I FOSTER ON AUCTION BY THE SAME AUTHOR FOSTER'S PIRATE BRIDGE FOSTER'S AUCTION MADE EASY FOSTER'S RUSSIAN BANK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY FOSTER ON AUCTION A Complete Exposition of the Latest Developments of Modern Auction Including the Most Recent Variations ••Contract Bridge," "Stop-Gap" and "Dummy-Up" With the Full Code of the Official Laws AND 137 Deals from Actual Play BY R. F. FOSTER AUTHOB OF f? Foster's Auction Made East," "Foster's Russian Bane,*! "Foster's Pirate Bridge," " Foster's Complete Hotlb," Inventor of the Eleven Rule and the Self- Playing Bridge Cards TEW RULES :: MANY EXAMPLES" NEW YORK E. P. BUTTON & COMPANY 681 Fifth Avenue Copyright, 1918 By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY Copyright, 1919 By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY Copyright, 1922 By E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY All Rithtt Ritstmd First printing, June, 1918 Second printing, Jan., 1919 Third printing, June, 1919 Fourth printing, Nov., 1919 Fifth printing, Feb., 1920 Sixth printing, April, 1920 Seventh priiUing, supplement to 1920 Eighth printing, April, 1921 Ninth printing, revised and enlarged, Jan.,l9BB Printed in the United State* ef Ameriea PREFACE TO THE NINTH EDITION Since the first printing of this work, in June, 1918, I have been gratified to find that other writers on the game have felt it incumbent upon them to revise many of their theories, in order to bring their teachings into conformity with the principles enunciated in the following pages. There are one or two minor points upon which they do not quite agree, such as taking the partner out of a no- trumper with any five hearts or spades; or with any five cards and a trickless hand. They think that for the major suit take-out there should be *^as good as a defensive bid,'^ as one writer puts it; and for the minor-suit take- out with a trickless hand, at least six cards. No statistics being advanced in support of this theory, and no facts adduced, I can only say that all the figures at my command show that the invariable take-out with any five cards of a major suit, regardless of the rest of the hand, and the invariable take-out with any five cards of any suit with a trickless hand, is a big winner in the long run. It is the best rule for the beginner and the average player, for whom text-books are chiefly written, and I see no reason to change it. Experts are a law unto themselves in bidding. Since the following pages were written, four years ago, several changes have been suggested that might improve the game of auction, such as making all the suits of equal scoring value, leaving them to outrank one another in the bidding. The present committee on the laws turned vi PREFACE down this suggestion, probably because the idea did not originate with them. Among the variations which have met with more or less favor is contract bridge, to which a chapter is devoted in the following pages. This Hmits the amount to be scored below the Hne, toward game, to the number of tricks bid. It has the great merit of giving the weaker hands a chance, preventing players from making unjust use of strong hands by bidding safely and making game if they are lucky. In contract, to win the game with strong hands, one must bid game. To Mr. Walter Nettleton, of Stockbridge, Mass., we are indebted for the invention of stop-gap bridge, intended for three players who are waiting for a fomih. The main idea is to cut out rubbers, so that the game may be abandoned and settled for the moment the fourth person appears. It also cuts out the original no-trump bids, which were such a nuisance at the older game of three- hand auction, and gives each player a chance at the dummy, although that is stiU a gamble. A great improvement on stop-gap is called dummy-up, which entirely eliminates the gambHng element in bidding for the dummy, those cards being turned face up before a bid is made. Although primarily intended for three players, it is equally interesting for four. Both these variations are fully described in this edition. R. F. Foster. 532 Monroe Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION Some persons may imagine that there is nothing new to be said on the subject of auction bridge, because so much has already been written. So far from this being the case, the root of the matter has never been reached, and most of what has been pubhshed is nothing but theory, copied from the theories of older writers. These theories are all based on experience with the older game of bridge, although the two games have little or nothing in common. The principles that govern a declaration that is final, and a bid that is largely competitive, are very different. As in bridge, so in auction, it has always been the custom in the text-books to give a number of illustrative hands, or parts of hands, and to point out that because they contain a certain number of aces, kings, and queens, certain declarations should be made upon them.'^ But all this is theory^ as evidenced by the fact that the theories have been changed time and again. No facts have ever been offered in support of any of them. Throughout these many changes one fact remains. This is that even after years of experience with the game the number of contracts that fail is increasing, instead of decreasing, which should be enough to suggest to any thinking person that there is something wrong, either with the theory of bidding in vogue at the present time, or with the laws of the game. Many theories are exploded by an examination of a few facts. It was the tabulation of the actual results arrived vii viii PREFACE at by following a certain theory of play in duplicate matches for the championship of the American Whist League that was the death of the long-suit game, and the fetish about always leading trumps from five. These had been the pet theories of Cavendish, Pole, and Clay for more than fifty years, and were followed by 99 per cent of the card players throughout the world, yet they were absolutely unsound. It is only lately that we have had the same oppor- tunity to analyze the results at auction bridge, and to test out the results of following certain theories in dupli- cate play. The outcome has been to demonstrate that the theories upon which our bids are based are a trifle vague, and often misleading, and that the reason so many con- tracts fail is that players do not know how to value their hands. It is all very well to tell a player that he should bid a heart if he holds five to the ace-king, even if he has not a trick outside. But why should he do so? Why should he not bid hearts with seven of them, eight high, and two outside aces? The theory which it is the purpose of the following pages to explain is not that holding a certain number of aces and kings makes a bid, but that certain combinations of cards will win a stated number of tricks, on the average, and that they will win twice as many tricks in the hands of the declarer and dummy as they would in the hands of the adversaries. Every hand has a fixed value, for attack or for defence, which can be depended on to yield a certain return in tricks to the player who understands these values and bases his bids upon them. Instead of asking the reader to take my word for the soimdness of any of the principles of bidding advocated in the following pages, I have allowed these theories to emerge from a series of 130 deals from actual play, which PREFACE ix are here given in full, almost all of them having been gathered in important duplicate matches, where they were overplayed at seven, eight, nine, and sometimes twelve tables. For suggestions as to the application of the observed facts, and their formulation into principles of play, I am indebted to so many expert players that it would be invidious to mention any of them in particular. The truth of the facts stated, especially with regard to the trick-taking possibilities of certain combina- tions of cards, their limitations to those values, and the impossibility of forcing them beyond, the reader is asked to verify for himself by actual observation of the hands he himself deals, bids upon, and then plays. I do not pretend to pose as an authority, demanding the reader^s assent to certain theories. The day of the " authority in card matters is past. I wish simply to present certain facts, which are the result of the examina- tion and comparison of a large number of duplicate deals, and leave the reader to form his own opinion as to their value as a guide to better bidding and sounder play. At the end of this work, under the title of General Index, will be found an entirely original, and the author hopes extremely useful, guide to the illustrative hands. This is designed to enable the reader to refer at once to cases in which any particular convention of bidding or play in which he is interested may be seen in action. Should he wish to study the management of queen and small second hand, for instance, or how to show support for a suit bid, he need only turn to those subjects in the General Index, to find one or more deals in which the convention is used. R. F. Foster. 532 Monroe Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. r CONTENTS PAGE Preface v Historical 3 Description op the Game 6 PART I THE BIDDING , 21 First Principles 23 Attack and Defence . . , , 25 Intrinsic Card Values. 27 Bidding Values 35 The Trump Suit 41 Major and Minor Suits 58 Original, or Free Bids 64 Major-suit Bids 66 Minor-suit Bids 75 Two-trick Bids in Minor Suits 78 Shut-out Bids 87 Bidding Two-suiters 95 No-Trump Bids 100 Defensive Bids 110 When the Dealer Passes 119 The Partner 125 Denying Partner's Suit 129 Denying Partner's No-trumpers 143 Major-suit Take-outs 151 Rebidding the Hand 166 Assisting Suit Bids 182 Assisting No-trumpers 199 Conventional Doubles 204 Winning and Saving Game 222 Getting Penalties 230 xi xii CONTENTS PAGB The Second Bidder 238 The Thied Hand 245 The Fourth Hand 248 Secondary Bids 254 The Parttser's Silence 263 PART II THE PLAY 266 Leads Against Trump Contracts 269 Leads Against No-trumpers 276 Subsequent Play 279 The Leader's Partner 280 The Middle Game 292 The Eleven Rule 302 Finessing 307 The Declarer's Play 313 Playing Trump Declarations 319 Playing No-trumpers 327 The Gift for the Game 334 PART III RECENT VARIATIONS 343 Contract Bridge 343 Stop-gap Auction 351 Dummy-Up 353 FOSTER ON AUCTION FOSTER ON AUCTION HISTORICAL Auction bridge belongs to the whist family of games and is the latest development of the 20th century tendency to inject the bidding element into all the card games that are adapted to it. Any person who will mentally review the most popular games of the present day can- not fail to recognize the prominence of the bidding fea- ture in all of them. After whist had held the centre of the stage for more than two hundred years, bridge made its appearance. Just where it came from is unknown. A game very much like it has long been popular in Holland, and all its ele- ments are to be found in some one or other of the older games of cards. The first mention of the game in English appeared in a httle book entitled, " Biritch, or Russian Whist," pubUshed in London in 1886. This has led many to suppose the game is of Russian origin, but there is no authority for such a belief. The name was soon corrupted into " bridge, which some players erroneously imagined to refer to the privi- lege of the dealer in passing or " bridging " the make to his partner. In its primitive form, bridge was intro- duced to the card players of New York by the late Henry I. Barbey, at the New York Whist Club, in 1893. This finally resulted in splitting up that club, those who liked 3 4 FOSTER ON AUCTION the new game better than whist moving to Brown^s Chop House on 28th Street, and afterward to 28 West 30th Street, where they organized The Whist Club of New York, in the summer of 1894. It was not until two years after The Whist Club had spht off from the New York Whist Club in 1893 that the game of bridge was officially recognized in the by-laws, and it was two years later, in 1897, that The Whist Club printed its first official code of laws for the game.- This code has been kept up to date ever since, gradually changing from bridge to auction bridge, and then to royal auction, and is to-day the recognized official code throughout the United States. By kind permission of The Whist Club, the latest edition of the code is given in full in this work. There was no bidding in bridge. The dealer named the trump, or no trump, or passed the privilege to his partner. All the opponents could do was to double if they con- sidered the make better suited to their hands than to the dealer's. The bidding element, which laid the foun- dation for auction, was the invention of John Doe, an English writer who was stationed in India at the time, who designed it to make bridge playable by three persons, the highest bidder taking the dummy bhndfold, as it were. A description of this game appeared in some of the London papers, and the Bath Club took it up and rapidly adapted it to four players. Just as bridge gradually fell into step with dupficate whist, overtook it, and then passed it; so auction overtook bridge, and gradually left it behind, although it took the American playej nearly four years to put auction in its present positio as the most popular game. Probably the final touch, which made auction the gam FOSTER ON AUCTION 5 it is to-day, was the adjustment of the suit values, elimi- nating the double value of the spade suit, and making it possible to win the game from love with any of the four suits for trump. This was finally adopted in 1914, and it is improbable that there will be any further changes in the suit values or the method of scoring. Auction, as now played, seems to have reached the end of its evolution. The introduction of duplicate play, although at present confined to the clubs, where a sufiiciently large number of players can be gathered to make the game interesting, seems to give promise of becoming more popular, but so far the objection to it has been that it is not a match against the opponents at the same table, but against those sitting at other tables, who will hold the same cards against players of perhaps very different caHbre. An attempt was made last year to popularise duplicate auction by using nothing but prearranged hands, in which the bidding, as a competitive element, was cut out entirely, the winning declaration on every hand being a foregone conclusion. This was called '^par auction," the aim of the players being to get the maximum number of tricks, which was supposed to equal ''par." Instead of using the regula- tion Paine's trays, with a separate pack for every deal, the old idea of Foster's Self-playing Bridge Cards was adopted, so that several hands could be dealt from the same pack. The change in the method of playing three-hand auction, so as to be ready for the arrival of a fourth at any moment, and the further improvement of this scheme by turning the dmnmy face up before a bid is made, are all recent ideas. Contract bridge, in which the score toward game is limited by the bid, is another recent idea, very popular on the Continent, and among the younger generation in some places; but it has not sufficient merit to supplant the present game of auction as the popular favorite. DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME Auction bridge, or royal auction, or simply auction, for it is known by various names, is a card game for four persons, two of whom are partners against the other two, and is played with a full pack of fifty-two cards, which rank from the ace and king down to the deuce in play, the ace being below the deuce in cutting. Partnerships are determined by spreading the pack face downward on the table. Each candidate then draws a card, those cards within four of each end not being available, and the two highest are partners against the two lowest. The lowest of the four has the first deal, and the choice of seats (and cards, if there are two packs in play, which there should be). His partner sits opposite him, and the opponents may take whichever of the vacant seats they please. Two packs are really neces sary, to mark the position of the deal, and they should be of different colors. If cards of the same denomination are cut, the spade has the preference, then the heart and then the diamond The pack not in play is known as the still pack and is gathered and shuffled by the dealer's partner, who places it at his right, on the left of the next dealer. The deal passes in rotation to the left until the rubber is finished The play of a hand finished, the next dealer simply passes the still pack from his left to his right, to be cut by the player on his right, who must leave at least fom* cards in each packet. The cards are dealt one at a time in rotation to the left until each player has received thirteen, but no card i turned up for the trump. Irregularities in cutting, deal 6 FOSTER ON AUCTION 7 ing, dealing with the wrong cards or out of turn, are dealt with in the official laws of the game, which will be found elsewhere in this volume. Whatever happens, the proper dealer never loses his deal unless it is completed before the error is discovered. The cards dealt, each player takes up his thirteen and sorts them into suits. The object of the game is to reach 30 points or more, made by tricks alone, and the partners who first win two such games win the rubber, so that no rubber can be longer than three games, and may be two only. Anything beyond the 30 points that may be made on the deal that decides a game are scored as part of that game, so that if the partners who have 27 up and require only 3 points to win the game should make 60 on the next deal, their total score would be 87; but it would be only one game. The value of the tricks in each hand played may vary according to the nature of the winning declaration. Each player in turn, beginning with the dealer, bids for the privilege of playing the hand with a named trump or at no-trumps, and these bids outrank one another in the order of their value in suits or in points. The first six tricks taken by the side that makes the highest bid do not count. Those are the declarer's book. All over six count for him, 6 points each when clubs are trumps; 7 for diamonds, 8 for hearts, 9 for spades and 10 for no-trumps. Nullos are not recognized in the official laws; but when played the bid comes be- tween the spade and no-trump, and the tricks won by, or forced on the opponents, over their first six, are worth 10 points each to the partners that declared the nullo. Any bid of an equal number of tricks in a suit of higher rank, or a greater number of tricks in anything, 8 FOSTER ON AUCTION will over call a previous bid. Two diamonds is better than two clubs, but three clubs is better than two no-trumps. Any player, in his proper turn to the left, may overcall any previous bid, even his partner's, and there is no restriction upon the nature of the bid, so that if the dealer says one spade, the opponent on the left may say two spades if he likes. The nimiber of tricks bid is the num- ber over the book, or first six, that the bidder imder- takes to win. The bidding goes round and round until three players pass in turn, but the highest bid allowed is seven tricks. The highest bid made, when passed by three players in succession, is known as the winning declaration. The partners who made it are the only ones that can score toward game on that deal. The number of tricks bid is called the contract. The partner who first named the suit, or no-trimip, is the declarer, and his partner becomes the dummy for that deal, no matter what bids have intervened since the winning declaration was first named by one of the partners who get it. The first six tricks taken by the declarer do not coimt, they ai'e his book, but all over six count toward game, provided he succeeds in fulfilling his coiitract. The seventh trick is called the odd trick, and all beyond seven are so many odd tricks, or so many by cards. The opponents' book is the difference between the number of tricks bid and seven. If the winning declaration, or contract, is four hearts, the declarer must win ten tricks out of the thirteen, therefore his opponents' book is three tricks, and they are entitled to penalties for every trick they win over their book, because they must have " set " the contract. No plaj^er is obliged to bid. The dealer has the first sa3% to bid or pass. If he bids, he undertakes to win the FOSTER ON AUCTION 9 number of tricks he names in the suit he selects^ or at no-trumps. If he passes, the player on his left may bid or pass, and so on round the table. As soon as any bid is made, the player on the left must either pass, overcall it, or double. The double does not affect the value of the tricks so far as the bidding is concerned, so that two hearts will still overcall two diamonds doubled. But if the doubled bid is the final declaration, all tricks over the declarer's book if he fulfils his contract; or over the opponents' book if he fails, will have a double value. If the double is redoubled, the tricks or penalties have four times their normal value. A player cannot double his partner's bid, but he may redouble in his proper turn if his partner has been doubled, or the player v/ho is doubled may redouble on his own account when the bid comes round to him. Only one redouble is allowed. Players should be careful about bidding or doubling out of turn, for which various penal- ties may be enforced, but there is no penalty for passing out of turn. Players will sometimes inadvertently make a bid that is not sufficient to overcall the previous bid; such as three hearts over three spades. If this is corrected before the opponents call attention to it, there is no penalty, but it must be corrected by increasing the number of tricks; or by correcting the denomination of the bid, without increasing the tricks. A player cannot correct a bid of three hearts over three spades by shifting to four clubs, which shifts both tricks and denomination. If an irregular or insufficient bid is made, and passed by the opponent on the left, without correction, it must stand. For instance: The dealer bids two hearts, the second bidder two diamonds. If the third player passes, 10 FOSTER ON AUCTION doubles, or bids anything, the bid of two diamonds is accepted as better than two hearts, but of course the player that bid the two hearts can overcall two diamonds by repeating his original bid. If either of the opponents immediately calls attention to the irregular bid, whether it is his turn to speak or not, and the player to the left of that bid passes it after it is corrected at the command of an opponent, the partner of the player in error is barred from any further bidding, and unless the player on his left bids something or doubles, the bidding is closed. All bids should be made distinctly and in a straight- forward manner, something hke this, beginning with the dealer: " One heart. I pass (or, no bid). One spade. Double a spade." On the next round the dealer starts again: " I pass. I pass. Two hearts. Pass. Pass. Pass." Although the highest bid, two hearts, has been made by the dealer's partner, as the dealer first named that suit he plays the hand and his partner becomes the dummy. The dealer's bid on the first round, or the first bid made to his left if he passes, is called the original bid, or a free bid. If the first bidder is overcalled, and his partner advances the bid without changing the denomination, it is called an assist. If any player bids more tricks, after being overcalled, without waiting for his partner, it is known as rebidding the hand. If a player changes his bid on the second round, instead of increasing the number of tricks in his first bid, or doubling an opponent, it is called a shift. Any bid made on the second round, especially after refusing to bid on the first round, is known as a secondary bid, and has not the same value as an original or free bid. As soon as three players in succession pass a bid or FOSTER ON AUCTION II a double, the player to the left of the declarer leads any card he pleases for the first trick and dummy's cards are then laid down, face up and sorted into suits, the trumps, if any to the right. The declarer then plays all cards from the dummy hand, without any suggestions from his partner. Each player in turn to the left must follow suit if he can, and the highest card played, of the suit led, wins the trick, trumps winning all other suits. The winner of the trick leads for the next and so on, until all thirteen have been played. The declarer always gathers the tricks won by his side, placing them in front of him in such a manner that they may be easily counted. As soon as he gets a book of six tricks, he usually shuts them up and lays apart only the tricks that count toward his contract and game. Either of the opponents may gather for their side, it being a conamon practice for the winner of the first trick to take it in, and all others after it. They may bunch their tricks as soon as they get their book. If the declarer fulfils his contract, he scores all tricks over the book at their regular value, no matter whether he has bid so many or not. These points are put below the line, as they score to¥/ard winning games. If the declaration has been doubled, and still succeeds, all tricks over the book have a double value, hearts being worth 16, for instance, if there had been a redouble, they would be worth 32. In addition to the trick scores, the declarer would take 50 in penalties, above the line, for having fulfilled a doubled contract, and 50 more for every trick over his contract, if any. If he or his partner has re- doubled, the penalties are 100 instead of 50. In addition to the trick values there are certain honor scores and bonuses, none of which count toward game, but 12 FOSTER ON AUCTION they materially add to the value of the rubber. None of these is affected by doubling. Either side may score them. When there is a trump, the five highest cards, A K Q J 10, are honors. At no-trumps the four aces are the honors. If partners hold between them three of these honors in the trump suit, known as simple honors, they score the value of two tricks for them; if they hold four, the value of four tricks; or five, the value of five tricks, so that five honors in hearts between partners would be worth 40, and would be entered above the fine. If there are four or five in one hand, they count double, so that fom* in one hand in spades would be worth 72. Four in one hand, fifth in the partner's, are worth nine tricks. At no-trumps, the three aces are worth 30 points, four between partners 40; but four in one hand are worth 100. In addition to these scores there is a bonus of 50 for either side that wins twelve tricks out of the thirteen, called httle slam. For winning all thirteen tricks, grand slam, the bonus is 100. None of these is affected by doubling. The side that first wins two games adds a bonus of 250 for winning the rubber. In case the declarer fails to fulfil his contract, he scores nothing but honors as actually held by himself and his partner; but the opponents score 50 points in penalties for every trick by which the contract fails, no matter whether the declaration was a trump or no trump. Sup- pose the contract is four hearts, and the declarer makes two by cards only. His opponents would score 100 above the line as penalty. There cannot be any score toward game except by a declarer who fulfils his contract. If he has been doubled and fails, the penalty is 100 a trick, and if redoubled, 200. A revoke is failure to follow suit when able to do so, FOSTER ON AUCTION 13 or failure to comply with a performable penalty when demanded by the opponents. The revoking side can never score anything but honors as actually held, which are not affected by revokes. If the declarer revokes, his opponents take 100 points for each offence. If his opponents revoke he may take 100 points above the line, or take three of their tricks and add them to his own. For any second or third revoke in the same deal he must take points only, not more tricks. If tricks are taken, they are transferred from the opponents' side to the declarer's and counted at the same value as if he had won them all in play; but penalty tricks do not carry any bonus in case the declaration has been doubled. For instance: The contract is four spades, and the declarer wins two by cards only, but detects a revoke. If he takes three tricks, he fulfils his contract and scores five odd. If he has been doubled, all five of these tricks are worth 18 each, but he does not get any bonus of 50, because he did not fulfil his contract without the assistance of the penalty tricks. Had the dealer made good on his contract without taking any tricks for the revoke, he would be game with four odd in spades, and would not need any more tricks. It would then be better for him to take the 100 points. If his contract were four spades doubled, and he made five, without the revoke penalty, he would score five odd at 18 a trick, 50 for his contract and 50 for a trick over, to which he would add 100 revoke penalty. If the three tricks that may be taken will not put the declarer game, he should always take the points. Suppose the contract is one no-trump, and he wins only five tricks. Three more would still leave him one short of game, so he takes the 100 points, and scores honors as held. His opponents cannot score anything for de- 14 FOSTER ON AUCTION feating the contract, because they revoked, but they may score honors if they held the majority of them. The player who has bid a grand slam and fails to make more than six odd can still score 50 for the little slam, although he is set on his contract. The opponents can score slams if they make them, in addition to their penal- ties for setting the contract. The illustration in the margin will show the general appearance of a rubber score when added up and balanced. The headings of the columns are usually we and they, according to the side that keep the score. Players' initials may be placed under these words. The double line shows the division between the trick and the honor scores. All scores below this line count toward game; all scores above it are penalties, honors, and bonuses. The tricks are scored downward from the Hne; the honors upward. These scores represent the following re- sults of declaration and play: We made four odd at hearts, and simple honors, on the first deal; 32 below, with a line drawn under it to show the first game won, and 16 above the Kne. They bid three spades, were doubled and set for two tricks on the second deal; but scored simple honors. 200 penalty for we; 18 in honors for they. On the third deal, they made three no- trumps, and held 30 aces. On the fourth deal, we bid four spades, but failed by one trick, so they scored 50 penalty, but ive got 72 in honors. On the fifth deal they made six odd in clubs, with five honors between partners; We They 250 50 30 72 50 200 iO 16 18 32 30 36 320 494 320 174 FOSTER ON AUCTION 15 little slam, game and rubber, entered as 36 below, 30, 50, and 250 above. Both scores being added up, the lower is deducted from the higher, and the value of the rubber is found to be 174 points, won by they. The usual custom is for each loser to pay the player on his right, so that the partners would lose 174 points each. When the play is continued during an afternoon or evening, instead of setthng up at the end of every rubber, the scores are reduced to even points, taking the nearest 100, or 50, or 25, as may be agreed, and the names of the individual players forming the table are entered upon a separate sheet, known as a wash-book, or flogger, and car- ried out as plus and minus in separate columns; or in one column, with a ring round the minus scores. Here is an example of a wash-book at the end of four rubbers played by six persons at a table. Rubber Values : 9 4 3 4 _{_- __ + - 4- __ Smith 2 6 6 2 Kent 2 2 5 1 2 6 6 2 2 2 1 1 Allen 4 1 5 Brown 4 7 7 Smith and Kent won the first rubber against Jones and Green. Then Kent and Green cut out to give way to Allen and Brown for the second rubber. Allen and Smith cut as partners and won from Jones and Brown. Smith and Jones, having played two consecutive rubbers, retired in favor of Kent and Green, who cut as partners 16 FOSTER ON AUCTION and beat Allen and Brown. On the last rubber Smith and Jones re-entered; but Brown refused to play fur- ther, as he was in bad luck, so Kent and Green, who would otherwise have sat out, cut for the place and Kent won it, playing with Smith against Jones and Allen, who beat them. When there are only four at a table and no chance of any one wanting to cut in, many persons prefer to pivot, instead of cutting for partners each time. This insures an equal division of the partners during three rubbers, so that if any one is in luck, each of the three others gets him once. The pivot should be the score-keeper, who sits still all the time, the others moving round him hke the hands of a clock at the end of each rubber. The one on his right passes behind his chair and takes the seat on the pivot's left. The partnerships and seats being decided by rota- tion, the only thing to cut for is the first deal and the choice of cards. In social games, where there is no stake and the play is for a prize of some kind, the hostess sometimes Hkes to bring about as many changes in the partnerships as possible during the evening. Rubbers are impracticable, but if the play is limited to four deals at a table, and 125 points are added for winning a game, eight individuals may be arranged in this manner: The pivot, No. 8, who sits still all evening, is usually the guest of honor, at table A. At the end of four deals each puts his or her score on an individual score shp and then moves to the next greater numbered seat. No. 1 5 *8 A 1 7 4 2 B 3 6 FOSTER ON AUCTION 17 at table A would go to seat No. 2 at table B, and so on; No. 7 going to 1. After the first movement each person knows v/ho to follow for the rest of the evening, as each takes the place of the one whose place he or she took 013 the first move. At the end of 28 deals every person in the game will have had every other for a partner once, and for an adversary twice. In duplicate auction, when there are players enough for a number of tables, what is called the compass game is adopted. Trays are necessary to hold the cards, which are never shuffled after the first time they are dealt at the table at which the tray starts, and there must be as many trays as there are deals to be played. For seven tables, twentj^-eight packs of cards and trays are required. This will give four deals at each table. As soon as the fourth hand is finished, the total trick and honor scores, which have been recorded just as in the ordinary rubber, expect that there are no rubbers, 125 points being added for each game won, are added up, the lower score deducted from the higher and the differ- ence carried to the score shps provided for the partners, as a minus or a plus. These are usually of different colors for the partners who sit N and S, to distinguish them from those sitting E and W. The names of the players are written at the top, with the number of the table from which they started. The signal is then given to change places. All the N and S partners sit still, but all the E and W players move one table further away from table No. 1, so that the E and W pair at table 2 would go to 3, and so on. The four trays just played at each table are taken to the next table, but in the opposite direction to the players, so that the numbers on the trays shall come in rotation to all the N and S pairs. 18 FOSTER ON AUCTION If the number of tables in play is even, it will be necessary for the E and W pairs to skip one, when half way round, or else there must be a bye set of trays which are not in play each round. These methods are necessary to prevent the same E and W pairs meeting the same hands again. At the end of the evening each pair adds up its total losses and gains and turns in its card, showing so many points minus or plus for the entire twenty-eight deals. These are entered on a blackboard, the N and S on one side, the E and W on the other. All the N and S scores are then added, and divided by the number of tables in play to get an average. If this average is a plus, those exceeding the average are winners. The same is done with the E and W scores, which must show as much minus as the N and S scores show plus, and if the average is a minus, the pairs who have lost the least or have the smallest minus are the winners. There are a great many ways of playing duplicate auction, depending on the number of players, whether they are competing as teams of four, as pairs, or as indi- viduals, but the schedules for such games are too com- plicated for a work of this kind. In large charity games, where the players make up their own tables and valuable prizes are offered for the best scores, it is impossible to prevent foohsh or unscrupu- lous players from overbidding their hands, doubHng recklessly, and so forth, so that some one at the table gets a tremendous score. To avoid this and make the game a fair chance for all, the management takes the numbers from 1000 to 1250 in one envelope; from 1251 to 1500 in another, and from 1501 to 1750 in another and seals them up, unmarked. FOSTER ON AUCTION 19 After the game is finished and the scores have all been handed in and sorted into hundreds, keeping all between 1000 and 1100 together, and so on, one of the envelopes is drawn bhndfold, and from it a number is drawn. The scores most nearly approaching this number, above or below, are the winners. Suppose the number drawn was 1240, and the nearest to it were 1236, 1280 and 1196, they would win in that order. This is all luck, of course, but so is everything else connected with a charity bridge. It is at least free from fraud. PART I THE BIDDING After the preliminaries of cutting for partners, seats and cards, the next thing is the bidding and the play. Each player at the table having picked up and sorted his thirteen cards, the first matter to demand attention is to settle three things: Which side shall play the dummy, with the opportunity of scoring toward game? What suit shall be the trump, or shall the hands be played without a trump? How many tricks will the partners that have the dummy undertake to win, and at what value, doubled or not? These points are all settled by the bidding. That finished, nothing remains to be done but to play the cards, to see if the declarer can fulfil his contract. No matter how well he plays, his skill is wasted if he has undertaken an impossible task by overbidding his hand. The foundation of all good play is to start with a sound system of bidding. The great secret of success at auction is to discover the best bid for the combined hands and to carry it to the limit of safety when it is opposed. The art of modern bidding is to know where that limit lies. Just as much may be lost by stopping too soon as by going too far, when the opponents' bids look dangerous. The bids at auction may be divided into two classes: those which are called free bids and those that are forced. Free bids are those that the player is not obliged to make, such as the original bid by the dealer, or by some player 21 22 FOSTER ON AUCTION to his left if he passes. Forced bids are those that must be made if it is necessary or expedient to overcall a pre- vious bid. They may be necessary to take the partner out of a dangerous situation, or to take advantage of an opportunity to show a suit while it is comparatively inex- pensive to do so. In order that the partners may understand each other, all free bids must be made on strictly conventional prin- ciples. They are practically mechanical and never in- ■^ OOOO o o oooo M When we get to combinations that are still weaker than these we find their highest value is one trick, with perhaps a possible trick. None of the following is worth more than a trick, the possibihty of winning more not being sufficiently strong for purposes of appraisement. 32 FOSTER ON AUCTION Each worth 1 trick only. There are still weaker combinations that are not worth anything in a calculation of values, as there is little more than a probable trick in them at the best. Not worth a trick. ^ B 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. The reader's attention should be particularly called to the first of these three, the king-jack-ten, as it is one of the most deceptive combinations in the game for bid- ding purposes. If the queen is on the wrong side, the suit may never win a trick until the third round, which reduces it to the same rank as queen-jack-ten. The weakness of these combinations will be more apparent FOSTER ON AUCTION 33 when we come to the play, especially that part of it which relates to finessing. The trick values attached to the foregoing combinations of high cards are based on averages. Take the ace- queen-jack, for instance. This will be good for three tricks in some cases, in others for two, and in others for only one, or perhape in rare cases for none at all. One or two of the high cards may be trumped, or perhaps discarded or given up to protect something else. The point is that although you cannot win exactly two tricks every time you hold this combination, ace^ queen-jack, you are practically certain of getting 200 tricks out of it if you hold it 100 times. These values are the minimum, under all conditions, and are for the high cards alone, regardless of the number of small cards in the suit. The combinations enumerated are good for the number of tricks specified in each case whether you are the declarer, or dummy, or one of the opponents. They are good for these tricks, on the average, whether the winning declaration is a trump or no-trump. But under certain conditions these high cards may be good for a great deal more than their intrinsic value, and this increase in their value may be computed with considerable accuracy, provided they are in the hands of the partners that get the winning declaration and play the dummy. If they are part of a no-trumper, for in- stance, these high cards may be doubly valuable in pro- tecting and bringing into play weaker but longer suits. In many cases they practically take the place of a trump suit and render the selection of such a suit either unneces- sary or unwise. On the other hand, there may be so many small cards in the same suit as the high cards as to suggest the 34 FOSTER ON AUCTION designation of that suit as a trump; but it will still be the value of the high cards in clearing up the suit in the hands of the opponents that will make the remaining small cards valuable as trick winners. Before proceeding to the principles that underly the bidding, it will be necessaiy to examine this promoting power of the high cards and to arrive at an exact under- standing of its influence on the bidding itself. BIDDING VALUES The smallest bid that is allowed in the game is to win seven tricks- But it is very rarely that the player who is called upon to make the first bid has seven sure tricks in his hand, yet we continually see such bids made. It is true that he has a partner, but he must bid on his own cards, and is responsible always for the majority of the tricks to be won. Looking over a player's hand we see perhaps two or three sure tricks at the most, yet he fear- lessly undertakes to win seven. Upon what grounds? Does he expect his partner to win four or five? The answer is this. He v/ill not be required to win those seven tricks unless he is allowed to play the hand. If he plays the hand, it will be with a trump of his own selection, or at no-trump, and he will get twice as many tricks as he would if the other side picked a different trump and got the declaration. Almost without exception, the bids we see are based on experience, and nothing else. The hand looks something like many other hands upon which similar bids were made and they turned out all right, at least part of the time; oftener than they failed perhaps. Not one auction player in a thousand knows just what any given hand is worth in actual tricks. If he has some- thing that looks like a no-trumper to him, he bids it. Another player would not regard the hand as a no- trumper, and would bid something else. Thousands of players will bid any suit of five cards without regard as to whether it is worth a bid or not. Their suit bids are all guesswork, and are based on the assumption that if the 35 36 FOSTER ON AUCTION suit named is not allowed to be the trump, it does not matter. Back of all this guesswork, the fundamental fact re- mains, although not one bridge player in a milUon may be aware of it, that the mere fact of his getting the winning declaration doubles the trick-taking powers of eveiy high card in his hand. Let us see why this is so. The declarer and his partner play the attack. Their opponents are always on the defensive. The attacking hands are the ones that are trying to go game; the defen- sive hands are the ones that are trying to prevent it. The attack has picked its own battle ground, and usually has the larger force of artillery, or trumps, in commanding situations. While it may be true, as set forth by many writers on the game, that the play of the exposed hand is worth an extra trick, that estimate refers to the play itself, after the winning declaration has been determined. But securing the right to play the exposed hand is worth a great deal more than that, because it practically doubles the trick-taking power of the declarer's and dummy's cards. Strange as it may appear, this fact seems to have so far escaped the attention of every writer on the game, yet it is the key to the only rational valuation of the hands for bidding purposes. Paradoxical as it may seem, it can be demonstrated that any sure trick in the hand of the declarer or his dummy will produce two tricks in play, on the average. That is to say, while an ace is undoubtedly a sure trick, and to the average player it is nothing more, it is actually worth two tricks to the partners who get the winning declaration and play the hand. This is on account of its power to promote the value of the smaller cards in the same suit, or to bring the dregs of other suits into play. FOSTER ON AUCTION 37 Any player of experience will tell you that if he holds* five trumps to the ace-king, he ought to win four tricks in trumps. Why this should be so, he does not know, but he relies on past experience to sustain him. The reason is not that there are five trumps in the hand, but that the two sure tricks at the top of the suit are worth four tricks. Ask him why five trumps to the king-jack are not equally worth four tricks, and he can offer no explanation but his past experience. The reason is that there are no sure tricks at the head of the suit. Leaving the trumps out of the question entirely for the present, let us take an example of a hand in which the tricks have to be won by the proper management of the high cards alone, a no-trimiper. This will make clear to us the promoting power of these high cards. The following hand might be typical of hundreds of elementary no-trumpers. No. 1. 