Show CULBERTSON on CONTRACT I by Ely Culbertson L Worlds World Player and aDd Great Greatest Card Can Analyst FINDING INDING A CHINK IN TilE THE ARMOR If 11 I knew what to lead one of the strongest of New Yorks York's younger experts ex cx- remarked the other day I would be the greatest bridge player in the world The statement while perhaps overbroad over overbroad broad contains a very large clement of truth The choice of the opening lead is b frequently vital from a defensive defensive defensive sive s standpoint and even the bidding does docs not always furnish a correct clue although there if anywhere the information that will guide the player play play- er cr is to be found Some players base all their leads on convention Some players rely wholly on hunches Some players lead in a h miss hit fashion one time relying upon convention and another upon Inspiration And there arc some who know nothing about either cither convention or inspiration and these wholly disregard both Today's story centers around a grand slam bid on a hand in a rubber game ame at the Cavendish club In New York The North and South players were two of New Yorks York's ranking players while seated East was George Olsen The identity of his partner partners partner's Is s unimportant as he played a minor role in the drama which North and South considered a 3 tragedy while Mr Olsen and his partner realizing how low narrowly they had averted the snapping of the trap of destiny did die not find words to describe it The hand was South South Dealer North and South vulnerable A 4 c J A K J 10 0 OAK A K Q 10 7 Ii 5 4 J G Q 10 7 6 N A K 4 6 52 2 J 9 6 4 2 J Ej W E 6 s tIt tIt- A 4 J 9 8 3 v J- J Jo o 9 3 4 A K Q 10 9 7 I shall not give the bidding in de dc- tail Suffice It to say that North had eventually reached a contract of seven sev sev- en diamonds after West had made a bid of spades and North had shown I control of that suit Mr Olsen was charged with the responsibility responsibility re re- re of leading Most l players for lack of ot something better would have laid down the king of spades spade and then waited for the ax to falL Mr 11 Olsen believed differently and led a club which South had bid and His partner void of clubs trumped and thus set the grand slam contract one trick As the score was being recorded North ruefully inquired And why did you lead a club Well Mr l Olsen replied both bothof of you seemed to like the clubs pretty well and my partner had bid spades When you went to a grand slam I knew you could have no spades to lose I had a lot of or clubs and I knew South had a lot of clubs too because he ic had bid them three times maybe my partner had none So I thought the chance was worth taking The reasoning was sound and the result paid a rich reward for a carefully carefully care care- fully considered defensive play TODAY'S POINTER The choice of oC an opening lead often presents unusual difficulties Frequently Fre Fre- the selection made is the determining dc de factor in the success or failure of the contract Opening leads should therefore be selected with great cat care and deductions made from the information given in the bidding TOMORROWS TOMORROW'S HAND The bidding and play of ot the hand printed below will be discussed tomorrow tomorrow to to- morrow West West Dealer East and West vulnerable A t J 2 C J J 5 0 o 10 9 5 3 2 J 9 4 2 A T N Q 8 j 6 5 1 w J 10 9 7 4 W AI E EJ 43 I 4 V JA A i s If 0 OA A K ilK K A- A V K Q 8 6 3 0 o K Q 7 ci A Q 10 3 Study the hand decide how you would bid and play it and then compare com corn pare the results you OU obtain with those shown in tomorrows tomorrow's article I I Copyright 1932 Ely Culbertson |