MUNDANE MUSINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 6

MUNDANE MUSINGS

MIXED BRIDGE (BY A MERE MALE) With a few brilliant exceptions, women are not mathematically-minded, hence they do not make first-class bridge-players; in consequence tiie mere male generally dislikes this form of bridge, unless it is purely of the family variety. Playing in a mixed game the other day, my partner bid four hearts. After ten tricks had been played the position was as follows: My Partner: Hearts, 8. 6. Diamonds, 4. A.: Spades, 8. B.: Hearts, 7, 5. Clubs, 6, 3. Diamonds, J. Dummy: Spades, 4. Clubs, 7. 4. We had made eight tricks, and required two more for game, and my partner had the lead. Leading the 8 of trLimps, she got one more trick, and the contract was defeated. After the hand, I pointed out the importance under certain circumstances of throwing the lead at the eleventh trick, and showed her that if she had led her losing diamond she would have been assured of her contract. This seemed to sink in, as I heard her murmuring, “Eleventh trick!” The game continued. The score was game—all, when my partner was finally left in with “3 no trumps.” After ten tricks had been played, she had made seven tricks, and the position then was: My Partner: Clubs, 7,2. Hearts, 4. A.: Spades J, 6. B.: Diamonds, 6, 4. 'Hearts, 6. Hearts, 8. Dummy: Spades, 10, 3. Hearts, 5. My partner was in the lead, and, of course, game and rubber was obvious by leading her two winning clubs. But, horrors! Again that murmur, “Eleventh trick!” She led her losing heart, and B promptly made his two winning diamonds, and we were two light. “There!” she said, “I threw* the lead at the eleventh trick, and look what has happened.” I was dumb. That is just one of the reasons why I prefer bridge with only the sterner sex. There are others. Men, on the whole, are fairer. It was a lady who remarked quite unblushingly, “A peep is worth two finesses!” Not that men are always scrupulously honest, yet they do “play the game” more. Ladies, too have a knack of forgetting their financial obligations at bridge. “I haven’t any change now; I’ll give it to you the next time we play.” One can remind a mere male about a gambling debt, but who of us possesses the courage to remind a lady of a mere 12s 6d owing from bridge? Nevertheless, I must confess that mixed bridge has its attractions, and, given moderate stakes, it proves a welcome change from the more strenuous club game at five shillings a hundred. H.F.M.