7 Q3 c?) A 10 3 J 10 9 6 4 Q 8 6 K 8 2 K 5 J 9 2 A 10 9 7 4 A Z Y B 7 K 7 5 4 J 6 2 9 7 4 Q 7 2 7 K 8 5 Q J 6 5 A 8 3 A 10 3 Z dealt and bid no trump. Upon what sure tricks? Two aces are backed up by a probable trick, the king of 38 FOSTER ON AUCTION hearts, worth half a trick, according to the system of valua- tion already explained. Let us be Uberal and call the queen- jack suit as good as a king and worth half a trick. The total value of Z's cards is three sure tricks. But suppose he insists that his king of hearts or his two honors in clubs are almost certain to be led up to, and is opti- mistic enough to call each of them a sure trick, he has only four in sight after all. A leads a small heart and dimmiy goes down. There is only one sure trick in that hand, if we estimate its value by itself, which we must always do. A very hberal esti- mate would be to say that there were five tricks between the two hands. If the theory of bidding values which it is the object of this work to explain is correct, these five tricks should be worth ten in play, because the partners who hold those five tricks got the declaration and are playing the attack. In some hands they will produce more than double their intrinsic value, in some hands less. All bidding is based on averages, and in the long run 100 sure tricks in hand will produce 200 tricks in play for the declarer and dummy. In the actual play of this hand Z made these ten tricks, winning four by cards and the game. This result was entirely due to the promoting power of the high cards. Let us look the hand over before giving the play. Dunamy^s suit of five diamonds is worthless in itself, but the aoe in the declarer's hand gives him a double finesse in that suit and makes it good for four tricks. The four clubs in the declarer's hand would not be worth much if left to themselves; a trick in three or four deals would be about the average. But the ace of clubs in the dummy promotes these four clubs, and makes them worth three tricks. Here we see that two of the aces are worth not only FOSTER ON AUCTION ^ 39 twice as much as their intrinsic value, but three times, or two tricks more than average. If we now go back to the correct and sensible valuation of the two hands, we must admit that iour tricks is nearer the mark than five, and that twice four, or eight, should have been their value in play. In this case the hand beat averages, and through the fortunate distribution of the cards two aces made three tricks each, instead of two, and gave the declarer four odd instead of only two by cards. Here is the play: The queen of hearts from dummy held the first trick, and the finesse of the jack of diamonds lost to A's king. A then tried to get his partner into the lead to come through Z's king of hearts, but Z won the king of spades with the ace. Then came the finesse of the club jack, followed by two more rounds, clearing up that suit, and then two rounds of diamonds established the dregs of that suit in the dummy. After making his thirteenth club, Z put Y in with a spade to make two more diamonds. That is the attacking part of the hand. Now for the defence. If we turn our attention to the trick values in the hands of A and B we shall find that they are worth no more than their face value. The ace of hearts is a sure trick. Kings are worth about half as much as aces, and queens half as much as kings. Add up these values in the hands of A and B and three tricks is about the limit, and three tricks is just what they produced in play. As a further illustration of the appKcation of this principle, let us suppose for a moment that A had secured the declaration, with hearts for the trump. The A and B hands would then be the attacking hands and their high cards should accordingly double their value. That is, instead of being good for three tricks only, as they were in defence, they should be good for six in attack. This estimate will be found to be correct, as A must 40 FOSTER ON AUCTION make four heart tricks and two diamonds, and might even save the king of spades. In order to make what follows clear it will be neces- sary for the reader to keep constantly in view this double valuation of the high cards, depending upon whether they are to be used in attack or defence, because that is the secret of sound bidding. Every ace is worth two tricks for attack, only one for defence. Every king is worth a trick in attack, only half a trick in defence. These values are reduced only in case the partner denies having any length in the suit, showing that there are no small cards to promote, except those in the hands of the adversaries. The high cards then revert to their defensive values, as will be explained in the chapters on denying suits, and denying no-trumpers. As this method of estimating the trick-taking possi- bihties of the hand hes at the basis of the player's abihty to carry out any named contract, the reader should be thoroughly famihar with the principle underlying it, so as to be ready to apply it to any combinations of cards he may happen to hold, not only in one suit, but in the hand as a whole. The bidding values of the small cards in the trump suit, especially in the partner's hand, will be dealt with in the next chapter-/ THE TRUMP SUIT While there is no difference between the promoting powers of the high cards in trumps or in plain suits, because five cards to the ace-king will produce an average of four tricks in play, whether that suit is the trump or part of a no-trumper, there is a great difference in the value of the small cards as they increase in number. At no-trumps, six or seven cards to the ace-king are worth no more for bidding purposes than five, and for purposes of defence they are not worth as much. The longer a suit, the less probabihty that it will go round twice without being trumped. This is a matter that will be discussed when we come to the difference between the major suits, hearts and spades; and the minor suits, clubs and diamonds. If five trumps to the ace-king are worth an average of four tricks in play, six trumps should be worth five tricks, because that sixth trump is as good as the ace of a missing suit, and the five trumps still remain intact. On the other hand, the shorter suit adds materially to the trick-taking probabilities of the hand if it is on the defensive. If a suit shorter than five cards is to be selected for the trump and to play the attack, you must deduct something for the loss of numerical value, or make up for it by greater strength in high cards. The danger of a short trump suit is that the opponents may out- last you. It is the opponents that will add to their 41 42 FOSTER ON AUCTION trick-taking powers if they have the majority of the trumps between them; but in a no-trumper, length in a suit in which you have all the high cards is of no use to them. This difference between suits that are trumps, and those which are part of a no-trumper, or are used to sup- port a trump suit, is very important. Ten trumps, no matter what they are, are absolutely certain to win the odd trick, regardless of the rest of the hand. But ten trumps can never be certain of winning the game unless they are headed by ace-king-queen. Ten cards of a suit which is not the trump, even if headed by ace-king-queen, may never win a trick if the adversaries get the declaration. I have seen eleven clubs to four honors lose a grand slam at hearts. There are two classes of bids; suit bids and no-trump bids, and the suit bids are of two kinds. The player who bids no-trump reduces all the suits to the same level, and makes a club as good as a spade. The player who starts with a suit bid, especially a heart or a spade, must be prepared for the possibility of being left to play the hand on that declaration. The suit named will then be superior to all others, so far as trick-taking pos- sibilities are concerned. When a player names a suit for the trump, he offers to promote every card in that suit, whether in his own hand, or dummy's, or the opponents V and as the trumps in the opponents' hands will be just as superior to other suits as those in his own hand, the bidder must be care- ful to have a reasonable prospect of holding the ma- jority, so as to be able to outlast his opponents; even if he cannot disarm them. This consideration forces us to distinguish sharply between suit bids and no-trumpers. It is the number that FOSTER ON AUCTION 43 counts in the one; the high cards in the other. The ace- king small in three suits, four little cards in the fourth suit, is a perfect no-trumper, but to pick any of the four suits for a trump would be folly, as the probability would be strongly in favor of the opponents having more trumps than the declarer, and it is number that counts in trumps. In order to secure what might be called a safe working margin for suit bids, the declarer should hold either five cards of the suit he wishes to estabhsh as the trump, or four very good ones; just how good we shall see presently. This leads us to lay down as a fundamental proposition or a sort of starting point for the bidding, that if a player names a suit which he would like to be the trump he should hold at least five cards of that suit, and these five cards should be headed by a sufficient number of high cards to make it reasonably certain that the opponents can be disarmed, leaving the declarer with the numerical superiority. As all free bids in suit are attacking bids, they must come up to attacking value. How this value may be distributed and what it must total, we shall come to in another chapter, but we must first consider the different functions of the suits themselves, which varies with the purposes to which they may be put. While on the subject of trimips, there is one important matter to which the reader's attention will be repeatedly called in the following pages. This is the difference in value of the small trumps according to their location; that is, whether they are in the hand of the declarer or in that of some other player. In the hand of the declarer, the trumps are worth what is bid upon them. Five to the ace-king are good for four tricks on the average. The character of the rest of the hand cannot possibly affect this valuation in any 44 FOSTER ON AUCTION way. This is a difficult matter for some persons to understand. It is the stumbHng block with nine out of ten teachers of bridge. If you hold five good trumps, and an ace-king suit besides, that outside suit adds nothing whatever to the value of the five trumps, although it makes the hand as a whole much stronger. This is easily understood. But a great many persons imagine that if you hold five trumps and a singleton, or a missing suit, the fact that you can ruff one of the plain suits on the first or second round adds in some mysterious way to the value of your trumps. This is a serious error, although a very common one, and it is such an important matter that it m^ay be well to discuss it at some length, so that the reader shall clearly understand the manner in which trumps affect the bidding. Beginners continually excuse the weakness of their trump suit by pointing out their weakness in one of the plain suits. When their attention is called to the fact that they had nothing but six small hearts when they bid hearts, they retort, " But I had a singleton." When a player bids a spade, for instance, on five of that suit, hoping it will prove to be the trump, it is very seldom that these spades are all tops. What he expects is that the smaller trumps will win tricks, after the opponents' trumps are all gone. It should be evi- dent that the manner in which these tricks are won does not matter, but the average player does not see this point. The small trumps may be led, and good cards in plain suits have to be discarded on them, or the good cards may be led by the adversaries, and trumped by the declarer. Whether this trumping of good cards comes early in the hand or late, does not matter so far as winning tricks with small trumps is concerned. The mistake contin- FOSTER ON AUCTION 45 ually made by the beginner is in counting the small trumps as worth more than their average value simply because he can make them early in the play when he holds a singleton or has a missing suit. It may come as a surprise to some persons to learn that the possession of a singleton may lose tricks instead of winning them, especially if dummy happens to have that suit. Much depends on how soon the singleton suit is led, and an early force may be fatal. With a singleton in the declarer's hand, tricks may be lost in two distinct ways. It may be impossible to lead the suit twice, in case a finesse in dummy is neces- sary. It may be impossible to ruff the opponents' suit, because that is not the suit in which the declarer is short, and if he has a singleton in one suit he must be long in others. The root of the matter Hes in the consideration of the fact that it really does not matter whether it is the first round of a suit or the fourth that is trumped. One of the declarer's trumps must be used in either case, and either is a trick won for his side. As long as the small trumps take tricks any where, their value is demon- strated. The most striking illustration of the useless- nesfi of short suits, as an asset in trump values, is to take the six highest trumps in the pack. These are indis- putably good for six tricks, no matter what the rest of the hand. What difference would it make if there were a singleton in it? That would never make the six trumps good for seven tricks. Take the folio vv^ing hand: 46 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 2 Z dealt and bid two hearts, which held the contract. He has six trumps and a singleton. The interesting part of this hand is to see what influence this singleton had on the result. These six trumps are good for six tricks; no more, no less. A led two rounds of diamonds, Z trumping the second and exhausting the adversaries* trumps in two leads. Now he can start the spades, hoping to make the fourth if that suit is split, or he can run off three rounds of clubs and let the adversaries play the spades. At some tables he did one thing, at other tables another. It does not matter which he does, he must lose a diamond, a club and three spades, but makes his contract, two by cards, because dummy wins two tricks. What influence on the result has the singleton, or Z's ability to ruff that suit on the second round? Change Z's hand a little, giving him two diamonds, so that he cannot ruff that suit until the third round, and take away one of his spades, exchanging with A. Now he loses two diamonds, but only two spades, and the inevitable FOSTER ON AUCTION 47 club, still making his contract, which shows that the early raff had nothing to do with it. Change the hand again, and give Z three diamonds, BO that he cannot ruff that suit at all, and let him hold only two cards in each of the black suits. He still wins two by cards, as he loses no club trick, but must lose three diamonds and two spades. But now let us look at the really illuminating change in the hand. Give Z no diamonds at all, and distribute the black suits in his hand four and three. If it is the spades that he has four of he loses four spades and a club, after ruffing the diamonds on the first trick, again making his contract, two by cards. But if we give him four clubs and three spades, he will make an extra trick; not because he gets the ruff on the diamonds, but because dummy is short in clubs and can get in a ruff on the fourth round with the small trump he has left. This is not an argument in favor of the short suit in Z's hand, but in favor of dummy's three- trump holding, which is something Z knew nothing about when he made his bid. Some players imagine that it is quite safe to advance the bid when they can ruff the first or second round of the suit the opponents are bidding on, because that is the suit against which the defence is needed. This is true if it is dummy that is going to do the ruffing, but it is absolutely false so far as the declarer's hand goes. If the declarer meditates ruffing the opponents' suit on the first or second round, that is equivalent to reducing his trump holding immediately. If he can stand the ruff, well and good. The situation is then the same as if he held either of two things, hearts being trumps, with clubs declared against him. Five hearts to the ace- king and no clubs; or, four hearts to the ace-king and the 48 FOSTER ON AUCTION singleton ace of clubs, with four small cards in each of the other suits in either case. With either holding it is clear that the declarer must use his ace of clubs, or one of his trumps, on the first trick, if clubs are led. The trick-taking value of the hand is precisely the same in either case. The missing suit has nothing to do with it. But when we come to consider the matter of singletons or missing suits in the hands of the other players, the circumstances are entirely changed. Let us look at the trumps in the hand of the declarer's partner first, as the declarer will not take them out if he sees any better use for them than letting them fall on his own high trumps. If the declarer's partner has none of a certain suit, no matter which, he can ruff the first round of it. Then his smallest trump is as good as the ace of that missing suit. If he has only one of the suit, and can ruff the second round, his smallest trump is as good as the king of that suit. If he has two of the suit only, and can ruff the third round, his trmnp is as good as the queen of that suit. These values, especially the ace and king values, are very important in estimating the trick-taking possi- bilities of the partner's hand for the purpose of assisting bids, as we shaU see when we come to that subject. As all assisting bids are attacking bids, made on the assump- tion that the suit named will be the trump and that the side that is bidding wall get the contract and play the hand, it should be clear that no matter to what use dummy's trumps may be put they do not interfere in any way with the intrinsic value of the trumps in the declarer's hand, which are the trumps upon which the original bid was made. The point is this: Is there any precise use to which dummy's trumps can be put? If the declarer starts with a bid of one heart on five FOSTER ON AUCTION 49 to the ace-king, and diunmy can trump the first round of clubs, or the second round of diamonds, the declarer's five trumps are still intact. But if it were the declarer that had to trump those suits, and dummy could not trump anything, the declarer's fighting powers would be materially reduced. It is hardly necessary to point out that every good player reaKzes this, and tries to force the declarer's trumps at every opportunity. If you are opposed to the de- clarer and can force him twice, while holding four trumps yourself, however small, you bring his five trumps down to three, and outlast him. These tactics save many a game and set many a contract; but if it is dummy that can take the force, the declarer is safe. Take this hand as an example of the manner in v/hich a singleton in the dummy may add to the strength of that hand. No. 3 10 9 7 4 A J 9 7 2 4) 7 5 3 7 Q8 Y 7 K J 6 5 c5d J 10 7 3 10 6 4 (^9 8 cS^ K Q 9 2 K Q 8 3 4^ K 10 6 A Z B ^ A 3 2 c?D A 8 5 4 5 4) A Q J 4 2 Z bid a spade, which held the contract. At some tables A led the king of clubs, at others the king of diamonds. It does not matter which he leads, Z goes 50 FOSTER ON AUCTION game in spades; not because he has a singleton; but because dummy has one. Z won the club, if clubs were led, and gave dummy a ruff. Getting in again with the ace of hearts, he gave dummy another ruff. Then he led two rounds of dia- monds, ace first, trumping the second round, and made dummy's third trump. After trumping another diamond himself, he must make two of his three high trumps, winning four by cards and the game. If A starts with a diamond, the result is the same, the only change being in the order of the minor-suit leads. It will be seen from this that Z makes the average expected from five trumps, headed by two sure tricks, and no matter how the cards He in the plain suits, he could not make any more. But let us look at dummy's hand a moment. Instead of the singleton club, give dummy the six and three, and give B the deuce of diamonds in place of the trey of clubs. It will now be found impossible for Z to make more than two by cards, although his hand remains the same. Here is the way the hand would prob- ably be played, club led. Z would win the club and return it, to get dummy ready for the ruff. A would play the deuce or the nine, and B would overtake the trick and lead one of his trumps upon which Z would have to play the ace, or A would get a second round of trumps at once. Dummy gets the ruff in clubs and Z gets in again, but on the fourth club lead B overtrumps Z, and leads a diamond. This holds Z down to two by cards. The diamond opening would have exactly the same result. Y's abihty to trump the second and third round of clubs in this hand is practically equal to a king-queen suit. When it is the declarer and not the dummy that has to FOSTER ON AUCTION 51 ruff a suit, the result is usually a loss, instead of a gain. As already pointed out, a four-trump hand that can get two forces on the declarer's five-trump hand may outlast him and bring in the dregs of a suit. For this reason good players consider it folly to lead singletons, and invite a force on themselves, when they have four trumps, how- ever small, and a good suit. Here is an instance of the power of these forcing tactics when used against a normal five-trump hand. The deal was played at seven tables, and only two saved the game. No. 4 ^ J 9 3 cj) 9 8 5 4 A 8 7 2 J 6 Q K 10 3 . Q J 9 6 5 9 5 4 3 K 10 6 4 * 2 K 10 4 ^ K Q 8 2 Hearts were trumps at every table, sometimes for a contract to make one, sometimes two. In five cases A led the singleton diamond, hoping to get in some of his Httle trumps, and Z went game on the hand. He won the first diamond triek with the ace, so as to lead the nine of trumps from dummy for the finesse, and then he pulled every one of A's trumps before establishing the spades, so that he still had a trump left to stop the clubs, B winning the last trick with the queen of diamonds. 52 FOSTER ON AUCTION At the only tables at which A opened the hand cor- rectly, with the ace of clubs, following with the queen, Z was forced to trump the second round. Then he led a small spade, to get dummy in for the trump-finesse lead; but A put on the ace second hand, so as to make sure of an immediate second force on Z. At another table, Z put Y right in with a diamond, instead of trying the spade, but the result was the same, as A was left with the ace of spades for re-entry, instead of the long trump. Whether A is left with the long trump, after Z has been forced twice, or with the ace of spades after all the trumps are gone, does not affect the result, A gets in to make the club trick. If Z does not run with the diamonds, he will carry home the ace and A will make two clubs. The early force by A saves the game. Change this hand a trifle, giving Y the singleton club and the four spades to the king-queen, while Z has three clubs. In this distribution, dummy with the singleton, it does not matter what A leads, Z will win the game, simply because the second round of clubs can be trumped without weakening the declarer's trump suit. So far, we have been devoting our attention chiefly to the declarer's hand and to the original bids, but there are two points about the trump values in the partner's hand which will be continually referred to in what fol- lows. The first of these is the necessity for the partner to warn the dealer that the distribution is not normal. The other is to add or deduct values in his own hand, according to the number of trumps he holds, and their size. That the high cards in all suits are worth twice as much for attack or defence is equally true whether these high cards are in the hand of the declarer or of his part- ner; but it is not equally true of the small trumps. There FOSTER ON AUCTION 53 is a great difference between the small cards of the plain suits and those of the trump suit in the partner's hand. If the dealer bids a heart, and his partner holds three or four small clubs, those cards are worth nothing at all. But if they are three or four small hearts they have a distinct value, which every player should be able to appraise and bid upon. The average trump bid is on five cards, and the average holding for the partner is about three small ones; or two, one of which is as good as the queen. These are either of them worth about half a trick, because it is only about half the time that one of them can be used sepa- rately from the declarer's trumps before the trumps are ex- hausted from the opponents' hands. But if the partner holds four small trumps, or three to a high honor, they are worth a trick and a half. This is the limit for small trumps, or one honor, as five or six are worth no more. The reason is this: If dummy is going to lay down any one of the three top honors, which the dealer feared might be against him, and which he might have to lead out several rounds of trumps to catch or force, he need not make those leads. In the same v/ay, if dummy is going to lay down four or more trumps, even small ones, any honor that is out against the declarer should be more easily caught, as it is unlikely that it is sufiiciently guarded if there are nine trumps between declarer and dummy. But this extra length in trumps is useless if dummy has an honor, and several trumps will fall together at the end of the hand. If there is more than one honor in the dummy, ace and jack, for instance, the declarer holding king-queen- ten and others, a trick may be added for the extra honor if there are four cards in the suit. The ace of trumps is 54 FOSTER ON AUCTION never counted for more than one trick in the partner's hand, as the two-trick estimate is reserved for the plain suits and for the trumps in the declarer's hand. The partner's trumps will often have a double value, owing to their performing a double duty. With four trumps, for instance, the mere fact of length is valuable in saving the declarer from the necessity of leading trumps so often to exhaust the adversaries. If, at the same time, there is a short suit in the hand, this length can be used for ruffing, and the trumps will therefore have a double value, as protection and as trick-winners. If, on the contrary, the partner holds less than his share of the trump suit, he must make some deduction from the strength of his hand in the plain suits to balance this weakness in trumps. With only two small trumps, neither as good as the queen, he should deduct a trick from the rest of the hand. With only one small trump, he should deduct two tricks, counting them at their bidding values, or the equal of two kings, or one ace. It is an invariable rule to deny the partner's suit when so short in it, as we shall see presently. But some- times the declarer has enough himself to ignore this weak- ness in his partner's hand in trumps, and wants only out- side help. This help in the plain suits must still be discounted in accordance with the weakness in trumps, or the hand is given a false valuation. This shows that the sm^all trumps in the partner's hand have an intrinsic value in themselves, but this value depends entirely on that suit being the trump. The moment the declaration shifts, or the opponents get the contract in some other suit or no-trumps, these small cards lose their value and become useless for any pur- pose. The following table shows the usual valuation for trumps in the partner's hand: FOSTER ON AUCTION '55 3 small trumps are worth 1 honor and 1 small, are worth, 4 or more small, are worth . . . . 1 honor and 2 or more small. . . 2 honors and 2 small are worth. ... 2 For only 2 small, deduct a trick. For only one or none, deduct 2 tricks, counting them at attacking value. For an unguarded high honor, deduct 1 trick. Remem- ber that five or six trumps, in the partner's hand, are worth no more than four. MAJOR AND MINOR SUITS In selecting a trump suit, one must always have in view the possibility of going game. The number of hands that win the game with the assistance of a previous score is so small, not more than one in twenty-five among good players, that this part of the subject may be left out of the question for the present. It is easier to go game at no-trumps than with any other declaration, because it takes only three odd to reach the required 30 points. The bald statement of this fact, without qualification, has, unfortunately, left thou- sands of players with a totally false idea of the bid. The bane of the average bridge player is the no-trump bug. While it is true that one can go game with only three by cards at no-trump, it is also true that one must have a no-trumper to start with. One of the most common faults is trying to make no-trumpers out of hands which are much better and safer suit declarations; or which would yield a larger profit if reserved for defence against an opposing declaration; or out of hands that never were no-trumpers. It is a common saying that " almost anything can happen to a no-trimiper whereas a sound suit bid can never go very far wrong. Every no-trumper has some weak spot in it, and when this spot is hit by the adversaries the result is sometimes disastrous. Take the following cards, which were held by one of the best players in the leading auction club of America, and on which he bid one no-trump originally: 56 FOSTER ON AUCTION 67 ^ K 9 cJd Q 10 6 K Q J 10 (J> A K Q 2 The opening lead was a small club and the result of the play was that the declarer lost a little slam, the only trick he made being the king of diamonds at the end, and he got that only by using excellent judgment in discard- ing all four of his spades. With spades for trumps he would have won the game. I have always taught my pupils that if there is a good major-suit bid in the hand it is never a no-trumper, no matter how strong the other suits may be, short of four aces, and seldom even then. The foregoing hand is a spade bid. It is not much more difficult to go game with a major suit, hearts or spades, than at no-trump, and the danger of being heavily set is reduced to a minimum. But when it comes to undertaking a contract to win eleven tricks out of the thirteen, with a minor suit, clubs or diamonds, for the trump, it is a different matter. The adversaries have the lead, and they immediately run to cover by making all their sure tricks at once. The usual result is that they have the game saved before the declarer gets going. These various considerations have led good players to distinguish three classes of bids — no-trumps, major suits, and minor suits, and to bid them upon the following holdings: No-trimapers are hands that are too strong to pass without a bid, but not long enough in either of the major suits to declare hearts or spades, and at the same time too strong to risk being left in with a minor suit. 58 FOSTER ON AUCTION Major-suit bids are made on all hands that have sufficient length in hearts or spades to justify the selec- tion of one or other for the trump, and also sufficient strength to win some tricks in that suit in case it is not the final declaration. Minor-suit bids are made on hands which are not good enough for no-trumps, and not long enough or strong enough in hearts or spades to justify a major-suit bid; but can promise at least two tricks to assist the partner, if he has a better bid; or to defend the game, in case the opponents get the declaration. In their attempts to reduce all suit bids to a uniform system, almost all writers on the game insist that every suit, major or minor, should be bid as if it were likely to remain the final declaration and become the trump. This requires the bidder to hold just as strong a suit of clubs or diamonds as he would require in hearts or spades, and the standard minimum has been fixed at five cards, with two sure tricks in the hand, at least one of which must be in the suit named. I have always insisted that this is a mistake, and that if the difficulty of going game with a minor suit is ad- mitted, it is undesirable to waste the hand on that declaration if anything better can be found. This alter- native is never considered in bidding the major suits, therefore the two bids are in a totally different cate- gory, and should not be controlled by the same considera- tions. No good player ever makes a free bid of one trick in a minor suit with the deliberate intention of having that suit for the trump. It may turn out to be the best or the only declaration for the combined hands after all, and the opponents may have nothing to say, but that does not mean that the bid should always be started on FOSTER ON AUCTION 59 the assumption that such an unusual state of affairs will be found. Minor suits are chiefly useful in supporting better bids by the partner, and in saving contracts against ad- verse declarations. They are very useful in telling the partner what to lead, or in showing him what will be led, in case the opponents play the hand. Here is a deal that settled the top score in an important duplicate match: No. 5 9 K Q J 10 8 J 10 2 A K 6 Z dealt, but he would not bid a diamond, as he had only three cards in the suit. A bid three hearts, after which it was impossible for Z to go to four diamonds. Not knowing anything about Z's hand, Y led the ace of clubs. A trumped it, put dummy in with a spade and discarded a diamond on the club king. This won the game, which three diamond tricks would have saved. In the major suits, length, as well as high cards, is important. In the minor suits, high cards are the chief requisite, and length is a secondary consideration, at least for free bids. 60 FOSTER ON AUCTION In watching the bidding and recording the hands of many important duphcate matches among the best players, I have been repeatedly impressed with the importance of bidding minor suits on strength, regard- less of length. The following remarkable hand was played at one of the nine-table games at the Knickerbocker Whist Club: No. 6 10 9 A Q J 6 5 A K 8 6 4 3 A K 9 5 3 Q J 8 5 3 J 5 Q 10 8 6 A K 6 2 10 8 7 2 7 Z dealt, and at several tables would not bid a club because he had not five cards in the suit. In some in- stances this cost him several hundred points, as he lost a grand slam in diamonds or spades, according to A^s bids. At some tables, when Z passed, A bid three or four diamonds, Y hearts and B either more diamonds or spades. When played at diamonds, Y, who knew nothing about the clubs, led a heart and lost a grand slam. At some tables, Z passing, A started with a spade bid, which is the correct declaration on this hand, as we shall see when we come to the chapter on selecting suits. The spade is the higher ranking of the two suits, either of FOSTER ON AUCTION 61 which is a sound free bid. Y went two hearts, B more spades and Z more hearts. When it got up to five spades, Y quit, as he knew nothing about the clubs in his partner's hand. He led a heart, trumped by A, and lost a grand slam. Had he known about the clubs he could have saved four tricks and set the contract, which was done at one table. At the only tables at which Z made the correct declara- tion on his cards, one club, it had various results, all favorable to Z. At one table the assurance of two club tricks against them frightened A and B from going beyond five spades, and Y, encouraged by the clubs, went to six hearts and made it. The difference between winning a small slam at hearts, with four honors, and losing a grand slam in spades with four honors is 587 points, as a game adds 125 in honors at dupHcate. This is all due to the original club bid. Have you ever seen 587 points lost by such a bid? At one table at which Z bid a club originally, A bid a spade and afterwards overcalled Z's three-heart assist with four diamonds, B going to five spades and A to six, which held, doubled. Y led the club, as he felt hearts would be trumped, and Z made two clubs and led a diamond, which Y trumped, setting the contract for 200. At another table they did better than this against the spade contract, as B was the declarer. Z led a club, and then switched to a diamond, as B had supported that suit in the first place, afterward bidding spades. Y trumped the diamond and led back the club, getting in another trump on the second lead of diamonds. This set the contract for 300. Countless instances of such hands could be given, in which tricks are either saved by showing a minor suit, or the partner encouraged to bid because of the 62 FOSTER ON AUCTION announced strength, of this feature: No. 7 Take the following as an example V K Q J 7 5 J 5 Q J 10 ❖ A 5 2 ❖ At six tables out of seven Z passed without a bid, although he held two sure tricks in a minor suit. The result was that the hand was played either at hearts by A and B, who made two by cards, or went to three clubs by Y, who made it. At one or two tables they went to three hearts and doubled four clubs, or set the four club contract without doubling. This is a wasted opportunity for Y and Z. At the only table at which Z started with a club bid, A went hearts and Y at once bid no-trumps, being prepared to shift if B should shift to spades. Knowing what to lead, B passed and Y went game at no-trumps, as he calculated he must, if Z has the ace-king of clubs. One may judge of the consequences of relying on a player in Z's place who will bid a club on five or six to the king jack ten. As will be seen, it does not matter what B leads, if he cannot make five spade tricks at once. Six clubs and three tricks in the red suits are a certainty, even if FOSTER ON AUCTION 63 Z should have no small clubs at all, as Y can get in twice on the diamonds. Many opportunities to go game at no-trumps are missed by players who will not declare a minor suit unless they have five cards of it. The length is seldom of any advantage, and it may be a serious disadvantage when on the defensive. Any person who is familiar with the game must be aware that the longer a suit, the less the chance that it will go round many times without offering a chance to trump it. If the adversaries are playing the hand with hearts for trumps and you hold five clubs to the ace-king, you are much less likely to win two tricks in clubs than you would be if you had ace-king alone. You may do it once, or twice, or every time for a whole evening; but if you do it a hundred times you will find, if you keep account of it, that it will go round twice only about fifty-three times in the hundred times you try it. If the suit is only four cards, it will go around two or three times about seventy times in a hundred deals, while a three-card suit would go round eighty times. Twice out of three times, it will be dummy or declarer that wiU be short in it. For this reason I could never see any sensible objec- tion to the free bid of a club or a diamond when the suit is headed by two sure tricks, even if there are only three or four cards in the suit altogether. The main point is the sure tricks; not the length; because length is valuable only in a trump suit, or a no-trumper, and is a disadvantage if the hand is on the defensive. Having now considered the various principles that underhe the values of certain holdings, we are ready to go into the question of the bids themselves, beginning with the simplest forms, which are the one-trick bids. ORIGINAL, OR FREE BIDS EvEEY free bid should have two objects constantly in view; attack and defence, because one never knows upon which side the bidder will eventually find himself. A free bid of one trick is very seldom final. It offers several alternatives. It may tell the partner what the bidder would like to be the winning declaration. But at the same time it indicates where assistance can be expected, in case the partner becomes the declarer; or for defence, in case the adversaries play the hand. There must always be this dual object in making a free bid, or it is unsound. But after the first bid has been made and the competition for the privilege of playing the hand started, the bids are largely forced, and the players are not so particular about conventions as they are about saving the game by bidding anything that seems to have a chance. Leaving the state of the score out of the question, the first bid made by the dealer, or by some player to his left if he passes, is the most important in the game, and rests upon this principle: There are thirteen tricks to be played for, and the average would be three-and-a-quarter for each player. If any player has more than his share, he has no right to assume that his partner has less than the proper share of those remaining, and if they have between them more than their share^ they should get the play of the hand, or at least make a bid for it. If the average is three-and-a-quarter, any player who has a hand that will produce four tricks, on the aver- 64 FOSTER ON AUCTION 65 age, should declare himself if he has a free bid, provided the distribution of those tricks and the length of the suits is such that he can make a strictly conventional declaration. It is the hmits of these conventions and the hands that they will fit which we are about to study. The requisite four tricks are always counted upon their attacking values; but they must be worth at least two tricks as defensive values, or the bid is unsound. Bids of two, three, or four tricks may be made for noth- ing but attack, but we are not considering them now. All free bids of one trick are strictly for both objects, attack and defence. This brings us to the consideration of the three classes of hands upon which bids are made; those in which all the strength is in one suit; those in which it is all j in two suits, and those in which it is distributed among three or four. The first and second are suit bids, the third class are usually no-trumpers. Each class must be bid in a different way, so that the partner shall understand clearly, if the bidding meets with opposition, to which class the hand belongs, and will adjust his support to the circumstances. MAJOR-SUIT BIDS There are two classes of suit bids, those in the major suits, hearts and spades, and those in the minor suits, clubs and diamonds. The difference lies in the length of the suit. While the same rules apply to the selection of either so far as the high cards are concerned, the major suits demand length, as well as high cards, for the reason already explained — that they are more than likely to become the final declaration. The standard for a free bid in a major suit is five cards headed by two sure tricks. The high cards are for either attack or defence; the length in the suit is for attack only, and all free bids are attacking bids. There are only three combinations of cards that will exactly fulfil the requirements for a major-suit bid, regardless of the rest of the hand. Stronger holdings will of course do so; but weaker ones will not. The three are : 4 4 4 I ♦ ! ^ ii 4 4 ! * 9 9 FOSTER ON AUCTION 67 The denomination of any card below the ten is un- important in this or any of the illustrations given. Calculation and experience agree that any one of these three combinations will be good for four tricks in attack, or two in defence, on the average. That is to say, if the suit named is the final declaration and becomes the trump, or if the partner gets the declaration at no-trump, or even in another suit, these five cards will produce four tricks in play. If the suit is not the trump, and the opponents play the hand, these five cards should be good for two tricks. This is the average value of these three standard combinations. They are all one- trick bids. It is needless to say that if the five cards are headed by greater strength, so much the better. Five to the ace-king-queen, for instance, is obviously as good, or better, for four tricks in playing the attack, or two in defence, as any of the three given. They are one-trick bids. But if we add a card to any of these combinations which are good for two sure tricks, so that v/e hold six in suit, they are two-trick bids; not because they are worth any more in defence, but because they are worth more in attack, and the player must never forget that all his free bids are attacking bids, and convey information of attack- ing values to the partner. With seven cards in suit, headed by two sure tricks, such as any of the three com- binations just given, or better, the proper bid is three, and with eight in suit, four. On the other hand, if there are not five cards in the suit, there must be greater strength in high cards than just two sure tricks, to make up for the numerical de- ficiency. Four spades to the ace-king is not a sound major-suit bid, although it would be all right if the suit 68 FOSTER ON AUCTION were clubs or diamonds. But with such strength as the following, the player may safely bid one on four-card suits: The additional strength in liigh cards makes up for the want of length, as it is improbable that the adver- saries will be able to outlast the attack. They may not be able to win a trick against the first combination, and more than one against the second is highly improbable. At the same time, these combinations are much stronger if the partner gets the declaration, adding materially to the trick-taking possibihties of his dummy. Greater strength, such as the four top honors, does not justify a bid of more than one, as all bids for two or three tricks must be reserved entirely for indicating length. These are the standard combinations, so called because they contain in the suit itself all the requirements for the initial bid. When there is nothing else in the hand, it is conventional to bid all the suit is worth at once. To bid one spade when holding six or seven headed by two sure tricks, and then to bid more spades if overcalled, is bad bidding, for reasons which we shall come to pres- ently. Bid all the combination is worth at once, and have done with it. That is the rule. But in the great majority of the hands that a player is called upon to bid, no one of these three standard two- sure-trick suits wiU be found, but there may be a number FOSTER ON AUCTION 69 of hands in which the bidder will find five or more cards of a major suit without the two sure tricks at the top. If the reader will refer to the chapter on Intrinsic Trick Values, he will find three combinations that are Hsted as worth only a trick-and-a-haK. Let us suppose that each contains five cards. That does not add any- thing to their trick-taking value, either for attack or defence. They fall just half-a-trick below the standard required for a free bid. Here they are: 9 9 WW All three of these fall half-a-trick below average, but they are sound original free bids if this half trick is to be found in any of the three other suits in the hand. This would be a well guarded king. If there is greater strength than that, so much the better, but what we are investigating is the minimum for a free bid. No matter what strength there may be in other suits, never bid more than one heart or spade with such combinations as this, and an outside king or better. But with greater length in the major suit, the bid may be two tricks. The strength not being all in the suit itself, two extra trumps, or seven in suit, are required to 70 FOSTER ON AUCTION justify a bid of two; three extra, or eight in suit, to justify a bid of three, the outside strength of half-a-trick or better being also essential in every case. Major suits of four cards only, which are not up to the required standard for a bid, may be brought up to standard with the assistance of half-a-trick or better in some other suit. Take these holdings: 9 9 9 With a well guarded king in another suit, or better, these combinations are worth a bid of one heart or spade. When we come to still weaker combinations, such as the following, we find that they are not good for more than one trick in the suit itself, and in order to bring the hand up to standard for a bid, there must be at least one sure trick in some other suit: 9 « 4 4> These are not worth more than a trick, and unless there is as good as an ace, or a king-queen suit, or better, in the hand to support the major suit, it is not a free bid. FOSTER ON AUCTION 71 The defence is not there, and there is not enough in the suit itself to justify the player in estimating that he can take care of more than his share of the thirteen tricks to be played for. If there is not an outside ace in the hand, two well-guarded kings would do as well, as they are worth half-a-trick apiece. Any major suit of only four cards which is headed by one of the three standard two-trick combinations, is a good free bid if there is at least one trick outside to make up for the missing trump. Take these suits: In a minor suit, clubs or diamonds, a bid of one on these holdings would be perfectly correct, as the tricks ar^ there; but in a major suit, which may be the final declara^ tion, there must be at least one sure trick on the outside to justify the bid. This may be an ace, or a king-queen suit, or two well-guarded kings. Anything better than that makes it so much the better bid. When we get down to five-card suits in which there is not even one sure trick, they become doubtful bids, even with considerable outside strength, unless the character of the hand is such that it is doubtful if any one 72 FOSTER ON AUCTION else will have a bid if the declaration is passed. Take the following: Size of cards below the 9 are unimportant. As we have already seen in the chapter on Intrinsic Values, none of these is worth more than a probable trick, and they are all worthless for purposes of defence. Even with two sure tricks in another suit, such as ace- king, or ace-queen-jack, these are bad free bids, because the strength of the hand is not in the suit named, and if the partner depends on that suit for assistance or defence, he is deceived. If the supporting suit is a club or a dia- mond, it is better to bid that suit. If it is in both, the bid may be no-trumps. If it is in the other major suit, there is nothing to be afraid of except a no-trimiper, and then such suits may be declared, because of the danger of no one else having a bid, if one hand is so strong in both the major suits. Take this hand: ^ A K 3 c?D K 8 4 Q9 4^ K J 8 4 2 FOSTER ON AUCTION 73 As between no-trumps and spades, the spade is the better bid, because it is safer, and there is nothing to fear if the other side gets the declaration at hearts or no-trumps, even should the partner lead a spade. Any suit which requires an ace or better to support it should never be bid for more than one trick unless there are eight cards in it. If the danger is from the other major suit, three spades or four hearts is the best shut- out bid; but three hearts will not shut out three spades. Length is no justification for an original bid on suits which would not be sound bids if they consisted of five cards only. Five spades to the king-ten is never a good spade bid unless the rest of the hand is a no-trumper, and the addition of one or two small spades does not change the character of the hand, because the defence is not there. All such bids should be held back until the second round. They are called secondary bids, which we shall come to presently. The conditions for the major suit bids may be briefly summarized as follows: The hand as a whole must be good for at least four tricks in attack, or two for defence. This will require at least five cards in the suit named, and two sure tricks in the hand. If all the tricks are not in the suit named, there must be enough in the supporting suits to make up for the weakness in the declared suit, but at least one of the sure tricks must be in the suit named, unless the rest of the hand is a no-trumper. These are all one-trick bids. If there are two sure tricks at the head of a suit of six cards, the original bid should be two tricks, regardless of other tricks. If there are seven cards in the suit, bid three; with eight cards in suit, bid four. 74 FOSTER ON AUCTION If there is no sure trick at the head of the suit, it should never be declared for more than one trick, unless there are eight cards in it. Then it should be bid for three spades or four hearts. If there are less than five cards in the suit, there must be more than two sm-e tricks at the top, or as good as an ace outside. No matter how strong the rest of the hand may be, no five-card suit should be bid for more than one trick originally, because larger bids show greater length. Any hand which contains a conventionally sound major suit bid is never a no-trumper. It may be turned into no-triunps later, but it is not one originally, because a no-trump bid denies any good major suit holding. AH major-suit bids have three objects in view. 1. To get the partner to assist the declaration, and push it to the limit of safety if it is opposed. 2. To show the partner where he may depend on some assistance in tricks if he has a better bid, or is forced to deny the suit. 3. To show the partner where he may depend on some defence, in case the opponents get the contract. When the original bid is opposed, or taken out by the partner, other considerations enter. If the suit is to be pushed, we shall find that dealt with in the chapter on Rebidding the Hands. If the partner shifts to some- thing else, v/e shall find that part of the subject in the chapter on Denying Suits. MINOR-SUIT BIDS All original or free bids in the minor suits, clubs or diamonds, are based upon the hope that the partner will be able to do something better. It is therefore advisable to make it easy for him to declare himself as cheaply as possible. Never force a partner to bid two or three, when one should be enough. As no good player ever wants to play one of the minor suits for the trump, unless it is a game hand, or to the score, all minor suit bids have only two objects, instead of the three that are common to major-suit bids. The first is to induce the partner to avail him^self of the assist- ance offered in the suit named. The second is to show him the best defence, in case the opponents get the con- tract. Unlike the major suits, they never ask the partner to assist them, unless he has nothing better in his own hand. All the examples given in the preceding chapter for the major-suit bids on certain combinations of high cards will hold true for the minor-suit bids, with two exceptions, which should be carefully noted. No minor suit should be declared as a free bid unless it contains at least one sure trick and one probable, or the possibility of two, and all such weak suits must have a least an ace, or a king-queen suit on the outside to sup- port them. The following are about the minimum, and both require a sure trick outside : <> 76 FOSTER ON AUCTION Some players will bid a minor suit with only the ace at the top, if they have the ace of another suit, as they dishke to pass any hand with two sure tricks in it, but such bids are hardly to be recommended, unless, perhaps, as second hand, when the dealer has passed without a bid. The danger then is that the hand may be thrown out unless the fourth bidder is very strong. The number of cards in a minor suit is unimportant, as we have seen in the chapter on the difference between major and minor suits when brought into practical use in the play, as well as in their influence on the bidding. Length is rather a detriment than a help in minor suits, unless they are solid and accompanied by an ace. Then they are no-trumpers. Five to the ace-king-queen is not strictly speaking a solid suit, but six would be. The adverse distribution of three-three is not as probable as four-two, which is something the careful bidder must not forget. The difference is about 4 to 3 in favor of the unequal distribution of six cards. Some persons lack the courage to bid no-trumps on two suits, even with four sure tricks in hand. They also lack imagination, as it should be clear that unless the part- ner has a Yarborough in both the other suits he must get into the lead before long, and then the solid suit and the outside ace come into play. No matter how strong a minor suit may be, there is no necessity to bid more than one trick in it, if that suit is all there is in the hand. But if there are eight or nine cards in the suit, headed by two or three sure tricks, the player might as well bid five clubs or diamonds at once and be done with it. If he is left with the contract, he has at least saved the game, and cannot lose much. A bid of two is never made to show more than a bid of one; the two-bid being now conventionally used for a very FOSTER ON AUCTION 77 different purpose. A bid of three accomplishes nothing, unles'3 it be to drive the partner beyond his depth in a better suit or no-trump. Such bids will never shut out a good heart or spade bid from the opponents. As explained in a previous chapter, where some illus- trative hands were given, the function of the minor- suit bids is to induce the partner to do something better or to show him where he may expect some defensive strength, in case the other side plays the hand. Never take any liberties with free bids in minor suits. Five cards in a major suit, even with only king-jack at the top, may be excused if there are two or three sure tricks outside; but such bids in minor suits are indefensible. They not only lead the partner into traps, but destroy his confidence in all future bids made by the same player. Free bids of one trick in a minor suit may be roughly described as showing a suit with two sure tricks in it, regardless of length, or with one sure and one probable in the suit named, and at least one trick outside. TWO-TRICK BIDS IN MINOR SUITS The free bid of two tricks in a minor suit, clubs or diamonds, being no longer of any practical use as show- ing greater strength than a bid of one, it has passed out of the field of conventional bidding, and the bid has been left lying round loose, as it were. Auction players have recently taken a leaf from the pirate text-book, and have employed this bid of two in minor suits to feel out no- trumpers that have a weak spot in them, or to force the partner into a suit bid that he would not otherwise have made. The bid of two in a major suit invariably shows greater length than five cards. There is absolutely no excuse for making such a free bid under any other conditions. The major suit declarations ask the partner to support them, and a bid of two asks him to prefer that suit to anything else, relieving him of the responsibility of denying the suit, if he is short in it. The free bid of two in a minor suit used to be a sort of shout for the partner to go no-trumps, and indicated a solid suit of clubs or diamonds; either without another possible trick in the hand, or without the courage to bid no-trumps. If such a solid suit were accompanied by an ace; or if one lead would establish the suit, and there were two sure re-entries outside, good players invariably went no-trumps themselves, instead of shouting to their partners to do so. This bid is no longer used by good players; partly because it is entirely unnecessary; partly because it made the partner too optimistic. A partner will go to no-trumps, or declare a good major suit, just as quickly on a bid of one club or diamond as he would on a bid 78 FOSTER ON AUCTION 79 of two, and the two-bid frequently forces him just a Httle too far. The two-bid had its advantages for the opponents, but not for the bidder's side. In the first place, it marked the bidder with nothing in the other suits. In the second place it often saved them from making a bid second hand that would have acted as a warning to the third hand. Where they would freely over call a bid of one, they might hesitate about a bid of two, preferring to wait for the decision of the third hand, as to what he was going to do with it. The great objection to the shout, as it was called, was that it continually led an optimistic partner into quite unnecessary risks. Here is an example of it, which I watched go the rounds of a dupHcate match of seven tables: No. 8 7 A J 19 4 2 (^8 5 10 6 4) A K 9 3 ^ K7 p™™~. ^ g g 3 *J92 Q J 7 2 <^ 10 7 5 r Y 1 ^ K 9 4 3 J 7 5 S . *10 AK854 „ QJ92 i> 3 I ^ I (J) A 8 6 5 7 A Q 8 eg) A K 9 2 7 3 4) K 10 9 4 FOSTER ON AUCTION 83 The average player would undoubtedly bid no-trumps on Z's cards, be left to play it, and lose five diamonds and a spade. This makes his contract, but the hand is wasted, and that is one of the things that the modern player is always trying to avoid. The secret of success at auction is to get the most out of the hands that they will produce. This Z signally fails to do if he bids no- trumps. The hand is a perfect no-trumper, but for the weakness in diamonds. The average player takes a chance on that suit. The modern idea is to take no chances, when it is not necessary to do so. Z bids two diamonds. If his partner can stop the suit twice, let him go to no-trumps. If he cannot, he must have a four-card suit, and Z can support anything he may name. A, of course, passes. He knows Y will have to bid a suit, and it will be time enough for A to bid after he learns what Y is going to pick. Y cannot stop the diamonds even once, and as between two four-card suits he selects the one of higher value, bidding tv/o spades. On this contract he wins the game, by catching the king of hearts. Instead of one odd and easy aces, which is the maximum under the old style of bidding, Z and his partner get four odd, four honors, and a game in. That this is not an accident will be evident if we give Z any of the three other hands for his partner. Trans- pose the hands of Y and A, leaving B's where it is, and we find the two sure stoppers in diamonds that Z asks for, so the hand is played at no-trumps and makes three by cards and game easily. Transpose the hands of Y and B, leaving A's as it is, and the answer to the two- diamond bid will be two-no-trumps if B regards four to the queen-jack as two stoppers. If he does not, he can bid spades with four to the ace; or hearts with 84 FOSTER ON AUCTION four to the king. Take any of these three bids, as your idea of the answer to Z's original bid of two diamonds, and you go game on the hand. In pirate, as the partner with the missing suit is always available, no matter where he sits, the usual result of the bidding on hands that are no-trumpers but for their weakness in one or other of the minor suits, is that they are played at no-trumps. At auction, it seems to be in about one-third of the cases only that the final decla- ration is no-trump, because it is only about once in so often that the player in a definite position, opposite the first bidder, can stop the missing suit twice. The result, therefore, at auction, is much more likely to be a suit bid than no-trumps, and the player who uses these bids to force a bid from the partner must be prepared to support any suit he names, or else to shift to a good one of his own. The great danger with these bids is that players will make them on hands that do not justifj' them, just as so many players now use the double to force bids that they cannot support. It did not take the shrewd players long to discover that this two-trick bid in the minor suits could be used to prevent a partner from going no-trumps, instead of ask- ing him to do so, and that it could restrict him to a suit bid of some kind. It is obvious that if the player who bids two in a minor suit holds the sure tricks in that suit himself, it will be impossible for his partner to go to no-trumps on the strength of his ability to stop that suit twice. As he must bid something, there will be no alternative but a declaration of his longest suit, no matter what it is. It takes a shrewd and careful player, with a good part- ner, to use this convention, but those who tried