hertford Street), it is being increasingly adopted in private circles. I recently received an invitation to come and play "super" contract bridge, and was not at first quite sure what was'meant, but discovered in time that it was the new name for the American variation of contract. It is a distinctly fascinating and game, and I recommend everybody to learn it and to play it occasionally as a change from auction. I have no fear of it superseding auction ae a regular club game, on account of its difficulty and the inordinate length of the rubbers. But played amongst friends ac an evening party it is great fun. It has many element 5 of novelty and surprise and it is highly exhilarating. Further, it improves one's bidding. The official laws of the game are given in "Lena on Con* tract," published by Allen and Unwin. The game has also been fully explained and described in the "Auction Bridge Magazine."' At contract it is necessary not only to bid well, but to play well. The dropping of a single trick is much more Beriouß than at auction. Here is a hand given by Mr. Lenr which is interesting both from the point of view of bid- j ding and play:—

Score love all. Z dealt and bid "Two Diamonds" (correct at contract but not correct at auction). A said "No bid"; "Three Diamonds"; B, "Three Spades"; Z, "Five Diamonds"; A and Y, "No bid"; B, "Double"; Z, "Re-double." All pass. Y's assist of'his partner's first bid of "Two Diamonds" was sound. B'b overfall of "Three Spades" was hardly open to criticism. His hand, held ample compensation for the meagrenees of the Spade suit. Z's "Five Diamonds" was also sound, because his hand was too strong to expect further support from his partner. The double by B appeared pretty good. While B could not rely upon A for a certain quick trick it seemed likely that B could take two tricks in one of. his side suits and defeat the contract. The re-double by Z was a fair risk With the support shown by his partner he expected to make his contract. Furthermore, if the re : double drives the enemy back to live Spades Z will cheerfully double the Spades, so that the adversaries will have a plentiful supply in digging themselves in. A opened the 9 of Spades. Can Z make his contract? At first sight it might appear that ho must lose two tricks in Hearts and one in Cluba. Is there any way of wangling it so that he needn t. Next week I will tell van how Z nlaved the hand.