the two-trick bid to get a no-trump response soon discovered FOSTER ON AUCTION 85 for themselves the trick of preventing the no-trumper, which is only another illustration of the irrigation prop- erties of great minds. If frequently happens that a player can give excellent support to a major-suit bid, hearts or spades, but is not long enough, or strong enough, in either of those suits to justify a free bid. The usual alternative is to bid no-trumps, and take a chance on the one weak suit. With the two-trick bid in the minor suits at one's com- mand, this risk is quite unnecessary. Let us look at a typical hand: No. 10 Q J 10 5 4 9 2 Q 8 7 2 a -5 9 6 3 K Q J 9 4 J 8 2 8 3 K A 10 6 4 A K J 5 K Q 6 3 With such a hand as this, Z cannot bid two in his weak suit, hearts, to feel out a no-trmnper, because it is a major suit, and all such bids are reserved strictly for the conventional length and strength in such suits. The partner would support a bid of two hearts to the limit if Z started with such a declaration, but a bid of two diamonds he understands perfectly. Y cannot stop the diamonds. Although he is in 86 FOSTER ON AUCTION bKssful ignorance of the fact that his partner is deter- mined to prevent him from doing what he wants to do, bid no-trumps, he is well aware that he must bid some- thing. Unfortunate^, he cannot fulfil his partner's hopes by bidding hearts or spades, so he has to bid three clubs, to overcall the two diamonds. Suppose he had bid hearts? Then Z goes to no-trumps, as the danger from that suit is reduced to a minimum. As it is, B cannot afford to overcall a bid of three clubs. Z cannot risk a shift, and A is not equal to three hearts, so the hand is played at clubs, B to lead. It is a game hand at clubs, the only tricks for A and B being their two aces. This is another example of arriving at the best bid for the combined hands. If Z takes a chance at no- trumps, he loses six tricks before he gets in. If he takes a chance on a spade bid, as one table did, he is forced twice on the hearts and makes only the odd trick. This hand is no more matter of luck than the other. Transpose the hands of Y and A, leaving B's as it is. The answer would be two hearts, with game at either hearts or no-trumps. Put B's cards opposite Z, leaving A's as they are, and the answer will be two spades, the higher valued of two equal suits. Again it will be found that the combination goes game. SHUT-OUT BIDS Having mastered the principles that govern the usual run of bids, which are for one or two tricks, we come naturally to the original bids of a larger number. These are usually termed shut-out bids, because the object in declaring more than two tricks as a free bid is chiefly for the purpose of shutting out a suit that the bidder is afraid of, and which may be with the adversaries. It is hardly necessary to point out that if the bidder is not afraid of any particular suit, or is strong enough to overcall it if it is shown to be against him, there is no object in the shut-out. On the contrary, it is often to the bidder's advantage with such hands to allow the other players to bid; not only his opponents but his own partner. If he is satisfied that he is strong enough to get the final declaration, or to double and penalize anything bid too heavily against him, what can be gained by pre-empting the contract on the first bid? All shut-out bids are made upon hands that are very- long in one suit. The theory is that if the full strength of the hand is declared at once it will probably prevent the opponents from building up a contract that it would be dangerous to overcall. If their suit is all in one hand, the shut-out will probably fail, as the player holding that suit will at once infer it is the suit the bidder is afraid of; but if the suit is divided, neither may be strong enough to start it, if the first bid had to be three or four tricks. It has about been settled among experts that three hearts will not be very likely to shut out three spades; 87 88 FOSTER ON AUCTION but that three spades may prove a wholesome deterrent for a bid of four hearts. Shut-out bids in the minor suits are seldom of any use unless they are for the game; five-trick bids. In the majority of cases the bidder does not expect to make it, but he hopes to prevent the other side from going game in a major suit. If it turns out that his partner has either of those suits, or protection in both, it should be a game hand in the minor suit. Here is a good example of a minor-suit shut-out. Only one table out of seven made the bid. No. 11 K 6 8 7 3 ^ A Q J 8 4 At six tables out of seven at which this deal was played, the highest bid made was two diamonds, promptly overcalled with two spades and carried to foiu* spades later. They made five odd in spades, losing only one trick in each of the minor suits, with four honors. With the 125 for a game won, this is 206 points. B ruffed a diamond and A a club before pulling the last two of Y*s trumps. At one table Z opened the bidding with five diamonds FOSTER ON AUCTION 89 and that ended matters. He was set for one trick only, losing one club and two hearts, but scored four honors. Net loss, 16 points. Net saving by the shut- out, 190. The importance of the shut-out bid as a defensive weapon seems to be entirely overlooked by the average player. He seems to be afraid to risk it. Any one who makes such bids a habit comes to be regarded as a rash player, and the croppers he comes attract so much attention that the games he saves are entirely overlooked. The shut-out bid is based on the combination of two factors : the full value of the hand itself, and the average probability that the partner will take care of two tricks, which should always be added to the bid. That is, if the hand itself is worth seven tricks, add two, which makes nine, and bid to win ten if you are afraid of the other suit, and cannot overcall it. If you can overcall it, bid the nine. In every case the partner must remember that the bid is final, and he must not advance it, should it be overcalled, unless he has more than his share of the outstanding tricks, which seldom happens if a shut- out is overcalled. Shut-out bids at no-trump are seldom of any use. The most they can do is to prevent the fourth hand from asking for a lead, but they will never prevent the eldest hand from leading his strongest suit, even if he cannot afford to bid it. Shut-out bids may be afraid of anything but a no-trumper. If that is bid or held against them the suit named in the shut-out will be the one opened, which is something. The best shut-out bids are those that are limited to the average value of the hand, adding two tricks for the dummy. Spade shut-outs are always better than those 90 FOSTER ON AUCTION in any other suit, as it takes a trick more to overcall them. Here is a typical shut-out hand: 7 9 8 5 K J 7 K Q 6 7 9 6 4 2 At several tables Z bid only one or two spades, which A overcalled with two or three hearts. Y could not assist the spades, as he had only the average two tricks and his trumps were of no use for ruffing. When Z bid more spades, B assisted the hearts, and at some tables carried it to four and made it, or went to five and lost one trick only, against which they had simple honors. Three tables played it at four hearts, and made 173 points on it. At only one table did Z start with three spades, which effectually prevented A from bidding four hearts. Z cannot win the game at spades, but he can make his contract. That saves the difference between 173 lost and 108 won, which is a net gain of 281. Even had Z been forced to four spades, he would have been set one only as, against 81 honors. Z's hand should not lose both finesses in the black suits, so that he may count it as good FOSTER ON AUCTION 91 difference between All kinds of bids for five trumps and two clubs, or six trumps and one club. His partner has just the two tricks he should have. Here is a good illustration of the a shut-out and a sporty no-trumper. were made upon these cards: No. 13 7 8 2 * 10 9 7 5 3 10 9 5 A 8 3 7 9 5 8 Q J 8 3 2 7 6 5 4 2 7 3 10 9 Those who started with no-trumps on Z's hand allowed B to ask for a spade lead, bidding two. Then when Z shifted to the clubs, Y went back to no-trumps, as he could stop the spades, and B showed his second suit, bidding four hearts. This induced Z to stick to no-trumps, bidding four. He figured to lose one heart and get a discard of one loser on his partner's spade stopper, no matter which of the major suits A led to his partner's declarations. But A led neither, as he saw that Y and Z between them had both those suits stopped, and all the clubs. Instead he led a diamond and set the contract for two tricks. 92 FOSTER ON AUCTION At some tables they started with two or three clubs and carried it to five, only to be overcalled by five spades on A's indication of his preference for that suit, B show- ing two. The spade contract was set for one trick, but had 72 honors. At only one table had Z the courage to bid five clubs. His estimate is seven trumps, two hearts and two tricks in the dummy. He made a Httle slam. This was one more than he was entitled to, and was due to B's failure to return the diamond so as to clear the spades. This gave Z a diamond discard. In their anxiety to turn every possible hand into a no-trumper, which seems to be an obsession with many persons, some excellent opportunities for shut-out bids are overlooked. As a curiosity, here is a hand upon which a very good player thoughtlessly bid no-trumps: Hie opening lead was a spade, from four to the king- queen-jack, the player on the right having five, and he got in with the ace of diamonds to make four of them and save the game. It is impossible to lose the game in clubs, and if five clubs had been bid at once, one spade and one diamond are the only tricks that can be lost. The object of the shut-out being to prevent the oppo- nents from showing each other what they hold, defeats its own object if it shuts out the partner, when it does not matter whether the opponents bid or not. Careless players frequently bid three or four tricks on their hand simply because they think they can make it, there being 7 A A K Q J 4 3 K Q J 10 A 8 FOSTER ON AUCTION 93 no other reason for the bid. They are sometimes un- pleasantly surprised. Here is an instance* No. 14 c?D 10 8 4 AKQ9732 4) Q 7 5 J 9 5 Y ^ 10 8 4 2 c?)AQ76 . (5bJ952 J 10 5 4 ^ ^ ❖ 10 2 ^ 4i J 9 6 4 3 ^ A K Q 7 6 3 K 3 8 6 4) A K 8 Z bid three hearts, which every one passed. This is an entirely useless bid, as Z is not afraid of anything, and has a perfectly legitimate second or third raise if he is overcalled. Much to his astonishment he did not make three hearts. A did not like to lead away from his major tenace in clubs, and started with a diamond, which B trumped. B led a club and got another ruff. Another club and another ruff netted four tricks. When B trumped the third round of diamonds, Z had to play the queen to beat the eight, which made the jack good for a trick in A's hand, and set the contract. Had Z started the bidding with one or two hearts, Y would have bid the diamonds, and Z could have gone to no-trumps, as Y would show that the diamonds were not simply a denial of one heart, by bidding three dia- monds, and if the first heart bid was two tricks, Z would know that his partner would not take it out unless he 94 FOSTER ON AUCTION had a very strong diamond suit. It is an easy five odd at diamonds, as Y can throw A into the lead at the end with the losLQg diamond and force him to lead up to the club king. If A opens with a high diamond, it is a grand slam for Z at no-trumps. BIDDING TWO-SUITERS We have now examined the principles underlying the five principal suit bids, each of which is made upon a distinct type of hand. No bid should ever be made upon a hand belonging to one class that could equally be made upon a hand belonging to another class. The object of all good bidding is to indicate to the partner whether the strength of the hand is all in one suit, or in two, or in three. For convenience, these four classes of bids may be briefly summarized: 1. The one-trick bid in a minor suit, showing at least two sure tricks in the hand for defence. 2. Th^ two-trick bid in a minor suit, forcing the partner to bid his hand. 3. The one-trick bid in a major suit, showing at least five cards, or four very strong cards, with at least two sure tricks in the hand for defence. 4. The two-trick bid in a major suit, showing greater length than five cards in suit, with at least two sure tricks in the hand for defence. 5. The shut-out bid in suit, showing great length and strength, and indicating that the hand is good for nothing else as the trump. In addition to these typical hands, there are a number in which the player will find himself with two suits which are nearly equal, either in length or strength. These are called two-suiters, and they are among the strongest attacking hands that the auction player can hold. 95 96 FOSTER ON AUCTION If the distribution is such that either suit would be a sound declaration, the choice is governed by the simple rule of always selecting the suit of higher rank for the opening bid. Take these hands as examples: In No. 1, the greater strength of the heart suit does not make the spade any less a perfectly sound bid on the entire hand. In No. 2, although there is a card less in the spade suit, it is just as strong for bidding purposes, as the heart suit, and stronger in defence. By selecting the spade suit for the opening bid in No. 1, for instance, the player will be able to show his heart suit later if he is over called. This will offer his partner a choice of two suits, and the important point is that by having declared the higher ranking suit first the partner can make his selection without increasing the contract. To illustrate. The dealer^s first bid on this hand is one spade. Second and third hands pass, and fourth hand bids two clubs. Now the dealer bids two hearts. This bidding invariably shows a two-suiter. If his partner prefers the hearts, he lets the bid stand at two hearts. If he prefers the spades, he can bid two spades to indicate his preference, without increasing the con- tract. On the other hand, if the dealer bids the hearts first and overcalls the clubs with two spades, he forces his partner to increase the contract to three tricks, if the 7 No. 1 A K 6 4 3 8 4 7 A Q 8 5 2 No. 2 K Q 10 5 3 6 4 9 2 A K Q 7 FOSTER ON AUCTION 97 partner prefers the hearts. This increase would have been quite unnecessary if the dealer had opened the bid- ding on his own hand correctly. What is true of the two major suits is also true of two minor suits, or of a major suit and a minor suit. The first bid must always be on the suit of higher rank; but there is a slight difference in the second bid when the minor suit supports a major suit. Take these hands' In No. 3, the correct opening bid is a diamond, because that is the higher ranking suit. The fact that it con-« tains only four cards, while there are five clubs, does not alter the case, because length is not the important factor in the minor suits. Bid clubs if overcalled. In No. 4, the opening bid is one heart; but if the bid is overcalled, the next bid is not diamonds, but two hearts. This is a very important distinction, as it show? the partner that there is more in the hand than the first bid indicated, without running the risk of being left to play the hand at diamonds. This extra strength shown by rebidding the hearts cannot consist of a longer heart suit, because that would have been an original two-trick bid, the rule being to bid all there is in the hand at once, if it is all in one suit. If the player is willing to have diamonds the trump, that is another matter. He might have four hearts to the ace-king-queen, and seven dia- monds to four honors. In such a case the shift to the minor suit would indicate that it was very much superior No. 3 6 5 A Q 10 5 4 A J 10 7 8 4 No. 4 A Q 6 4 3 7 4 A K 6 5 3 8 98 FOSTER ON AUCTION to the major suit, in both length and strength. Such hands are not common, however. When the suits are not equal, estimated by their bidding rank, the hand is still a two-suiter, but it is not bid on the rank of the suits; but on the rank of the bids. For instance : No. 5 is not a spade bid, because there are six cards in the heart suit, and as that suit is headed by two sure tricks, it is a free bid of two hearts, not one, whereas the spade suit is only a one-trick bid. In No. 6, while either suit is only a one-trick bid, the count for four honors in one hand in hearts must not be lost sight of, and that suit should be selected for the opening bid, as there may never be a chance to show two suits when the hand is as strong as this. Two-suiters are often useful in indicating the support for a major suit that is too weak for an original bid. Take these hands: No. 5 No. 6 ^ A K 8 6 5 3 * 6 4 A K 5 4 2 ^ A K Q J 4 * 8 6 3 4> A Q 10 7 5 No. 7 No. 8 ^75 c?) A K 6 5 8 4 K 10 7 5 3 ^ Q J 10 6 4 c?5 6 3 A Q J 5 4) 8 2 No. 7 is not strong enough in spades to justify an original spade bid; neither is No. 8 good for a free bid FOSTER ON AUCTION 99 in hearts. The defence is not there. But if a club is bid first on No. 7, and a diamond first on No. 8, with the shift to spades or hearts later, the partner will under- stand that the length was there all the time for the major- suit bid, but not the strength for defensive purposes. That is in the suit first shown. NO-TRUMP BIDS When a player who has a free bid finds all his strength in one suit, he declares that suit. If it is in two suits, he bids the stronger or higher ranking suit first. If it is in three suits, neither of the major suits being good enough for a bid, he goes no-trumps. No-trump bids should be arrived at by a process of elimination, after examining the hand for the material necessary for a good suit bid. Instead of this, many persons seem to look for the no-trumper first, and get so into the habit of expecting to find one that they gradually get down to bidding no-trumps on an ace and two hopes, just because they do not want to disappoint themselves, apparently. If the opponents have strong hands, they argue, the no-trumper wiU not be left in, and it will take a bid of two tricks to get the contract. But this is trusting your adversary to rescue you from a dangerous situation when your partner cannot do so, which is always a hazardous experiment. Nothing is to be gained by making free bids that misrepresent the true strength of the hand, and no-trumpers that are not up to conventional standard ai;e even worse than weak suit bids. AU free bids should be controlled by the condition that the hand shall be above average; that is, it should contain at least four tricks for attack, or two for defence. But there are a number of hands that are quite as strong as this, but offer no legitimate major-suit bid, and at the same time are too strong to waste on a minor suit, at ^he risk of being left to play it. To pass with such hands is wasting opportunities, because the partner will be left under the impression that you have nothing more than 100 FOSTER ON AUCTION 101 average, if that, whereas you may really have the strong- est hand at the table, and with his help could win the game. As already explained, there are thirteen tricks to be played for in every hand, so that the average for each player would be three-and-a-quarter. If any player has more than his share, four tricks, or better, counting his cards at their attacking value, he should be able to make a bid of some Idnd, unless the distribution is very peculiar or unfavorable. The important thing to remember is that all free bids are attacking bids, because the bidder expects that either he or his partner will play the hand, therefore all high cards must be counted according to their bidding values, instead of their face values. This will make the aces worth two tricks each, kings one and queens haK a trick. While the various combinations of high cards and their values have already been given in detail in the chap- ter on Bidding Values, for the sake of clearness, the fol- lowing summary is given here : 5 Cards 4 Cards Attack Defence A K Q X X A K J X X 5 2i A K X X X A K Q J A Q J X X A K Q 10 4 2 K Q J X X A K Q X A Q 10 X X A K J 10 A J 10 X X A Q J 10 3 H K Q 10 X X K Q J 10 A Q X X X A K J X A J X X X A Q J X 2 1 K Q X X X K Q J X K J 10 X X K J 10 X n Q J 10 X X Q J 10 X 1 102 FOSTER ON AUCTION While all bids are made upon attacking values, it should be observ^ed that in counting the hand for defensive purposes, these attacking values are reduced just one- half. If the combination in the suit named by the bidder is not up to the four-trick attacking standard, there must be enough in some other suit or suits to bring the hand up to that standard as a whole, and at least two tricks should be in the suit itself. That is why the last two combinations shown are not good suit bids, but they have their value as supporting suits, especially as part of no-trumpers. There are a number of hands that are fully U^ to bidding standard, so far as the total strength is concerned, but it is so divided up that no individual suit looks like a good bid, and the major suits are not long enough. These hands are almost invariably no-trumpers, if three of the four suits are protected, a protected suit being one that the opponents cannot run down against you. There are some timid players who will not bid no-trumps if any one of the four suits is defenceless. The curious part of it is that the shorter the suit the more they are afraid of it, whereas they should know that the more cards there are to be distributed among the other players, the greater the probability that their partner will have enough to stop it. This waiting for all four suits to make a bid of no-trumps will never win at auction, yet many persons who are afraid to go no-trumps on three suits will make the most ridiculous suit bids and hope to win on them. When a player bids a minor suit, he does not partic- ularly want that suit to be the trump, although it is the best he has. He wants his partner to play the hand, and offers to help him along with a couple of tricks. But when he bids a major suit, he wants to play the FOSTER ON AUCTION 103 hand himself, and asks his partner to support him. In both these opening bids the exact location of the player's strength is indicated by naming the suit. But when a player bids no-trump, holding protection in three suits, he gives no indication as to the suit in which he is defenceless, but he promises to win more than his share of the thirteen tricks, if left to play the hand, or to furnish a sort of all-round support for anything his partner may think safer than a no-trumper, or equally profitable. The typical no-trumper is a sure trick in each of three suits, and the type usually selected to represent it is three aces. But there are a great many hands that are perfect no-trumpers which do not contain three aces. They are still good opening bids if they can show the equivalent of three aces, and three suits are safely stopped. For practical purposes the hand that has the equiva- lent of the aces, instead of just the aces, is often the better hand when it comes to the play, and there should be no hesitation about bidding such hands. It may not be as strong when counted up for its bidding values as a 'defence, but it will often take more tricks in attack. Compare these hands: In No. 9 there are three aces, each of which will stop a suit and win one certain trick, to say nothing about promoting smaller cards in the partner's hand. But the kiQg and queen of a suit will also stop it and win one No. 9 No. 10 ^ A 4 3 c?) 6-5 2 A 7 4 2 (^:> A 10 7 K Q 4 A 9 7 104 FOSTER ON AUCTION certain trick, just as surely as an ace, and they may win two tricks, which is impossible for the ace. The same is true of the queen-jack-ten combination, so far as stop- ping the suit and winning one trick goes. No good player will make a free bid on a suit that is onty queen-jack-ten high, because the defence is not there, but when it is one of three suits that are pretty strong, that is another matter. He does not name that suit for the trmnp, but bids on the three suits collectively, and rehes on his queen-jack-ten suit as a stopper; as part of a n(>4rumper. All the no-trump bid promises to do is to stop or protect three suits. It does not promise to win three or four tricks in any of them. That is the province of the suit bids. If we examine hand No. 10 and pick out the high cards in it, regardless of the suits, we shall find that it contains A K Q Q J 10. As there are four of each of the high cards in the pack and the share of each player would be one ace, one king, one queen, and so on, this hand is clearly a queen above average, and that has been established as the lowest average for a free bid of one no-trump. If we count up the tricks in No. 10 at their attacking value, even throwing out the diamond suit altogether, we still have four for attack and two for defence, which is all that is necessary for a free bid. We cannot bid a heart or a spade, because the length is not there. We cannot bid either of the minor suits, because the strength is lack- ing. By this process of ehmination we arrive at the only bid left, no-trumps, as the hand is too strong to pass without a bid of some kind. It is not considered safe to bid no-trumps without at least one ace in the hand, unless all four suits are stopped, but many hands with only one ace are better playing hands then if they had two, because the two FOSTER ON AUCTION 105 smaller honors may both win tricks; the ace never more than the one. For example: The only difference in these two hands is that instead of the ace of hearts in No. 11, we have substituted a king and a queen, the king being in hearts, the queen in spades. Both hands are ahke in attacking values, five tricks. Both are alike for defensive purposes, two-and- a-haK tricks; but No. 12 would probably win more tricks in play than No. 11. IMany players object to bidding no-trumps on hands that cannot stand a major-suit bid from the partner, unless the hand contains a suit that can be bid in case the part^ ner should take out the no-trumper with a major suit. They argue, with reason, that some one is sure to bid a suit in which they have nothing, if the bid is passed, but if they bid no-trumps, the plaj^er vath that suit will sit tight and lead it, if he is an adversarj^, and will defeat the no-trimiper. Here are two typical hands: ^ A 6 4 c?D A J 3 2 7 2 No. 11 No. 12 K J 8 4 A J 3 2 7 2 ^ K J 8 4 K Q 4 ^ A 4 2 c?D K Q 7 6 3 K 10 7 5 4> 5 No. 13 No. 14 ^ K 6 2 cS> A K J 7 4 A 8 6 2 4^ 5 In No. 13, if the bid is no-trump, and the partner says two spades, he must not be left to play it, as we shall 106 FOSTER ON AUCTION see when we come to the chapter on take-out bids. The hand is hardly good enough to go to three clubs or dia- monds. But in No. 14, should the partner bid the spades there is a sound three club bid. Then, if he has the tops in spades, he will go back to no-trumps. Some players will bid no-trumps on feands that are only just average; that is, three tricks at the most liberal estimate, especially if they are second bidder and the dealer has passed without a bid. Thi^ is the best possible position for a free bid; one weak adversary and a partner who has yet to declare, and good players are quick to take advantage of it. Here are two speci- mens from duphcate tournaments: If we pick out the high cards in No. 15, we find one of each only, and no ten. It is therefore just average. Its bidding value is aU in the red suits, and is only three tricks. If the king-queen of diamonds in No. 16 is called equal to an ace, the hand is exactly average in high cards. Its bidding value is the same as No. 15. When such bids go through, especially if they win the game, it wiU usually be foimd that the partner had the real no-trumper. One of the worst faults at auction is bidding no-trumps on hands that are good major-suit bids. The two following hands were both bid as no-trimapers in a dupli- cate game of seven tables : No. 15 No. 16 K 7 c?) Q 9 3 7 A 5 4 3 * Q J 7 5 K 8 7 3 ❖ 4 K Q 6 4 4^ J 10 9 3 FOSTER ON AUCTION 107 No. 17 7 A K 10 6 5 * 7 4 No. 18 A J 10 4) A Q 3 A cS? Q 10 4 2 A J 6 ^ Q J 7 5 3 There was no further bidding upon either, but the opponents set the contract in both cases. Against No. 17 they made the queen of hearts, king of diamonds, and five clubs. Against No. 18 they won four hearts, three clubs and a diamond trick. At every table at which the proper declarations were made, hearts on No. 17 and spades on No. 18, the bidder went game. As a general proposition, no-trumpers may be roughly defined as hands in which three suits are stopped, but there is no major-suit bid, or the hand is too good to risk being left to play with a minor suit for the trump. There are some exceptions, of course, which should be explained for the benefit of the beginner. We have seen that there are some two-suiters that start with a bid in a minor suit, because that is the stronger, and then shift to a major suit, because it has the length, five or six cards; but not the strength. In the same way there are a number of three-suiters that have the length for a major suit, but not the tops, and which offer an alternative; to bid a weak major suit with fine out- side help, or to bid no-trump. These hands are usually in the class which are known as too strong to pass. The danger Hes in having the hand thrown up without a bid if the remaining strength is about evenly distributed; or in having the no-trumper fail where the suit would have succeeded. Here is a hand that went the i^unds of seven tables in a dupHcate match, which is typical of its class: 108 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 15 7 Q 10 5 * K Q 7 4 ^9 3 (i> J 6 5 2. 9 7 6 J 6 3 A 10 7 Q 10 42 ^ ^ Z Y K 8 4 2 10 8 2 K 8 6 5 A 9 7 A J 3 cSb A 9 5 QJ 4> K 8 7 4 3 At two tables Z passed without a bid, waiting to hear from the others, and the hand was put back in the tray without being played. At three tables Z bid no- trump, and A led a diamond, winning five tricks in that suit and the ace of spades. At the other tables Z bid a spade originally and at one of them he went game. The others missed the game by one trick, through not leading the trump from Y's hand, going right up with the king and returning a small one, which brought down the ace and queen together. While the general definition of a no-trumper is this protection in three suits, and above average in high cards, there are a number of hands in which the high average is present, but the protection in three suits is not. These are popularly known as sporty no-trumpers. Experience and calculation agree that if the strength is sufficient to make up for the weakness in two suits, and there is not length enough for a major-suit bid, the best bid on the hand is no-trumps. If the ordinary no-trumper can be satisfied with one FOSTER ON AUCTION 109 sure trick in the third suit, the theory seems to be that if there are only two suits, they should jointly show strength enough to make up for the suit that should have a stopper in it. Here are two examples of the more common type of sporty no-trumpers : In either of these, the dummy must lay down a Yar- borough if the adversaries can run down enough in two suits to set the contract. In No. 19, if the partner goes to spades, or the adversaries bid anything, there is a good shift to clubs. In No. 20, if the adversaries get the con^ tract, this hand should at least save the game; or win it, if the partner has anything. Some authorities recommend bidding no-trumps on two suits that are each only ace-king high. This may be all right if the bidder can support a major-suit take-out by his partner, but it looks like a rash bid, especially against good players. The question of following up no-trump bids when they are overcalled by the opponents, or taken out by the part- ner, will be found in the chapters on Denying Partner's No-trumpers, Major-suit Take-outs, and Rebidding the Hand. No. 19 7 7 5 3 2 c?? A K Q 6 4 2 No. 20 7 A K 6 * A K Q 4 A 5 3 ❖ 9 5 3 4> 742 \ DEFENSIVE "BIDS V Returning for a moment to first principles, we have seen that the foundation of good bidding depends upon restricting the initial or free bid to hands that are not only good for an average of four tricks in attack; but for two tricks in defence, on the average. Auction players of all classes are usually quick enough to recognize the attacking value of a hand, but very few pay the proper attention to the defensive side of it. If each player were an individual, bidding on his own cards for his own game, all his bids would be attacking bids and no element of defence would be necessary, as in pi. uochle, for instance. But when the game is a partnership, in which each bases his bids more or less upon the declara tions made by his partner, the defensive, or assisting element, becomes quite as important as the attack. The defensive hand is one that can win tricks against an adverse declaration, when the opponents get the contract. It becomes an assisting hand if the partner gets the contract. The bidder's hand should be good for two tricks, on the average, whichever way the bidding goes, even if the suit he names is not the trump. This naturally suggests that although the suit named in a free bid is practically declared as a trump suit, in the first place, its usefulness may be diverted into two distinct channels. The tricks shown may be em- ployed to sustain some other declaration by the partner, or to save tricks against a contract assumed by the oppo- nents. If the tricks that should be shown by this initial 110 FOSTER ON AUCTION 111 bid are not there, and the suit named is useless except for purposes of attack, it is a bad bid, and should be re- served for the second round, when it will leave the partner under no misapprehension as to its nature. Those who constantly indulge in bids that are useless for defence are among the greatest losers at the game, and are always most dangerous and unreliable partners. Here are some examples from duplicate play: No. 16 Q 6 4 3 10 9 A K 9 8 2 8 2 At some tables, Z bid a club, on the usual excuse; " six trumps and a singleton." But clubs are not trimaps, because no one knows what the trump will be until the last bid is made. A bid a spade, while he could do so cheaply, to show the suit he would like B to lead if Y got the con- tract. With the spades stopped twice, Y went to no- trumps. If Z has two tricks, either both in clubs, or one in clubs and one in diamonds, it is a game hand at no- trump, if not fom- odd. All that Y could make was the odd trick, although he 112 FOSTER ON AUCTION won the first diamond lead with the ten, because there was no way to make more than one trick in clubs, two in diamonds, two in hearts, and two in spades. Give Z the two sure trickis for defence, or assistance, that his bid promised, such as ace-king, or ace-queen-jack, and Y goes game in a walk, even if A has three to the queen, Z will make five club tricks if he has both ace and king, by ducking the first round, as we shall see when we come to the chapters on playing the hands. These, with two spades and two hearts, win the game, even if the diamonds are all lost. At some tables Z went back to the clubs when his partner went no-trumps, and one table made two odd, with honors against him. At another table he was set a trick by a rather clever play of A's, who led the singleton diamond and trumped the third round with the king, instead of the five. This led Z into a foolish finesse of the jack, after Y had won the spade king, and let B ruff the third spade. At the only tables at which this hand was correctly bid, Z passed. A bid a spade and Y passed, he having no legitimate bid if his partner has nothing to show. This is an excellent example of defensive play. There is no hope of game if Z has not a bid in his hand, but the ad|- versaries cannot go game either. Then let them play the hand. At some tables B let the spade bid alone, and it was set for one trick. In one case B denied the spades with two diamonds, was left with that contract and set. At another A tried the hearts when the spades failed, and was set. No matter what bids were made by A and B, the penalties for Y and Z were more than could have been made by two odd in clubs, with simple honors against. If A passes the bid, as some might do, although his hand FOSTER ON AUCTION 113 is as good as two aces, Y will bid hearts and Z will deny the hearts with two clubs and make it. Here is another example of bidding for attack only, and neglecting the defence: No. 17 ^ A J 5 * A K Q J 9 3 ^ 10 8 7 5 ^ K Q 10 9 7 j Y I ^ 8 6 4 2 c?) 10 6 2 . 8 7 4 0AQ5 ^ ■*^084 ❖ 9 3 1 ^ i K Q J 4 7 3 <^ 9 5 3 K J 10 7 6 2 4) A 6 2 started with a diamond, under the old excuse, six trumps, a singleton, and an outside ace. But the dia- monds never were trumps in this hand, and all Z had for defence was the ace of a suit he never mentioned. A bid a heart. As Y could stop the hearts twice, and had four solid club tricks, he thought he could trust his partner for two tricks in diamonds. If they could pick up another trick anywhere, it was a game hand at no-trumps, so he bid it. B knew that Y must be able to stop the heart, so he avoided that suit and led a spade, forcing dummy's ace on the second round. The ace of hearts won the queen, and Y had to lead a diamond, finessing the nine, which went to the queen. Two rounds of hearts cleared 114 FOSTER ON AUCTION them up, and dummy never made a trick in the suit he bid, diamonds. Give Z a sure tkck in diamonds as well as one in spades, or two sure in diamonds, and it is a game hand. This was proved by giving Z the ace-jack-ten of diamonds, and A the king-queen-five. Z won the second round of spades, and led a heart. Four clubs followed and then one of the equals in spades. B returned the spade and Y led the nine of diamonds, passing it up. A's hand is now down to three diamonds to the king-queen, and the king of hearts, or two diamonds and two hearts. No matter which it is, Y makes three odd and game at no-trump. The same weakness in the matter of defensive bids frequently develops in the second hand, when the dealer passes. Here is an example of it. This deal went the rounds of seven tables in a duplicate game: N0I8 7 A Q J 10 6 5 10 K J 10 9 9 8 <^ 9 (§3 J 4 2 8 6 3 4> K Q 7 6 4 2 A Y Z B 7 K 7 (§3 A K Q 6 3 A Q 7 5 2 * 3 ^ 8 4 3 2 (^ 9 8 7 5 4 (i> A J 10 5 Z passed, A bid a spade on the same old excuse, and Y said two hearts. A is looking at his spades from the attacking angle only, counting them as trumps. But FOSTER ON AUCTION 115 they never were trumps on this deal and A never took a trick. B, trusting this partner for two spade tricks, went two no-trumps, Z supported the hearts, bidding three, which, as it happens could have been made. A went to three spades, and Y, who wanted to save the score for 64 in honors, bid four hearts. Now B stops to count. The king of hearts is a sure trick, A promises two tricks in spades, the clubs will very likely drop, and as Y must have some diamonds along with the hearts, the tenace in that suit should be good for two tricks. That is ten tricks altogether, so B bids four no-trumps. Z, who knew that B was lean- ing on a broken reed in the spades, doubled, and they set the contract for 200, just because A did not have the two tricks for assistance or defence that his bid promised. It was by just those two that the contract failed. Z led the heart and Y went up with the ace and led another round. B put dummy in with the jack of clubs, so as to finesse the diamond. Although this finesse suc- ceeded, he could not get A in again, as Z put up the ace of spades second hand and led another heart. Had B led the spade first, instead of the club, the result would have been the same, as all the hearts must make the moment Y or Z gets in. At one table Y was left to play the hand at four hearts, and was set for only one trick, against which he had 64 in honors to score. The play was rather instructive. B led two rounds of clubs, Y trumping the second. Two rounds of trumps followed, B winning the second. He tried the spade, hoping to get his partner in to lead the diamond, but Z put on the ace and led another club, which Y trumped, keeping A out of the lead. The king of diamonds forced the ace and got dummy ready to ruff that suit. B led another club, on which Y discarded 116 FOSTER ON AUCTION the losing spade, jnstead of trumping. Z trumped *the next round. Then Y trumped a spade and led the jack of diamonds through B, allowing Z to trump the queen. Now the trump and the ten of diamonds win the last tricks. Some players consider it quite legitimate to bid a suit in which they have no defence, if they have unusual length, such as six or seven cards. Then they start with a bid of two, which they consider a warning to the part- ner that the hand is good for nothing if that suit is not the trump. That is to say, the weaker the hand the larger the contract they undertake with it. With a hand above average, good for four tricks in attack or two in defence, they undertake to win the odd. With a weaker hand they assume a contract to make two odd. This is bad bidding, because there is no way to distinguish a bid of this char- acter from the conventional bid of six cards or more with the sure tricks at the top. Take this deal as au example: No. 19 Q 10 A 10 K 8 6 2 K Q 8 5 3 4 K 8 3 2 A Q J 7 5 3 ^ A4 A Z ^987 * J 9 6 5 4 4 4^ J 10 9 7 A J 6 5 4 3 2 Q 7 10 9 6 2 FOSTER ON AUCTION 117 Z started with two hearts, A bid three diamonds, and it finally got to four hearts, but Z could not make more than three odd, in spite of dummy's wonderful hand because he lost the trick to the king of hearts by finessing, after B had trumped the king of diamonds and led a spade which A won and returned. When Z passed without a bid, A went no-trump, and at one table B tool: him out with two clubs. At others B left the no-trumper alone. In either case Z bid two hearts. This left Y under no misconception as to the strength of his partner's heart suit, and w^hen A shifted to three diamonds, Y doubled. When A pulled himself out of the double with four clubs, Y doubled that also. The club contract was set for 200, the diamond contract for 200. The table that played the hand at diamonds brought out some instructive tactics. Y led the queen of hearts and the ace dropped the king. Z returned the deuce of hearts. This shows careful play, because if Y has the ten, he can shut out dummy's nine. If he has not the ten, he can trump. A trumped the heart, and led the queen of trumps, which held. Then he followed with the ace and jack, Y winning the third round with the king, while B discarded two clubs and Z a heart. After puUing one of A's trumps, Y led the king of spades, and A returned the suit, getting two club dis- cards on the jack and ten of spades, but losing two clubs at the end, as Y would not lead clubs after winning the second round of spades. One of the most common results of leading the partner to beheve that the original bidder has two tricks in his hand is to induce a double that is unsound, when the double seems better than bidding higher. Here is an example of it : 118 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 20 K Q 10 9 A Q 8 8 A Q 2 4) K J 10 8 6 4 Z bid a spade, A two hearts and Y two spades. When B and Z passed, A went to three hearts, Y three spades and A to four hearts. Y now figured up the situation as he saw it. He can make two heart tricks, has three top diamonds, and his partner has a couple of spade tricks. It looks hke what they call a free double, as A goes gam* anyway, if he makes four hearts. A also thought it looked like a free redouble, so he made it, and won four odd in hearts, worth 369 points. Y led two rounds of diamonds, A trumping the second. Y won the king of trumps and led his partner's spadi suit, so as not to establish a diamond for B. If Z can win a spade trick it sets the contract; but A won it, and gave B a ruff. A then made two clubs on the finesse and led the queen of trumps. The only trick after that was the jack of hearts for Y. Give Z just one sure trick in his whole hand, in spades or clubs, and it makes a differ- ence of 553 points. If Z had two tricks, 753. The defensive bid may also come into play when the partner, especially if that partner is the dealer, has passed without a bid, as we shall see in the next chapter. WHEN THE DEALER PASSES When the dealer refuses to bid, the second player should be governed by the same principles as if he were the dealer, and the first to speak. The only difference, perhaps, is that a Httle more latitude is allowed in the matter of no-trumpers, because it may be assumed that there is one weak adversary, on the right, while the part- ner of the one who is bidding has yet to speak. The dealer assumes an equal distribution of the winning cards among the three hands. If he has a hand that is good for four tricks or better in play, there is no appar- ent reason why his partner should not have his share of the remaining nine. But when the dealer passes without showing any such strength, the second hand may take a reasonable chance of finding most of the outstanding strength between the third and fourth hands, and bid accordingly. But this refers only to no-trumpers. There is not the sHghtest excuse for a suit declaration by the second hand which would not be equally sound if made by the dealer. When the dealer and second hand both pass, the third hand is not in any such favorable position as this, because if his hand is only average, there must be considerable strength on his left. I have found it a pretty safe rule for the third hand, when called upon to make the first bid, never to declare no-trumps unless he can win at least six tricks himself, because he has no right to depend upon his partner for two assisting tricks, when that part- 119 120 fos'i;er on auction ner has passed without a bid. This optimistic calling on a confessedly weak hand to produce a number of winning cards is a common failing. Some players insist that if the third hand is a trick stronger than would be required for the dealer's declara- tions, it is enough to justify a bid. In applying this principle to suit bids and no-trumpers indiscriminately, I think they make a mistake. A no-trumper should be much stronger than this, and should have at least six tricks for attack and three or four for defence, with no legitimate suit bid. In the matter of suit bids, on the contrary, this extra strength is not necessary because the player is prac- tically on the defensive, his principal care being to pro- tect himself against a big hand on his left. With a view to this protection, the third bidder should invariably seize the opportunity to show any suit that he thinks might be led to advantage, so that the weak partner, who has passed without a bid, may be in no doubt as to the best defence, in case the fourth hand gets the contract. Any suit that is good for two quick tricks in defence should be named under such circumstances, and always in preference to a no-trumper that is not almost a certainty, even if the hand looks good enough for that contract. This rushing to no-trumps with all the strength prob^ibly on the left is a dangerous experiment. These third-hand bids on suits frequently trn-n out to be useful in reopening the bidding without any serious risk, and may give a partner who has passed with a good secondary bid in his cards a chance to declare himself. Unless the fourth hand is unusually strong, he may refuse to bid if the third hand passes, and the deal will be thrown out. Here is a case in point: FOSTER ON AUCTION 121 No. 21 7 J 10 3 2 A Q J 6 10 9 3 Q 3 Q 6 K 8 4 J 8 7 2 A 9 4 2 A 9 7 5 A K 6 5 4 J 8 7 5 Z dealt and passed. A had not the courage to bid no-trumps and Y passed, on the old theory that he should be at least a trick stronger as third hand than would be necessary as dealer or second hand. B wisely refused to open the bidding, for fear of letting in a secondary bid of some kind that might take him beyond his depth, so the deal was passed on without being played. This happened at several tables, but when Y very properly made a defensive club bid third hand. B over- called it with a diamond and Z with a heart. This was carried up to three hearts, and Z went game on the con- tract. A led a small spade, and dummy put on the queen second hand, leading the jack of trumps to coax a cover. Not getting it, Z played the king and returned a small trimip, knocking the ace and queen together. B led one round of diamonds and then returned to the spades. Z put the king on the jack, A won the trick with the ace and came back with the diamond. Z trumped this trick, ran the nine of clubs through and went game. A 122 fostJ)r on auction diamond opening from A's hand originally works out the same way. A very common mistake is for the third hand to over- call a second hand bid with an attacking bid when he is not in a favorable attacking position, the dealer having passed without a bid. Here is an example of this fault: No. 22 K Q 10 6 2 9 7 4 6 4 A Q J Z passed and A bid a diamond. Y overcalled this with a spade and B said two hearts, which held the contract. This is a bad spade bid in Y's position, as he is clearly on the defensive, his partner having a hand below aver- age, and one adversary showing a good suit, which the other adversary is sure to take advantage of. Y's first thought should have been to show a suit in which he could offer some defence to the impending attack. He should have bid two clubs. As Y had indicated the spades, Z led the nine, and B won it with the jack, put A in with a diamond to lead another spade through Y, and then discarded one of FOSTER ON AUCTION 123 dummy's clubs on the third spade. Another round of diamonds dropped the queen, and a small diamond set up the suit, as B overtrumped Y and led a trump, which A won with the jack. Two rounds of diamonds followed, Z being allowed to trump the last, while B got rid of two clubs, so that two trumps and a club was all Z could make. If Y had bid his hand correctly, for defence, reserving the spade suit for a secondary bid, if necessary, he saves the game at once, as Z will lead the club, and the ace of trumps must make later. When the bid is passed up to the fourth hand, he should be unusually strong to make a bid of any kind or he is liable to run into a trap by opening the bidding to the opponents, who may get started on some strong secondary bid, which will carry the fourth hand beyond his depth. Good players think six or seven tricks the minimum for the fourth hand to justify a free bid. In the first place, he has a weak partner, a partner who has passed, although in the best possible position for bidding on an average hand. In the second place, unless he can go game he is running the risk of being set, or overcalled and losing points, when he might have thrown up the nand and had a new deal by his partner. While it is true that a fourth hand bid will often score, the few points made upon some occasions are not worth the risk of loss, and if there is not a fair prospect of game, with even moderate assistance from the partner, it is better to throw up the hand. The fourth hand bids on the bidding, not on his cards. As we shall see in a future chapter, the fourth hand is in the best possible position to bid, as he can take full advantage of the information afforded by preceding bids; but when there are no such bids he surrenders this 124 FOSTER ON AUCTION advantage to the enemy, without any compensating benefits, unless he can go game. Bids made in any of these positions, second, third, or fourth hand, after bidding has been started by another player, will be dealt with in a future chapter, devoted to that part of the subject. THE PARTNER Leaving out of the question for the present the reasons for the bids made by the opponents, after a free bid has started things, let us confine our attention to the player sitting opposite to the one who makes the first, or original free bid. For the sake of clearness, we shall assume that this bid is made by the dealer, and that we are learning the duties of his partner. If the first bid is made by the second hand, the dealer having passed, the position occupied by the fourth hand is much the same as that of the third hand, when the dealer bids; but if the third hand makes the first bid, the situation is entirely changed. That part of the bidding will come later. The first thing for the partner to remember is that the dealer cannot make a declaration to win less than seven tricks out of the thirteen. But he constantly and con- sistently bids to win those seven tricks when he has only four in his own hand. He is bidding on the average ex- pectation that his partner will win three of the remaining nine, because until the bidding demonstrates that this expectation Vvdll not be fulfilled, there is no reason to beheve that his partner will be any weaker, or any stronger, than any of the three among whom the nine outstanding tricks are distributed. The next thing for the partner to remember is that his average share of the outstanding nine tricks is already included in the dealer's bid. This is the important point. 125 126 FOSTER ON AUCTION Sometimes the partner will have more, sometimes less than his share. It therefore becomes his duty, under certain circumstances, to tell the dealer which it is. If the partner advances the bid, he must hold more than his share of the tricks, otherwise he is practically bidding the same tricks twice over, or rebidding the tricks that the dealer has already included in the original bid. With this elementary but important point firmly fixed in mind, we are ready to consider the partner's duties when the dealer makes the first bid. These duties may be roughly divided into three groups: 1. To assist him when he has started aright. 2. To warn him when he is in wrong. 3. To accept the assistance he offers, if you have a better declaration. The first of these comes into play only after the dealer has been overcalled by an opponent, because if the dealer gets the contract without opposition, he will learn all about your assistance quickly enough when you lay down dummy's cards. One of the greatest mis- takes is to increase the bid when there is no object in doing so, but it is a common error. One constantly sees players going two no-trumps when their partner has bid one, although no one has overcalled and there is nothing to be afraid of. When this is done on hands that do not quite justify it, and the dealer turns out to have what is known as a border-line no-trumper, the contract often fails by just that one trick. When it is done on suit bids, it may result in losing an opportunity for gathering valuable penalties or information, or even shutting out proposed secondary bids. Here is a curious example of it: FOSTER ON AUCTION 127 No. 23 V ❖ V J 7 6 4 7 4 3 K J 9 5 A Q K 10 9 8 6 2 10 8 6 4 3 2 5 Z bid a spade, the higher ranking of two equal suits. When A passed, Y enthusiastically bid two spades, and B passed. In the face of this unexpected support, which looked as if Y's hand was good for nothing but spades, and that he was afraid of an adverse heart bid, Z passed, and A led the hearts, to avoid leading away from the minor tenace in diamonds. B trumped and led a diamond, queen, king and ace falHng. A trump from Y went to A's queen. On this trick B discarded the ten of clubs, and A led a club, so that B made the king and saved the game. B would overcall one spade, but Y bid two. If Y lets the spade bid alone, he can support it if B bids hearts. Had he passed, Z would have bid two hearts and made game, or perhaps even five by cards if A opens with a diamond, as the lone queen wins the first diamond trick, and all the trumps can be caught. The second and third of the partner's duties may be brought into play either with or without an intervening bid from the opponents. The great secret of success in auction being to dis- 128 FOSTER ON AUCTION cover the best bid for the combined hands, and to carry- it to the hmit of safety when it is opposed, the art of modem bidding is to know where that Hmit lies. One may lose just as much by stopping too soon as by going too far. Probably the most important and certainly the most neglected duty of the partner, is to warn the dealer when he is upon unsafe ground, or appears to be so. Every free bid is made on general principles, and assumes normal distribution. No one makes a bid on the assumption that some unusual distribution of the cards will be found in the other hands. If the distribution is normal, any conventional free bid is safe. But if the distribution is not normal, a perfectly sound bid may get the player into serious trouble. Any one will bid a spade on five to the ace-king, and will continue to makfe that declaration as long as one plays auction, no matter how often it turns out badly; but no one expects to find seven or eight spades in one hand against the bid. It is the duty of the partner to warn the dealer when the distribution is not normal, if it is unfavorable; to support him if it is not normal, but favorable. There are two classes of warning bids: One is abso- lute and unmistakable; the other is only a suggestion. The first tells the dealer to quit his original idea of the hand. The second suggests something better, or at least safer. The absolute warning may be against a suit, or against persisting with a no-trumper. The suggestive warning is almost invariably against the no-trumper. We shall now proceed to consider these three classes of the partner's duties separately, beginning with the warn- ing bids, which are usually called denials.^ DENYING PARTNER'S SUIT Continuing, for the sake of clearness, the supposition that the dealer makes the first bid, and that the reader occupies the position of third hand, or partner, in what follows, it will still be true that these principles would apply equally to the fourth hand if the second hand made the first bid. It is to avoid the interchange of the term partner that the terms dealer and partner are used throughout. As the majority of one-trick bids are made upon five-card suits, especially in the major suits, hearts and spades, the bidder's partner is supposed to have his share of the remaining eight, which would be nearer three than two, therefore two is distinctly below average, while three may be called average. These three may be all small ones, and still be con- sidered as average holding. But if the partner has only two, one should be as good as the queen to bring the hold- ing up to average, on the old principle of high cards mak- ing up for shortness in the suit, which we have seen to hold true in all bidding. Failing three small cards of the dealer's declared suit, or two, one of which is as good as the queen, it is the part- ner's duty to warn the dealer that the distribution of that suit is not normal, and that he will probably find four in one hand against him, as the odds are in favor of the distribution being 4-2, or 5-1, rather than 3-3. This warning is conveyed by bidding some other suit, if the partner holds one worth bidding. This would be any suit that he would have declared as a free bid, or 129 130 FOSTER ON AUCTION perhaps a trifle weaker if there are five cards in it. To bid such a suit must always be for the purpose of deny- ing the dealer's suit, or it must indicate a suit that is so much superior to the average one-trick bids made by the dealer that it is the better suit for the combined hands. These bids are all called take-outs. Whether the take-out is only a warning, or is a better suit, the hint to the dealer is the same; to drop his declaration, unless he is prepared to find his dummy without average support for the contract. If the dealer bids a heart, for instance, and his partner finds himself with five spades to four honors and an outside ace, he should certainly bid the spades, even if he has three or four hearts, because the spade holding is much superior to any average heart bid. These denials of a suit may arise at any stage of the bidding and may be carried through more than one suit if necessary. The principle remains the same; a prompt warning against a contract that the opponents will prob- ably penalize, and a suggestion of a safer or more re- numerative contract. This frustration of their plans, or the bhghting of their hopes, will frequently induce them to start a series of bids on their own account, which may carry them beyond their depth. They may make these bids with a view to getting something out of their cards, after the prospect of penalties has vanished, or of pushing the original bidders up a bit. In all such tactics, they are at a disadvantage, as their hands were better suited to the dealer's original declaration than anything else, if they could defeat his contract. The situation is very common, and the effect of a prompt warning by the partner, while it assumes a cer- tain risk on his part, usually results in shifting the risks of the bidding to the shoulders of the opponents. Here is a typical case: FOSTER ON AUCTION 131 No. 24 9 3 K 8 4 Q J 10 6 2 K Q J Z bid a heart and Y denied the suit with two clubs. B at once inferred that A had the hearts stopped if both Y and B are weak in that suit, so he bid two diamonds. Z accepted his partner's warning about the hearts and supported the clubs, bidding three. A went to three dia- monds, marking him with at least ace or king, as he can- not have much in clubs or spades; or at least not enough to justify him in supporting diamonds, so B went to three no-trumps when Y passed, and was set for two tricks and 30 aces. If B had not gone to no-trumps, he would have been safe on the three-diamond contract, but Z would have overcalled it and made four clubs. The interesting point in the hand is that if Y does not warn Z about the hearts, B will bid two diamonds, and Z will go to two hearts, as he has the outside tricks to justify it. When A sup- ports the diamonds, Y will have to go to four clubs, just to deny the hearts, which is a risk that no player would take. Knowing nothing about A's protection in hearts, but being rather afraid of that suit, B would let the three 132 FOSTER ON AUCTION" diamond bid stand, and as Z would go no further B would make his contract, with five honors. Taking out a suit with another suit that is better than the average one-trick bid does not require more than just enough to overcall, if the take-out is in the other major suit, but if the take-out of a major suit is in a minor suit, there should be a sharp distinction between warning and strength. Two clubs, for instance, simply denies the hearts; but three clubs would show a better club suit than any average heart declaration, and would also hint at a possibility of game, either in clubs or no-trumps; or perhaps even at hearts, if the partner is strong enough to go back and take the chance on finding some hearts in the big club hand. Take this deal, which was left at hearts at four tables, two others failed to go game, as they shifted to no-trumps after the take-out: No. 25 K Q J 6 2 9 7 5 3 K Q 6 4 Z bid a heart and was left to play it. Ace and a small spade put B in. At two tables, he shrewdly guessed that Z might have to lead trumps several times to exhaust FOSTER ON AUCTION 133 them, as B had none, and the thing to do was to kill the diamond suit by exhausting Z's power to lead it, if pos- sible. A trumped the diamond, which held Z down to four odd and four honors, worth 189 points. The take- out is a laydown for five odd and nine honors in dia- monds, worth 223. Those who went to no-trump on the strength of the big diamond bid lost five spades. This hand is an example of bidding that might go back to the hearts, after the take-out, and still go game, as dummy has three good hearts; but that is a chance. Some players vary this play v/hen there is an intervening bid by first supporting the hearts, and bidding the big suit next time, if they get the chance. I have always maintained that if the partner is unusu- ally weak in the dealer's suit, such as one small card only, he should deny the suit with anything that has a sure trick in it, even if it is only four cards. Here is a deal that went the rounds of a dupKcate match and not a single player denied the spades, although two went to no-trumps on a chance of that being better than spades: No. 28 9 4 3 2 A J 9 7 10 9 5 4 3 K J 6 5 Q 8 A K Q J 10 8 7 A Y Z B A 10 7 K 6 5 8 7 6 3 2 9 5 Q 8 10 4 3 2 Q J A K 6 4 2 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bid a spade. Y should have denied the suit with two clubs. This leaves the opponents with no bid on which they can win the game. Instead of that Y either passed or went to no-trumps. At no-trumps all he could make was five tricks, so that take-out cost him 100 points. When left to play the hand at two clubs, Y could have made his contract. When left with the spade contract, Z lost 100 points and simple honors. When the take-out is in turn denied by the dealer, the situation sometimes leads to some interesting bidding. Here is a case in point: No. 27 cSb Q 10 7 5 4 A Q J 8 ❖ 7 3 ^ Q J 10 5 I Y I ^93 c*6 . CS.A982 09432 OK765 J 9 6 5 I ^ I K82 <:2 A K 8 7 2 (5b K J 3 10 A Q 10 4 The only table that bid this hand correctly won the game. Z began with a heart, A passed and Y took the dealer out with two diamonds. B passed the diamond bid and Z denied the suit with two spades, which A passed. Y denied the spades with three clubs, which held the con- tract. B led the heart through the denied suit. Z put on FOSTER ON AUCTION 135 the king and led the king of trumps. B won it and led another heart, hoping for a ruff, but Y was able to pull all B^s trumps and lead a spade, finessing the queen. Dummy led the ten of diamonds and Y passed it up. This diamond and the ace of trumps were the only tricks that Y lost. Five tables played this deal at no-trumps, sometimes with Y as the declarer, sometimes with Z, but only two of them won the game. The play that stopped two of the others was B^s holding off the clubs. The third lost his opportunity by overtaking the ten of diamonds, instead of passing it up. Whichever hand had the lead, A or B, started with a heart, the denied suit. Z won and started the clubs, B holding off until the third round, hoping his ace-nine might become a tenace. B then led another heart, and Z led the diamond, overtaking with the jack, so as to get the lead and make his two clubs. B won and led a small spade. While Z successfully finessed the queen, he had to give A two heart tricks, after which he won the king of spades with the ace and lost two spades after making the long heart. The student will see that if Y is going to depend on the spade finesse for two tricks, he should have put the ace of diamonds on the ten and made his clubs. As it was, he carried this ace home with him. It is equally important to deny the minor suits as it is to deny the hearts or spades. Many players urge that it is quite unnecessary to defend such a contract from loss, as the hand will not be played on that declaration. If there is no good major-suit bid between the two hands, they say, the opponents are sure to bid something. While this is true in a measure, the warning may be useful in other ways, especially in directing a lead when the oppo- nents get the contract. Take this case: 136 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 28 A Q 7 3 Q J 8 6 5 3 Q J 7 K 6 5 10 2 Q 10 7 2 A K 6 3 Z bid a club and Y did not deny the suit. B bid a le. Not knowing anything about the diamond situation, Z led the king of clubs and B went game. It does not matter what Z leads next, as B can clear the clubs in one round. In the actual play Z led a heart, dummy played the ace, and led another club. Z led another heart and B won it, exhausted the trumps and put dummy in with a heart to make all the clubs. When Y took his partner out with a diamond, to deny the clubs, B still went to spades, as no-trumps looked impossible against two minor suits. But in this case Z led the king of diamonds and followed with the small trump, which A won with the queen of spades. B put himself in with a heart to give dummy the diamond ruff. Then he led a small club from A's hand. Z led a third diamond, which is as good as anything, and again A trumped. Another club cleared that suit for A, who had the re-entries in hearts. Z put him right in with a heart. Now what is A to do? If he leads a club, Y trumps FOSTER ON AUCTION 137 with the eight, and if B over-trumps, the ten is good, and brings in two diamond tricks. If B over-trumps and leads a heart, Y ruffs and leads two rounds of diamonds, and Z makes the nine of trumps. Six tricks against the contract either way. There are many cases in which a suit that has been bid to overcall the opponents must be denied in some way, especially as such suits are often merely forced bids, and not to be trusted for the same strength as free bids. This should be all the more reason for warning the partner against them. Take this deal, which went the round of nine tables: \No. 29 ^752 cjb 9 8 6 5 2 4) A Q 9 8 7 ^ 9 I 7 I ^ K 10 6 c?)AKQJ . 10 762 0KQ7 p -*^OJ 10 943 ^ K 6 5 4 2 I ^ I ^ 3 ^ A Q J 8 4 3 (§5 5 4 3 A 8 J 10 bid a heart and A a spade. The spade suit itself is not up to standard, but the supporting hand is very strong. At some tables A availed himself of the double, asking his partner to go no-trumps if he could stop the hearts, which B did, and Y doubled. As the contract was for only one trick, A did not see how it could fail, and re- doubled, which cost him 400 points, as Z would not lead 138 FOSTER ON AUCTION the hearts, but started with the spades, which had not been mentioned when A doubled instead of bidding spades. Had A covered the spade jack, he would have lost a httle slam, which would have cost him 1280 points. As it was, Y overtook the spade to lead a heart through, and got in on the second spade to lead another heart, making nine tricks against the no-trumper. The astonishing play was when A bid the spade over the hearts and B failed to deny the suit, when he should have jumped at the chance to bid two diamonds, simply as a warning. Y's partner having refused to assist him in hearts, Z declined to rebid his hand. The silence of the partner is sometimes as potential as a bid. At one table Z did go to two hearts and A went to two spades. When Z started with a two-heart bid, A went to two spades. When played at spades, Y opened with his partner's hearts, and the jack won the ten. Z led the jack of trumps up to weakness in the dummy, and A covered with the king, naturally expecting another heart lead. His astonish- ment may be imagined when Y proceeded to take out every one of his trumps before leading the heart, winning 86 points for a little slam and four honors, with 250 or 300 in penalties besides, according to whether the con- tract was one or two. If B takes his partner out with two diamonds, they can make four odd. If Z goes on with the hearts, all he can make is three by cards. A suit bid by the dealer will frequently be overcalled second hand by no-trump. In that case if the partner passes, or bids some other suit, it will be enough to deny the suit. As a rule, it is better to sit tight and say nothing. The opening bid has shown what to lead and has promised some defence in that suit. FOSTER ON AUCTION 139 Many persons make the mistake of refusing to deny a suit because they have nothing they consider good enough. One may often hear the remark, " I could not deny your suit, as I had no five-card suit myself." The partner is not asked if he has a five-card suit, but if he can support the suit named, and he may have to answer that question with four cards only. Take this deal, which was played at all kinds of declara- tions and with all sorts of results. The table at which the double denial took place made the top score, although the last denial was made with a four-card suit, ten high: No. 30 10 7 8 7 5 A Q 6 4 10 9 6 4 Z bid a heart. When leift to play it, he went down one. At some tables Y took him out with a spade, and when Z left him in, holding a good honor as an excuse, Y went down one. At one table only did Y deny the hearts and Z in turn deny the spades, bidding two clubs, which held the contract. The result of the play certainly as- tonished the opponents. 140 FOSTER ON AUCTION A led through the denied spade suit, and the king won. Z led the ace of hearts and followed with a small one, which Y trumped. Y then led three rounds of spades, giving Z three diamond discards. A trumped with the queen, and immediately led the diamond, but too late, as Z trumped and led a small trump, catching A's king. The fifth spade from Y allowed Z to overtrump B, and a small heart from Z gave Y a ruff with the jack of trumps. Now Z makes his last trump on the diamond and leads the long of hearts, on which Y discards, so that the only tricks A and B make are the queen and eight of trumps. This is an example of good bidding combined with a little luck in the play. We have seen in the chapter on Bidding Values that the high-card combinations double their intrinsic trick- taking powers, if they are in the attacking hand, because of their utility in promoting the smaller cards of the same suit. In the trump suits, this presupposes that the part- ner will hold his normal share of the thirteen cards. The moment he denies the suit, showing only two, or less, this estimate of the promoting power of the high cards must be revised. It is obvious that if it is the opponents, and not the partner, that hold the majority of the small cards in a suit, it is their cards that will be promoted by the play of the high cards. This fact is familiar to every player who imderstands the value of establishing the dregs of a suit by forcing out the commanding cards held against him hj the declarer in a no-trumper. This consideration leads us to formulate this simple rule: The moment your partner denies a suit, the high cards in that suit fall automatically into the defensive class, and must be reckoned at their face value. This will reduce aces to one trick instead of two; ace-king suits. FOSTER ON AUCTION 141 or ace-queen-jack, to two tricks instead of four, and so on through the hst. Take the first example hand in this chapter, No. 24. The moment Y denies the hearts that suit is no longer good for four tricks and must be rated as two only, even when counting it up as part of the attacking hand; be- cause it is no longer possible to take four tricks in hearts with five to the ace-queen-jack, if the adversaries hold six or seven hearts between them, which is the fact con- veyed by the partner's denial. When Z shifts from his original intention to have hearts for trumps, and supports the clubs, he makes two very important revisions in his system of estimating the trick-taking possibilities of his hand. The heart suit is now worth 2 tricks only, but the spades remain at 2, because there has been no denial of that suit. The clubs, at first worth nothing, are now worth IJ as trmnps, and there are two ruffs in diamonds, woi-th an ace and a king, or 3 tricks. These ruffs are always estimated at defensive values, as they simply destroy the adversaries' attack. They do not promote anything. As an assist- ing hand, for clubs, Z can reckon on values. Y's club bid is forced, and all he has in his hand is 1| in clubs. But add this to the 84 in Z's hand, and we reach a total of 10, which would indicate that they should be able to win four odd, with clubs trumps. Take hand No. 27, the moment Y denies the hearts, the values in Z's hand fall from 4 to 2. When Z in turn denies the diamonds, that suit drops from 4 to 2, although both suits are still in the attacking hands. The spade values in Z's hand remain, as that suit has not been denied. He adds 1 for the extra honor in trumps, if clubs are to be trumps, and has also a king-value ruff, total 8J. The diamonds in Y's hand reduce to 2, and his clubs, although 142 FOSTER ON AUCTION declared, have no intrinsic value, therefore there is nothing to double, yet the combined hands show lOf values, and should win 10 or 11 tricks, at clubs. The reduction of values in the partner's hand when he is unable to use his trumps will be dealt with in the chap- ter on Assisting Suit Bids. One point to which attention should probably be called is that the declaration of a major suit does not neces- sarily deny the minor suit already declared by the part- ner, and therefore does not reduce its value. Original bids in clubs or diamonds offer assistance for any better declaration that the partner may have, and this offer will be just as readily taken advantage of with length or strength in the minor suit as without it. Take this hand as an example: Z deals and bids a spade, A two diamonds, Y passes and B says two hearts. Z rebids the spades. A assists the hearts with 4 J values. His hearts drop to a | in value as trumps, but his diamonds retain their original value of 4, making the hand still worth 4| as an assist. It was worth 6 as a declaration in diamonds. 7 A 3 c$) 10 9 5 ^ K Q J 8 5 2 c?) 73 Q J 6 A K 9 8 4 4i 9 8 5 A's Hand (i> 7 3 B's Hand DENYING PARTNER'S NO-TRUMPERS Continuing, for the sake of clearness, to consider the dealer as the first bidder and the third hand as the partner, although the principles of bidding are the same if the second hand bids first and the fourth hand is the partner, we come now to the duties of the partner when the dealer starts out with a bid of one no-trump, and the second player passes. Every bid at auction requires an answer. Every dec- laration requires some expression of approval or dis- approval from the partner. One of the most important of these expressions is silence; another is the take-out. We shall come later to the assist. There are two principal situations. Those in which the partner is afraid that the contract will fail, unless the dealer's hand is unusually strong, and those in which the partner is in a position to suggest something better, or safer. If the dealer starts with no-trumps and his partner takes him out with a suit, it must be a minor or a major suit, and the difference between these two marks the distinction between a warning and a suggestion. On account of the great difference between going game with three by cards, and working to make five odd, there is a well-recognized prejudice in favor of no-trumpers, and no good player will ask his partner to shift from a no-trumper to a club or a diamond while there is any chance that the no-trumper will succeed, if not in winning the game, at least in making the contract. All authorities are therefore agreed that if the partner takes the dealer out of a no-trumper with two clubs or two diamonds, it must be with a hand that belongs to 143 144 FOSTER ON AUCTION one of two classes; a minor suit that is so strong that game is reasonably certain if the dealer has a no-trumper to put on the table for a dummy; or, a hand that is so much below average that it is very doubtful if the dealer can fulfil his contract at no-trumps. In either case, the dealer must accept the bid of a minor suit as a warning, a request for him to drop his no-trumper and support the suit. If he goes back to no-trumps, he does so on his own hand. Just how weak the partner should be in order to take out a no-trumper with a bid of two in a minor suit is a close question, but the usual answer is that it should be a hand without a quick trick in it. That is, without an ace, or a king-queen suit, or even a couple of kings. Queens are of little use, unless accompanied by the jack and ten of the same suit. Good players bid no-trumps more with a view to showing general assistance for a safer declaration, if the partner has one, than with any fixed idea that the hand shaU be played at no-trumps, and nothing else. If nothing else is the dealer's view of it, he should start with a bid of two no-trumps, as many make a practice of doing when they hold 100 aces. An original no-trump bid also shows that the dealer is prepared to save the game against any bid the opponents may make, unless they have phenomenal hands. Bids are based on beating averages; not freaks. If it is true, as asserted by all good players, that noth- ing short of winning or saving game is worth playing for, it should be clear that there is not much hope of win- ning the game on a bid of one no-trump if there is not a trick in the dummy. If the dealer has bid the no-trumper on an average hand, with protection in three suits, but nothing wonderful in any of them, he is in a bad way both for assistance in the suits he has and weakness in his fourth FOSTER ON AUCTION 145 suit, if dummy is going to lay down a Yarborough, or nothing above a jack. The rule for the partner when holding a trickless hand is to call any five-card suit, major or minor, simply as a warning. In the chapter on trump values, we have seen that five trumps headed by two sure tricks are good for four tricks in play, on the average. Any five trumps, without the tops, in the attacking hand, are good for an average of two tricks in play. If the partner has three trumps of any kind, the average for the five may be nearer three. If he has not as many as that, and no tops, that suit will not be the trump, as we have seen in the chapter on denjring suits, therefore we may count the average value of five small trumps as nearer three tricks than two. Apply this to the bid of any five-card suit as a warning against the no-trumper, and we arrive at this position. If dummy has a trickless hand, which is of no assistance to a no-trumper, but can turn that hand into one which is good for two or three tricks, without impairing the value of the cards in the dealer's hand, what can he lose by in- creasing the contract one trick? Suppose the dealer's hand to be v/orth six tricks in play, and the dummy's hand worth nothing. The combined hands are not good enough to win the odd trick. Advance the value of dummy's hand to two or three tricks, and the value of the combinations goes up to eight or nine, which is enough, or more than enough, to fulfil the contract. That this is true, all authorities agree, but they restrict their agreement to the minor suits, although it must be equally true of the major suits, so far as advancing the trick-taking powers of the dummy hand are concerned. The reason for restricting the weak take-out, or rescue, as it is usually called, to the minor suits has been already explained. It is invariably a warning to drop the no- 146 FOSTER ON AUCTION trumper, either because the minor suit is very strong, or because the whole hand is hopelessly weak. If the clubs or diamonds in the partner^s hand are strong, but not strong enough to be almost certain of game, it would be very bad policy to bid them over the dealer's no-trumper. Suppose the partner holds six sohd tricks in clubs. Two of these, as we have already seen, are included in the dealer's original bid, leaving four extra. If the no-trumper is an average hand, good for three tricks, one in each suit, that is game at no-trumps the moment he gets into the lead; but he will have to find two more tricks somewhere to win the game in clubs or diamonds. With seven or eight cards in the dummy's suit, it should be a game hand, if not a little slam, and the bid is then perfectly legitimate, even if the suit is not solid. With only five or six, even with the tops, the take-out in a minor suit is bad bidding, because that is probably the very thing the dealer wants to fill out his no-trumper, and the minor-suit take-out may frighten him off. Here is an example of it: No. 31 ❖ ^864 * Q J 10 7 J 10 4) K Q 8 2 A J 10 K 9 6 5 4 3 10 6 4 FOSTER ON AUCTION 147 Z bid no-trump and Y two diamonds. Having nothing in diamonds, and supposing the bid to be a warning, Z bid two spades. As Y knew Z could not have more than four spades, or he would have bid that suit in the first place, Y went to three diamonds, and Z abandoned the matter, imagining Y to be very strong in diamonds. This is bad bidding on Y's part. He should have gone back to no-trumps when Z denied the diamonds. He did not make his contract, two odd being all there was in the hand at diamonds. At every table at which Y passed, Z went game at no-trump, whether A led the top club or the small spade. This is 185 points won, instead of 36 lost. The point of the minor-suit bid is this: Whether it is from extreme weakness or great strength, it asks the partner to drop the no-trumper unless he can do it all himself. If the dealer is strong enough to go back to no-trumps after the warning, well and good. Such hands are not uncommon. Even five small cards of a suit in the dummy may be enough to guarantee the dealer that his opponents will not be able to save the game by leading that suit. If we examine the construction of the hands on which no-trumpers are usually bid, it will be seen that they are largely built on the minor suits, because the major suits in them are not long enough to declare. That is one reason for avoiding the lead of a minor suit up to a no- trumper, if possible, as we shall see when we come to the opening leads. The warning take-out in a minor suit will frequently find the dealer with more support for that suit than for anjdihing else, and he will be glad to avail himself of the shift. Here is an example of it: 148 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 32 9 7 5 2 5 J 9 6 4 3 10 6 4 7 K 4 cjb K Q 10 7 8 4^ K J 8 3 4 2 A Y Z B c?) J 9 8 Q 10 2 4) 9 5 2 ^ A J 6 3 7 Q 10 8 A 6 3 A K 7 5 A Q 7 Z bid no-trump. A passed, realizing that there was httle chance of going game against a no-trumper without an ace in his hand, even if he could get the contract at clubs, but he might easily save the game or set the no- trump contract. At some tables Y passed, and Z was set for three tricks, less 30 aces, as A cleared the clubs, and B led hearts, after winning the third diamond. The student will probably be interested to know that at the only tables at which A overcalled the no-trumper with two clubs, Y felt relieved from the necessity of warn- ing Z, but Z bid the diamonds and A went on with the clubs, bidding three, which he made. Y led the trump and Z got two rounds. Instead of leading the spade, dummy led the heart, and the finesse of the jack on the return lost a trick. Game is impossible against good play, as A cannot get the spade through twice and make the hearts. Had A passed, Y could have bid and made two diamonds, if left to try it. Some of these border-line no-trumpers, as they are FOSTER ON AUCTION 149 called, have a demoralizing effect on the opponents, and when they are afraid of the take-out they will often refuse to bid. Here is a case in which they were frightened out of a game hand at five different tables: No. 33 7 6 5 3 10 8 6 5 4 8 1 10 3 2 7 A J 10 8 7 Y ^ ^ c*Q , d;>AK3 0975 OQJ63 ^ K 8 7 4 ^ 4) A Q J 6 5 7 K Q 4 2 cj) J 9 7 2 A K 10 2 ❖ 9 Counting the jack of clubs as a stopper, 2 bid no- trump. A passed and Y bid two clubs. Although B had two sure tricks in clubs, he did not see much chance for game in spades with a no-trumper on his left, which he counted for tricks in all the other suits, so he passed, and Y made his contract. It is an invincible game hand at spades for A and B, no matter what Z leads, even if Y ruffs the third diamond. A no-trumper should always be ready to deny a suit or to go back to no-trumps. No matter what the nature of the take-out, the dealer should deny it if he cannot support it, because the same principles apply to these take-out bids as to any other suit bids. Here is a good example : 160 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 34 8 7 5 8 7 5 4 3 2 6 4 3 7 A Q 10 9 K 9 4 A K J 10 7 5 A Y Z B Q 10 9 Q 8 5 4) 8 3 2 ^ 10 6 3 2 A Q J 6 A K J 9 2 K J 6 4 Z bid no-trump, A passed, and Y bid two clubs, which B passed. At some tables Z trusted his partner to stop the clubs and went back to no-trumps, overlooking th© fact that a take-out in a minor suit absolutely denies any tricks in spades or hearts. A doubled. Y said nothing, having given all the warning he thought neces- sary, and Z naturally expected any lead but a club. A led the king of clubs to have a look, and as B played his second-best, the queen or no more was marked in his hand. The lead of the jack allowed B to lead a spade through, and the only spade trick Z made was the king, so that he was set for 300 points. It is rather curious that when A overcalled the clubs with two spades, he was set. When he went two spades over Z's one no-trump, the result was the same. The preceding examples are all warning bids. We come now to the major-suit take-outs, which are suggestive chiefly. MAJOR-SUIT TAKE-OUTS When we come to bidding two tricks in a major suit as a take-out for the partner's no-trumper, we find a great difference of opinion among all classes of players, some insisting that the bid should never be made as a rescue, with a weak hand, but only with strength, and strong probabihty of game. When their reasons for wishing to make this distinction are carefully examined, it will in- variably be found that they are weak in one of tv/o ways. They are entuely based on theory, the objectors to the weak rescue having had no practical experience with it; or, these players are entirely ignorant of the modern sys- tem of denying suits. If neither of these is the reason, then they must have some pet private convention that the bid interferes with. In the minor suits , they agree. That is always a warn- ing, whether the partner bids on weakness or on strength. In the major suits, on the contrary, the partner may be gladly avaihng himself of the help offered by the original no-trump bid, if he is strong in either hearts or spades, as they are much safer contracts then no-trumps, and require only one more trick to win the game. But if the partner is in the habit of bidding tv/o hearts or spades with only five small ones, and perhaps a trick- less hand, how is the dealer to distinguish such a take- out from the bid on strength? Is it a rescue or a game hand? If it is from strength, it is very desirable to leave it alone; if it is a rescue, it may be better for the dealer to go back to no-trumps, or bid something else. Many persons make a mountain out of this difficulty, as if there were no way to get over it. We find writers 151 152 FOSTER ON AUCTION on the game who ought to know better expressing the opinion that the only solution of the problem is to aban- don the weak rescue in the major suits, and to confine the take-out to strength. This leaves the partner in no doubt as to which it is. This sounds well, but I have failed to find in any of these writers anything about the losses that arise when the no-trumper is abandoned to its fate. In these days, when players bid no-trumps on an ace and two hopes, the old adage is truer than it ever was at bridge, " Any- thing can happen to a no-trumper." No losses that can result from a weak rescue can approach those that constantly arise from no rescue at all. There is no necessity whatever for ehminating the rescue simply on the ground of its ambiguity, as we shall see presently, because there should be no difficulty in finding out to which class the take-out belongs, weak or strong, if the original no-trumper is sound, and the players understand the science of denying suits. The modern player eliminates the no-trumper that cannot stand a take- out, which solves the problem at once. Of course, there are some players who have the mania for bidding no- trumps to such an extent that they cannot keep their hands off it, although it is the most dangerous bid in the game against good players. Against dubs, one may bid almost anything with impunity. The worse the bid, the greater certainty that they will take you out of it. But these pages are written for the careful player, not for the gambler, for he gets as much satisfaction and ex- citement in being set as in going game, apparently. There are two arguments advanced in favor of aban- doning the weak rescue in the major suits. One is that if the no-trumper is only average, and unable to take care of itself, while the partner's hand is below par, the FOSTER ON AUCTION 153 fourth hand will almost surely make a bid. This argu- ment presupposes that you are playing with children, or depending on your opponents to play your game for you, as neither you nor your partner are able to arrive at a safe declaration yourselves. It also overlooks the strong probability that it is the player on the left of the no-trumper that is strong, but will not declare while he has the lead against an alleged no-trumper, and can probably beat it. If the strength is in the fourth hand, and it is not vital for him to have a specified suit led in order to save the game, why should he bid? He is not going to run the risk of being left to play the hand, with a no-trumper over him on the left, if there is any chance of saving the game as it is. A bid in such a position simply warns the dealer to bid something safer, or to sit tight and beat the fourth hand. Here is a hand that went the round of seven tables, and only one player sat tight and said nothing fourth hand: 7 Q 7 5 * 10 K 7 5 A K J 9 6 5 The dealer bid no-trump, second and third hands passing. At every table at v/hich B asked for a spade lead, bidding two, the dealer at once shifted to diamonds and won the game. When the fourth hand said nothing, his partner led the jack of hearts from jack-ten-nine and others, and the dealer won it with the king. A diamond finesse let in the six spade tricks and set the contract. Perhaps one of the most remarkable reasons for ask- ing a partner to eliminate the weak rescue in the major suits, is the dealer's assertion that he does not want it, 154 FOSTER ON AUCTION even if it is safer. If his no-trumper is going to be set he says, he is willing to take his medicine. This is certainly a charmingly egotistical way of putting it; but what about his partner, who has to pay just the same amount of the loss. Why should he be obliged to swallow the medicine when it is not his disease? If the dealers who refuse to allow the weak rescue were forced to pay all the losses on their no-trumpers, we should soon hear the end of it, even if they could take all the gains. The balance on the wrong side of the ledger would soon impress itself upon attention. Why should not the partner have as much right to protect himself against no-trumpers that he cannot support, as against suit bids? No one objects to those take-outs. As pointed out in the chapter on No-trimip Bids, all such declarations should be able to support one or both the major suits, or have a good secondary bid in reserve, in case the partner's take-out has to be denied. Given a partner whose no-trump bids are sound, and this may be laid down as the one absolute rule in auction to which there is no exception. Never leave your partner in with a bid of one no-trump if you have five hearts or spades. This rule admits of no exceptions upon the first round of bids, the second hand passing. It does not matter what the five cards are, whether they are only nine high, or headed by four honors. Neither does it matter whether there are two or three sure tricks in the rest of the hand or none at all. I have followed this rule for years, and watched its working through countless duplicate games. I have also gone through two or three thousand of my 10,000 recorded hands, and picked out those in which one player has a no-trumper and the opposite hand has five hearts FOSTER ON AUCTION 155 or five spades. I spent an entire summer on this investi- gation, and the analysis shows thax with only average skill in the play, the take-out is worth about fifty points a deal on the average. For every occasional hand that will not reach game with the trump suit, but would have done so at no-trump, there are a dozen that save the game, win it, wind up with a better declaration than either the no-trump or the take-out, or get penalties. ^ Here is a deal that is historical in the club in which it occurred. It shows what may happen to a player who insists that his partner shall let him alone to " take his medicine " when he bids no-trump, if he has nothing but a vv^eak rescue in a major suit: No. 35 10 7 2 7 A A A 4 Q 8 4 J 9 8 5 4 2 8 7 4 3 2 J 9 8 6 3 J 6 5 3 K 7 3 9 6 5 10 7 6 ^ K 9 (?) Q 10 6 K Q J 10 4) A K Q 2 Z bid no-trump, and Y followed instructions, refusing to bid the spades. A led a small club and made seven tricks in that suit, although he expected to find the king with Z. On the last of the clubs, B's first discard was the trey of hearts, then two diamonds and a spade, while Z discarded his three top spades, and then, feeling sure that A would not lead a heart to his partner's first 156 FOSTER ON AUCTION discard, he unguarded the king. Having nothing more to make, A laid down his ace of hearts, intending to fol- low with the ace of diamonds, but on catching the king he led another heart, and lost the last trick of all to the jack of spades. Little slam and 30 aces, worth 380 points. At spades, there is some pretty play to go game, if B leads a heart. After winning two heart tricks, A's be?t play is a trump which Z wins and returns, finding A has no more. Then he leads a diamond. A heart forces Z, who makes three diamonds after pulHng B's last trump. Now Y makes the two last trumps and the fifth diamond. One point to be remembered is, that if the dealer does not like his partner's take-out, he can deny it, either by going back to no-trumps or bidding some other suit. There must be something in which the two hands fit. The result is invariably to show the dealer whether the major suit take-out v/as from weakness or from strength. Here are two examples, each with a different ending: No. 36 6 3 10 8 7 6 Z bid no-trumps and Y two spades. As Z cannot support the spades he has the choice of going back to FOSTER ON AUCTION 157 no-trumps or bidding his best suit. It is invariably- better to bid a secondary suit, and to leave it to the part- ner to say whether the no-trumper should be the final declaration or not. When Z starts with a bid of one no-trump, Y has no idea of how good his hand is, or what suits were strongest. Y's inference from the three-club bid is that w^hile Z was protected in three suits, the spades were his weakest and clubs his strongest. This bid also asks Y if his spades are of any use as part of a no-trumper; if not, to let it stand at clubs. Y bid three no-trumps, and A led through the denied suit, Z winning four by cards. Had A led anything else, Z would have made five odd. Here is the other situation, in which not only is the take- out of no use to support a no-trumper, but the partner has to deny the dealer's take-out of the first take-out. The hand illustrates in a remarkable manner the methods by which two good players will eventually arrive at the best declaration for the combined hands, neither of their opponents making any sort of a bid to guide them: No. 37 ^ Q 9 6 4 3 c?D A 7 6 4 5 4) 9 5 2 J 10 3 8 7 6 3 K Q 7 4 A 7 A Y Z B 7 K J 10 8 2 9 5 K 10 2 8 6 3 cj) K Q 8 2 A Q J 9 4 4^ A J 10 158 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bid no-trump and Y two hearts. Z denied the hearts with three diamonds, and as Y's hearts were not of much use at no-trumps, if Z had none, and Y could not support the diamonds, he had to bid four clubs. At clubs Y won the game, making five odd. B opened with a heart and A returned the king of spades, so as to avoid the diamonds. A trump put Y in to lead a diamond for the finesse. The ace and nine followed, Y trumping the third round, after discarding a heart. The diamonds being set, Y led out the trumps, made the rest of the diamonds and estab- lished the ten of spades. Some writers have been at great pains to enlarge upon the possibilities of loss from leaving a weak rescue to play the hand, but in every instance these writers betray their ignorance of the modern system of denying suits, because the force of their arguments rests on leaving the partner to play a trump that the original no-trump bidder cannot support. Here are three hands, given by a well-known writer on the game, that were bid no-trumps originally, taken out with two spades, and failed to go game at spades, although they were all game hands if left alone at no-trumps: No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 ^AlOxx ^AKxx ^ K 10 XX cg)KQJ cJdAx .c?)AJ10x KQxxx KQJxxx QJx X 4^ X ($) x x No. 1 would have made three to five odd at no-trumps. No. 2, five odd. No. 3, four odd. One to three odd at spades was the maximum, game being out of the question. If the reader has followed what has been said in pre- vious chapters in this book, he will readily see that this argument is simply sophistry, as no good player would FOSTER ON AUCTION 159 leave his partner to play any of these at spades, but would deny the suit on No. 1 or 2; and take chances by going two no-trumps on No. 3. As they appear to have been all strong hands at no-trump, it is clear that the partner must have had some tops in spades, and in answer to the denial of that suit would have gone back to no-trumps. Here is a hand from a large duplicate game which is so nearly like No. 2 that it may serve as an illustration of the manner in which such a major-suit take-out would be handled: No. 38 K 7 3 Q J 9 7 2 9 6 5 9 2 Z bid no-trump, and Y two spades. Instead of leaving the spade contract to be slaughtered, which would be the advice, apparently, of the writer whose examples have just been quoted, Z promptly denied the spades with three clubs, and Y went back to three no-trumps, to show that if his spades are not wanted as trumps, they are still valuable as part of a no-trumper. The result was that Z made four odd, whereas neither the spade nor the club contract would have reached game. When the dealer is one who is in the habit of bidding 160 FOSTER ON AUCTION all sorts of no-trumpers, the weak rescue is sometimes very useful. All those who passed up the bid on Y's hand in the following situation lost 180 points: No. 39 J 10 Q4 A J 5 4 6 4 K 4 2 A 10 7 3 K Q 10 A 9 3 Z bid bid no-trump, and at eveiy table at which this was made those who held Y's cards and did not beheve in the weak rescue were set for three tricks and 30 aces. Those who took the dealer out with two spades and were left to play it, made three odd and four honors, 63 points plus. At one table, Y, who is strongly opposed to these weak rescues, was driven to it by A's foohsh bid of two dia- monds. The curious thing about this hand is that it does not seem to have occurred to any one to go to no-trumps on B's cards, even after A had shown the diamonds. The bidding will sometimes continue for some time after the take-out, because an opponent who will not bid against a no-trumper while he has the lead, may be quite willing to bid one suit against another after the no-trumper has been abandoned. In such cases it is invariably a mistake to return to no-trumps if the take-out can be FOSTER ON AUCTION 161 supported, because the bidding of the opponents shows that they are afraid of the suit take-out, but were not afraid of the no-trumper. Here is a remarkable illustra- tion of this mistake, which was one of the deals played in the duplicate match for the championship of the United States at Spring Lake in 1916: No. 40 K987632 ^ 3 K Q J 6 3 A 9 6 2 10 8 Q 5 7 5 10 4 Q 10 4 J 10 9 7 6 2 Z bid no-trump and Y two hearts. Z passed this up, showing he could support the take-out, and A bid three diamonds. This Y doubled, to show his support for the heart bid. B took his partner out with three spades, which Z doubled, to show his stopper in that suit. When A passed, Y went to four hearts, and A doubled that bid, hoping to frighten Z back to no-trumps. In this he succeeded, and A doubled, and set the contract for 100 points and 30 aces. Y should have redoubled the hearts or Z should have done it for him, or bid five clubs to force him back to hearts. The hand is a lay-down for five odd at hearts. The mistake is in the return to no-trumps. This Spring Lake hand introduces an element that is absent from all the preceding examples, the interference 162 FOSTER ON AUCTION of a bid from the opponents. There is another variation that may come up, and that is a double, instead of a suit bid, from the adversaries. Here is a rather interesting case: No. 41 K 9 7 5 K 7 5 3 A K Q 10 8 7 A Q J 2 K Q 10 9 6 A J 9 6 Z bid no-trump, A passed and Y took out the no-trumper with two spades, which B doubled. The double did not affect Z's bid in any way, as he would have denied the spades without this hint, bidding three hearts. A passed again, and Y denied the hearts with four clubs. When this got round to A, he did not think Y could make four clubs, ajid doubled, but Y did make it, losing only one trick in each suit but hearts. This looks like a very lucky club bid, quite apart from the luck of going game on the double. At every table at which Y passed, B bid two spades, asking for a lead, was left with it and made his contract, with 72 in honors. At one table, when Y denied the no-trumper with the spades and B doubled, Z bid the clubs, and B went to three spades, being set one, but having the 72 honors to score, so that he came out 22 ahead on the bidding. FOSTER ON AUCTION 163 It was then too late for Z to bid four hearts. A good lesson on bidding the higher ranking suit first; hearts, not clubs. One of the besetting sins of the beginner is the desire to play every hand himself, especially at no-trumps. This leads him to persist in that declaration even after his partner has warned him against it, or has suggested something much safer. The theory seems to be that if the player can make all the tricks in the hand at ten each, that is better than scoring them at eight or nine only. Here is a curious example of this logic: No. 42 ^ 10 987532 6 A K 7 2 ❖ 4 ^ Q Y ^ J4 cJ)A 10 95 ^ c5J)KJ74 OQ853 0964 4> A 8 6 2 ^ J 10 9 3 A K 6 cj) Q 8 3 2 J 10 4^ K Q 7 5 Z bid no-trumps, Y two hearts, and Z went back to two no-trumps, figuring that if his partner had a long heart suit, five at least, they should be able to make them all at ten a trick. In this he succeeded, as all the hearts made, but not before A and B had taken home four club tricks and the ace of spades, saving the game. At another table, Y would not bid the hearts, because he figured that if Z had three suits stopped, one was not the diamond, so he did not mention the hearts, and there also A and B saved the game. All those who bid the 164 FOSTER ON AUCTION hearts and played the hand at that declaration made either five odd or a httle slam. At one table Y took out the no-trumper with three hearts, so as to make it em- phatic, he also figuring Z for protection in all the suits except diamonds, and therefore some top hearts. This is good bidding. In conclusion, my experience with those who are opposed to the invariable take-out with five cards of a major suit, regardless of their strength or of the rest of the hand, has been that they never gave the bid a fair test, and therefore know nothing about it from a practical standpoint. They will all take-out with six cards, but not with five. There is one phase of this take-out bid that is not as common now as it once was, and that is refusing to bid the suit because the hand is so strong that it is better to have the tricks worth ten apiece than eight or nine. This is on a par with bidding no-trumps originally on hands that should be major-suit bids. Here is a classical example of a hand that is too good to shift from no-trumps: No. 43 7 A Q J 6 4 cjb 9 5 3 A 8 4^ 8 6 4 7 10 5 * 84 K Q J 9 3 2 ^ K7 2 A Y Z B 7 9 7 3 A J 10 6 2 7 5 10 9 5 7 K 8 2 c?) K Q 7 10 6 4 ^ A Q J 3 FOSTER ON AUCTION 165 Z bid no-trump. Y assumes that hearts must be Z's weak suit, and with three or four sure tricks in his hand, Vv^hy should Y reduce their value to eight, when they might just as well be ten. Played at no-trumps, A cleared the diamonds, got in on the spade finesse after Y had raade all the hearts, and held the contract down to the odd trick. It is a game hand at hearts. Any person who will take the trouble to deal out a hundred hands and will pick out any of the four that is good enough for a sound no-trumper, and will place opposite this hand any of the three others that contains a five-card suit, will find an astonishing percentage in favor of the take-out. Even if it be a minor suit, clubs or diamonds, weak or strong, assume that it was a major suit and note the result. The moment one makes any attempt to define the line that shall separate strength from weakness in the m^ajor suits, by enumerating the number of kings, queens, or jacks that are essential to remove the hand from the stigma of being a rescue, one opens the gate for all kinds of border-line bids that are open to argument, and lead to confusion and mistrust. The simplest rule to follow is to bid these take-outs straight. If the no-trumper cannot support them, it should be able to deny them, either by going back to no- trumps or by bidding a suit. If the hand is not good enough to do either of these, it is the original no-trump bid that is at fault; not the take-out. REBIDDING THE HAND Under the old style of bidding, the character of two hands might be entirely different, yet the sequence of bids made upon them exactly the same. Which of several possibiUties was the actual holding, the partner was left to guess. How often, when your partner bids a suit twice, can you name with any certainty six or eight of the cards in his hand, and their rank? On the other hand, how often have you nothing beyond a hazy idea that he has a big heart bid of some sort? This style of bidding inevitably leads to confusion and misunderstanding, which is the first thing that the modern bidder tries to avoid. He insists upon each holding being bid in such a way that the partner shall be presented with a fairly accurate photograph of the hand as a whole by the time the bids have been round twice. The first bid should show the genus; major-suit, minor-suit, or no-trumps. The next bid should show the species; all one suit, two suits, or which three of the four. There are two very common mistakes made by the aver- age player, which lead to continual friction between part- ners. One is trying to get the contract too cheaply, and the other is offering to pay too much for it. The conventional rules for the original bids should never be departed from under any circumstances. Then there will be no possibiHty of any misunderstanding on the part of the player opposite you if the opponents start something. As we have seen in the chapter on Original Free Bids, two simple rules govern the opening. If all you have is in one suit, you should bid it all at the start, and say no more about it, no matter what 166 FOSTER ON AUCTION 167 happens. But if there is more in the hand than can be shown by the first bid, you should be ready to advance the bid until you have shown the limit of this outside strength. Here are examples of the three ordinary classes of bids: No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 7 AK843 7 AK843 ^ AQJ642 cS)Q2 c§)A2 <§)Q2 OJ75 OJ75 OJ75 (J)864 4^864 4^)64 In No. 1, the original free bid is one heart. No matter what bidding follows this, you have nothing more to say. You have bid all there is in the hand, and need not even deny your partner's suit if he shifts. You are in the posi- tion of a man that goes into a partnership with the state- ment that he has a thousand dollars to put into it. No matter how much the other partner may talk, you can never make your thousand look like fifteen hundred with- out deceiving him. In No. 2, the first bid is one heart, but you are prepared to advance the bid to two, which will indicate that you hold a minimum of two more tricks for attack, in addition to the original heart bid. You are nov/ in the position of a partner who has a little real estate, or a trade acquaintance, in addition to his thousand dollars, to put into the business. In No. 3, the original bid is two hearts, because you have six in suit, one more than necessary for a bid of one. In order not to confuse this holding with a hand that has tricks outside the suit named, you must bid the two at once. This is as if you said you had fifteen hundred to put into the business, but no real estate or trade affilia- tions. Having made that bid, you have nothing more 168 FOSTER ON AUCTION to say, no matter what bids may follow. It is not even necessary to deny your partner's suit if he shifts to spades, because a partner that will take-out an original two- trick bid must be very strong, and well able to take care of himself in that suit. These original two-trick bids in the major suits indicate that you do not care much whether your partner has his share of the trumps or not. Such bids not only relieve him from the necessity of deny- ing the suit, but they ask him not to run any risks with no-trumpers. One of the commonest mistakes made by the beginner is in starting with a bid of one in a suit of six cards or more, such as No. 3, and then advancing the bid to two tricks on the second round, if overcalled. Bid all there is in the suit itself at once. With seven cards to the ace- king, ace-queen-jack, or king-queen-jack, for instance, bid three, and with eight in suit bid four. Many players believe in bidding two if they have a suit of seven cards of a major suit that is not headed by two sure tricks, provided it requires no more than a king to fill up the hole in the suit. This is to avoid rebidding the hand that does not contain an ace outside. With eight cards of such a suit, they bid three, and with nine bid fom-. Here are examples of such hands, each re- quiring a king outside : A Q 10 X X X X A J 10 X X X X K Q 10 X X X X Any weaker combinations than these are never more then one-trick bids unless they are shut-outs. It is a mistake to start with a bid of two or more because of outside strength. This class of hands must be held in reserve for secondary bids. To bid more than one FOSTER ON AUCTION 169 just because you can make it is nothing but bombast, and never accomplishes anything, unless the bid is in- tended as a shut-out for the other major suit, although such bids are very common with untaught players. Why should you start in an auction by bidding two dollars for something that you may get for one? If you are willing to pay two, wait until you are forced to do so. Such bids give the partner a wrong impression of the hand and may lead to serious loss. Here is a case in point: No. 44 7 4 eg) 10 7 5 2 K 4 ^ A K 8 7 6 2 ^ 85 r Y 1^ K9762 *J94 c?)863 OJ10 983 0AQ62 ❖ J 9 3 I ^ I 4> 5 A Q J 10 3 <^ AKQ 7 5 ($3 Q 10 4 Z bid two hearts, which induced his partner to let the bid alone, and the result was that Z lost two diamond tricks immediately and B made two tricks in trumps later, saving the game. If Z starts with one heart, Y bids two spades, having six in suit. At the tables at which this was the bidding, B led through the denied suit, and Y made a little slam, with four honors. The heart con- tract, even with four honors in one hand, netted only 88, while the spade contract won 265. Overbidding a suit just because there are four honors in it is quite unneces- sary. 170 FOSTER ON AUCTION The importance of differentiating sharply between these two classes of hands — those in which everything is shown by the first declaration and those in which out- side tricks are shown by rebidding the same suit — will be better understood if we pass to the other side of the table and examine the partner's side of the bidding. Here are two hands in which the partner held almost precisely the same cards, but in one hand, with a bad bidder for the dealer, he is led into a serious loss, while in the other, with a good bidder for the dealer, he saves more than a hundred points: No. 45 Q 10 9 3 10 4 2 A J 10 10 6 5 Q 9 8 6 5 K Q 5 2 A 7 3 Z bid one heart, A a spade, and Y two hearts. When B went two spades, Z rebid his hand to three hearts, and A said three spades. When both Y and B passed Z went to four hearts, to save the game. A bid four spades, and Y went on to five hearts, which A doubled and set for 400. Y knew that he would be set, but he never im- agined it would be for so much. He is completely de- ceived by his partner's rebids, which indicate outside tricks. It is true that A would have made five odd in FOSTER ON AUCTION 171 spades, four honors, and 125 for game, but that is only 206 points, so that Y and Z lose 156 by not letting them play it at spades. Here is the other hand: No. 46 7 Q 9 8 2 * A Q 6 J 9 3 4> 10 5 3 7 J 8 7 5 3 A 8 6 4 K 8 6 2 The bidding was precisely the same as in the first hand given. Z started with one heart, A a spade, Y two hearts, B two spades and Z three hearts, rebidding the hand. A bid three spades, which both Y and B passed, and Z went to fom- hearts. A four spades, and Y five hearts, which A doubled. In this case Z's rebid is sound. When Y assists the hearts, Z can count upon him for more than his share of the tricks, probably two in one of the minor suits, as we shall see when we come to the chapter on Assist- ing Bids. Z is therefore willing to take a sting to save the game, as he cannot be set more than a trick or two. Y does not know whether it is Z or A that is overbidding the hand to save the game, as both cannot be right. What Y is certain of is that Z has some tricks outside hearts, and they are not in spades, so Y bids five hearts. A led two rounds of spades, which allowed Z to ruff, 172 FOSTER ON AUCTION exhaust the trumps and give Y a diamond discard on the fourth club, so that he was set only one trick, less four honors, net loss 68. Had A been left at four spades, he could have made it, with four honors and game, total 197. This shows that Y saved 129 points by taking the sting to save the game, Y being confident that it would not be a large penalty if Z's bidding was sound. Had A gone to five spades he would have been doubled and set. These two hands contain a double lesson. They not only illustrate the difference in bidding on one suit and on two, but they show that it is entkely imnecessary to make any mention of the supporting suit. No greater mistake can be made than for a player to start with a bid in a major suit and then shift to the supporting suit, unless his partner has denied the suit first named. Such bidding at once places the declarer at the mercy of a shrewd adversary, who can instantly place the other suits if he knows which two are in the hand of the first bidder. Take this deal, which was thought to be a reversed score, or the tray turned the wrong way, until it was explained : No. 47 ^ A Q J 9 4 c?) 9 6 10 8 4 3 2 K 7 3 2 8 5 A K J 6 J 8 4 FOSTER ON AUCTION 173 Z bid a spade, A two hearts, Y and B passing. At every table but one, Z rebid his hand, two spades. A and Y passed, B went to three hearts, and Z to three spades, which held. B knew his partner had nothing but the heart suit, but they should be able to save the game at spades, which they did, but Y and Z scored 45 points plus on the hand. At one table, instead of rebidding the spades, Z bid his supporting suit, three clubs. This immediately opened A^s eyes to the situation, and when B assisted the hearts and Z went to three spades. A bid four hearts. He sees that B must be assisting on at least two tricks in diamonds, and if that suit makes, all that A can lose is two clubs and a spade. If he is set one more trick, it may save the game. On the play, A made five odd, as Y led two rounds of spades and B got a club discard on the fifth diamond. Nothing could have stopped A from making four odd. This shows a net loss of 242 points through Z's mention- ing his supporting suit. It is hardly necessary to point out that this applies only to hands that start with a suit bid. As explained in the chapter on No-trump Bids, it is often necessary to show a suit, instead of bidding more tricks at no-trumps. When a player starts with a bid of one in a major suit, hearts or spades, and afterwards bids more, it does not matter whether his partner has assisted him in the meantime or not. The rebid shows the outside tricks. One of the striking features of modern bidding is the cer- tainty with which these outside tricks may sometimes be named by the partner, although the suit has not been even mentioned. A good player, with confidence in his partner's bidding, can often take advantage of situ- ations that would be absolutely beyond the average player. Take this hand as an example: 174 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 48 ^ K J 3 * Q 8 7 K 9 7 6 <$) K 9 5 7 10 c?) A K J 6 8 ($) 10 8 7 6 2 4 2 A Y Z B 9 7 5 4 5 3 A Q J 10 5 4 3 A Q 8 6 2 cj) 10 9 3 2 ($> A Q J 4 Z bid one heart. The high spades are more than enough to fill up the hole in the heart suit. A bid two clubs, and when Y assisted the hearts B shifted to three diamonds. Z advanced his bid to three hearts and A passed. At every table but one Y let the three heart bid stand, and Z made his contract, but he could not reach game, as A led a diamond, ruffed the return and made two clubs. At one table Y shifted to three no-trumps and won the game. Here is his reasoning: From his own cards, Y knows that Z cannot have better than ace-queen-ten of hearts. Anjrthing in clubs or diamonds seems impos- sible, yet Z rebids his hand, showing that he has more than the filler for his heart suit. Then he must have ace- queen-jack, or ace-queen-ten of spades. He might as well lay the cards on the table. He cannot have five spades, or he would have bid that suit first. Coimting his partner's hand in this way, Y sees that he can stop either diamonds or clubs, and should make five hearts and three or four spades the moment he gets in. B led the club and A came through with the diamond, Y FOSTER ON AUCTION 175 playing the nine. B put A in with another club, but A could not lead the diamond again, so that Y made four odd. There are two situations that require attention: those in which the player rebids his hand without waiting for his partner, or after his partner has refused to assist him, and those in which he rebids after his partner has assisted him. The reasons for the partner's assists interlock with the reasons for the rebid, but they must be studied separately. The rule is this: If the original bid is made upon a hand that contains only one sure quick trick outside the suit named, the suit itself being good for the bid, the hand is worth one rebid, but no more, even if the partner has refused to assist, or has yet to speak. This assumes that the partner's hand is still average, there being no reason to think other- wise, and the original bidder has an extra trick, which is good for two tricks in attack. To rebid a second time, there should be at least two sure tricks in the supporting hand, good for four tricks in attack. Here are two illustrations: No. 49 7 K 9 4 c?> 9 8 7 3 K Q 7 8 6 4 ^ 10 8 7 cj) A J 10 2 A Y B 5 3 K Q J 10 6 4 A K 10 7 2 9 8 5 4^ Q J 3 Z ^ A Q J 6 2 <§) 6 5 4 A 3 2 (^> 9 5 176 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bid a heart, A and Y passed, and B bid a spade. Z said two hearts, without waiting for his partner, as he has a clear trick outside a legitimate heart bid. A assisted the spades. As Z is strong enough to rebid his hand, Y assists once, and B goes to three spades, holding an outside king-queen suit. Now Z and Y are done. They would have saved money if left to play the hand at three hearts and set one. Count up the A and B hands and they are good for nine tricks, in attack, and that is just what they made, both sides being bid correctly, A in the assist and B in the rebid. Just for the sake of illustration, let us change this hand a little, so as to give Z two outside tricks, leaving his partner's hand as it is: No. 50 5 3 Q J 9 8 5 4 A K 10 7 2 If Z bids a heart, A and Y will pass, and B will bid a spade. Z bids two hearts and A assists the spades, Y going to three hearts, as before. Now B has no right to rebid his hand, because there is nothing in it but the spade bid. If he went to three spades, he would be doubled and set for 200, because Z knows to a certainty FOSTER ON AUCTION 177 that Y is assisting on diamond tricks. If left to play- it, Z makes three hearts, but neither side can win the game. We therefore arrive at this rule for all rebid hands: Granted that the original bid should have four tricks for attack or two for defence, there should be two more for attack to rebid the hand without the partner's assistance. To rebid the hand a second time, without the partner's assistance, or in the face of his refusal to assist, there should be four more tricks for attack, counting the cards at their promoting value. This is to make up for the weakness of a partner that cannot assist, even after one rebid. But if the partner has assisted once, before the hand is to be rebid, the dealer does not require so much out- side strength, because he is informed that he will find more than average assistance m his partner's hand. Even an outside king may be enough to justify a rebidj after an assist. Here is an example: No. 51 7 10 3 cS> 9 8 5 4 A J 9 3 4) K 7 3 K Q J 6 4 Q J 10 Q 8 9 6 2 A Y Z B ^ A 9 8 2 (?D A 6 2 10 7 6 4 ❖ J4 ^75 c§) K 7 3 K 5 2 ^ A Q 10 8 5 ^ Z bid a spade, and A two hearts. Y assisted the spades, bidding two, and B went to three hearts. Z's spade suit 178 FOSTER ON AUCTION has a hole in it, which one of his kings is enough to fill. The other king, although worth only one trick in attack, is quite enough to justify a rebid after he has been assisted, so Z bids three spades. This is the limit of safe bidding. A has no rebid, and B cannot assist again without the risk of being set. He knows that A's first bid is forced, and therefore not to be credited with the full strength of an original or free bid. Rebidding after an assist is always a continuation of the attack, and therefore based on attacking values. If two outside or extra tricks, such as an ace, or a king- queen suit, or two kings, are enough to justify a rebid without waiting for the partner's assistance, or in spite of its absence, then half that strength wiU be sufiicient, if the partner shows that he holds the other half, or better. Rebidding no-trumpers depends upon the same prin- ciples with regard to the number of tricks in the hand in excess of those required to justify the original no- trumper. As a normal no-trumper is worth about four or five tricks, it may be rebid with six or seven, even without the partner's assistance, provided it is worth while to rebid it at all. Before any question of rebidding a no-trumper can arise, there must have been a bid from one or other of the opponents overcaUing it. This is quite a different matter from the partner's take-outs. The object of the opposing bid and the prospect of going game at no-trumps in spite of it, as compared with the possibility of substantial penalties, may complicate the situation. The usual outcome of being overcalled is a shift, instead of a rebid, and the mere fact of being driven into the shift is some- times very fortunate for the no-tnmiper. Take this case, which is one of the most instructive that ever came under my notice : FOSTER ON AUCTION 179 No. 52 ^ 7 6 2 (?) J 10 5 7 6 2 Q J 10 5 A K Q J 9 6 A 8 3 8 4 10 3 A Y Z B ^854 * 2 10 9 5 4 4) 9 7 6 3 2 9 cSd A K Q 8 K Q J (i> AK 7 4 3 Z's hand is a laydown for game in clubs, but he in- cautiously bid no-trumps. When the player on his left said nothing, but led the hearts, the no-trumper was set for 50 points, aces easy. When A thoughtlessly, or pur- posely, bid two hearts, Z took another look at his hand and went to five clubs. All he can possibly lose is one heart and one diamond, unless diamonds or spades are trumped immediately. A's excuse was that he had five honors in one hand, worth 80 points. As the result proved, what he actually held was five losing hearts, and no honors at all. Almost all questions of rebidding no-trumpers are referred to the partner, unless the no-trumper has a very good secondary bid. It is then for the partner to show whether he can stop the adverse suit or not, and if not, whether he has anything of his own. This is part of the assisting hand, which we are about to discuss in the next chapter. An important point about rebidding hands, which will be illustrated in the next chapter, is this. If the 180 FOSTER ON AUCTION first bid is forced, that is, more than would have been bid if it had been free, due allowance must be made for this when it comes to advancing the bid. For example: Dealer bids a heart and second hand holds a good spade bid. He is not forced to bid any more spades than if he had made a free bid. But reverse the situation. Dealer bids the spade and the second hand has a good heart bid. In this case he must bid two, to over- call the spades. This is a forced bid, and even if he would be willing to bid two hearts later had he started with one, he must not forget that he has aheady overbid his hand at the start. Keeping in view the rule that no matter how strong the hand, it should not be overbid unless it is conventionally strong enough to start vdth. two or three, or unless it is a shut-out, the plsLjev is nevertheless prepared to go on rebidding as long as he finds any opposition. It will sometimes happen that two plaj^ers will rebid their respective hands in this manner without a word from their partners. Take this case: Mo. 53 ❖ ^ 10 8 5 4 cSb 10 9 7 Q 9 5 4) 10 3 2 J 6 3 2 A J 5 3 K 2 9 8 7 V c?) K Q 8 4 2 8 7 6 A K Q J 4 FOSTER ON AUCTION 181 Referring to our table of bidding values, we shall find that Z's hearts and B^s spades are each worth 5. Although Z also holds 3 values in diamonds, and has a hand worth 8 tricks, he has no justification for bidding more than one heart at the start. You cannot shut out a spade bid with less than four or five hearts, if the opponents are strong enough in that suit to bid it. A passed this and all the following bids, as his hand was so much below average. Y passed because it was never necessary for him to assist until the last round. B bid one spade. He has 2 tricks in clubs, good for two rebids with his spade strength, but he went to four, and when Z stopped, Y went to five hearts. To save game, B bid five spades and was doubled and set for 300, less 81 honors. ASSISTING SUIT BIDS If you will watch the bidding that leads up to the majority of the contracts that fail, you will probably discover that the most frequent losses are due to one of two things : an unfortunate tendency to turn every hand into a no-trumper, or ignorance of the science of the assisting bid. With ninety-nine players out of a hundred, the assist is largely a mixture of guess-work and hope. Although the assist is the most critical part of the bidding in many hands, most of the text-books dismiss it with a few paragraphs. Those that enlarge upon it at all do not go beyond the first round of the bids, and confine the attention to cases in which the overcall comes at once from the second hand. Some writers recommend assisting with two tricks; others require three, and none of them tell us what constitutes a trick in the assisting hand, as distinguished from tricks in the original bid. The science of the assisting bid rests upon two general principles, which have already been explained in previous chapters. These are : The value of high cards in attack, and the trick-taking power of trumps that are not in the declarer's hand. These fimdamentals may be briefly stated afresh. Combinations that are good for four tricks in attack are good for only half that number in defence. For example: Five hearts to the ace-king will win four tricks on the average if hearts are trumps. If the opponents get the contract, these five hearts are not worth more than 182 FOSTER ON AUCTION 183 two tricks, on the average; because they are now defen- sive; not attacking. If these five cards are part of a no-trnmper, the same values hold true. Assisting bids are always for attack, and never for defence. Therefore all the tricks in the partner's hand should be counted at their attacking values. This refers equally to trumps and no-trimipers. In the trump declarations, we have already seen that a short suit adds nothing to the value of the declarer's hand. If he has the six highest trumps they are good for six tricks, whether there are any singletons in his hand or not, and no way of playing them will make them win seven tricks. If he counts the trumps and then counts the suit he can ruff, he is simply counting the same trumps twice over. But in the partner's hand a short or missing suit may add very materially to the trick-taking powers of the dummy-to-be. We have already seen that the ability to ruff the first round of a suit is equal to an ace, and a ruff on the second round should be equal to a king. Counting a ruff on the third round is a little too remote for practi- cal purposes. We come now to the application of these principles by the partner, when he is called upon to make an assisting bid. There are a number of complications of the situ- ation, and in order to be a first-class player one should understand the rule to be applied to each, the principle being common to all. For convenience we shall continue to call the bidder the dealer and the assisting hand the partner, although the same remarks would apply if the second hand made the first bid, and the fourth hand were the partner. The partner may be called upon to assist, shift, pass, or double, imder any of the following conditions: 184 FOSTER ON AUCTION 1. When the second hand overcalls the dealer. 2. When second hand passes, fourth hand overcalls, and the dealer passes; refusing to rebid his hand, or double, or shift. 3. When second hand passes, fourth hand overcalls, and the dealer rebids, the second hand passing. 4. When second hand passes, fourth hand overcalls, the dealer rebids and the second hand assists the fourth hand. 5. When the second hand passes, fourth hand overcalls, and the dealer shifts, or doubles. It is only in the first case that the partner is required to assist on general principles, if able to do so at all. In the second case, the partner must recognize that he will be assisting a hand that is good for nothing but the original bid. The third and fourth cases require a knowl- edge of the principles that govern rebid hands, which have been explained in the preceding chapter. Let us take the simplest case first, when second hand overcalls. The dealer having started with a bid of one trick, may have either of two objects in view. If it is a minor suit, he hopes to encourage his partner to a better declaration. If it is in a major suit, he would hke to secure his partner's assistance. As a major-suit bid must either be denied or assisted, we shall confine our attention to the assist for major-suit bids for the present. The dealer's hand should be good for four tricks, if he is going to play the hand, and he expects his partner to hold his share of the remaining nine, which is three. The partner should also hold his share of the outstanding trumps, which would be three; or two, one as good as the queen. The first thing for the partner to remember is that all this is included in the dealer's bid, as he does not bid FOSTER ON AUCTION 185 the four tricks in his own hand alone, but has to bid seven. Consequently, the partner should never assist, or increase the bid, unless he holds more than the average that he is normally expected to hold; more than what is already included in the dealer's declaration. If he does, he is bidding his cards twice over. The first thing, therefore, for the player to learn, is to count up the attacking value of his hand in tricks when the second hand overcalls the dealer. If he cannot find anjrthing beyond average, or less, he must refuse to assist. We have already threshed out the subject of denying suits, so that part of it need not enter into this discussion. The normal trimip holding is assumed. But if the partner holds an extra trick, he should assist the dealer once. He may be called upon to assist again, when more tricks will be necessary, but there is no necessity to bid more than just enough to show assistance the first time. If the reader has assimilated the prin- ciples set forth in the chapter oi\ trump values, it should be an easy matter to appraise all such hands as the following: In each case let us suppose the dealer has started with one heart, overcalled by second hand with two dia- monds. Remembering that all assisting bids are attack- ing bids, and assuming that the dealer's suit will eventu- ally prove to be the trump, we find that No. 1 is good for 1| tricks in hearts; 2 in clubs, and a king value for the Tuff in diamonds. The total is 4|, or one more than the No. 1 No. 2 Q 6 4 A J 7 5 * 4 ^ 6 5 4 2 * 9 7 7 4 2 (i> 8 6 5 4 2 4^ K Q 10 6 186 FOSTER ON AUCTION 3| normally expected, so it is good for one assist, but no more. In No. 2, the spade suit alone is good for 3 tricks, and the four trumps for 1| more, although there is no ruff until the third roimd, which is too remote to be depended on. Here again the total is 41, and good for one assist, but no more. It may perhaps be necessary in this connection to warn the reader again that trumps are always counted at trmnp values, therefore three to the ace is worth no more than three to the queen. Aces of plain suits are worth two tricks in play, but not the aces of tnunps. With one original bid and one assist, if neither can go further, it will usually be found that the hand has been bid to the limit. There are occasional hands, of course, in which some fortunate distribution will win more, or some unlucky distribution will win less; but we must bid on averages. Take this hand. It is just a fair every- day distribution, and as such furnishes us with a good example of the sound original bidding and assisting that marks the Kmit of safety: No. 54 ^976 c?) A J 10 K 8 7 3 ❖ J 9 6 5 2 9 5 2 6 4 2 A K 8 7 2 Y A B K Q 8 Q 8 6 4 A J 9 5 Q4 A J 10 4 3 c5> K 7 3 Q 10 ^ 10 5 3 FOSTER ON AUCTION 187 Z started with a heart. His king of clubs is just enough to fill the hole in the heart suit, and his hand can be counted as worth about four tricks; three in hearts, one in clubs. A bids a spade, holding a typical suit of five, headed by two sure tricks. It is now Y's turn to assist, shift, double, or pass. His club combination is w^orth 3 tricks in attack and he has 1 in diamonds. His three small trumps are worth only half a trick and he cannot ruff anything. Still, he has 4J values, enough for one assist, but no more, so he bids two hearts. B's hand is also above average. He has 2 in each of the red suits, and half a trick in trumps. His queen and one small is worth no more in spades than Y's three small ones in hearts. He cannot ruff anything, but he has one assist, and bids two spades. Z cannot rebid his hand, even after the assist, because he has nothing in it but the original bid. Neither can Y assist again, as he has only one trick above average. If our system of estimating the value of hands is correct, should either side go further, the contract would fail. Analysis will show that this is the case. Y and Z can make two odd at hearts, but no more. A and B can make two by cards at spades, but no more. The moment either side bids three, it should know that it cannot be made, unless there is something unusual about the distribution or the play. When the partner assists a dealer who has refused to rebid his hand he is in no worse position than if he assisted before he knew whether the dealer could afford to rebid or not, therefore he does not require any greater strength for an assist in one case than in the other. But when the dealer rebids his hand, either without waiting for his partner, or after his partner has refused to assist him, the partner's assist may be made with less than 4| tricks. 188 FOSTER ON AUCTION As we have seen, the dealer who rebids his hand has enough to make due allowance for the fact that his part- ner has only average, therefore he must hold enough to justify his own bid, and to provide the extra trick that was hoped for, but not forthcoming, in the partner's hand. The dealer having shown that he holds tricks enough for both bids; an assist that was not given, and his own advance, it should be obvious that the partner can now assist with less strength than would have been necessary for a first assist. A dealer will not rebid his hand without two tricks outside his bid; but if his partner has assisted him, he will rebid with one outside. As an example of this, take the following hand, in which the dealer rebids, and which also illustrates the point that if a player has been forced to bid a trick more at the start than he would have done with a free bid, he must make allowance for this over valuation if he is called on to rebid the hand. This point was touched upon lightly in the chapter on rebidding: No. 55 ❖ ^ A 8 4 cj) 9 6 4 2 K Q 10 4^ 8 7 2 K Q J 7 A 10 J 7 5 4 10 6 FOSTER ON AUCTION 189 Z bids spade. A and Y pass, and B overcalls with two hearts. Z rebids his hand, two spades, and A assists the hearts, going to three. Before we consider Y's bid, let us count up the other hands. Z's hand is good for 6 tricks; 4 in spades and 2 in clubs, enough to justify a rebid without waiting to hear from his partner. B's hand is also worth 6 tricks; 4 in trumps and 2 in clubs, if hearts are to be trumps. Had he been able to make a free bid at the start, he would have said one heart only, but, like Z, would have been strong enough to rebid his hand on the second round. But his two-heart bid is a forced bid. His suit is not a free bid for more than one at the start. The spade bid forces him to go to two. When Z rebids the spades, A coimts up his hand and finds it is good for 1| in trumps and 3 in diamonds. This is enough for one assist on general principles. He knows nothing about what his partner has in hearts and outside tricks, but he is bound to assist him as long as he has an assisting hand. He bids three hearts. Now we come to Y. His hand is just average, 1§ in trumps and 2 in diamonds. Had his partner passed the two-heart bid, Y would have passed, as he has not enough to justify an assist. But when Z rebids his hand it shows that Z has not only the trick for his own advance but for the trick that Y might or might not have. This is about the same thing as if Z had loaned Y that extra trick, and if Y had it in his hand he would have assisted. Therefore, with only average, 3| tricks, Y goes to three spades. With less than average, of course, he would have passed. It is now up to B to go to four hearts or pass. Were it not that he had overbid his hand a trick at the start, he would now advance the heart bid, after A's assist- 199 FOSTER ON AUCTION ance. But as he had to start the bidding with an extra trick, it is about the same thing as if he had borrowed that trick for the time being, and had bid it on the first round instead of the second. If he goes to four, he is overbidding the hand. Analyze this hand in the play and it will be found that each side has correctly estimated and reached the limit of safety. Y and Z can make their three spades, but no more, showing that Y's assist with only average was sound. They must lose two hearts, a club and a diamond. A and B could make three hearts, but no more, as they must lose two spades, a club and a diamond. In the actual game, at one table, both overbid their hands, Y going to four spades after Z refused to overcall B's four hearts. The loss was the difference between 50 in penalties and four honors; not much either way, but the second assist by Y cost 32 points. It has already been pointed out in the chapter on deny- ing the partner's suit, that if the second-hand overcalls the dealer's suit bid with a no-trumper, there is no need for the partner to deny the suit. Passing or shifting would do that, although it is better to sit tight and lead. But if the partner has a legitimate assist for the dealer's bid, that is, a hand good for 4| tricks at attacking value, he must not let any intervening no-trump bid scare him off. If the dealer has a legitimate bid and the partner a legitimate assist, they may as well bid it, and at least push the no-trumper up a bit. In the following hand, Z bid a heart, A no-trumps, and Y two hearts. B felt called on to bid three diamonds, as a warning against the no-trumper, although there seems to be no need for it after Y's bid. But when Z went on to three hearts A went three no-trumps, was doubled and set for 330, as Y held off the diamonds until the third FOSTER ON AUCTION 191 round. Z could have made two hearts, but B could not make three diamonds. No. 6 5 10 9 8 6 Q 10 6 5 Just as a player may rebid his hand twice, so the partner may assist twice, if he has the strength necessary to do so. It is useless to stop bidding while one has the cards to justify going on. Take this case : No. 9 3 K Q 8 2 K J 8 Q J 5 2 192 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bid a heart and A a spade. Y has 1| tricks in trumps, if hearts are to be trumps, to which he adds a 1 for the extra honor, 2 in clubs and 2 in diamonds. Then he can add one for the king value in spades, ruflSng the sec- ond round. That is 7^ tricks for attack, so he bids two hearts. B has the same values in spades that Y has in hearts, 2 in clubs and 1 in diamonds, total 5, so he assists the spades. Z and A both pass. Y is now in the position of a partner when the dealer refuses to rebid his hand after one assist, showing that there is nothing in the dealer's hand but the bid. To assist a second time, the partner must have enough to make up for what the dealer lacks, just as a dealer who rebids must have enough to make up for what his partner lacks, when no assist is forthcoming. This Y has, so he goes to three hearts. B may as well stretch things a bit, and add a | for the possibility of ruffing the third round of hearts, although these queen values are a trifle remote. He bids three spades. Both Z and A pass, as neither can go any further, even after a second assist from their respective partners. They bid all there was in their hands at the start. But Y still has those 7| values, and goes on to four hearts. This hand was played at both declarations. A could not make more than three spades, but that seems to indi- cate that B's two assists were justified. At most tables Y and Z made their four odd at hearts, which goes to show that Y was right in assisting three times. We have already seen, in this chapter on denying suits, that if the partner has less than three trumps, or two as good as the queen, he should deny the suit if the dealer bids one only. But if a bid intervenes, he can deny assist- ance in the dealer's suit by passing, or by shifting to a suit of his own. It is when the bidding continues beyond FOSTER ON AUCTION 193 this point that we come to the question of assisting with less than average in trumps. The rule in all such cases is to deduct a trick for less than average trump assistance, or two tricks if there is only one small trump, and then to compute the rest of the hand as usual. Here is an example of this method : 5 3 J 10 4 3 A K Q 7 4 A 6 Z bid a club, A a heart and Y a spade. B has 5 tricks in diamonds, 2 in spades, but he must deduct 1 for the shortness in hearts, which he is asked to support for the trump. This leaves him 6. Although thi-^* is above average he cannot assist the hearts, as that would give his partner a false impression of their distribution. His first duty is to deny the hearts, but at the same time to show that he is still in the running, so he bids two dia- monds. Z bids two spades, showing that he can support that suit. He has already shown where his outside strength lies. A drops the hearts and supports the diamonds, bidding three. At hearts, A can count his hand as good for only four tricks. As a support for a diamond bid, it is 194 FOSTER ON AUCTION worth 6 J. Y can now drop the spades and support the clubs, or pass. He cannot rebid the spades, even after the assist. His hand is worth a great deal more as an assist to clubs than anything else, as he will not be the declarer when he has to ruff the diamonds. At one table they carried the bid to four clubs, which is bad bidding, as Y^s cards do not justify two assists; but Z was not left to play it, as B went to four hearts. The point in the hand is that no matter what Y did after Z's assist, B went back to the hearts after having denied them by his diamond bid, bidding whatever was necessary to overcall. At one table B doubled the two-spade bid, so as to remove his diamond bid from the defensive to the attacking class. This piece of tactics is a Httle too deep for the average partner to understand, but in this case A imderstood it to show a sure spade trick, as well as the diamonds, so he went to four hearts. At either spades or clubs, Y and Z would lose three hearts, a diamond and a spade. At hearts, A loses one heart, one club and one spade, but goes game. In this case A goes on with his suit in the full knowledge that his partner has not average strength or length, so that he will not find more than two small trumps in his dummy, perhaps only one. The rule for rebidding the hand without the partner's assistance requires two more tricks than those shown by the original bid. The rule for the assist, either when the dealer refuses to rebid, or has yet to speak, is to advance the bid one trick for every trick in the hand more than average. As the average is 3| for suit bids, we get this table : With 4|, assist once only. With 5§, assist twice. With 6|, assist three times. FOSTER ON AUCTION 195 The minor suits are assisted on the same principles as the major suits, but such assistance carries with it the information that the partner is unable to avail himself of the assistance offered by the minor suit for a better declara- tion. In the last illustration, we see that Y used the clubs to support his spade suit, as he had no legitimate spade bid in his own cards, but the opposing hands were too strong for him. Y could have made two by cards at spades, with the assistance of his partner's clubs. This system of denying a suit and then supporting it leads to some of the most interesting bidding situations in the game. The player whose suit is denied must always be ready for the partner's possible return to it later. There is one part of the assisting bids in which I find more general tendency to error than in any other, and that is assisting on trumps alone, apart from the use to which they can be put. In the chapter on trump values we have seen that six or seven trumps in the partner's hand are worth no more than four, as trumps. If there are singletons, or missing suits which can be trumped, that is another matter. But in such cases you are count- ing a ruff on the first round as equal to an ace; on the second round as equal to a king. You would count these values if you had only three trumps. The fact that you have six or seven does not increase them a particle. So little is this fact recognized that one may see players who are very much above the average in other respects singularly remiss in this. In the best card clubs you will find players with great reputations who have absolutely no idea of how to value a hand that contains an unusual number of small trumps. One illustration may suffice, Y is considered a very fine player: 196 FOSTER ON AUCTION K Q 9 7 5 2 K J 2 Q J A 10 Z bid a diamond, which A and Y passed. B bid one heart. There are 2 values in hearts, 1 in clubs and 2 in spades; not enough to rebid unless the partner can assist. Z and A passed, and Y went two diamonds. This assist is perfectly sound. Y holds 1 J values in diamonds if they are to be trumps, 2 in clubs, and a king value in hearts, worth 1. This is a total of 4}, just enough for one assist, but no more. The fifth trimip has no value. B bid two hearts. This is a trick more than his cards justif3^ He should have waited to see if A could assist. A would have to deduct 1, for his shortness in trumps, from his spade values, leaving him with too small a total for even one assist. His net total is one trick. When Z and A passed the two hearts, Y went three diamonds, B three hearts and Y four diamonds. This looks as if Y had over- bid his hand two tricks, as he assists three times with values enough for one assist only. The result proved this to be true, as Z was set for two tricks. He could have made two diamonds had Y stopped after one assist. B would have been set two tricks if left No. 59 6 3 9 8 7 6 K Q 7 FOSTER ON AUCTION 197 to play the hand at two hearts, as the combined hands are good for just what we have estimated them, six tricks. At diamonds, A led a heart, and Z led three rounds of trumps. Y led a spade, and B put on the ace and led the ten, to avoid the clubs and hearts. A won the spade and led a club through dummy's ace-queen, and the jack won. Now B must lead the king of hearts, which Y trumps, and estabhshes the fourth spade, but he must lose a club at the end. At every table at which B was left to play the hand at hearts, in some cases after a very speculative no-trump bid from Z to start things, he was set. At one table it went this way, which is probably typical. Z led three rounds of diamonds, to force the strong hand. B led ace and small spade, to get A in for a trump lead through, and lost the queen to the ace. Z put dummy in with a spade, to get another trump lead up to his jack. When Y renounced to the trumps, B saw that Z had the major tenace jack-eight, over his nine-seven, but he had to lead the trump to save the club. Z won two rounds of trumps and led the fourth spade, so that B lost his two clubs after all, winning only six tricks. We have seen that when the declarer bids a suit, with the view of having it for the trump, he expects his partner to have his share of the outstanding cards, which is an average of three. We allow the partner to count a -I for three small trumps, or two trumps, if one is an honor as good as the queen. This is based on the probabihty that about half the time one of three small trumps can be used for ruffing before trumps are drawn. If it is obviously impossible for the partner's trumps to be put to any such use, as when he has three cards of each of the other suits, he must revise this estimate, and deduct this | from his trump values, whatever they are. 198 FOSTER ON AUCTION In such cases the only practical value of three small trumps is to make it more probable that the adversaries' trumps can be exhausted in three leads. In Hand No. 54, for instance, if we count up Y's we must allow nothing for his trumps, as he cannot ruff any- thing, so that all he has is 3 in clubs and 1 in diamonds. Combine these 4 values with Z's 4, and we get 8 tricks, which is just what they make with hearts for trumps. In Hand No. 55, a careful estimate would reduce the normal value of the assisting spades, 1| for king and two small, to 1 only, as there is no suit that Y can ruff. This puts his hand down to 3, which is below average by a J, but after a rebid it is close enough for one assist. In Hand No. 58 we make the same reduction on Y' s hearts, for a close estimate, and count the four small ones as worth only 1; not IJ, because there is no ruff. There is no reduction in No. 57, as the ruffs are not only pos- sible but highly probable. If the second hand overcalls the dealer's no-trumper with a suit, the third hand should not be deterred from making any advantageous bid that he would have made had the second hand passed. Suppose the dealer bids no-trump, and second hand says two diamonds. If the third hand holds five hearts or spades, it costs him no more to bid those suits than it would have done had the second hand passed and said nothing about the dia- monds. Even if the third hand could stop the diamonds twice and had a justifiable double, which is highly im- probable, the major-suit take-out will usually offer a better chance for game, and give the dealer a better line on the situation. Five of a major suit and two sure in diamonds is very strong. ASSISTING NO-TRUMPERS The mere fact that the partner is called upon to decide whether or not to assist a no-trumper, shows that it has been overcalled. There are three varieties of the situa- tion, and any of them may be started by either opponent. He may double, bid a suit, or go two no-trimips. It is with the first only that we have to deal in this chapter. The others belong to the chapters on doubling and second- hand bids. If it is the second player that bids a suit, the rule for the dealer's partner is very simple. If he can stop that suit twice, even if it is to be led through him, and holds anjrthing outside to justify an assist, even a king, he should double. Never, under any circumstances, should a player in this position go two no-trumps unless he has enough in his own hand to go game, after making due allowance for the fact that original no-trumpers are not always what they are cracked up to be. The double shows the stoppers in the adverse suit and gives the dealer the choice of letting it stand and getting penalties, or of going back to no-trumps, which he can always do without increasing the contract. The dealer alone knows what he had when he bid no-trumps originally. He alone knows whether it is better to go on with it or drop it. If he has bid no-trumps on two suits, he will be in a bad way if his partner goes two no-trumps on nothing but stoppers in the third, as the fourth suit will surely be led. Shrewd players frequently take advantage of those who are too ready to assist no-trumpers by laying a trap for them called the shift. This consists in bidding a suit that they know will be stopped in the third hand, or the dealer's, which will induce them to go on with the no-trumper, 199 200 FOSTER ON AUCTION thinking that suit will be led. When the leader holds a suit that is good for six tricks, but not for seven, if he can get the contract up to two tricks he can defeat it. Here is an example of it : No. 60 7 A 10 9 5 c?) J 9 4 9 3 ^ A 9 6 4 <^ K 7 6 Y 7 8 4 10 3 C5J) Q 7 6 2 AKQ742 ^ 10 65 4^ 10 5 ^ ($) J 7 3 2 7 Q J 3 2 cJd A K 8 5 J 8 4^ K Q 8 Z bid no-trump. A can probably save the game if he says nothing and leads out the diamonds; but if he can get the bid advanced to two no-trumps, he may set the contract, so he bids two hearts. To bid the diamonds would simply warn the dealer that his no-trumper was unsafe. Y assisted the no-trumper bidding two, and A set the contract. Had Y doubled, and B left him in, A would have been obliged to pull himself out with three diamonds, or be set for 500. When he goes to diamonds, Z goes to three hearts, and makes four, as A*s scheme is then exposed. If the diamond contract is left in, it will be set for 200. When the partner cannot stop the opponents' suit twice, he must either pass or bid some suit of his own. Under no circumstances should he risk increasing the no-trump contract, although many players are rash enough to do FOSTER ON AUCTION 201 so with only one stopper in the suit that overcalis the dealer. The reason they do not suffer for it is that their opponents are not good enough players to take advantage of their weakness. Many players are in the habit of overcalKng no-trmnpers with a major suit, but will not do it with a minor suit. The argument is that such weak no-trumpers are bid these days that game may be made against them with a suit bid. The answer to this is that the weaker the no- trumper, the worse it can be beaten. If the second player can see almost game in his own cards, or game with one trick from his partner, the bid may be excused, even as a pusher, but the average player does not wait for any such strength as this. As a rule, even if the suit can go game against the no-trumper, it is at a loss, as the penalties would have been worth more than the game is worth. Here is a case in point : No. 61 ^ 4 ^ QJ 10 6543 10 4 ❖ Q 7 6 7AQ 10 72 Y ^9863 * 9 * A OJ75 0K963 ^ A J 10 8 ^ ^ K 5 4 3 <^ K J 5 c?) K 8 7 2 A Q 8 2 4> 9 2 Z bid no-trump, A two hearts. His hand is good for just six tricks, three in each of the major suits. Then his partner must have four tricks, or more than average, 202 FOSTER ON AUCTION for A to win the game at hearts. The point is this: If A can go game at hearts, Z cannot go game at no- trumps. If Z can make his contract at no-trmnps, A cannot win the game at hearts. At every table at which A sat tight and said nothing, if Y did not bid the clubs the no-trumper was set for three tricks, as four hearts, four spades and the ace of clubs made against it, and nothing could stop them, A opening with a small heart. B got in with the club, came back with the hearts, and then caught dummy's spade queen when A led the jack and ten through it. When A bid the hearts and Y the clubs, B went to three hearts, and Z doubled. They set the contract for 100, as Y opened his short suit, to get a ruff. Y's hand not being exposed, A lost the advantage of seeing the queen, and put on the spade king to get a trump lead from B's hand for a second finesse, after the ace of clubs was gone. Y could have made three odd in clubs. Here is a rather curious hand, in which either side can win the game; the original no-trumper; or the opponent who overcaUs it with two spades : or the diamond take-out. No. 62 Q 4 3 J 6 4 2 A K 9 8 2 6 K Q J 10 7 6 5 2 Q 8 7 8 7 A Z Y B 7 J 7 5 4 9 5 4 2 K J 10 9 9 A 8 A K 10 5 3 Q 10 6 3 A 3 FOSTER ON AUCTION 203 Z bid no-trumps and A two spades. Y bid three diamonds, B assisted the spades, and Z went to three no- trumps. A took a chance on four spades, to score the honors, and went game. This he accomplished by leading a club and ruffing that suit twice, winding up with the heart finesse. Three no-trumps would be the Hmit for Z, but Y could have made five diamonds. Unless the partner has enough to go game himseK with a very average no-trumper opposite him, the best rule is to bid a suit if the dealer's no-trumper is overcalled, or else to pass up the bid. This will warn the dealer that there is nothing in his prospective dummy worth showing. There are many hands in which the partner is not afraid of the declared suit, and passes it up without doubHng. There are other cases in which it is the fourth hand that bids the suit, v/hich is in the nature of asking for a lead, in case the dealer goes back to no-trumps. If the dealer passes, the partner must be very strong to go back to no-trumps, as the declared suit will be led through him. If he cannot double, and has no suit worth show- ing, it is better to leave the suit bid alone. The dealer may have substantial penalties in view. The general view of the situation is that if the opponents think they can go game against a no-trumper, they should be allowed to try it, if the no-trumper's partner has anything. If he has nothing, the no-trumper is well out of it. To sum up; never assist a no-trumper. Double, or bid your best suit, if you are too strong to pass. CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES The principle of the modern double applies to every position at the table, so that it should be examined before we go into the matter of subsequent and forced bids. In the old days, when auction was young, the double was supposed to be used for one of two pm-poses only; to increase the penalties, or to frighten a bidder out of his last declaration into something more easily defeated. There was also what is still called the free double, which is simply a gamble, used only when the contract is as many tricks as it takes to go game from zero. The theory is that if the declarer can make his contract, it will not be on account of the double value of the tricks; whereas if he fails, the penalties might as well be 100 as 50. It is a bad double unless reasonably certain, as the odds are against it. Double four spades, and set the contract, and the double wins an extra 50. Let the contract suc- ceed, and you give the declarer 86; if he makes five odd, you hand him 145, and all you would have won was an extra 100. In both cases you would have got your 50 a trick without this risk of enriching the declarer. There are now four doubles in common use. The most important are the two that force the partner to bid when he would not otherwise do so. A third is to show a sure trick in an opponent's suit, after having made some other bid or assist. The fourth is to defeat the contract, and usually comes at the end of some spirited bidding. There are two forms of the forcing double, both of which demand that the partner shall say something. These are the double of a suit bid and the double of^a 204 FOSTER ON AUCTION 205 notrumper. Instead of the old indication that the doubler thought he could defeat the contract, the double shows that he is afraid of the contract he doubles, and wants it squelched. Doubhng a suit bid shows that the doubler would bid no-trumps but for the fact that the adversaries would lead the declared suit and save the game, as there is no stopper for that suit in the doubling hand. The double is there- fore a conventional way of asking the partner if he can stop that suit. If he can, he may safely bid no-trumps. If he cannot, he must bid his own best suit, no matter what it is. Under no circumstances should he leave the double in. It is no excuse for leaving the double in that the fourth hand is very strong in the doubled suit, because the stronger he is and the oftener he can stop that suit the better the no-trumper, and the more chance for going game. To leave the double in is to go back to the old idea of doubhng for penalties. Doubling a no-trump bid has precisely the opposite meaning to the suit double. The double in suit asks the partner to go no-trumps; the no-trump double asks him to bid his best suit. This double shows that although there is an alleged no-tnmiper on the player's right, he thinks he is strong enough to play a suit against it, but he does not want to guess at the suit, and would like to know in which of the four his partner has the best support. It should be obvious that but for the encouragement offered by the double the fourth hand would very rarely have a bid, because there would not be much left for him to hold if the dealer and the second player each have some sort of a no-trumper. But there is this difference between the answer to the suit double and the doubled no-trumper. It may happen that the fourth hand can see more in penalties by letting the doubled no-trumper stand, 206 FOSTER ON AUCTION especially if it be the iSrst game of the rubber. In these days, when dealers bid no-trumps on an ace and two hopes, it is not uncommon for them to go down several hundred points. Leaving the double in is better than going into a minor suit, if the fourth hand is strong in two or three suits. The worst that can happen is to have the dealer pull himself out with a suit bid, and that may be doubled to advantage, and with greater certainty. The chief interest in this question of doubling one- trick bids lies in the problem presented to the partner of the one who is doubled, and who sits between the double and the answer. There are two courses open to him.. One is to pass the buck, saying nothing until he hears from the fourth hand. The other is to anticipate the answer to the double by making a bid himself. This is usually an increase of the doubled bid if it is in suit, or a re-double, either of a suit or no-trumps. Suppose the dealer bids a spade, second hand doubles, and the third hand holds four or five spades and a single- ton, with a trick somewhere. He should bid two spades, just as if he were assisting. If he passes, and two hearts are bid fourth hand, the dealer would be in doubt as to what to do. These various doubles and the answers to them, with the possibility of an intervening bid by the third hand, can best be illustrated by examples from actual play. The trouble with the doubles as they are now used at auction is that they are open to the objection lying against all conventions, which is the danger of their being worked to death by persons who like to play with them, just to see the wheels go round. With the strength behind it to justify the attack, the double is a very useful weapon; but when it is dragged into situations that do not justify it, it is usually a boomerang. As no modern FOSTER ON AUCTION 207 player now uses a one-trick double with any idea of defeat- ing the contract, that declaration was left lying round loose, like the free bid of two in a minor suit. As a forcing bid, it has been brought into the game again; but it fihould not be made to work overtime: No. 63 6 3 8 4 3 2 K Q 3 2 ___ . 9 8 2 A 9 8 2 * J 9 8 7 4i A Q J 4 3 Z bids a spade. Instead of bidding two hearts, A doubles. Now it is perfectly useless for Y to redouble, as that does not in any way affect B's answer, nor make it any more expensive. Although Y has a number of spades, he is not strong enough to assist, and should wait to hear from B. At one table Y went to two spades, which seemed to relieve B from the necessity of declaring a minor suit; but A doubled again, and then B had to show his diamonds, which they bid up against the spades and made four odd by establishing the hearts. At one table the bidding started in the same way, with a spade from Z, doubled by A and two spades from Y, upon which B refused to go as far as three diamonds. Instead of A's pursuing the tactics with which he started and doubling the two-spade bid, so as to force B to say 208 FOSTER ON AUCTION something, he bid three hearts. This is simply a leap in the dark and is the very thing the double seeks to avoid. Now B is worse off than ever, as he would have to go to four diamonds to deny the hearts, so he left A to play the hand at hearts, and saw him set for two tricks. This cost A 304 points. He could have won 188 at diamonds by forcing his partner to show that suit, whereas he lost 116 at hearts. Modern practice has decided in favor of the following rule. If there is an intervening bid, instead of a redouble, the fourth hand need not answer the double if he has nothing better than a moderate four-card suit; but if he has any suit of five cards he should bid it. From this it follows that the doubler is advised by his partner's silence that there is no suit of five cards in that hand, nor anything worth while in four cards. But if the doubler feels strong enough to insist on being shown any suit of four cards, no matter how weak it may be, he should double a second time. For example: Z deals and bids a heart, which A doubles. Now if Y says two hearts, instead of redoubhng, and B passes, A should double the two-heart bid if he can stand a bid on any four-card suit from his partner. If there is any intervening bid by the third hand when the second player doubles the dealer's no-trumper, it is usually a redouble. That is generally accepted as the best defence, because it does not betray the hand, but makes it absolutely certain that the fourth hand will bid. We have seen in the chapter on assisting bids that when the partner has more than average assistance for the dealer's suit, he assists it, if it is overcalled, by bidding more in the same suit. We have also seen that if it is a no-trumper that is overcalled second hand by a suit, the third hand doubles, or bids a suit of his own. When FOSTER ON AUCTION 209 we come to the situations in which the second hand doubles the no-trumper, it is impossible to judge upon what suits he is relying to get the contract. But by combining the two rules for the third hand's guidance when the second hand overcalls with an3rthing but a double, we get at a simple rule to guide him for a redouble, which is this : If the dealer bids no-trump, and is doubled by the second hand, the only way the third hand can show that he has more than average ass stance or the no-trumper, v/ithout increasing the contract, is to redouble. To bid two no-trumps would be folly. Why play for three odd at 10 a trick, when one can play for one odd at 40 a trick with the same result so far as going game is concerned? The unfortunate in this situation is the fourth player, and if his partner is one of those who likes to double just to see the wheels go round, there is likely to be trouble. Take this case: No. 64 7 Q 7 2 cS^ K Q 7 3 Q 6 3 (^^ K J 2 ^ K J 10 Y ^ 9 6 5 3 cS)854 *962 A 10 95 ^ 874 ❖ AQ3 ^ 6 854 A 8 4 c?) A J 10 K J 2 ^ 10 9 7 6 Z bids no-trump and A doubles. If Y passes, B will bid a suit, as it is obvious that he cannot support a no- trumper if Y has all those high cards and A can double. 210 FOSTER ON AUCTION Then, when it comes round to Y again he will have to bid at least three clubs, which is retreating to a minor suit. To avoid this, Y redoubles, to show that he can assist the dealer's origiaal declaration. This puts it up to A and B to defend themselves, as they dare not leave the redouble in, or the odd trick goes game. Z would win 585 points if left in. If B shows the hearts, Z might bid his only four-card suit, spades. He can go game at spades. Hearts would be set for 400, as either Z or Y would double that contract, probably Y, to show the stopper in hearts. The defence to the double of a suit bid is to distinguish between support for the suit and nothing in it. The best rule has been found to be this. With support in the suit, either go to two, or pass. With nothing in the suit, but excellent support outside, such as would suggest denying the suit by going to no-trumps if the second hand passed, the best defence is the redouble. Take this example: No. 65 ^ Q 7 4 3 c$) K 10 6 2 K Q 9 7 S K J 10 9 [ ^85 4>AQJ , ^ r> ^^8743 OAJIO 642 ❖ 6 3 2 i ^ I 4> A 10 7 4 ^ A 6 2 4 9 5 8 5 3 ^ K Q J 9 5 Z bids a spade, A doubles. Y is so weak in spades that if he passes, B may leave the double alone and defeat the contract, and Z will not know which way to jump to get FOSTER ON AUCTION 211 out of the double. A doubles to show that he is weak in spades, but strong elsewhere. Y doubles for precisely the same reason. If Y had anything in spades, he would pass the buck, and allow B to show a suit or go no-trumps. The redouble does not obstruct B in any way, and as he can stop the spades he does as he is told and bids no- trump. Now we come to the value of the redouble as a defence. It shows Z how to play the hand, and warns him that B is the one that can stop the spades, therefore not to lead that suit, but to get Y in to lead through B, who is set for two tricks. It is urged by some players that this redouble by the partner tends to warn the fourth hand not to rely on anything but an ace to stop the doubled suit, and there- fore not to bid no-trumps, but to show his best suit. This may require him to make a pretty stiff bid, but as good soldiers must obey orders, he should not shrink from it. The doubler is responsible for the outcome of his double; not the fourth hand. Take this case. The hand is very much like the last: No. 66 7 7 A Q J K Q J 9 A K J ❖ 7 4 3 212 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bids two spades, holding a six-card suit, headed by a combination good for five tricks in attack. A doubles, and Y redoubles. B must know that Z will not lead a spade more than once, if at all, and that his queen is not to be considered a stopper, as Y shows he is strong enough to get in and lead spades through. This leads B to name the higher ranking of two equal suits, and he bids three hearts. Z, of course, passes. He bid all he had at the start. Now look at A's position. If Y is short in spades he is going to ruff that suit, and he must have some tricks in the other suits to redouble, but A cannot deny the hearts or do anything to shift the bidding back to Y or Z. He must let the heart bid alone. Y did not double, but he discarded the seven of clubs on the second roimd of spades, which induced Z to lead that suit at once and he get a ruff on its return. Now Y gets the ruff in spades and Z makes his remaining trump on the clubs, and the king of trumps is still a sure trick in Y's hand. This sets the contract for three tricks, so that the warning conveyed to B did not do him much good. Had B taken a chance at no-trumps, Z would have opened the diamonds, and the no-trumper would have been set for two tricks. If he guessed hearts, it would have been set for three. When the first bid made is a suit, and a player with an otherwise fair no-trumper doubles, the proposition looks simple enough, but some persons find it difficult to see that if the bids are reversed, the meaning is the same. That is to say, if the first bid is no-trump, and it is over- called by a suit, usually fourth hand, to ask a lead, a double of the suit bid by the no-trumper would mean precisely the same as if the suit had been bid first. Take this example : FOSTER ON AUCTION 213 No. 67 ^ K 9 6 4 c$) J 7 6 8 4 ^ 10 8 6 5 10 5 3 Q 9 5 K 9 6 5 3 J 4 A Y Z B 10 2 Q 2 K 9 3 A Q J 8 7 2 (?) A K 8 4 3 A J 10 7 4> A Q 7 2 Z bid no-trump, A and Y passed, and B bid two hearts. Z doubles. If it v\^ere the partner of the no-trump bidder that doubled, we have seen that it would show he could stop the hearts twice, if the dealer wished to proceed with his no-trumper. In this case it asks the partner if he can stop the hearts once, and if so, to bid no-trumps. This Y cannot do, as he will not be the original no-trump bid- der. A anticipates Y by bidding three hearts, which reheves Y from the necessity of taking Z out of the double, so he passes. But this does not suit Z, who doubles again, and Y is forced to bid his four-card spade suit. B was encour- aged by A's assist to go to four hearts, but Z went four spades, and made it by a rather peculiar piece of luck. B led the ten of clubs, and dummy passed it up, A put on the queen and went back with it, thinking it a singleton. Y held the trick with the jack and led the trump, getting the finesse and a third round at once. B led a diamond and Z ducked it, A winning and leading the heart, which dummy trumped. Now all the rest of the dummy's 214 FOSTER ON AUCTION cards are good. B could not have made more than the odd at hearts, but he could have set Z's no-trumper if he got a heart lead by winning the first trick, if Y covered the ten, and leading a diamond to dummy's weakness. As already pointed out, the objection to these doubles is that they are not to be trusted in the hands of opti- mistic players who do not know how to value a hand. There should be at least seven tricks, at attacking values, to double, or the bidding may go to disastrous lengths. Here is a hand which is exactly average, one card of each denomination down to the six, yet the player doubles. This is a fair example of the way some players who are supposed to be adepts at the game will take hberties with it: No. 68 ^ — - c§) A K J 8 7 6 A 10 7 5 ^ J S 2 ^ A 9 7 2 Y ^ 10 8 5 3 cS)Q10 2 *954 OKJ83 0964 ❖ 6 3 I ^ ^ A9 7 7 K Q J 6 4 * 3 Q 2 <^ K Q 10 5 4 Z bid a spade, and A doubled. With such a powerful hand Y did not see any need to say anything until he had gratified his curiosity as to B's bid. As the convention demands that B should go no-trumps if he could stop the spades, B did so. This bidding heads off Z's original intention, which was to show his two equal suits. With FOSTER ON AUCTION 215 the lead against a no-trumper he passed, but Y doubled. This informs Z that he can go ahead with his spades, in spite of B's stopper, if he wishes to do so, or he can sit tight and beat the no-trumper. This is a good example of the double use of the double, giving the partner a choice of two lines of play, just hke the double of a suit bid that overcalls no-trumps. The double shook B's confidence in A's no-trumper, and he thought it better to bid two hearts. This Z doubled. Upon thinking it over, A concluded that if his partner had the spades stopped, and a fair heart suit, the no-trumper was still the better bid, and as it did not increase the contract A went two no-trumps, and was set for 600 after Y^s double. The result would have been the same, with simple honors added to the disaster^ had B been left in with the doubled heart contract. This is the result of A's trying to force a hand beyond its powers. The m.ore difficult situations to handle in doubling are those in which the double has a double meaning; as when it shows the doubler thinks he can defeat the contract, but at the same time would like his partner to try for the game on some other declaration. To some persons this seems rather anomalous bidding. Why, they ask, should a player indicate that the best he can do is to defeat the opponents on their contract, and at the same time in- timate that he would rather not be left to try it? Yet there are many situations in which this kind of double can be used to better advantage than any other bid, because it conveys to the partner the most valuable of all privileges, the choice of two lines of play, depending on which better suits his hand. It has the further ad- vantage of indicating the control of a suit. When the only thing to do is to persist with the first declaration or throw it up altogether, one frequently does the wrong 216 FOSTER ON AUCTION thing; but when there is a choice between two good things, as against the opponents' one, mistakes are not so common. There are many hands in which the double might give the partner a choice between two declarations, and sug- gest that he go on bidding, while at the same time it assures him that if his original bid shows two sure tricks for defence, the opponents' contract should be set. Take this case: No. 69 A Q 9 7 cQd Q 9 8 6 4 3 A 5 4 ❖ S?KJ854 Y ^632 c5>A2 c5)KJ10 75 J 8 ^ 9 (i> KJ94 ^ 6 8 6 5 2 ^ 10 * KQ 10 7632 ^ A Q 10 7 3 Z bids the higher ranking suit first, a spade. A knows Z cannot go game in spades, and bids two hearts, hoping to drive Z beyond his depth, if he cannot get the contract at hearts. Y doubles. This double has the conventional double meaning. It denies assistance in the spade suit, and expresses confidence in defeating the heart con- tract. Y cannot shift to three clubs, as that would look hke a strong suit, which is not true, as he has not a trick in clubs, and would be a retreat from a strong attacking position to a minor suit. Whether B bids the clubs or passes, Z is going to bid FOSTER ON AUCTION 217 his two-suiter, showing the diamonds. Now A cannot go on, in the face of Y's double and B's silence, so Z makes a grand slam, 302 points altogether. The heart contract would have been set for 216 only. The interest- ing point about Y' s hand is his ability to support anything but spades, even no-trumps if Z has the tops in spades. At the same time he suggests that unless Z can see game in the hand, it would be better to defeat the heart con- tract, or anything else A or B may bid to get out of the double. The double to defeat the contract usually carries with it the denial of the dealer's suit. If the suit is assisted, and a double follows on the next round, it shows the sure trick in the opponent's suit. This is the most useful of all the doubles that come up later in the bidding, but it must not be confused with the double to defeat the con- tract. It is an encouraging double. Here is an example: No. 70 A 10 4 J 4 4 3 A 9 6 5 3 2 7 Q 9 3 c?) K 9 6 3 A K Q 9 4> 10 4 A Y B 7 8 7 6 5 2 10 8 7 J 10 7 6 5 ❖ — ^ K J cjb A Q 5 2 8 2 4) K Q J 8 7 Z bid a spade, and A doubled. Y assisted the spades bidding two, but B responded to his partner's double and 218 FOSTER ON AUCTION bid three hearts. This Z and A passed, but Y doubled. Coming after the assist, this cannot mean that Y wants to defeat the heart contract, but it is the only way in which Y can indicate to Z that his outside trick, on which he assisted the spades in the first place, is the ace of hearts. The opportunities for this form of the double are very numerous, but seldom availed of, except by the best players. Now B has to show his second suit, bidding four dia- monds. With the assurance that Y must have the ace of spades and ace of hearts in his hand, Z bids four spades. If A had the spade ace, he would not have doubled. If B had it, he would have gone no-trumps in answer to A's double. It is a game hand at spades for Z. One of the most dangerous doubles, and therefore in- frequently used, is the bluff. The most remarkable result I have ever seen in the matter of points won, saved, or lost, was due to a bluff double. Here is the hand. It was not played in a duplicate game: No. 71 7 7 4 3 c?) 9 6 4 2 6 5 4 ^ 10 8 2 Q 9 6 5 2 Q 8 3 2 K 9 6 3 Y 7 K J 10 8 cSb K J 8 5 ^ ^ A 10 9 ^ ❖ 5 4 A A Q 10 7 3 K J 7 A Q J 7 FOSTER ON AUCTION 219 Z bids no-trump, A and Y passing, and B doubling. This is a weak double, as it is on the wrong side of the strong hand. Z passes, and A bids two clubs. Y bids two hearts and B supports the clubs, going to three. Z now sees his chance to camouflage his hand, and instead of doubling the clubs, bids three hearts, as if he were afraid of clubs. But when B goes to four clubs, Z doubles. Being a foxy player, and realizing that he is in wrong, B makes a bluff at it and redoubles, hoping to frighten Y, in which he succeeds. Z is perfectly satisfied, so is A, but Y falls into the trap, and misled by Z's original assist for the hearts, mistakes the club double for encourage- ment, showing a sure trick in that suit, and bids four hearts. This B doubles and sets for 100 points and simple honors, net 116. Y should have known four (ilubs was impossible if Z had a no-trumper and could double clubs. B would have been set for 1612 points at clubs. One of the most frequent errors in the use of the double is that of position. While the partner has yet to speak, he may have anything from a no-trumper to five honors in one hand, and there is no objection to trying him out with a double. But if he has passed up an opportunity to make a free bid, it is a dangerous experiment to ask him to produce three or four tricks in answer to a double. If the dealer has bid no-trumps and second hand has passed, that is another matter, as good players will pass up a strong hand in that position. But when both dealer and second hand have passed, the fourth hand is in the worst possible position for a double, and should either bid his suit or sit tight and try to save the game. Take this case; 220 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 72 ^ A 6 K J 7 4 2 Q J 5 2 ❖ Q 9 ^ K 8 4 3 * 9 8 6 5 K 3 A Y Z B 7 7 2 A Q 10 3 A 7 4 K J 6 4 4i 10 5 3 ^ Q J 10 9 5 * 10 9 8 6 (J> A 8 7 2 When Z and A passed, Y bid no-tmmp and B doubled. But for the double, Z would have taken out the no-trumper with two hearts. As it was, he passed, and A's best suit being hearts he bid it, and was left to play it. Y led the queen of diamonds, which A won, and seeing nothing better in the hand, returned it and trumped the third round. Then he finessed the queen of clubs, and Z trumped it and led trumps catching the king and exhaust- ing them. After putting Y in with a diamond he refused to ruff the top club, winning three more tricks, as B had to lose three in the black suits. This sets the contract for four tricks. Some players seem to balk at the use of this conven- tional double when the bid to be doubled is more than one trick, and I have several times been asked whether it should not be confined to doubling one-trick bids, as higher bids are too risky. This question, it seems to me, is very easily answered, Scotch fashion, by asking another one. Y»^at are you playing for; game, or a few points on the score toward game, or penalties? If you are playing for game, and FOSTER ON AUCTION 221 think you can make it, why not bid game, or force your partner to bid it for you? I have seen countless games pulled out of the fire by doubling free bids of two. One must not forget that there are many such bids made that are unsound, some of the old school still believing that the less you have at the top of a suit that is longer than aver- age, the more you should bid. Such players know noth- ing about the defensive element in the bidding. Here is a case in which a player doubled a free bid of three with excellent results: No. 73 J 9 7 3 K 10 K 9 7 8 2 6 3 Z said no bid, A three spades, and Y doubled. B passed the buck, waiting to hear from Z, who followed orders and bid three no-trumps, as he could stop the spades. All he lost was a club, a spade and two diamonds. A led a heart and Y played ace and small in clubs. Then A passed up the first spade lead from B's hand, which saved a trick. B echoed in diamonds on the clubs, and A kept two dia- m_onds and the ace of spades. If A gives up the ace of spades on the first lead of that suit, he loses four odd^ instead of three. WINNING AND SAVING GAME There seems to be a good deal of misunderstanding as to the importance of winning or saving a game, and a good deal has been written about the player's equity in certain situations, of which there are four. The first is when neither side can go game; but it may be better to score a few trick points and honors than to let the other side do so. The second is when there is a chance that the hand wiU go game, but no fear of the opponents' doing so. The third is when game may be saved by bidding up the hand beyond what it is worth, so as to prevent the opponents from going game, when it is highly probable that they will do so. The fourth is when either side seems hkely to go game unless forced to bid more than game to get the contract. All these conditions but the first are complicated by a consideration of the value of a game as part of the rubber, under some one of three conditions. These are: Neither side having yet won a game; one side having a game; both sides having won a game. What is the game worth under any of these conditions? In dupHcate, it is fixed at 125 points, and as there are no rubbers, this is an invariable value, attached to any game won, whether in one deal or several. With regard to its value in the ordinary rubber, some very learned, extraordinary, and contradictory opinions have been expressed by writers on the subject. A perusal of these opinions leads only to the conclusion that they are all guesswork. There are some undisputable facts to go upon, how- 222 FOSTER ON AUCTION 223 ever, and some well-known axioms in the laws of chance are borne out by these facts. The most important is that 3 times out of 4 the side that v/ins the first game will win the rubber. Another is that if both sides have won a game, each has an equal chance for the third, no matter which side won the first game. In spite of this, which is borne out by the records of 1500 rubbers, col- lected from the general run of play in several of our largest card clubs, no one seems to recognize the importance of winning the first game, all the emphasis being laid on the third, or rubber game. Another point which is settled is that, under the pres- ent system of scoring, the average rubber is worth 400 points. Here the experts disagree. Some say this shows that the difference between winning and losing a rubber must be 800, while others insist the difference is only that between winning the 250 rubber points or losing them, which is only 500. The difference is that the 800 school base their figures on a rubber in which there is as yet no score at aU. The 500 school base their calculations on a swing one way or the other of 250 points to be won or lost in addition to the score as it stands when the game that may decide the rubber has already reached the bid- ding stage. Both these entirely ignore a consideration which 1 consider vital, which is that there will be another rubber after this one is decided. To appreciate this, we must first look at the statistics which we have as to the value of certain scores at various stages of the rubber. We have authentic records of the results of 1500 rub- bers, 500 of which are under the old count, when the spade suit had a double value, the other 1000 being under the new count, all played during the winter of 1916-1917, and compiled from score-sheets gathered at the Knicker- 224 FOSTER ON AUCTION bocker Whist Club of New York. A brief summary of the results v^^as pubHshed in the N. Y. Sun on November 18, 1917. It took 5173 deals to decide these 1000 rubbers, and the average value was 379 points. The most interesting facts, as they relate to game values, were these: Out of these 5173 deals, 2342 went game by scoring 30 or more points on each of them. Of the remainder, 1613 failed to fulfil the contract, leaving 1218 that stopped short of game. Of these 1218, 156 were useful in winning a game by the aid of a previous score that had been accumulated by one or more of the remaining 1062 of these 1218. How many of these 1062 were on the score-sheet when one of the 2342 game hands finished the business without the assistance of the previous score is not stated. The most important point in connection with our first condition, when neither side can go game, is the value of a partial score. If we assmne for the present the dupKcate game value, 125 points, and it is only 156 times out of 1218 that this partial score will be of any use, its value is about one-eighth of 125, or hardly 15 points more than the trick and honor score actually recorded. Take the maximum trick score, short of game, 28, and add the average honor score, which is about 32, to v/hich we add the 15 equity in a game, and we get a total of 75 points. This is a liberal allowance for honors, as hands which do not go game usually have the smallest honor scores, much below average. It is also an exaggerated trick score. In fact it is the lioait, in both trick and honor score. This would suggest that in case it is manifestly impos- sible or highly improbable that either side can go game, it is imperative to stop bidding the moment the limit of safety is reached, because then your contract cannot be FOSTER ON AUCTION 225 defeated, while the opponents' may be. If you go be- yond this hmit, it must be at the risk of being set 50, less honors held, so as to prevent their scoring an average of 75 points in tricks, honors, and equity. If this reasoning is correct and the risk of being doubled and set 100 instead of 50 is negligible, the hmit of safety is to go one trick beyond the true attacking value of the combined hands, on the double chance that you may save the dif- ference between losing 50, less honors, and losing 75 straight; or that you may set the opponents for 50 or 100, less their honors, if they go too far with their contract. When we come to situations in which one side or the other, or both, can probably win the game, we find a good deal of curious logic in the writings of those who have given us figures on this subject. For example: W e are told that if A-B can win the first game, they should not take less than 300 in penalties for letting Y-Z play the hand, and in the same breath we are told that Y-Z should not pay more than 200 in penalties to save that game. How are A-B to collect 300, if Y-Z will not pay more than 200, imless it is that Y-Z do not know how to value their hands? Again we are told that if it is the second game of the rubber, the side that won the first game should not accept less than 300 in penalties to forego winning the second game, if they feel confident they can win it. At the same time we are told that the side that has lost the first game should not pay more than 100 to save the second. How are A-B to collect 300, if 100 is the limit that Y-Z will risk? When each have won a game, if A-B can win the third game and rubber, they should not forego the contract for less than 400. At the same time Y-Z should not risk more than 300 to save it. If the rubber value is figured 226 FOSTER ON AUCTION on the basis of the difference between winning and losing 250 rubber points, these figures are reduced, but the same proportions hold good, and the one side is advised never to accept what the other side is willing to pay. All this may be true if there is never to be more than one rubber in a lifetime; but the majority of those who play auction do not get cold feet so quickly, and will play six, eight, or more rubbers at a sitting. I have always insisted that the right way to look at this question is not to think of a rubber as an average of five games; but to consider thirty games as an average of six rubbers. Leaving the duplicate game out of the discussion, and confining our attention to the ordinary rubber, in which the difference between winning or losing the 250 points bonus is admittedly 500, the following facts would seem to be obvious if we keep in view the idea of pla>^ng thirty deals, instead of five. In order to make the matter con- crete, suppose the trick and honor scores to be always the same, three odd and 30 aces, at no-trump. Contrast these two scores: We They We They 250 250 300 30 30 30* 30* 30* 30* 30* 30* 30* 30* 30 30 360 370 370 60 The eight entries marked with asterisks are the same in each, as we and they have each won a game. In the FOSTER ON AUCTION 227 first score-sheet, on the left, they paid 300 penalty to save the rubber, and on the next deal tlieij won it. The rubber is worth nothing to either side. In the second score-sheet they let the rubber go, and we won it. This shows that they saved 300 points b}- taking the ''sting" shown on the first score-sheet. So far so good; but that is confining our view of the situation to these few deals. If you save a rubber at the expense of 300 penalty, which is all you are advised to pay by either school, the 500 or the 800, and van the next game and rubber you are not 300 ahead, because you have not won an^i^hing; but 3^ou have saved 300, which yow would otherwise have lost. Now let us suppose that you lost that 300, but still won the next game as shown hy the score-sheet. This w^ould be the first game of the next rubber, which everyone agrees is equal to odds of 3 to 1 that you win the rubber. This is three-quarters of 400, which is 300. Now you have got back the 300 you lost on the last rubber, which is aU you could have done by taldng a sting of 300 and then winning it. Now look at this score-sheet, in the margin: In this case, the fii'st four scores entered are the same as before, each side having won a game. They take a sting of 300 to save the rubber, as before, but they do not WTQ the rubber on the next game. The result is that they are now 600 behind, as 550 is now reckoned as a 6 game in the clubs. It is useless to throw 300 more after the fii'st 300 to save the rubber again, because even if it was won on the next deal they would still be 300 behind, yet players wdll try that experiment all the time. We They 250 30 300 30* 30* 30* 30* 30 610 60 228 FOSTER ON AUCTION The moral of this is that when you get 500 or 600 ahead, never overbid the hand under any circumstances. If they can win the game and rubber, let them do so, but do not let them get back any of your velvet by penahz- ing you. That is one of the greatest mistakes a player can make, trying to win more when he already has the big end in his fingers. It is a well-known mathematical fact, borne out by the analysis of the 1000 rubbers referred to, that if each side has v/on a game, either side has an equal chance to win the third game. This forces us to take into consideration the probabihty that haK the time the side that takes a sting to save a game will not win the third game. Then they inciu" a loss of about 600, instead of coming out even, which no equity that lies in winning the first game of the next rubber can balance. Summing up these facts, which are supported by all the statistics at our disposal, there is nothing to be gained by paying 300 to save a rubber, even if you can win it on the next deal, while that deal might be equally applied to the first game of the next rubber. On the other hand, there is everything to be lost if you fail to win the rubber that you have paid 300 to save. So firmly have I been personally convinced of these facts that for several years I have never made any attempt to save a game or rubber by overbidding my hand more than one trick, although I have had the pleasure of seeing my partners take stings of several hundred, and gloat over the fact that they eventu- ally won the rubber. I confess I am unable to see the value of a rubber that loses points when regarded as part of a series of rubbers, and not as an individual. My advice to all my pupils is to treat all cases alike, just as if neither side could go game, and never to bid more than one trick beyond what the hands are worth, at FOSTER ON AUCTION 229 their attacking value, no matter who wins the game or rubber. Having been fortimate in having ample opportunity for watching the methods of some of the most successful players, I am convinced that it is much more important to save the games in the play than in taking stings of several hundred points. It is the player that can just squeeze the trick that stops the other side from going game; or that can go game himself, where the average player would just miss it, who is the big winner in the long run. In the big duplicate games I have frequently seen a player bid two or three tricks more than his hand could possibly be worth, and get doubled and set for two or three hundred, just because he was afraid the other side would go game. At another table, holding the same cards, the player would allow them to play the hand against him, and by skilful management hold them down to three odd, when they needed four. Few players realize that just missing a game by a trick, or losing it by the same margin, makes a difference of at least 130 points. The same error, repeated a few times, is the difference between the top score and a large minus. We have seen that if the score stops short of game it is only about once in eight times that such a score will be of any value, therefore it may be classed as a deal thrown away, an opportunity wasted, just hke a bad approach shot at golf, which leaves you no better off than you were before GETTING PENALTIES One of the surest marks of the begmner and the un- taught player is the desu-e to play every hand, whether there is any chance of going game on it or not. Such players never stop to consider Vvhat chance their oppo- nents have of making their contract, if they are bidding, and have little regard for their own partners, except as an assistance. There is alwaj^-s the double possibihty when the oppo- nents are bidding; to penalize them, or to go game against them. One of the most difficult things seems to be to get this class of players to think clearly about the other hands, and not so much about their own. To illustrate: No. 74 <> ❖ ^ A K 7 6 2 cg> 10 4 A 7 2 4^ 6 5 2 Q J 10 A K 7 5 2 9 8 4 10 4 Y ^85 * 8 6 3 ^ 10 6 3 ^ 4) K J 8 7 3 9 4 3 Q J 9 K Q J 5 A Q 9 230 FOSTER ON AUCTION 231 Z bids no-trump, A two hearts. These bids are very frequently made by players who presume upon the rash- ness of their opponents. A is confident that he will not be left in. Without stopping to consider the improbabil- ity of A's being able to make his contract, and the impos- sibility of his going game if Z really has a no-trumper, Y bid three clubs. This relieved B, and Z could not go to three no-trumps, with nothing to stop the hearts, so Y played it at clubs, and smiled blandly at his partner when the hand was over, remarking that he not only made his contract but had four honors to score; adding, by way of emphasis, that Z could not have done as well at no-trumps, which is quite true. But suppose Y had thought for a moment about Z's bid, and had doubled the two hearts, he would have set the contract for 316. If he passes without saying any- thing, which is better, he will set it for 166, unless B goes to the rescue with two spades, which Z will double and set for 318, unless A gets frightened and goes to three hearts, if Y has not doubled two hearts. Then Y can safely double and set the hearts for 416. All this is wasted just to score 42 points. The situations that require the most care are those in which the game is very improbable for your side, but penalties are rather promising if the other side plays the hand. The typical case is when one has the lead against a no-trumper, with a hand which is tempting enough for a bid. If it is a game hand, with the assistance of only one trick from the partner, there may be some excuse for making a declaration, but otherwise there is none. If you cannot go game, the most you can make is 28 points and a few honors. If you are as strong as that, you should be able to defeat the no-trumper, and would then be playing for 50 a trick, instead of 7, 8, or 9. You should 232 FOSTER ON AUCTION at least be able to save the game, otherwise you are wasting your time bidding. Take this hand: No. K J 7 A 7 4 10 7 6 5 A id 7 Z bid no-trump and A two spades. This led Y to show the clubs, but B supported the spades, and Z declined to support the clubs, as he thought he could save the game against the spade contract. At some tables Y said noth- ing, and B denied the spades with three hearts, set for one, less simple honors. At another, Y passing and B bidding hearts, A went back to the spades and made three odd. At five tables out of seven A overcalled the no-trumper with two spades, and the most he could make was 45 points at any of them. At the two other tables A passed, led the spades, and set the no-trumper for 250 points. Z won the second round of spades and led ace and another club, which put B in to lead a heart. On the four good spades B discarded four hearts, and A led the queen and another diamond, discarding the losing cards on the king of clubs and the top diamond. FOSTER ON AUCTION 233 In such hands as this, it should be clear to the leader that the no-trumper must make game in the two minor suits, with the ace of the leader's suit. If that is his strength, game in spades is practically impossible, and the play should be for penalties. The great danger of disturbing a no-trumper lies in warning it to get into safer quarters. An example of this has already been quoted, when a no-trumper that was overcalled with two hearts immediately bid five clubs and laid down an invincible hand for the game. I have found, after examining 100 no-trumpers, that more than 70 per cent of the tricks are won in the minor suits, which suggests the danger of a shift to one of those suits if the no-trumper is overcalled. The third hand will not mention a strong minor suit if the second hand passes; but the moment the no-trumper is overcalled, the third hand bids. Take this case, very similar to the last example, so far as A's hand goes, but here he wakes up the wrong passenger; No. 76 7 6 A Q J 10 10 8 6 5 K 4 6 2 K Q 9 8 4 A 4 A Q J 7 3 2 A Y Z B 7 10 8 7 5 3 2 7 3 7 2 10 9 5 A J 4 K 9 5 K Q J 9 8 6 3 234 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bid no-trump and at six tables A bid two spades. With only one stopper in spades, which might be led through, Y bid fom* clubs. B passed, so did Z, but A went to four spades. Instead of doubhng, Z bid five clubs and Y made game, losing only one spade and one dia- mond. In this case the only table that passed with A^s hand did not set the contract, but it saved the game at no-trumps, as Z could not hold the lead long enough to make three odd after dummy won the second round of spades. The greater number of opportunities to play for penal- ties instead of trying to make a few points by playing the hand, arise when one knows that there is a weak part- ner opposite, from whom little or no assistance can be expected. The weakness of doubhng to force a partner to bid who has already passed up an opportunity has already been mentioned. It is equally bad policy to ask such a partner to assist, Here are examples of both errors: No. 77 A Q 7 5 3 c?5 9 7 2 A 4> 10 9 8 4 K 9 6 2 Y ^ *QJ4 cSbAK83 10 98 ^ "^OKQJSS 4^ 7 5 2 ^ K J 6 3 7 J 10 8 4 (§) 10 6 5 7 6 4 2 4^ A Q FOSTER ON AUCTION 235 Z and A both passed and Y bid a heart. At some tables B doubled, at others he bid two diamonds. Both are clearly mistakes, yet at the seven tables at which this deal was played, not a single player in B's position passed up the heart bid. The situation is this. Y's partner had no bid; neither did B's. It is highly improbable that Y can go game in hearts, but if he can, there is no use bidding against him, as he must have a two-suiter to do it, and all the top hearts. On the other hand, it is equally improbable that A will turn up with tricks enough to enable B to make five odd in diamonds, or to win the game at no-trumps, even if he can make that bid in answer to B's double. Both bids were tried. Here is what happened when B doubled and A went no-trump, according to orders, as he could stop the hearts, or thought he could, with four to the king. Y did not lead a heart up to the declared stopper, but opened with the spade ten, which B covered and Z won. A cov- ered the jack of hearts with the king, but Z got in again on the spades and Y made four hearts. Still holding the ace of diamonds, Y forced out the king of spades, as dummy was down to two diamonds and three clubs. This set the no-trumper for three tricks. B could have made two diamonds, but Z overcalled him with three hearts. Only one table m the room went game on hearts. This is how they did it. B led three rounds of clubs, and A led the diamond. Y led a spade, making both queen and ace at once. Then he led the trump from dummy and ruffed Z with a spade, trumping with the eight. A diamond allowed Y to trump in and Z tnmiped the fourth spade with the ten, leading the four. All the others misplayed the hand and failed to go game through leading trumps out, before ruffing the spades. 236 FOSTER ON AUCTION There are countless hands in which one knows that game is hopeless for the other side, if one would only stop to think about it for a moment. In such casea great care should be taken not to overbid one's own hand, but at the same time to go as far as necessary to get what there is in it, in case the opponents stop bidding. It is useless to let them score two odd and simple honors when you could have made two odd yourself. The dangerous situation is when you overbid your hand and risk being penahzed, when you might have collected penalties from the opponents, and could not possibly lose the game. This hand was played at seven tables: No. Q 9 5 A 9 7 4 2 J 10 7 4 4 Q J 6 2 Z bid a spade, and at every table but one A bid two hearts. He has a legitimate one-trick bid, but not two and if his partner assists on average holding, the hand will have gone a trick beyond its value. On the other hand, what chance has Z to go game in spades? If he and his partner are strong enough to make four odd, A is wasting his breath bidding two hearts. At each table FOSTER ON AUCTION 237 Y assisted the spades, and B went to three hearts. Both these assists are sound, as either hand is good for 4J tricks in attack, Z had no more to say, and Y passed, so the hand was played at hearts and set for one trick less simple honors; net loss 34 points. At the only table at which A passed, Z made the odd at spades, and simple honors 27 points. Now let us suppose that A's hearts were spades and Z's spades were hearts. Then A could have overcalled Z's opening bid of one trick with one trick, and the same assists would have followed, but with this great difference, that A would not have overbid his hand to start with, and could make two odd if left to play it. If Y bid two tricks, Z would be set if he or Y went to three tricks after B's assist. The great point in pla3dng for penalties is to avoid having to pay them yourself. Some persons are very fond of ^' pushing them up a bit," as they express it, hoping the other side will overbid their hands and get hurt. This is all very well if you are "playing with children," but it is not sound auction, and more closely resembles poker, in which game the fate of the bluffer is proverbial. THE SECOND BIDDER This term is applied to the one who sits on the left of the first bidder, but a sharp distinction must be made between the player who sits on the left of the dealer's opening bid, and the third hand, whose partner has passed without a bid. The second bidder, when on the dealer's left, is still in an attacking position, as his partner has yet to speak, and may have a very strong hand. But if the third hand is the second bidder, when the dealer has passed, he is usually, but not always, in a defensive posi- tion, with a weak partner. If the dealer passes, the second player becomes the first bidder, and his declarations are governed by the same rules as if he were the dealer, with the possible exception that he may go no-trumps on only average hands. This is the best possible position for a free bid, and no opportunity should be lost to make it. The situations with which we have now to deal are those in which the dealer makes a bid of some kind, and the player on his left becomes what is technically known as the second bidder. We may dismiss at once from consideration all those hands that have a legitimate free bid, which is enough in itself to overcall the dealer. With a normal heart or spade bid, for instance, one can overcall a club or a dia- mond, just as if no such bid had been made. If the dealer bids a heart, and the second bidder has a one-spade bid, he is not required to overbid his hand to overcall the heart. In the same way, of course, if the second hand has a two or three bid in either of the major suits, he can overcall anything but a no-trumper. 238 FOSTER ON AUCTION 239 In the last chapter we have dealt with cases in which the second bidder should not overcall his hand if it is obvious that the dealer cannot go game on his declara- tion; imless there is such a large score for honors that the second hand can well afford to be set for 50 or 100 points. Because of the advantage of the second hand in having a partner who has yet to speak, and who may have a pretty strong hand, many modern players make it a point not to overcall the dealer *s major-suit bids with two in a minor suit, unless they can assist the other major suit, or are willing to have the partner go no-tnmaps if he can stop the dealer's suit. This convention is suited to a much larger number of hands than the double would be. The theory is that if the second hand has nothing but a few tricks in a minor suit he might as well sit tight and \ry to save the game by leading that suit. But if he has some support for the other m.ajor suit, but not enough to bid it, and is willing for his partner to bid it on four cards only, with a couple of honors, he should indicate it. Here is an illuminating example of the use of this con- vention: No. 79 9 4 3 A K 4 2 J 6 A J 4 2 A K 10 6 J 8 7 8 3 10 6 5 240 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z bid a heart. At every table at which A passed, Z made his contract, the odd trick and five honors. At the tables at which A bid two diamonds and B did not imder- stand the convention, leaving him to play it, Y led the hearts and forced him. At one of these tables, after three leads of trumps, A incautiously led a third round of spades, and carried home the ace or the king of clubs. At other tables, seeing his danger, A made his two club tricks, and saved his contract, winning two by cards. At the two tables at which B understood the minor-suit bid over the major suit as showing support for the other major suit, B bid two spades, and made a httle slam, losing nothing but the first heart trick. The foregoing are all attacking bids. We cross the line into the province of defensive bids when it is probable that the dealer will go game on his declaration, or that his partner may be encouraged to make a better one and go game. Now the second hand must put up some kind of a fight. The chief difference between any bids he may make in this defensive position, curiously enough, is that they do not show the same defensive strength that a free bid would show. This is because he cannot wait for sure tricks at the head of a suit, but must bid what he has. If the dealer starts with a heart, the second hand must bid a spade, even if he has only five to the queen and an outside trick somewhere. He cannot he down and let his opponents walk over him with a one-heart bid, while there is any chance to get the contract away from them, or push them beyond their depth. In such positions, the partner must make allowance for the possibihty that the second bidder is not as strong as would be required for a free bid, and therefore must not credit him with the defensive strength that an orig- FOSTER ON AUCTION 241 inal or free bid would indicate. The situation usually arises when a major suit is overcalled by the other major suit, as in the following hand. No. 80 10 8 A 10 6 10 8 5 Z bid a heart. At four tables out of seven, A passed without a bid, and B could not see an3rthing beyond saving the game. At hearts, Z made his contract, the odd trick and four honors. When A bid a spade second hand, B supported it over Y's assistance to the hearts, and A went game, as B won the first trick with the ace of hearts and led a low club, forcing the king with the queen. Y then tried a small diamond, and the ace won that trick. The long won the next and the trumps all fell on the finesse of the jack by dummy, losing one heart at the end. The double of a no-trumper has already been discussed in another chapter. It may be well here to observe that this is now universally admitted to be a better bid than going two no-trumps over the dealer's one no-tnmip. The partner is then free to show a suit for a bid of two, and if the second hand does not like it he can bid two no- 242 FOSTER ON AUCTION trumps, which does not increase the contract. That he might just as well have gone two no-trumps in the first place does not alter the fact that he might have found his partner with a big major-suit bid, and perhaps a slam hand. Here is an example : No. Q 7 6 4 10 7 9 7 3 2 K 7 2 Z bid no-trump. At the tables at which A bid two no-trimips, B had nothing to say, and Y led a spade, so that the king won the third round and A went game. At the tables at which A doubled, B bid two hearts, and A, making allowance for the possibility that it might be a suit of four cards only, went two no-trumps, and went game. B would have been set on the two-heart contract. The two principal situations that continually present themselves to the second bidder depend on whether the bid on his right is in a major or a minor suit. If it is in a minor suit, it is more than probable that the third hand will avail himself of the assistance offered and will make a better declaration. There are some players who will not bid a minor suit originally except as an invitation to their FOSTER ON AUCTION 243 partner to go no-trump. This is a very foolish restriction to put upon the bid, as there are countless hands in which it is most important to show a couple of tricks for defence, which are far from being two-thirds of a no-trumper. A minor suit on the right puts the second bidder on the defensive, and he should seize the opportunity to show any suit he vv^ould hke to have led, while he can do so cheaply, even if he has not the strength for an original declaration of two tricks. This is in the nature of a forced bid, lilce A's spade in the last example. It is only a chance; but it is a chance that must be taken when the player is on the defensive. Here is a case: No. 82 ❖ J 7 2 cj) A K 10 5 10 6 4 4> K 7 3 A 9 8 3 9 6 J 9 8 7 2 A Q 7~ ^ K 10 5 4 A B * 10 9 8 6 2 Q 6 J 8 3 2 A K Q 5 J 5 4 Z bid a diamond. At every table at which A was un- wiUing to bid two clubs Y went no-trump, and won the game, and he must win it whether B leads a heart or a spade. But at the tables at which A bid two clubs, Y usually supported the diamonds. At one he went no-trumps on the theory that B would think he had the clubs stopped 244 FOSTER ON AUCTION and would not lead them; but B had long since leamt to trust his partner and not his opponents, and they set the no-trumper, as they made four clubs, a heart and a spade. At other tables, when Y supported the diamonds, B usually regarded the defence as being established by keeping the contract in a minor suit. Game in diamonds was impossible, as the play at some tables proved. At one table, B mistook the bid as showing support for a major suit and guessed spades. He could have made two spades, but Y went to three diamonds. It is only when a minor suit is used to overcall a major suit that it shows assistance for the other major suit, as then there can be no mistake as to which suit it is. THE THIRD HAND The principles that govern the declarations of the third hand, when the dealer makes the first bid, have been already fully dealt with. We come now to situations in which he is either first or second bidder. If both dealer and second hand pass, the third hand should be wary about going into no-trumpers, as he will probably find all the strength over him on his left and a weak dummy opposite him. Some persons imagine that the third hand should be a trick stronger than the dealer in order to make a declaration of any kind. This assumes that his bids are all to be in the attacking class, which is not the case. The thing to be particularly avoided is any declaration that is not defensive, as well as attacking. The conventional two sure tricks are imperative, because this is a peculiarly defensive position, it being more than probable that the fourth hand will make a strong bid for the contract. Then it may be important for the dealer to know just what to lead. ^'-'■^ 7 Q62 (?) A Q J 3 3 2 4) J 10 6 5 A K 10 5 4 8 5 2 A K 10 K Q 246 FOSTER ON AUCTION When the bid was passed up to B fourth hand, he bid a heart, Z led the diamonds, and B went game by getting a club discard on the ace of spades. Some pairs made five odd. But when Y put in a defensive club bid, although B got the contract at hearts just the same, he could not win the game, as he lost three club tricks immediately on Z^s lead of the club ten, after which Y or Z must make a trump. There are some hands in which the third hand must take long chances in defending himself against an im- pending bid by the fourth hand. If the defence is useless, they will go on, so that nothing is lost, but the dealer knows what to lead. Take this case: No. 84 7 A K 8 3 Q J 10 9 A K Q 7 (i> 8 * Z bid two spades and A doubled. At every table at which Y passed, B bid two no-trumps and went game. Z opened with a heart, hoping to get Y in to come through B^s stopper in spades. After making four tricks in each of the red suits, dummy led the queen of clubs and Y had to make his two tricks before he led the spades, as Z had FOSTER ON AUCTION 247 only one club left, so that Z had to lose a spade trick at the end. At one table Y felt pretty sure that B would be able to stop the spades and would go no-trump, or that he would not be able to go game in anything else, so he bid three clubs, to direct a lead. This effectually shut off the no-trumper, and B had to be content with a three- diamond bid, against which Y and Z took home four tricks immediately by leading the clubs, ruffing the third round and making the spade. The same thing happened when A took out the three diamonds with three hearts. The game was saved in the first four tricks. This is due entirely to Y's defensive bid. THE FOURTH HAND The fourth hand bids on the bidding, more than on his own cards. Some players consider this the most advantageous position at the table, but it is also the most dangerous. If there have been preceding bids, especially doubles, denials, or take-outs, the fourth hand has a fund of in- formation at his disposal. But when no bid of any kind has been made, discretion would suggest throwing up the hand. If the bid comes up to him, the three others passing, he should be very strong to venture a declaration of any kind, seven or eight tricks at least, otherwise he is almost sure to run up against a snag of some sort and find that he has cleared the way for a flood of secondary bids that may swamp him. He must remember that his partner, although in the best position for a free bid, has refused to make one, and will probably turn out to have httle or nothing. If there are preceding bids, no matter by whom made, the whole situation is changed. One of the first things for the fourth hand to consider is whether or not it is worth while to overcaU a dealer's no-trumper in order to direct a lead. If the suit named is solid, the no-trumper no longer exists, as it will be imme- diately abandoned if helpless in that suit. But if the fourth hand has a suit that the dealer can probably stop at least once, it may still be played at no-trumps. The usual rule is to bid any suit that will probably save 248 FOSTER ON AUCTION 249 the game, such as one of five tricks, with a re-entry, if the partner has anything as good as the jack to lead. Even if the partner has no such card, the player may be fortunate enough to find it on his right and be able to finesse against it. If the dealer has the suit stopped twice, he will go back to no-trumps, and nothing is lost by having made the bid fourth hand. Many good players think that any hand that is good enough for an original or free bid should be good enough to ask a lead fourth hand when the dealer says no-trump. The hand is over- bid only one trick. Here is a case: No. 85 A J 10 K 7 5 K Q 10 5 A Q J Z bid no-trump, A and Y passing. Disregarding any distinction between major and minor suits, as all are alike in no-trumpers, B has a hand that is good for a free bid of one, therefore he can afford to bid two clubs to ask for a lead. At some tables Z passed, to see what his partner would do, and his partner did nothing, so Z led the king of diamonds and set the contract for two tricks, less simple honors. 250 FOSTER ON AUCTION If B does not show the clubs, A wiU open one or other of the major suits and Z will win the game, by forcing out the ace of diamonds before the clubs are cleared. At one table Z went back to no-trumps on the supposition that A would not lead the clubs after Z has shown he could stop them. But A had more confidence in his partner than in his adversary, and led the suit asked for. Z cleared the diamonds and B led a spade, hoping for an- other club lead through dummy's queen. Although Z took a long chance to make three hearts by leading the jack and made his three diamonds, he could not win the game. This shows that the club bid, although it stood to lose 88 points, actually saves 67, which would be lost if A is left to lead a heart, or 77 if he leads a spade. There are many hands in which it is dangerous to ask for a lead fourth hand, unless prepared to save the game against any possible shift. Many persons overlook this, and simply warn the dealer that his no-trumoer is no good. Take this hand: No. 86 7 Q J 8 7 cSb 8 7 3 10 4 J 8 5 4 SP 2 J 10 9 5 4 J 5 3 ^ 10 9 6 3 A Z Y B 7 6 5 4 3 A 6 A K Q 9 8 2 7 ^ A K 10 9 K Q 2 7 6 ^ A K Q 2 FOSTER ON AUCTION 251 At every table Z started with no-trump. It is a better spade; but let that pass. At every table but one, B asked for a diamond lead by bidding two. Of course Z dropped his no-trumper immediately and bid the higher ranking of his two major suits, intending to bid the hearts if his partner denied the spades. He can go game with either for the trump. At one table, when this no-trumper came up to B, he reasoned that in order to go game at no-trumps, it must be all done in the two major suits. This requires Y or Z to hold five cards in one or the other. If Z held them, he would have bid the suit. If Y held them, he would have taken Z out. Such a situation being improbable, it looks as if B should get into the lead in time to save game, so he says nothing. As it happened, A's long suit was clubs and B got home seven tricks at once, not only saving the game but setting the contract. This is foiu-th hand bidding on the bidding. Among the surest marks of a fine player are these fourth-hand bids upon the bidding, especially if he has a partner opposite him that he can depend on, without which all auction is a guess game. We have already mentioned the convention used by the second hand in over calling a major suit with a minor suit only when he can support the other major suit, even if the fourth hand has but four cards of it, with a couple of honors. But suppose that instead of holding that suit the fourth hand can stop the dealer's suit? It is in such cases that we realize the importance of sound bidding; because if the fourth hand is going to build up a contract on material promised, which cannot be produced when called for, he is bound to lose by it. Here is an example of what may be done by partners who can depend on each other. The deal was played at 252 FOSTER ON AUCTION seven tables, and only one pair got the right bid fourth hand: No. 87 ❖ ^ Q6 c^b 8 7 3 A K Q 2 ^ A Q 4 3 ❖ Z bid a heart and A two diamonds. This relieved Y from the duty of denying the hearts. After a little deUb- eration B bid two no-trumps. If you came into the room and heard this bid, without hearing what had preceded it, and saw B's cards, you would probably think his no- trumper about the limit. But B is bidding on the bidding, not on his cards. He cannot bid the other major suit with the singleton king, but he can stop the hearts and the clubs, and his partner has the diamonds and the spades. There is no way for Y and Z to make more than the two aces and two kings in Z's hand, so B goes game. While it is true, as urged by some players, that when the second hand is the first bidder, the fourth hand is in the same position as the third hand would be if the dealer bid first, there is one important difference. When the third hand bids, the fourth hand is still to be heard from and he may have the suit that has not been mentioned; 8 9 4 2 10 8 7 4 J 10 9 7 2 Y 7 J 9 7 4 3 . ^ * Q J 10 5 ^ ^ ^ J65 A K 10 5 2 A K 6 9 3 8 6 5 FOSTER ON AUCTION 253 but when the bidding comes up to the fourth hand, every one has had a chance to show that suit. This leads good players to take a chance of finding one major suit spUt up, when no one has declared it. I have seen some of these bold bidders get away with some remarkable no-trumpers that were bid solely on this pos- sibility of a split suit. Here is one of them, which is a good example of fourth hand's bidding on the bidding: No. 88 <7 A Q 7 3 Q J 6 10 6 3 7 6 3 Z bid a club and A a diamond. When Y passed B bid no-trump. He reasons that his partner has something worth showing in diamonds. B can stop the dealer's club suit, and no one has mentioned the spades, so that suit is probably split up. Z led the club to have a look, and then went through the spades in the dummy. A put the ace right on and led out the diamonds for five straight tricks, after which the heart finesse won the game. SECONDARY BIDS Secondary bids are all those made by any player who has passed up an opportunity to make a free bid, or who shifts to another suit after his first bid. Any suit that is bid on the second round, but not on the first, shows that while it might be considered a good trump suit so far as length is concerned, it is purely an attacking bid, and not to be depended on for defence. These are very seldom game-going hands, even if they get the declaration, unless the secondary bid is made in answer to a strong bid from the partner. The chief use- fulness of secondary bids is in advancing the opponents' contract, or inducing them to shift to a minor suit. With poor partners, these secondary bids are the most dangerous declarations in the game, because the moment you overcall the opponents with one of these bids, your partner imagines you have been in the high grass with a wonderful hand, and he will carry you to the ceiling; whence you will probably drop about 400 in penalties. The biggest losses in auction start with secondary bidso It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between bids made to deny a suit, and secondary bids. As a rule, the meaning of both is the same, that the suit has no defensive strength, or it would have been shown as a free bid, and that the partner will therefore not find much assistance in his prospective dummy for his own declaration. Some players refuse to make any secondary bids in the minor suits except as denials, confining their secondary bids to the major suitSo as attacking bids. Their cpinion seems 254 FOSTER ON AUCTION 255 to be that weak minor suits that have to be shown at an expense of at least a two-trick bid, are not worth the risk. This is not always true, as some secondary bids are v/orth a bid of three, even in minor suits. There should be no difficulty in distinguishing between the two classes of bids, denial and secondary, if one thinks of the conditions under which the bids are made. Sup- pose the third hand makes a bid after the dealer has passed without a bid. If the fourth hand passes and the dealer bids, that is invariably a denial. But if the fourth hand overcalls the third hand, or if the third hand has not made any bid, the dealer's declaration is a secondary bid. The most glaring error made by untaught players is in turning good secondary bids into free bids. This vio- lates the first principle of correct bidding, which demands that all free bids shall indicate the defensive possibilities of the hand, as well as its attacking values. Here is a deal in which there was all kinds of bidding at seven tables, which shows that very few persons know how to bid a hand, even after years of experience at the card table. No. 89 ^ J 3 cj) A 10 5 J 9 8 7 2 ^ K 5 2 7 J 9 4 3 2 Q 3 J 10 8 4 3 A Y Z B 7 A Q 8 6 5 K Q 7 A K 6 4 6 ^ K 10 9 4 2 * 8 6 10 5 4^ A Q 9 7 256 FOSTER ON AUCTION At the tables at which Z started with a free bid of one heart, he got into all sorts of trouble. At some tables Y let it go, and Z was set for one or two tricks, according to the skill with which the hand was played. At one table Y denied the hearts with two diamonds. This led A to try a secondary bid of two spades, instead of leaving his opponents in with a minor suit, which would have been set for three tricks. Fortunately for A, his partner took him out with two no-trumps and made it. At one table Z, A and Y all passed, and B bid a heart. A denied the hearts with a spade. B recognized the nature of this bid and went no-trump. But in this case Z knew nothing about Y's diamonds, and avoided the hearts by leading a small spade. The result was that B made only the odd trick, 10 points, whereas Z^s original heart bid at other tables cost him anywhere from 50 to 150. A free bid second hand, which should have been re- served for a secondary bid, may be very dangerous in deceiving the partner as to the defensive value of the hand in the suit named. Here is a typical example of this error: No. 90 ❖ 9 2 cj) 10 9 8 K Q 9 6 2 5 4 3 10 9 8 J 10 6 5 Q 7 3 A 10 5 4 FOSTER ON AUCTION 257 When Z passed, waiting for the second round to bid the hearts, A bid a diamond and Y a spade. Trusting his partner for at least two tricks in diamonds, B said no- trump, which closed the bidding, as there was no need for Z to deny the spades nor bid the hearts. Z led a heart, as he had no spades, and set the contract for two tricks, estabhshing the hearts after getting in with the ace of diamonds, and making them by getting in again with the queen of clubs. Give A the ace and king of diamonds, instead of king-queen, and B makes his contract easily enough. A's premature bid cost him 120 points. There are many cases in which a secondary bid follows a free bid. The distinction between a secondary bid and a two-suiter, in which both suits were equally good for a free bid, lies in the reversal of the rank of the suits. In a two-suiter, it is always the higher ranking suit that is bid first. In a secondary bid, it is the lower ranking suit that is always bid first. This sometimes leads to interesting situations. Take this case: No. 91 K J cSb Q J 8 6 4 2 A 4> K Q J 5 8 5 2 * 7 5 K Q J ($) A 7 6 J 6 4 cj) A K 10 9 8 3 4> 10 9 8 3 2 A Q 10 6 4 3 9 3 10 7 5 2 4 258 FOSTER ON AUCTION At some tables, Z did not bid smythAng, as he belonged to the old school, that will not bid a minor suit unless it contains five cards. The consequence was that A bid a diamond, Y two clubs and B three hearts, which ended it, and B went game very easily. This is the result of bad bidding on Z's part, as shown by the result at another table. Here Z started with a club, which is the correct bid, having in view the shift to the secondary bid in the major suit. Then, when A bid the diamond, Y went no-trump, as he could trust his partner for two tricks in clubs, ace- king, which looks like seven tricks laid down, even if the diamonds were led and estabhshed against him at once. Now B passes, as he has the lead, and Z goes two spades. This marks him with a secondary spade bid, probably without the ace, or he would have bid it originally with two tricks outside. A passes, so does Y. Now B must bring his hearts into the spotlight, as the no-trumper has left the stage. The result was that the hearts and the spades were bid up to four tricks. When the hearts ventured to five, they were doubled and set for 100. Z would not go to five spades, as he knew he must lose some tricks in the red suits. As a rule, secondary bids in minor suits are pretty strong in the matter of length, or they are not worth a bid. The bidder must remember the difficulty of going game in the minor suits, and if it is improbable that the other side can go game, secondary minor-suit bids should be avoided if they are not reasonably sure of at least the contract. They are frequently useful in pushing the opponents a little beyond their depth without running any special risk in so doing, but the partner is not sup- posed to support such bids, imless he is very sure of his FOSTER ON AUCTION 259 ground. He need never deny a secondary bid in a minor suit. Here is an example; No. Z passed and A bid no-trump. Y passed and B bid two hearts. Now Z bids three diamonds. This is a per- fectly sound secondary bid. If A goes back to no-trumps, Y knows what to lead. If either A or B goes back to hearts, the diamond bid is void, that is all. If Z is left with it, he cannot lose the game; that is certain. At one table A took a chance and went back to his no- tnimper, as he had only two small hearts, and was set for three tricks, as Y led the diamond and the suit cleared up at once. At another table A passed, and B went to three hearts, but was set one, because Z would not lead the diamonds, but opened the spade. After passing one roimd of trumps, another spade put Y in to lead the diamond through B. At another table A went to four clubs and was set one, and simple honors against him. The curious thing about the hand was that at the only table at which Z was left in with his three-diamond 260 FOSTER ON AUCTION bid hye made four by cards by winiimg the first heart trick and leading the spades through A, so that Y should lead the trump. There is a type of hand in which there is no legitimate free bid in either of the major suits, but one of them may have the length without the tops, and the other the tops without the length. All such hands are peculiarly sec- ondary bids, because there is nothing to be afraid of, unless the opponents are strong enough to go game in a minor suit, in which case no sort of bidding would stop them. The player who has the patience to wait for the second round will often be pleasantly surprised to hear an oppo- nent make the bid that was being held in reserve. Take this hand : No. 93 Q J 10 8 2 9 6 4 A Q 9 3 2 K 10 8 7 3 At every table at which Z started with a spade, A passed, and both Y and B passed, so that Z was set for two tricks. When Z passed, as he should do, waiting for the opportunity to make a secondary bid, A bid the spades FOSTER ON AUCTION 261 and B denied them with two hearts, which every one passed. B made his contract, but not the game. Z led the jack of clubs, and Y eventually got in on the third roimd and led the jack of diamonds, upon which B put the ace, so as to ruff dummy with a small diamond, in- stead of risking the finesse. The best rule for the partner, in considering the advis-. ability of assisting secondary bids in the major suits, is to count the hand as worth an ace less than would be necessary for a free bid. The situation is much the same as those in which a plaj^er is forced to bid one trick more than his hand is really worth in order to overcall a previous bid when he is not the first bidder. Here is an illustration of this point : No. K 10 8 2 Z passed, A bid a diamond and B a spade. Now Z bids two hearts. This shows that he had some sort of a heart bid all the time, but had not the defensive element. A passed, having bid his hand at the start, but B rebid the spades. Y's hand is quite good enough for one assist for 262 FOSTER ON AUCTION a free bid, but is not strong enough to assist a secondary bid, if he is careful to make allowance for the fact that the dealer is at least an ace weaker than a free bid. The play, therefore, is for Y to pass, and save the game. B can make two spades, but no more. If Y goes to three hearts, he will be set, but will have 32 in honors to score. This he does not know when it is his turn to bid. The possible difference is not worth the risk. THE PARTNER'S SILENCE One of the important elements in the bidding, and one that is probably most neglected by the average player, is the silence of the partner. When you are bidding against the other side, and your partner has nothing to say, it may be for either of two reasons: he is powerless to help you, or he has the opposing declaration all sewed up. Here is an example of what one may see every day: No. 95 ^ Q 10 9 6 4 c?) K 4 2 K J 8 7 5 3 cj) A Q J — 10 8 6 4 10 8 6 J 10 8 6 4 2 J 9 3 2 Z bid a diamond, A a heart, Y and B passed. Y's fail- ure to assist made no impression on Z, who went to two diamonds, A to two hearts, and then Z to three diamonds and A to three hearts, Y and B passing each time. Now it begins to look as if it were time for Y to double three 263 264 FOSTER ON AUCTION hearts, but if he does and A makes it, he goes game, so Y waits for the free double, if A goes to four. Z went to four diamonds, and A stopped. The diamond contract was set for two tricks. Had Z paid a little more attention to his partner's silence they would have set the three-heart contract for fom- tricks. Had A paid more attention to Y's silence, he would have stopped bidding after one round. Y's failure to assist the diamonds and A's having none himself should have suggested giving B a chance to say what he thought about the heart contract. Then B's silence would have indicated that he preferred the diamonds, and they would have saved the game, instead of being placed in a position that might have cost them 400 in penalties had Y doubled three hearts. Here is a hand which is interesting from the fact that one of two very fine players who held Y's cards kept quiet, while the other went no-trumps. Z remarked after the hand that he "listened" to the silence of his partner in the first case: No. 96 ^ K 10 8 7 3 2 c^b A Q. 6 A ❖ Q54 A Q 9 6 5 4 K J 5 9 7 3 3 —7-17 — ! (iib 10 9 4 2 j 10 8 6 5 3 ^ 1 ^ 9 7 6 2 J 8 7 3 K Q J 4 A K J 10 8 FOSTER ON AUCTION 265 Z bid a spade and A two hearts. Y and B passed. As Z was quite strong enough for a rebid, he went to two spades, and A to three hearts, Y and B again passing. At this point Z hstened to his partner's silence, and all that A made was four tricks, being set for 266. Z could not have gone game in spades. At the other table Y did not keep silence, but went three no-trumps over three hearts, as soon as Z rebid his hand. Y made four odd, but that was only 165 points, as the aces were easy. /PART II THE PLAY As soon as the final declaration is made, the next thing is to play the hand, in order to see if the declarer can make his contract. The objective of his opponents is to save the game. That being safe, setting the contract becomes a secondary consideration. In some cases, when neither of these is possible, the chief care must be to save extra tricks and slams. The declarer is always playing the attacking end, and his adversaries must always consider themselves on the defensive. As it is the adversaries that have to start the play by an opening lead we shall consider their side of the game first. There are three elements in the play which pertain to the defence. Bad judgment in the bidding may be for- given, but the plays are conventional and mechanical. These three are : the leads, which require the selection of a suit and a certain card in that suit; the echoes, by which the partner shows what he holds in the suit led; and the discards, vrhich indicate protection in suits which have not been led or declared. These three conventions are again divided into two distinct sets, according to whether the partners are playing against a trump or a no-trumper. Against a trump suit, in which the declarer is invariably both long and strong, the object is to get home as many tricks as possible early in the play, before the declarer gets in, draws all your trumps 267 268 FOSTER ON AUCTION and makes his own or dummy's long suit, upon which he will discard his losing cards in your suits. Then some of your high cards may be trumped, through being held back too long. If you will watch a number of trump contracts, you will readily see that very few tricks are won from the declarer with any card below a queen, and that many cards higher than a queen go to sleep. But the declarer himself will frequently win a number of tricks with inferior cards by taking your trumps out, so that you cannot stop the suit; while he still has trumps enough left to ruff the inferior cards of your suits. If he had to use up all his own trumps to catch yours, one side would have just as good a chance as the other with the smaller cards of the plain suits. This shows that when there is no trump suit to start with, the object of both sides is the same, to make tricks with the smaller cards, as the aces and kings are good any time. For this reason the opponents of a no-trumper should be in no rush to get home their sure triclcs, as they would be when opposed to a trump declaration, but should keep those high cards for purposes of re-entry, after they have forced the intermediate cards out of their way. The point for the player to remember is that it does not matter who holds those intermediate cards, the partner or the declarer. The thing is to get them out. If the declarer holds them, they must be forced out or caught. If the partner holds them, they should be given up, willingly and at once. These are the general principles. We are now ready to examine the conventional plays by which they are carried out, confining our attention for the present to the defence, or the play against the declarer. LEADS AGAINST TRUMP CONTRACTS The first consideration is the selection of the suit, which may depend on what bids, if any, have been made by the leader or his partner, or both. Three simple rules govern this, the trump lead being excluded. If you have any suit headed by both ace and king, lead the king, regardless of what the bidding has been. For the second trick, if your partner has declared a suit, lead the best card you hold in it. Then he knows just what high cards are against him in the hand of the de- clarer, and he also knows you hold an ace, with which he can put you back into the lead at any time. Having no ace-king suit of your own, lead the best card of your partner's declared suit. If he has not declared anything, lead any suit headed by two or more touching honors, such as king-queen, or queen-jack, and always lead the higher honor of the two when neither of them is the ace. It is always well to avoid, if possible, all suits headed by honors that do not touch, such as ace-queen, king-jack, or queen-ten. If all three plain suits are of that nature, the best defence is to lead the trump. Then your part- ner will know that he can lead up to dummy with con- fidence that you can take care of any of the plain suits. Having selected the suit, the next point is the card. The object of leading certain cards when others would apparently do just as weU, is to affirm or deny ^e pos- session of certain other cards in that suit. Sometimes the lead affirms only; at others it denies only; at times it 269 270 FOSTER ON AUCTION does both. There are three rules that govern all the opening leads of high cards. These are: The lead of a king shows that the ace or the queen is behind the king; or both ace and queen. The lead of an ace denies the king. The lead of a queen or jack denies any higher card in the suit, and invariabty shows the card next below. It is useless to lead a queen without the jack, or a jack without the ten, unless it is the partner's suit. When there is no high-card combination from which a high card should be led, the rule is to begin with the fourth-best, counting from the top of the suit. From K 8 7 6 4, for instance, lead the 6. This is caUed the card of uniformity, and its uses will be explained when we come to no-trumpers. From any suit headed by the ace, without the king, the ace should always be led if that suit must be opened at all. Some persons do not think it makes any difference which card is led, so that it will win the trick, but every now and then a situation comes up which shows it does. Take this case as an example: No. 97 ^ 10 3 2 «^ 8 6 5 3 2 ^ A Q J 7 6 7 5 A K J 7 3 K 9 7 10 8 4 A Z B 8 6 4 Q 6 4 2 J 10 4 K 9 5 ^ A K Q J 9 eg) 10 9 8 5 A Q FOSTER ON AUCTION 271 Z got the contract at hearts, and A led the ace of clubs. This denies the king, and in B's view marks that card as with Z. Now let us see what consequences flow from this deception. Z gets out the adverse trumps. If he can finesse the spades successful^, he can get in again with the ace of diamonds, without that finesse, and go game. When B wins the spade he sees that if he leads a club Z will get right in and go game with the established spade suit, which must drop in two more leads if Z has a spade. The only chance, therefore, seems to be to lead up to dummy's weak diamonds. Z puts the ace right on and goes game with five by cards. If A had led cor- rectly, the return of the club would have saved the game. Here is an illustration of the advantage of leading the ^ump in preference to opening undersirable plain suits. No. 98 ^ 10 9 7 c?> Q 3 10 8 5 ^ A 10 8 6 4 ^ SZ 7" ^ K 6 4 c5)KJ9 c?Di0 8754 0AJ62^ 0Q73 ^ K 9 7 3 ^ 4> J 5 ^ A Q J 5 2 c2d A 6 2 K 9 4 ❖ Q 2 The contract is in hearts, A to lead. When A opened with a small spade, Z won with the queen, i-eturned the 272 FOSTER ON AUCTION suit and finessed the ten. Then he exhausted the trumps, catching the king on the third round. A small club to dummy's queen, and A put on the king, leading one of his equals in spades dummy held up the ace, and Z trumped. A small club put dummy in to make his two spades and give Z two diamond discards, five odd and game. A diamond opening gave Z four odd at another table. The trump opening killed B's king on the first trick. Z led a small club and A passed it up. At one table Y returned the club and got a ruff, at another he led a small spade and A made the king. The moment A gets in he leads another trump. Now Z can kill the king of clubs and lose three diamonds at the end, or A makes the spade nine and Z loses two diamonds. In no way can Z go game gainst a trump lead. Some persons object to this opening, as it may kill an honor in the partner's hand. The answer to this is that the partner need not play the honor if he can save it; but that if he cannot save it by holding it up, he could not have saved it if dunamy led the trump. This hand went the round of seven tables, and only two players saved the game, by a trump lead in both instances. The card to lead for the second round is governed by the same rules whether playing against a trump suit or a no-trumper, so the reader may be referred to those in the next chapter. It is considered bad policy to lead a singleton, for a ruff, when you have four trumps, no matter how small. Lead your best suit. If you can get one force on the declarer he may be down to your level on the trumps, with only four left, and another force may kill him, leaving you with the long trump and a suit. Even if the long suit is a tenace suit, it is the best opening. Here is a deal in which every player who opened with FOSTER ON AUCTION 273 the short suit or the singleton lost the game, and every one that led his long suit saved it: No 99 Q J 10 6 4 Q 7 6 4 2 K 8 6 A K 10 4 2 8 K 10 5 3 A 9 3 Z bid a club, which went round to B, who bid a heart. Vflien Z leads the diamond, his partner knows that it must be a singleton, as it is not the suit Z named in the 3idding, so he puts on the ace and returns it. Now it does not matter what Z leads. At some tables he led a spade through dummy's long, at others the clubs. If a club, B is forced on the second round, but he can pull all Z's trumps and still have one left. Dunrniy gets in with the spade king and on the fifth diamond B discards his losmg spade. Four odd and game. When Z opened with the clubs, B was forced on the second round. When he led the diamonds, he was forced again and then if he tried to drop the trumps he stopped at two by cards. If B tried to drop the trumps before leading the diamond, the result was the same, two odd only. When Z opened the hand with a spade, he lost five odd, 274 FOSTER ON AUCTION as B exhausted the trumps and took the diamond finesse, after winning the first trick in spades himseK with the ace. A short-suit opening, with four trumps, is as bad as a singleton. It is considered poor play to open with a singleton, unless you can stop the trump lead at once and try to get your partner in on some other suit, in case the declarer wins the first suit you lead and starts the trumps. If you cannot stop the trump lead, you may find that you have killed a good honor in yoiu* partner's hand and set up a suit for the declarer, at the same time being compelled to discard much of the protection you had in other suits. Some very good players make it a rule never to open a two-card suit unless it is the one their partner has named in his bidding. They maintain that this enables the part- ner to distinguish instantly, in many cases, between suits that can be rufied and suits that will go round three times. With ace-king only, the rule is to lead the ace first, and then the long. This shows no mxore, and a willingness to be ruffed. When either the leader or his partner has named a suit, that suit should invariably be led. ^Vhen a suit has been named and is not led, the card that is led should be an absolute singleton, and iavite a ruff. Those opposed to a trump contract must keep con- stantly in view the declarer's objective in the majority of such hands, which will be to get out the trumps and then discard his losers on the established cards of some other suit. This naturally suggests that it is unwise to estab- lish any such cards for the declarer or the dummy if one can help it. One situation is very common, and is continually mis- played. On the second or third round of the leader's suit it looks as if the declarer might still have one, or he FOSTER ON AUCTION 275 might not. If going on with a high card will leave dummy with the best of the suit, it is usually bad play if there is any doubt about the declarer's being able to follow suit. If the leader is sure that the declarer can follow, and making sure of the trick may be vital, no harm may come of it, as the declarer could lead the suit again him- self and force out the high card if it is not led at once. But if there is any doubt about the matter, it is always better to shift. Then, if the partner can get in, he will come through the declarer with that suit. If it is not trumped, the high card in the leader's hand wins. If it is trumped, the high card is held back, and still controls the suit, as against dummy. Here is a typical case : No. 100 7 J 10 9 4 cj) A K 10 9 8 7 4 4> 10 2 Z bid two spades, and A three clubs, showing he could support hearts, but Y headed B off by bidding three spades. At every table at which A led two rounds of clubs, Z went game, by rulOSng the second round, and leading a heart, dunomy playing the aoe and giving Z a heart discard on the queen of clubs. A 7 3 Q 8 6 5 K 9 3 9 8 5 Y A B Z Q 6 2 J 10 5 2 A Q J 6 K 8 5 2 J 7 4 3 A Q 6 K 7 4 3 LEADS AGAINST NO-TRUMPERS Against no-tmmpers, your partner not having shown anything, select length in preference to high cards in picking a suit for the opening. With five to the ace in one suit, and three to the king-queen in another, lead the fourth-best card of the five. If your partner has bid a suit, lead the best you have of it, unless you have an ace- king suit of your own, in which case, show the ace by leading the king, and then lead his suit. When your partner has not shown any suit, lead your own, and the longest you have. If there is a close choice between two suits, prefer the major suit to the minor, as almost all no-trumpers are bid on strength in the minor suits. It is very seldom that a player will run into a strong major suit in the declarer's hand, but to open a weak minor suit, such as four to one honor, may be fatal. There being no fear of losing yom* high cards by having them trumped, it is the rule not to lead from less than three honors at the head of a suit, unless you have at least six cards. From five to the ace-king, even, lead the fourth- best. The object is to leave your partner with one of the suit to return, in case he gets in before you do, which is highly improbable if you lead out three rounds at once. You will lose the first trick probably, but you would have lost it in any case if the declarer has it stopped. Starting with the small card, you may make four tricks later. Holding three honors, the same rules apply as for the leads against a trump. The king shows ace orr queen or both. When there is no sure trick in any other suit, it 276 FOSTER ON AUCTION 277 is best to get any intermediate high cards out of the way at once, so as to leave the partner with some of the suit to return. With ace-queen-jack, for instance, lead the queen against a no-trumper, so as to get the king out at once, but with an outside re-entry, lead the ace first. With ace-jack-ten, lead the jack first if there is no re-entry in another suit. The second lead from three honors depends on what happened on the first lead. With ace-king-queen, having led the king, your partner knows you have the ace, as your king wins. Never tell him anything he already knows if you can tell him anything he does not know. Follow with the queen. To follow with the ace denies the queen. Make these two leads even when holding ace-king-queen- jack. Holding king-queen-jack, if your king wins, your part- ner may have the ace, or the declarer may be holding it up. Follow with the jack, which denies the ace. Your partner knows you have the queen. Holding king-queen-ten, if the king wins, it is often better to shift, as the declarer is very likely to hold up the ace-jack for what is called the Bath coup. If you do go on, lead your original fourth-best. Some players lead the jack from king-jack-ten, but it confuses the lead with that from ace-jack-ten, and the ten is the better opening, if the suit must be led. It is one of the worst combinations to lead away from. It is sometimes objected that these interior leads are confusing, but this is not so in practice. Such leads are never made except against no-trumpers, and any high card shows the partner that the leader holds three honors. Take the case of the queen lead from ace-queen- jack. This denies the king. The only other combina- 278 FOSTER ON AUCTION tion would be from queen-jack-ten. The return will show which it was. When the declarer has bid no-trumps after you have named a suit, he usually has that suit stopped. You cannot help this, as you cannot catch his stopper unless you have the ace and other honors, such as ace-queen. In that case 3^ou may take a chance on some other suit, hoping to get your partner to come through the king. If his stopper is the ace, it is better to have it out of your way at once. If it is your partner who has bid a suit before the final no-trumper, and you have no high card in it that would catch the declarer's stopper, there is nothing to be gained and everyiihing to be lost by not leading your partner's suit at once. If you lead anything else, you may kill his only re-entry before he can get his suit cleared. Some players wiU bid no-trumps without any protection in a suit, as a bluff, thinking it will not be led. Trust your partner in all such cases; as he has no object in deceiving you. SUBSEQUENT PLAY After the opening lead, everything depends on what turns up in the dummy and what cards fall from the various hands. It is impossible to go into all these details in a text-book, but a few general suggestions may be useful. It is always better to lead through dummy's strong suits than through weak ones, provided the high cards in the dummy are not touching honors. That is, lead through an ace-queen suit, or a king-jack, but not through ace-king, or king-queen-jack. Leave it to your partner to lead up to dummy's weak suits, v/hich he is sure to do when in doubt how to go on. This will enable you to save any secondary honors you may hold in such suits, such as guarded kings, or to make tenaces, such as ace-queen, or king-jack. If you have led a king from king-queen and others, and the king wins, do not jump to the conclusion that your partner has the ace if the jack is alone in the dum.my. Lead your queen, to make sure that the ace and jack do not make separately against you. It is usually bad policy to exhaust a suit in the dummy, while dummy has any sm^all trumps, as you get him in a good position to ruff that suit. You should also avoid going on with a suit if it will obviously establish one or more cards of that suit in dummy. Do not follow the king with the ace if dummy has the guarded queen, unless you have reason to believe your partner can trump the queen. 279 THE LEADER'S PARTNER The duty of the leader is to show what cards he holds or does not hold in the suits he leads. The duty of the partner is to supplement this information by showing what he can do in those suits. The method varies in triamp contracts and no-trumpers in the matter of play on high cards led, but it is the same all through on small card leads, so it may be well to dispose of these first. When a small card is led and dummy plays small, the play of the third hand is the same whether the declaration is a trimip or no-trump, and the rule governing it is always the same: Never pay a dollar for a trick that you can get for fifty cents. Many auction players seem to have imbibed the old whist maxim: "Second-hand low; third-hand high,'' which is one of the most misleading attempts to abbreviate a rule that was ever grafted upon a game. The terms high and low in this maxim refer to the distinction be- tween high cards and low cards; not to the top and bot- tom cards of the suit. Unfortunately, those who are in the habit of guiding their play by such maxims as this take it for granted that "third-hand high" means the highest card they hold. If the third hand holds ace-six-deuce, his play is the ace, which is a high card as distiaguished from the six and deuce, which are low cards. But if third hand holds ace-king-deuce, his play is the king; not the ace. He is 280 FOSTER ON AUCTION 281 still plajring third-hand high, but he is not paying a dollar for a trick that he can get for fifty cents. A much more comprehensive rule for the third hand is to win the trick as cheaply as possible, estimating the cost by the rank of the card required. If a player wins the first round of a suit with the nine he naturally remarks, "That was a cheap trick.'' If he has to put up an ace to beat a seven, he considers it expensive. If we call aces worth a dollar, kings fifty cents, and queens a quarter, we get a working idea of values to start with. So far as winning the trick is concerned, it does not matter whether you play the ace or the king if you hold both, but if you pay a dollar for a trick that you could have had for fifty cents, you deceive your partner as to the value of the remainder of your hand. He thinks you have exhausted your capital in that suit, when you actually have a dollar left. Following out this principle, the third hand should play the lowest of any sequence of touching honors. From king-queen-jack, play the jack; from queen-jack- ten, the ten; from king-queen and others, the queen. If dummy holds the intermediate cards and does not play them, you must be careful to count them as part of your sequence. Holding king-jack, for instance, the queen in dummy, play the jack if dummy keeps the queen. If you put on the king, you deny the jack. If the leader is a good player, and watches the fall of the cards carefuUy, the denial of certain cards in his suit may influence his play just as much as the denial of the suit might modify his bidding. Suppose the lead is from five to the king. Dummy has nothing, and third hand plays the queen, won by the declarer with the ace. This marks the declarer with the jack. But if third hand plays the jack, won by the ace, third hand is marked with 282 FOSTER ON AUCTION ithe queen, because the declarer would not pay a dollar for a trick that he could get for a quarter, and at the same time promote the leader's king to the command of the suit. Beginners often insist that it does not matter whether they win a trick with the ace or the king, if they come right back with the other winning card. But it does matter, because to win a trick with the higher of two touching honors and lead the other is a conventional way of showing no more, and a desire to ruff that suit. Here is an example of the trouble that one improper play third hand may lead to : No. 101 7 A 3 cj) 10 7 5 Q J 9 8 7 2 4) K 6 ^ K 9 2 Y ^ Q J 10 8 c5)J9864 c^bKQS 0K5 ^ -^0 10 6 ❖ Q J 7 ^ 8 4 3 2 ^ 7 6 5 4 eg) A 2 A 4 3 A 10 9 5 Z bid no-trump and A led the six of clubs, upon which B played the king and Z the ace. A at once infers that B had to play the king, which denies the queen, so that card must be with Z, and if A leads clubs again, he loses tricks to both queen and ten. Two rounds of diamonds put A in. He sees that if he leads a heart all the diamonds FOSTER ON AUCTION 283 make. If he leads a club, the same thing. The only chance seems to be a spade through dummy's king. That may be Z's weak suit. On the diamonds, Z sheds two hearts and a club, and A has to unguard something, but is afraid to unguard the clubs while Y has the heart for re-entry and Z has the club queen, so he let go a spade. Now Z makes three spade tricks, and A has to discard a heart, thinking dummy would blank the ace and make the ten of clubs. This gave Z the last trick with the seven of hearts, little slam. If B plays correctly to the first trick, A will lead another club, and four clubs, with the king of diamonds, save the game. Passing now to the third hand's play on high cards, we have to make a sharp distinction between trump con- tracts and no-trumpers. All plays by the third hand that make no attempt to win the trick, are called echoes. Two simple rules govern this part of the game : When there is a trump suit, show your partner v/hether or not you can ruff the third round of his suit. This is called the down-and-out echo. When there are no-trumps, show how many high cards you have in your partner's suit. This is known as the Foster echo. With a trump, if you hold only two cards of your part- ner's suit, and make no attempt to win the trick, play the higher card first, unless it is as good as the jack. When the lower card falls, he will know you have no more and can ruff. With one as good as the jack, this is unnec- essary, because if your partner leads two winning cards, king and ace, for instance, it is obvious that you have the queen or no more, if you have to drop the jack on the second round. But with three in the suit, play the lowest, when you are simply following suit. This will mark you with two 284 FOSTER ON AUCTION more at least, or no more. The leader may be able to tell which. In the majority of cases the use of this echo leads to nothing more than the leader's confidence that his partner can save a small trmnp by ruffing and will get the lead up to dummy. With four trumps, or any reason for not wishing to be forced, the partner will avoid the echo, even with only two of the suit. There are occa- sional deals in which this echo is very effective, especially if both partners can use it, each on a different suit. Here is an example: 6 3 6 5 4 Z and Y carried this to three hearts on Y's assist after B had bid the spades. A's assist is excusable but Y's is not. By good play at one table Z set the spade contract, as he led the queen of trumps after getting rid of the ace of clubs and making one heart trick. Then he gave up the jack on the chance that Y had the ten for re-entry. Y must have assisted on clubs. The usual play was against the hearts, when A led two winning diamonds, king then queen, got an echo from B, FOSTER ON AUCTION 285 and ruffed liim. Then B led king and ace of spades, got an echo from A and ruffed him. Then A led the small diamond, so as to be sure B would trump it, if Y passed, as that must save A's queen of trumps if B leads another spade. This set the heart contract for four tricks. Some players use this echo to show they can win the third round with a high card. They call it the ^' come-on," or encouraging echo, and the idea is that it shall prevent the leader from shifting. As they use the same echo to show they are down-and-out, it is bad practice. Any play that has a double meaning is false in principle. Sometimes it does not matter, but at times the game may hang in the balance, and the leader does not know what to do if his partner's plays have a double meaning. Here is an example: No. 103 7 K 10 9 6 5 J 7 5 A Q 9 3 2 7 7 6 c?) A Q 7 2 A K 9 4 2 4) K 8 A Y Z B 7 5 4 2 K 9 8 4 3 Q 8 3 5 4 7 A Q J 8 3 (?) J 10 10 6 ^ J 10 7 6 Z bid a heart, A doubled, and Y said two hearts, so B passed. A led the king and ace of diamonds, upon which B played the eight and trey. If this means no 286 FOSTER ON AUCTION more, B can ntff, and as he must lead a club up to dummy, the game is safe. But if it means that B has the queen, and that it is Z that will ruff, the only chance is to lead the clubs now. At the tables at which B did not echo, A led the clubs, and saved the game. At the tables at which A was in doubt, he went on with the diamonds and lost the game, as Z got a club discard on the fifth spade. In playing against no-trumpers, the object of the echo is to show the leader just how many high cards are in the hand of the declarer, in that suit, and at the same time to make sm-e that the third hand does not obstruct or block a suit in which the leader is longer than third hand. If one hand holds five or six cards and the partner three, the three should be so played that the five or six have a clear field. I have always insisted that this can best be carried out by the Foster echo, which I have advocated for years. The rule is this, the third hand being the leader's partner. When the third hand makes no attempt to win the trick, he should play his second-best card of the suit, regardless of number or value. This accomphshes both objects in the defence against no-trumpers. It makes sure of unblocking the partner's suit by keeping a small card to the last, and it shows the leader what is against him. In addition to this, it instantly exposes any attempt by the declarer to deceive the leader as to the number of liigh cards in the concealed hand. The only difficulty beginners have with this play is due to inattention to the question of whether or not they are making any attempt to win the trick. If third hand holds king-queen small, and dummy puts on the ace second hand, the third hand certainly cannot make any attempt to win the trick. In such cases he must play his second-best card, the queen. Suppose the lead is a FOSTER ON AUCTION 287 queen, and third hand holds king-nine-deuce, dummy having only small cards. Third hand should play the nine, as it is not necessary for him to win his partner's queen, and the nine is the third hand's second-best. If the third hand held the ace, but not the king, he would put it on, so as not to let a possible lone king v/in the first trick. In case the player who has started this echo as third hand gets into the lead himseK, before his partner has any opportunity to continue the suit and see the com- pletion of the echo, the rule is to lead the best card he holds of his partner's suit. Having played the ten from jack, ten small, for instance, on his partner's original lead of a king, he would lead the jack; keeping the small card to be sure of unblocking the suit. The strength of this echo is in enabling the leader to miss the smallest cards of the suit in many instances, and count them as in third hand. The first part of this echo shows the situation with regard to the higher cards of the suit. The completion of the echo indicates number. The rule is that after having played the second-best to the first round, the lowest card of the suit shall always be kept until the last. If there are only three cards in the suit, such as eight, six, four, the six being played to the first round, the eight must be played to the next, keeping the four to the end. But with four in suit, the remaining second-best should be played to the second round. With eight, six, four, deuce, for example, after the six, play the four. As the rule is to keep the smallest card to the last, there must be a smaller card than the four still in hand, and one above the six. It is impossible to confuse these plays, one showing three in suit, the other four. The only uncer- tainty is between two cards and three, imless the first 288 FOSTER ON AUCTION played must be the smallest possible. This part of the play is chiefly useful in showing the leader whether or not the declarer's cards can all be caught or forced out. Here is a simple case : No. 104 * K 10 7 6 2 Q 5 4 ❖ 9 5 A K 9 5 4 2 Y 7 J 10 3 cS>J (5)9843 K7 ^^082 (i> Q 8 7 2 ^ 10 6 4 3 ^ Q 8 . cjb A Q 5 A J 10 9 6 4^ A K J Z bid no-trumps and A led the king of hearts, on which B played the three, instead of the ten. On the ace of hearts, the queen drops, but B blocks the suit with the jack, and must win the third round. When he leads a spade, Z wins with the king and makes his five clubs. On these A must throw away all his hearts to keep a guard for the diamonds and the spades. After Z gives him th& spade trick, he must lose two diamonds, so that Z goes game. If B had played his second-best heart on the first trick, and kept the trey for the third round, the six hearts in A's hand would have saved the game. This echo should be used on aU suits led by the partner, u^hether they are the first suits opened or not. A Uttle carelessness in this respect may miss an opportunity. FOSTER ON AUCTION 289 Here is a curious example of the value of this echo to a sharp player, who can trust his partner: No. 105 K Q c?) A K 10 8 6 K J ^ 10 9 8 6 J 9 3 2 * Q 9 3 A Q 10 7 2 6 K cj) 5 3 Z passed without a bid, A one spade and Y no-trump, tiusting to four spades to the ten to stop the suit, with the probability that B will be afraid to lead spades. B led the spade king, and A saw that either he had no more and Y had the suit stopped if A overtook the king, or B had another, so he let the king run. B then led the ace of diamonds, on which A played his second-best, the eight. This marks him with the nine or king, and apparently the missing six. B therefore leads the seven of diamonds and Y wins with the king, A playing the nine. There is no way for Y to make the hearts unless he first clears the clubs. As they do not drop in two rounds, he goes on, and B is in, A having discarded two hearts, so as to keep the diamond to lead to B. Instead of making his three diamonds and then losing all the rest of the tricks, B leads the deuce of diamonds, A wins it with the 290 FOSTER ON AUCTION six and makes five spade tricks. This is pretty close work for the average player, but it shows what can be done when two players give accurate information as to their hands. If a player has absolute confidence in his partner, there are many hands in which advantage can be taken of this echo which would be otherwise impossible. Here is a hand on which Z went game at every table in the room, as none of the player's holding B's cards used the echo, or else those holding A's hand did not know how to use it. No. Z bid a heart, A a spade, and Y two diamonds, B going to two spades. As no one mentioned the clubs and Y seemed to deny the hearts, Z went two no-trumps. As A's spade suit v/as not solid, and Z must have it stopped, he had the king of clubs first, to have a look, but chiefly to show B his re-entry. Following the usual cus- tom, B played the deuce of clubs, and A continued with the eight of spades, and Y made five diamonds, upon which B discarded a club and a heart, A two small clubs, Z three FOSTER ON AUCTION 291 small hearts. After making his two hearts and finding A had none, Z put him in with the club and made the last trick with the king of spades, going game with three odd. If B plays the jack of clubs on A's first lead, A must read him for the queen, or no more, which is impossible, if Z has five hearts and the spades stopped; and besides, the deuce is missing. To get the spade lead through Z, A can safely lead a small club, win Z's spade, and lead another small club, getting another spade lead from B, as B will have won the second club lead with the ten, which A does not know he holds. This sets the contract. There are some unblocking plays at no-trumps which are comparatively obvious. If the leader starts out with the ace of a suit, for instance, and third hand has king or queen and only one small, he should give up the higher card at once, so as not to block the suit. The leader must have three honors, or a very long suit. Help him to clear I it up by giving him the right of way. Many good players [lead the ace first, when holding seven in suit to the ace- jking. This is to induce the partner to give up the queen at once if he has it, to show that the declarer does not hold it. With three in suit, the second-best will do as well, of THE MIDDLE GAME After the first trick, when dummy's cards are exposed, various situations arise, which the partners opposed to the declaration must be prepared to meet. Among these are the many hands in which they will be forced to discard, perhaps several times. The player who can always keep the right card until the last trick is an expert. There has been a good deal of discussion about the discard. Some believe in making it a universal rule to discard from weakness; others always from strength. Time and experience have about settled this controversy in favor of the discard from the suit you are not afraid of, and holding any suit that has a possible stopper in it. Apart from this, the only matter to be attended to is to avoid betraying the partner's hand by going void of a suit altogether before it is led. If you are fortunate enough to have a suit that you are not afraid of, such as five cards to the ace-king-jack, and another of three to a jack, you may be sure it is not your strong suit that the declarer is going to attack when he has done with the suit on which you have to discard, but your httle jack-high suit. It is an axiom that queen in one hand, jack in the other, either twice guarded, will stop a suit, no matter how the ace-king-ten and others lie or are managed, provided the queen or jack is never played second hand or led away from. Any person can take a pack of cards and demon- strate the truth of this statement, which suggests the importance of keeping either part of the combination 292 FOSTER ON AUCTION 293 intact, in the hope that the partner may have the other part. Here is an example of bad discarding, as it violates this rule: No. 107 7 * Q 10 9 6 4 Q 7 4 2 Q 8 ^ Q 8 A 7 3 A K 7 6 4 2 A J 10 4 8 2 K J 10 9 J 5 3 K 9 6 2 Z bid no-trmnp and A led a small heart, which Z won. The return of the suit made the jack in dummy. Dimamy led a spade, and the finesse of the ten went to A's queen. Then A cleared the hearts. On this trick B discarded a small diamond, instead of a club. The second finesse in spades held, but Z could not drop the king, so he started the diamonds and made a little slam. If B discards the suit he is not afraid of, and keeps three to a jack, hoping his partner may have the other end of the protection, the queen, he saves not only the slam but the game. This is a protective discard, but the discard is largely used to indicate a suit to the partner. There are two varieties in common use, the encouraging discard and the reverse discard. Any card above a six is supposed to show protection in that suit, and encourage the partner to lead it, or at least to trust its protection to the one who makes 294 FOSTER ON AUCTION the discard. The reverse discard practically demands that the suit be led as soon as the partner gets in, unless he has some tricks of his own to make first. These discards are sometimes valuable in showing the partner who is in doubt as to which of two suits to keep, that he may abandon one of them entirely, and trust his partner to protect it. Here is an example: No. 108 ^ K 9 7 5 cSb Q 9 5 4 2 8 6 5 ^ 8 ^ Q4: Y ^ A J 10 8 cJ^JlOS p.*87 OJ 10 943 0Q2 (J) Q 10 3 ^ ^ K 7 6 4 2 6 3 2 * A K 6 A K 7 ^ A J 9 5 Z bid no trump and A led a diamond, which Z won. Five club tricks followed. B^s first discard was the eight of hearts, and the next was the seven of spades, then the small diamond. A smaller spade would have been a command to lead spades, which he must avoid. These discards encouraged A to let go both his hearts. Z dis- carded a diamond and a heart and then led the spade, finessing the jack. A cleared the diamonds, B discarding the ten of hearts. Z led ace and another spade, hoping to throw the lead to B, but A's ten held, and he made three diamond tricks, saving the game. FOSTER ON AUCTION 295 It is sometimes important that the partner should lead the right suit at the right time, and that he should be in no doubt about its being the only thing to do. In such cases the reverse discard comes into play. This discard is also used, but sparingly, when there is no card above a six available for the single encouraging discard. The reverse is seldom used in trump contracts, but often against no-trumpers. Here is an example of it: No. 109 ^ A Q 6 3 2 * Q 7 6 J 6 5 K 9 Z bid a spade and A led three rounds of diamonds. Z trumped, led a small trump to dummy's king, and played the ace on the return. Then he led the jack, to prevent A from making his small trump, if possible. At all the tables at which B had discarded a small club and then the diamond, A led through dummy's hearts, and Z went game, after pulhng A's eight of trumps, so that A was disappointed in his hope of saving game with a club trick. At every table at which B used the reverse discard and played the five and deuce of clubs on the 296 FOSTER ON AUCTION trump leads, A led the king of clubs and discarded his fourth diamond on the third round. After making his three club tricks, B led the ten of diamonds. Now there is no way to prevent A from making his eight of trumps. Instead of going game, the spade contract is set for one trick. There are a number of situations in which the partners will be called upon to defend themselves against suits led through them. If the lead is from declarer to dummy, there should be no difficulty, the rule being to beat dunmay if you can, just as if your partner led the suit. When there is a trump suit, it is very dangerous to allow dummy to win a trick with a singly guarded queen if the second hand holds the king, as the declarer may win the second round with the ace and dummy may trump the king. The best rule for the second hand, when the lead of a small card comes from dummy, is to play a high card from any combination from which a high card would be led. That is, to play high as distinguished from low. With ace-king, play the king, or with king-queen, play the queen, with queen-jack, the jack, always trying to win the trick as cheaply as possible. Just as leads from ace-queen suits are avoided, so it is advisable to avoid playing them second hand. Play small, and hold the tenace over&he declarer. Cover an honor with an honor is a good rule, but it is useless to put the queen on a jack if you hold both ace and queen. Play the ace or pass it up. That is the only chance to make both ace and queen. With king to four it is so improbable that the honor can be caught, that it is uesless to play it. If the declarer can catch it, make him do so. Do not give it to him. Alv/ays cover with a fourchette. This is the card above and the one below the card led. The queen-ten is a four- FOSTER ON AUCTION 297 chette over the jack, led through it. Even a nine on an eight, when holding the seven also, may save a trick. Some players always cover with an imperfect fourchette, which is the card above and the next but one below the card led. The king-ten and others is an im.perfect fourchette over the queen. The queen-nine over the jack. It is very important to force the declarer to play two honors to win one trick, whenever possible. Weak players frequently lead a queen to an ace, or ace-jack; or a jack to an ace-queen suit, without the ten. We shall come to this in the declarer's play. When such a lead is made, the second hand must play the king if he has it, even though he sees it is lost, or the declarer gains by his bad play. The object is to make the ten good in the partner's hand, if he has it. If he has nothing, nothing is lost by covering, any more than if the declarer held the ten, as well as ace- queen-jack. Here is an example of this error in failing to force the declarer to play two honors to get one trick: No. 110 ^652 ($> A J 8 7 6 Q 8 4 4^ 5 4 7 K 7 4 K 5 4 3 2 K J 9 8 7 A Y Z B Q 10 9 10 3 2 J 10 9 7 Q 6 3 ^ A J 8 3 9 8 7 2 Spade 4 led. Spade 10 played ^ Q 6 4 K J 5 A 5 3 2 ^ A 5 3 The third hand played the ten, the declarer, Z, winning the trick with the ace. It is manifestly impossible to win the game unless he can make all dummy's clubs; but the question presents itseK, shall he try to drop the clubs in two leads by catching the queen, or shall he take the finesse? If the finesse, against which player? The answer Hes in counting the leader's hand for at least one club, therefore his partner cannot hold three to the queen, and A is the player to finesse against. A starts FOSTER ON AUCTION 337 with a four-card suit, K Q 6 4. He cannot have held K Q J, or he would have led the king, so B has the jack. Then A has no five-card suit to open, so he must have at least one club, and may have all three. Here is an example of a point that at least 99 players out of 100 would never think of. The situation developed is this : The dealer, Z, starts with a bid of no-trump; A bids two hearts, which all pass, and Y leads the queen of clubs, his partner playing the eight. The declarer. A, wins with the ace, reading the lead as from Q J 9. A high trump is won by the ace in Z's hand, and that player, probably with a view to going as far as possible to saving the game, leads out the ace of spades and then the ace of diamonds, getting small cards from his partner on both leads. He follows with the spade jack, on which A puts the king and leads two winning trumps. On both these Y follows suit, but Z discards a diamond on the second trump lead. The next lead is the club seven, on which Y plays the nine. This is the situation up to this point: No. 133 4> K Q J A 7 6 K 6 K 7 10 7 3 8 5 K 10 5 4 3 9 3 2 9 3 Even a very clever player would allow his first impres- sion to persist at this point, that the original lead was 338 FOSTER ON AUCTION from Q J 9, and that the finesse of the club ten in dummy's hand was obvious. But the player with a real genius for the game puts on the king, being absolutely certain that the jack of clubs is with Z. He arrives at this conclusion by correcting his first impression of the club situation on comparing it with the bids and the play. The dealer, Z, started with one no-trump, and has shown three aces. He had only two hearts. Then his remaining ten cards are all spades and diamonds. With five or more spades to the ace-jack-ten, shown by his leads, he would never have bid no-trump in the first place with only one club. If he has only fom* spades, he must have six diamonds, and would never have let A hold the contract for two hearts with such a holding. Therefore, he must have had two clubs. To finesse the ten of clubs would just miss going game on the hand. Z's actual holding was four spades to the A J 10, and five diamonds to the A J 10, two clubs and two hearts. Y held three queens, and led the one that had only one guard to it, thinking it might support his partner, who had bid no-trump. Here is the third example, from a duphcate match: No. 134 7 Q 8 6 5 c?) J 2 Q J 8 ^ A 8 6 2 J 4 3 c?) A 10 6 4 (i> 37 8 6 4 3 A Y Z B 7 A 9 7 K 7 A K 7 5 K 10 9 4 K 10 2 c?D Q 9 5 10 9 3 2 4^ Q 5 3 FOSTER ON AUCTION 339 The bidding was the same at each of the ten tables at which this deal was played. Z dealt and passed, A called the clubs, and B went no-trump. At nine tables B made the odd trick and 30 aces, scoring 40 points. At the tenth table B went game, getting three odd, and adding the bonus of 125, scoring 185. The opening lead was the same at ail, the small dia- mond, B's king killing the jack. To the average player, it seems impossible to make the clubs unless the Q J hap- pen to be in the same hand, unguarded. This is the chance taken at nine tables, and it failed. The player who went game on the hand reads the situation this way: Z has opened a suit of only four cards, ten high. His holding is probably three three- card suits with an honor at the head of each, as the honors in all the suits seem to be split up, neither adver- sary having a bid. B can see seven tricks easily, or eight if both spade queen and ace are with Y, or the queen with Y and the ace with Z. No matter how the spades lie, game is impossible unless dummy can make three clubs. If the spades he badly, four clubs are needed. The only way to make those clubs is to let them alone, and try to coax the adversaries to lead the suit, and at the same time to keep them off the hearts. If they play the hand perfectly it cannot be done; but it is always better to play for the improbable than for the impossible. The thing to do is to let them make ail their diamonds and spades, and get them down to a situation where the guess wiU be between the club and the heart. If Z is in the lead with the long diamond, he may guess the wrong suit, and if the club honors are split, no matter how, B goes game. It took at least two minutes to think this aU out before leading a card for the second trick. Then B led a small 340 FOSTER ON AUCTION spade, and Y let the jack hold. On the return of the spade, B played the nine, following out his plan of letting all the diamonds make. Z won this trick with the queen of spades and led the three of diamonds, B kilhng the queen with the ace. Another spade forced the ace and the eight of diamonds was returned, which Z w^on with the nine. On both these tricks dummy discarded clubs, hoping to make it appear that the suit was useless. When Z led the ten of diamonds, dummy discarded a heart, as he must now get four tricks in clubs, the spade situation hav- ing turned out unfavorably. Y discarded the losing spade. Z is now down to two three-card suits and has to guess, and just as B planned from the very first trick, he guessed wrong, leading the smaU club, which allowed B to kill the jack with the king and finesse the ten on the return, on the strength of his original reading of Z's hand as an honor in each suit. At the end, the ace of hearts brought in the fourth spade and won the game. These are only a few scattered examples of the way the real expert gets tricks that seem impossible to the average player, but they are probably enough to justify the old saying; auction really begins where the text-books leave off. In addition to these examples of the play, there is also the psychological element in the bidding, which no one can teach or explain, as it varies infinitely with the person using it, and with those at the card table at the time. There are those who can judge to a nicety just how far an opponent is likely to go, if he is pushed up a bit by what is reaUy very unsound bidding on the part of the pusher, and would be not only dangerous but expensive if indulged in against an adversary of different caHbre. Some players seem to take it as a personal affront if they are overcaUed more than once, and will go on without stopping to recon- sider the situation. FOSTER ON AUCTION 341 There are players who take long chances with hands of a certain type. For instance, a player with a fine no- trumper, but void of a suit, will start by bidding that suit, not so much to see who has it, but to dissuade the adversary on his left from leading that suit, after the con- tract has been shifted to no-trumps. The risk is that he will be left in, if it is a major suit, in which case his partner may have enough to make the contract, or even the game. The lesser risk is that the person on the left may also be a psychological player, and will lead the first named suit anyhow. Very few players have the ability to visualize the cards held by others at the table, simply from their bids, and to see, not the suit they are bidding on, but what they have or have not outside that suit. The fourth-hand bids in Hands No. 87 and 88 in this book are examples of psy- chological bidding in its elementary form. It is not sound bidding, nor conservative bidding, nor rash bidding that wins. Sound bidding is the basis on v^hich psychological bids lay their course as a point of departure. It is the adroit admixture of all three stjdes, varied according to the company one is in, that wins at auction. The ability to judge accurately the strength or weakness of an opponent, is a gift. No one can teach it. No book can explain it. Among players of the highest class, the bidding is only guided, not controlled, by the cards they hold. It is not so much how far it is safe to go that they consider, as it is the calibre of the players on each side of them — yes, and the one opposite. You cannot take a trick with the deuce by pretending you have the ace; but you can often get a contract by pretending you have a certain suit. In many respects auction resembles poker, so far as the bidding goes, and auction is a bidding game; hence its 342 FOSTER ON AUCTION name. The struggle for the winning declaration, when it is a close thing, often depends more on good judgment of human nature than on the cards in the hand. The bids bear much the same relation to the play of the hand as the plan of a campaign does to the actual fighting in the field; whether it be football or war; baseball or business. The bidding is the strategy to secure the winning posi- tion; of settKng upon what ground the battle shall be fought, and what shall be the forces engaged; no-trumps, or trumps, and what trumps. Superior fighting abihty counts for httle or nothing if the commander-in-chief has bungled in the selection of the place, or has sent an insuffi- cient force to the encounter. The charge of the Light Brigade did not win anything. It is the same in auction. No matter how skilfully the hand may be played, if the declarer has bungled in his selection of a contract, or has undertaken one for which the forces at his command are not equal, or is play- ing the attack when he should have been on the defensive, his skill in the play of the cards is of no avail. He is beaten before the first trick is turned down. It is the business of his opponents to force him into a false posi- tion by their skiU in bidding tactics, making him give battle on ground which is practically selected by them. It is this jockejdng for position that is the great charm of auction, and no system of play that eliminates it will ever be popular. We might as weU go back to bridge, in which the play of the hands was everything. The so- caUed Par Auction hands tried to eHminate the bidding and make it aU in the play; but the experiment was a failure. That more than haK the game of auction is in the bids has been shown by the weakness at auction of many who were almost unbeatable at bridge, and by the success of others at auction who never shone at the bridge table. PART III RECENT VARIATIONS CONTRACT BRIDGE Among the recent suggestions for novelties in the way of variations from the standard game of auction, as covered by the present laws, there is one which seems to promise a more permanent following than any of its pre- decessors, and that is Contract Bridge. This is precisely the same as the regular game of auction so far as the bidding and play is concerned, the only differ- ence being in the methods of scoring, the game deriving its name from the fact that the contract limits the number of tricks that can be scored toward game. As at first proposed and played, the value of any tricks over the contract were put in the honor column at their usual value, so that if a player bid two spades and made four, with simple honors, he scored 18 below the line, toward game, and 36 above. Many thought this not enough, as the game lost interest as soon as the contract was safe, the few extra honor points not being worth the time and energj^ expended on them. This led at first to making all over-tricks worth 50 each, regardless of the declaration, 100 if doubled, 200 if re- doubled. This again led to players scheming to get con- tracts so cheaply that they would have enough over- tricks to overbalance the value of winning the game. In Canada, they have settled on 10 points for all over-tricks; but that is hardly enough to keep up the interest, although it is better than 50. 343 344 FOSTER ON AUCTION The next improvement was to cut out all honor scores for less than four in one hand; such trifles as simple honors, or four between partners, not being worth the trouble of adding them up and setthng disputes about them, in a game where the rubbers averaged about 750 points. The calls have their regular values; clubs 6, diamonds 7, hearts 8, spades 9, and no-trumps 10. For little slam 50 is added and for grand slam 100; but if either of these is bid and made, the bonus for httle slam is 250, instead of 50, and for grand slam, 500, instead of 100. It is not often that these calls can be made, but they are exciting when they are, as they lose just that much if they fail. For winning a game the partners add 100 immediately, and for winning the rubber 300, so that a rubber won in two games is worth 400; in three, 300. Some important changes in the scoring have been made with regard to penalties, the object being to check reckless bidding, and the tendency of optimistic players to keep the flag flying by bidding their hands away beyond their true value. The result of this wild bidding was to make the rubbers inconveniently long, which was one of the first objections to the game. The remedy for this has been found in a graduated scale of penalties for failure to make the contract. For the fii'st trick down, it is now 50 points; for the second, 100, and for every trick beyond that, 150. These penalties are doubled if the bid is doubled. This makes it cost a player who goes down four tricks 450 points, or 900 if the contract is doubled. With regard to the revoke, there has lately been a steady and gradually increasing rebellion against an indefinitely varying penalty for an error which is never committed on purpose, and seldom makes any difference in the result. It is admitted on all hands that the only FOSTER ON AUCTION 345 punishment for a player who would revoke on purpose is ostracism, not penalty tricks. The laws of the game are not made for crooks. It has long been recognized that it is most unjust for any penalty to be retroactive, and the American Whist League have recognized this principle in legislating that no revoke can affect tricks taken before the revoke occurred. In auction, under the present code, a player may win eleven tricks straight, but if he revokes on the twelfth he loses everything, and is penalized into the bargain, an injustice which is too apparent to need com- ment. The revoke penalty for contract oridge has therefore been made two actual tricks, to be taken from the side in error and added to their opponent's tricks ; but in no case shall the infliction of this penalty deprive the revoking players of any tricks taken by them before the revoke was made. This simplifies matters in many ways, the score being made up as the tricks lie after the penalty tricks have been transferred, except that tricks taken as revoke penalties carry no bonus if the contract was doubled. The rule makes it still possible for a player to revoke, pay the penalty, and still win the game, if he has enough tricks left. The old rule was practically an insult to everyone, in assuming that any player would revoke on purpose if he thought it would be to his advantage. All other rules, such as for bidding or leading out of turn, exposed cards and so forth, remain just as at auction. The tactics of the game are still in the elementary stage, and there seems to be considerable difference of opinion among the various writers on the subject of contract as to the best method of declaring, whether to play safe, avoid- ing no-trumpers unless unusually strong, and calling nothing but sure tricks. 346 FOSTER ON AUCTION One thing appears certain, however, and that is the increased value of the partial score; because it is much safer to bid twice and make the contract each time to reach game, than it is to risk bidding game on one deal and getting set. The average number of deals to a rubber at contract is about seven, as against five at auction. The chief objection to the new game seems to come entirely from the older players of auction, who are natur- ally conservative and dislike to change their habits. They think they are masters of auction as at present played; why try something new? The same argument was urged against bridge when whist was all the rage, and later against auction when everyone was playing bridge. An effort was made as early as 1917 to get contract some recognition by the committee on laws in America, and again in 1920. The reason it was turned down is stated in these words by the chairman of the committee in the preface to this year's code: Auction, as it stands, gives the expert sufficient advantage. Contract auction would almost legislate the poor bidder out of the game. It might make auction more attractive to the few, but must do so at the expense of the many." It is difficult to see the logic of this argument, which seems to be based on the assumption that the average rubber is made up of two good bidders against two poor ones, and that they never change partners. The fact is that about 99 out of every 100 rubbers are played by per- sons of about equal ability. If the only objection to con- tract is the advantage of superior ability in the bidding, who is going to be legislated out of the game when the four players are equal? These law makers seem to overlook the fact that poor players can hold good cards, and that if they are not lucky in this respect they still like to play. The poor FOSTER ON AUCTION 347 player always has a speculative chance. No matter how much his game may be criticized by alleged experts, some of whom are nothing but book-players, he is not afraid to cut into a rubber at auction against the best of them. He not only plays at every opportunity, but seems to get as much fun out of the game as anyone. All he wants is a little luck with the cards, and he does not care a rap about the superior skill that is shy on aces and kings. Contract bridge is unquestionably a much more lively game than auction, and offers abundant opportunities for the bold and speculative player, whether he is a poor bidder or not. There are so many hands in which one is tempted to bid enough to score game, just because game cannot be made unless you bid it, that one can often be coaxed or driven into a trick more than the hand is worth. It is the bidding, more than the play, that wins at contract, and the bidding is the part that the specu- lative player enjoys. He does not care for rules, but pays much more attention to human nature. At contract the advantage of the expert is greatly overrated, because unless he has an expert for a partner he will find there is a great deal of truth in the axiom that the strength of any partnership is measured by the ability of the weaker player. The game is too young yet to furnish many examples of good bidding and play; but illustrations of the possibihties are not wanting. Here is a deal from a rubber in which the only poor player at the table was supposed to be the one that held A's cards. So far from contract legis- lating him out of the game, he won all the money, and did it against superior holding right along. It is a very interesting hand, originally pubHshed in ^'Vanity Fair." 348 FOSTER ON AUCTION No. 135 6 A A K Q 8 This was the second game, A and B having won the first. Z dealt and bid no-trump. (The theorists on con- tract think this is an unsafe bid, and that Z should call the clubs.) A said two spades, totally disregarding the rule not to bid against no-trumpers when you have the lead, but Y was going to call the hearts in any case. Now he had to bid three. B and Z passed. A good bidder in A 's position would undoubtedly pass. He would argue that in view of the original call, and B's refusal to help the spades, Y would probably make three hearts easily enough, but that even if he made four or five, he could not win the game, as he could not score toward game more than he had bid. To push them up to four hearts by bidding more spades would give Y the game if he made it, and an equal chance for the rubber on the next deal. On the other hand, if the three-spade pusher were doubled, A might be set any- where from 100 to 1000 points. Why take such a risk when the rubber would be still in the market, with the FOSTER ON AUCTION 349 odds still 3 to 1 against Y and Z winning it, if A passed up the three-heart call? But A was not a player of the calibre to take all these things into consideration, and went right ahead with the spades, bidding three. This Y doubled, B passed, and Z probably thought they would make more in penalties than in pursuing hearts, as this was not the rubber game for them. As it happens, had Z gone to four hearts, the contract would have been set; but Y could have made three. The hand was played at three spades. Y led the hearts and A trumped the return of the queen, leading ace and another diamond, giving dummy a ruff. A club put A in again and dummy got another ruff on diamonds. Then A trumped a heart himself and led the fourth diamond. Y put in the jack of trumps to shut out the ten, dummy discarding his last heart. It being quite clear that Z had no spades, Y led the ace and another to get two for one, and also to exhaust dummy, figuring to make his nine of trumps on the club, which dummy would have to lead next. But A overtook the ten with the queen, pulled Y's trump and made the fifth diamond. This gave him his contract, at double value, the game, and the rubber, against a hand that was invinc- ible for four odd at no-trumps, and would make a httle slam against a player who opened a small spade. We play cards for amusement, and usually with our equals. If there is more amusement in contract than in auction, partly on account of its novelty, partly on account of its variety, people are going to play it. The older players may have nothing to do with it, but if the younger generation take it up before they get so fasci- nated by auction that they cannot see any other game, it is bound to become more popular every day; not in the clubs perhaps, but in the family circle and social life. 350 FOSTER ON AUCTION It took bridge four years to supplant whist, and auction about the same time to take the place of bridge. It is quite possible that within a year or so contract will super- sede auction, especially if the only objection to it is the theoretical one that the better bidders would have it ail their own way. In many respects contract is a better game than auction, and appears to be the best variation so far invented. When used in connection with the two games about to be described, it adds largely to their interest in many hands. STOP-GAP AUCTION It is unfortunate that four players are not always avail- able when one wants to make up a rubber, but Mr. Walter Nettleton, of Stockbridge, Mass., has suggested an excel- lent scheme for passing the time until the fourth player arrives. He calls it "Stop-Gap Bridge," and it is undoubtedly the best form of the game for three players. Dummy-up is a further improvement, to be described presently. The objection to the usual form of three-hand auction is that the game cannot be stopped and the scores satis- factorily settled the moment a four h player appears. In stop-gap, every deal is a game in itself. The three players cut for choice of seats and cards as usual, and the first deal. One sits opposite the first dealer, the other on his right. Four hands are dealt, that on the dealer's left remaining face down. The dealer has the first say, to bid or pass. If he passes, the player opposite has a chance, and then the third player; but no matter who makes the first call it must be in suit, never no-trumps, and always for one trick only. This is to shut out speculative no-trumpers, and original shut- outs of two or three, which are so common in the older forms of three-hand auction. Once the bidding is started, however, there are no restrictions on overcaUing or doubhng. One can still gamble on the dummy. There being no partial scores toward game, all the points made on the hand are put down in a lump sum, the scores being kept in three vertical columns, one for each player. If the declarer succeeds in winning 30 or 351 352 FOSTER ON AUCTION more trick points, he adds a bonus of 200 for winning a game. If he fails, each adversary is separately credited with the amount, or with any difference, if both sides score. For example, the contract is one heart and the declarer makes it, but finds simple honors against him. His adversaries each score 8 points for the difference. One no-trump made against 30 aces would give each adversary 20 points, the declarer nothing. Four spades doubled and set one, less four honors, would give each adversary 64 points, the declarer nothing. Suppose the bid is three no-trumps, which is made with 40 aces. The declarer takes 270 in a lump. The moment a fourth player appears, if a deal is in progress, but no bid made, it is abandoned and the scores added up, each winning from each of the others the difference. There being no minus scores, all plus, the settlement is simple if the odd points are thrown off, leaving only the hundreds. If we suppose this shows A to win 15; B, 8; and C, 4; then A wins 18; 7 from B and 11 from C; while B loses 7 to A and wins 4 from C, leaving him 4 minus. C loses the rest, 15. There is considerable skiU in this game in judging when to bid for the contract, and when to show your prospective partner what you have or what you want him to lead, if you do not get the contract, remembering that the dummy wiU be placed opposite the declarer, and between his two adversaries. The player to the left of the declarer having the lead, just as in four-hand auction. Some players are very skillful in judging what is in the dummy by what is bid. For example, if one bids a club and the other a heart, if you are short in spades, you may be pretty sure there is some spade strength in the dummy. DUMMY-UP This variety of auction was originally intended for three players, and was suggested by the appearance of Mr. Nettleton's Stop-gap Bridge. It is in many ways a better game than stop-gap, as it entirely eliminates the uncertainties of that game. It was developed by a coterie of players at the Irondequoit Club at Piseco Lake, in the Adirondacks, during the summer of 1921. Four hands are dealt, the one to the left of the dealer being turned face up before a bid is made. The dealer then has the first say, and with the fact in view that if he gets the contract the dummy's thirteen cards will be placed opposite him, and between his two adversaries, he can bid as much as he hkes, or he can pass. If he passes, the player to his left bids; or can overcall if the dealer has bid. Every deal is a complete game in itself and the scores are entered in a lump, there being three vertical columns, one for each player. For winning game on the deal, 100 bonus is added, 50 for little slam, and 100 for grand slam. If there is a score for both sides, such as three no-trumps and game against 30 aces, the declarer takes the differ- ence only, 100 points, which is for the game won. If he is set two tricks after being doubled, but holds four honors in one hand in hearts, each adversary takes 136 points, the declarer nothing. Although intended for three players, this game was found to be equally interesting for four, the dealer's cards being the ones turned face up, and the player to his left having the first bid. In this form of the game, the 353 354 FOSTER ON AUCTION dealer takes no part in either bidding or play, but shares the fortunes of the player who gets his cards for his dummy, although those cards are moved to their proper position between the two adversaries, in case the final bid is not made by the one opposite the dealer, when the dummy would be already in its proper position. The details of the scoring for four players differ from those adopted for three only, because the winning scores are put down twice over, both the declarer and his part- ner, the dealer, being credited with the amount won; or both opponents with the amount lost. In regular auction, partners are never changed, but in dummy-up the dealer may have one partner one time and another partner another time. For this reason, to get at the same average value as in an ordinary rubber at auction, the final scores should be cut in half. Then each wins or loses to the others the difference. In the regular rubber at auction, four players, two against two, no individual player can win or lose more than the actual score in tricks, honors, penalties, or whatever it is. As the scores in dumm^^-up are kept in double entry, players would win or pay double if the final accounting was not cut in half. If we take the following as the final addition, after throwing off the odd figures and leaving only hundreds; we settle thus: A +16 4- 7 from B + 2 from C + 5 from D B + 9 - 7toA - 5toC - 2toD C • +14 - 2toA + 5 from B + 3 from C D + 11 - 5toA + 2 from B - 3toC +14 -14 - 6 FOSTER ON AUCTION 355 When halved, this shows that B pays A 700, while D pays C 300, this being the result in hundreds. In regular auction two scores are put down each time, one winning the other losing. In dummy-up, nothing but the winnings are put down. Dummy-up is a great educator for the bidding element in the regular rubber, the outstanding feature of the new- game being the opportunity afforded each player to cal- culate pretty closely how many tricks he can win with the exposed hand for his dummy, when placed betv/een his two adversaries, and the best declaration for the two hands picked out. The peculiarity of the bidding is that the competition is often more for the big suit shown in the dunamy than it is to get one's own suit for the trump. If the first bidder has no hope of getting the contract, not being strong enough to bid down the probable opposition, he should caU his ovm suit, not dummy's, if he has anything worth while, so that his partner-to-be against the declaration shall know where his defensive strength hes. The defen- sive caU can readily be recognized by the difference between calling dummy's strong suit, and caUing one in which dummy has httle or nothing. With a strong hand, and hopes of eventually landing the contract, there are three ways to start the bidding. One is to caU the suit, or no-trumps, best suited to the twenty-six cards in sight, and to bid the Hmit at once. Another way is to call a minor suit, regard- less of the holding, to induce bids in other suits, so as to discover where the strength in those suits lies. This may be important if guarded kings may be led through. The third way is to pass, and let some one else start the bidding, but this seldom produces satis- factory results, as your partner wiU have no con- 356 FOSTER ON AUCTION fidence in your secondary bids if you finally fail to land the contract. As the bidding and play is precisely the same whether there are only three players at the table or four, an example of the bidding and play in one hand will serve to illustrate the tactics in both games. No. 136 ^ Q 8 cjb A K Q 8 7 3 10 8 6 2 ❖ S? 10 97 Y 7AKJ652 * 10 , * ^ OAKQ73 J54 ^ A 7 3 2 ^ 4) Q 10 8 7 4 3 cj) J 6 5 4 2 9 4^ K J 9 5 4 Z dealt, and A's cards are exposed, sorted into suits. This is usually done by the player opposite the dealer, who will have time to sort his own cards while the dealer is studying the situation. Z sees that if he gets the con- tract in spades and dummy is placed between Y and B, he must lose one club and two hearts, as any discards seem hopeless. It is also doubtful if he can go game unless he catches the queen of spades; but he takes that chance and bids four spades. Y overcalls this with five diamonds. With A's cards for his dummy all he should lo^e is two heart tricks. He might even be lucky enough to get a heart discard if clubs or spades were led, as trumps would be exhausted at once, and dununy could shed hearts on the clubs if the clubs were split. It is now B's turn to figure up his chances. Everything FOSTER ON AUCTION 357 turns on the spade finesse, and catching the queen of hearts, if he bids five hearts. If the hearts drop, the spade finesse will not be needed, unless Z leads the suit, which is very unhkely, as he must hold the king. B called five hearts. This Z doubled, correctly inferring that Y must have a big club suit to justify his bid of five diamonds. But for the danger that Y had no spades, and would trump the first trick, B would have redoubled. As B is the declarer, A's cards remain where they are, with Z to lead. Z opened the club, which Y won, return- ing the spade. Dummy killed the nine with the ace, drew the trumps without any finesse being necessary, and discarded both B's losing spades on the diamonds, making a little slam, scored as 378 plus points for B ; nothing for Y or Z. The tricks are worth 96, at doubled value; 32 in honors; 50 for httle slam; 100 for the fulfilled contract and a trick over, and 100 bonus for game. In many hands, of course, a player's cards will be such that any bid is hopeless, but it is important to remember that if one does not get the contract, one will get a partner. Here is a good example of bidding with that in view. No. 137 7 10 9 9 8 7 5 A K Q 8 7 ^10 7 6 5 (§5 6 2 6 2 4i A J B 9 8 4 2 A Y Z B K74 c?) A K Q 10 a 5 4 ^ A Q J 3 2 * J 4 J 10 9 3 4^ 6 5 358 FOSTER ON AUCTION Z dealt and turned up A's cards. In spite of the attrac- tive spade suit, it is clearly impossible for Z to get rid of his losers in clubs and diamonds in time to make more than two by cards with spades for trumps. The same is true if he calls hearts; but as hearts are his best defensive suit he calls them, bidding one. As this is not the strong suit shown in the dummy, the defensive nature of the bid is evident to both Y and B. Y sees that if he calls the spades, the limit of possibility for his cards would be to find the diamonds spht and to lose only one trick in spades. He judges from Z's bid that the top spades are with B, and that the A J 10 finesse would lose only one trick. On the other hand he stands to lose tv>ro hearts, as that is the suit B will lead to Z, when dummy is placed between them, and he might lose two clubs on the shift. As this shows him that game is impossible, and as that is the only thing worth striving for, Y follows Z's tactics and calls his best defensive suit, two diamonds. This bid saves the game, because if B is allowed to bid no-trumps, and Z leads anything but a diamond, B not only goes game but makes a httle slam. The defensive diamond call spoils this chance, as Y would lead the hearts through B's guarded king, after making his dia- monds. The same bid by Y makes game impossible in spades, as he would lose two diamonds and three hearts. This switches B's tactics from trying to go game to making a profit by defeating the diamond call, which he doubles, as he knows he can count on Z as his partner for the hearts. With the dummy between them, B and Z set the diamond contract for two tricks, less simple honors, B leading the club king to show his suit, and then the king of hearts. Z won the second heart lead and returned the club jack. FOSTER ON AUCTION 359 This B overtook, and led a third club, hoping Z could over-trump dummy. Z trumped and led the trump, and nothing could prevent B from making two more tricks in the black suits. This looks as if Y lost money by his diamond bid; but when the score is put down all he loses is 200, less simple honors, 186. Had he passed, and B called no-tromps, Z would have led the heart queen, having no reentry, and B would have scored 210 points. The difference, how- ever, Kes in the fact that the single player, the declarer, wins or loses double, so that it actually cost Y 372 points to call the diamonds. Had Z been left with his contract, one heart, he would have made it. There is nothing so well calculated to improve a per- son's bidding as this game of dummy-up, the analj^sis of the possibilities of the combined hands being infinitely better than the usual gambling on the dummy that char- acterises the ordinary game of three-hand auction, in which there are more contracts that fail than those that go game. By adding the ''contract" featiu-e to dummy-up, many interesting situations are developed. In the last example given, for instance. No. 137, if there were a bonus for caUing a little slam, B would have taken that chance if Y had not shown his diamonds, so that if the game were contract dummy-up, A would save about 40 points by his two- diamond bid. In dunamy-up there are many oppor- tunities for caUing slams, and when it lies between five tricks and six it often pays to run the risk. THE LAWS OF AUCTION Revised to September, 1920 Copyright, 1920, by The Whist Club, N. Y. Reprinted by permission How Played 1. The game of Auction is played by four players, two against two playing as partners. Two partners constitute a side. Cards 2. Two packs ^ of cards having different backs are used. A correct pack contains four suits of thirteen cards each; one card of each denomination to a suit. A pack becomes imperfect when one or more cards are torn, soiled or otherwise so marked that they may be identified from their backs. Rank of Cards 3. In the play, Ace is high, then King, Queen, Jack, Ten, etc.; Deuce being lowest. In drawing cards, Ace is low, then Deuce, Trey, etc.; King being highest. Rank of Suits 4. In the declaration, 2 Spades are high. Hearts next, Diamonds next and Clubs lowest. In drawing cards, as between cards of equal denomination, Spades are low. Hearts next, Diamonds next, and Clubs highest. Lead 5. The player at the left of Declarer leads ^ to the first trick * and thereafter the winner of each trick leads to the next. 1 The game may be played with one pack, legal provisions requiring two packs being suspended by consent. 2 In the declaration, No Trump ranks above any suit. 3 A player leads or plays by placing one of his cards face upward near the center of the table. * The first lead of a hand, when legally made, is called the initial lead. 361 362 FOSTER ON AUCTION Tkick 6. After the lead, each player in his turn to the left plays * a card. A trick consists of four cards thus played. Following Suit 7. A player must follow suit, i.e., must play a card of the suit led if he have one. When leading, or when void of the suit led, he may play any card he holds. ^ Winning the Trick 8. A trick is won for his side by the player who, (a) if the trick does not contain a trump, ^ plays the highest card of the suit led; or who (b) plays the highest trump, if the trick contain one or more trumps. A trick once turned and quitted ^ may not be looked at * until the end of the hand. Odd Tricks 9. Odd tricks are those won by Declarer in excess of six tricks. If Declarer fulfil his contract, his side counts the value of all odd tricks; otherwise nothing is counted in the trick score. Trick Values 10. Odd tricks count in the trick score as follows: With Clubs trumps, each counts 6 points. With Diamonds " 7 With Hearts " " " 8 With Spades " " 9 With No Trump " ''10 Doubling doubles the above values; redoubling multiplies them by four. 1 To "refuse" is to fail to follow suit. To "renounce" (Law 55) is to refuse when able to follow suit. See Law 56 for "revoke." 2 As a result of the bidding (Law 30) , the hand may be played w^ithout a trump {i.e., "No Trump") or with one of the four suits as the trump. Any trump is a winner as against any card of a plain (non-trump) suit. ' Footnote to Law 56 (a) defines "quitted." ^ Law 61 (e) prescribes penalty. FOSTER ON AUCTION 363 Hand 11. A hand ^ begins with the cut ^ and ends when the last card is played to the thirteenth trick. Game 12. A game is won when one side has a trick score of thirty (30) or more points. A game may be completed in one hand or more; each hand is played out ^ whether or not during it the game be won. Rubber 13. (a) A rubber begins with drawing for partners (Law 22) or cutting out (Law 23) and is completed when one side has won two games. The side which has won two games adds a bonus of 250 points to its honor-score. The side having the greater num- ber of total points ^ wins the rubber (6) When a rubber is started with the agreement that the play shall terminate (i.e., no new hand shall commence) after a speci- fied time, and the rubber is unfinished at that hour; the score is made up as it stands, 125 being added to the honor-score of the winners of a game. A hand if started must be played out. (c) If a rubber be started without any agreement as to its termination, and before its conclusion one player leave; or if, after such agreement, a player leave before the appointed hour without appointing an acceptable substitute (Law 21-a); the opponents have the right to consult and decide whether the score be canceled or counted as in (6). Honors 14. The Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the trump suit are the honors unless the declaration be No Trump, in which case the four Aces are the honors. Honors count in the honor-score of the side which received them in the deal. 1 "Hand" is also used to mean the cards held by a player. When 30 used the sense is obvious. Also used to designate players, as in "second hand," "third hand," etc. 2 See Law 25. 3 All points won are counted whether or not they are needed to make game. « See Law 17. Thus a side may win two games and still lose the rubber. 364 FOSTER ON AUCTION Honor Values 15. Honor vames are based on trick values (Law 10). They are not increased by doubling (Law 35) or redoubling (Law 36). WHEN THERE IS A TRUMP 3 honors ^ between partners have value of 2 tricks. 4 honors between partners have value of 4 tricks. 4 honors held by one partner have value of 8 tricks. 5 honors, held 3 by one and 2 by other partner, have value of 5 tricks. 5 honors, held 4 by one and 1 by other partner, have value of 9 tricks. 5 honors held by one partner have value of 10 tricks. WHEN THERE IS NO TRUMP 3 aces held between partners count 30 points. 4 '< "40 " 4 ' ' held by one partner count 100 ' ' Slams 16. A side winning all thirteen tricks ^ scores 100 points for Slam. 3 A side winning twelve tricks ^ scores 50 points for Little Slam.^ Slam points are added to the honor-score.^ Scoring 17. Each side has a trick-score, which includes only points won by odd tricks; and an honor-score for all other points, includ- ing bonuses for honors, penalties, slams and undertricks. At the end of the rubber, the total points of a side are obtained by adding together its trick-score and honor-score.^ Subtracting the smaller total from the greater, gives the net points by which the rubber is won and lost.^ 1 "Simple honors" means 3 honors. 2 Without counting tricks received as penalty for a revoke. 3 Also called Grand Slam. 4 When Declarer's contract is seven and he wins six odd, he counts 50 for Little Slam although his contract fail. 5 Slam or Little Slam may be scored by either side. • The 250 points bonus for winning two games (Law 31-a) is included. Law 13 (a) explains who wins a rubber. FOSTER ON AUCTION 365 A proved error in the honor-score may be corrected at any- time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed upon. A proved error in the trick-score may be corrected at any time before the next declaration begins (Law 29) or, if the error occur in the final hand of the rubber, before the score has been made up and agreed upon. Forming Tables 18. A table consists of four, five or six members, of whom four are players. A complete table consists of six members. In forming a table, candidates who have not played rank first and in the order in which they entered the room. Candidates who have played but are not members of an existing table rank next. Candidates of equal standing decide priority by drawing ^ cards. Low wins. Entry 19. Before the beginning of a rubber 2 a candidate may enter any incomplete table by announcing his desire to do so and such announcements in the order made entitle candidates to places as vacancies occur. In case there are more candidates than there are vacancies, the provisions of Law 18 apply. Members Leaving Table 20. If a member leave a table, he forfeits all his rights at said table unless he leave to make up a table which cannot be formed without him and, when leaving, announce his intention of return- ing when his place at the new table can be filled. In such case, if he return, he has prior rights over any who have joined the table in his absence and may displace one of them. When a member ^ leaves a table to make up a new table which cannot be formed without him, and does not claim the right to retain his membership in the old table, he shall be the last to draw out of the new table. 1 Method of drawing is described in Law 22. 2 Law 13 (a) stipulates that the rubber begins when any player draws either for partners or cutting out. « Should two members make up a new table, both rank ahead of the othera. 366 FOSTER ON AUCTION Players Leaving Tables 21. (a) A player leaving a table may, with the consent of the other three players, appoint a substitute to play in his absence; such appointment becomes void upon return of said player or upon conclusion of the rubber. In any case, the substitute when released regains aU his previous rights. (6) A player who withdraws from a table of four at the end of a rubber; or who, after availing himself of the privileges of para- graph (a) fails to return before the end of the rubber, thus break- ing up the table; cannot claim entry elsewhere as against the other three players from that table. Deawing for Partners and Deal 22. A table having been formed, the members draw ^ cards. He who draws lowest becomes the dealer of the first deal and has choice of packs and seats. ^ He who draws second lowest is Dealer's partner and sits opposite him. The third lowest has choice of the two remaining seats; fourth lowest takes the remain- ing one. The members, if any, who draw higher than fourth lowest, remain members of the table but do not play in the cur- rent rubber. In all cases when drawing cards, should any one show two or more cards, he must draw again. A player having made choice of packs or seats must abide by his decision. Cutting Out 23. If at the end of a rubber a table consist of five or six members, the players who have played the greatest number of consecutive rubbers are the first to lose their places as players (but do not lose their standing as members). The draw (Law 22) decides between claimants of equal standing; low wins. The Shuffle 24. After drawing for partners, second hand ^ shuffles the pack which Dealer has chosen (Law 22) and third hand ^ shuffles the ' One pack is spread face downward on the table and each member draws one card. All draw from the same pack. 2 A player may consult his partner before choosing. ' The player on Dealer's left. * Third hand is Dealer's partner. FOSTER ON AUCTION 367 still pack.^ Thereafter, at the beginning of each deal, third hand shufHes the still pack.^ After being shuffled, the still pack is placed between second and third hands where it remains until the next deal. During the shuffle, the pack must not be held below the table nor so that the face of any card may be seen. Dealer has the right to shuffle last, but must not shuffle after the cut except as in 25 (6). The deal must not proceed until the pack has been shuffled as herein provided. The Cut 25. (a) Dealer, immediately before the deal, places the pack before his right hand opponent who lifts off the top portion and places it beside the bottom portion, preferably toward Dealer who then places the bottom portion on top. This constitutes the cut.'* (b) If the cut leave fewer than four cards in the top or bottom portion; or if during it any card be faced or displaced; or there be any doubt as to where the pack was divided; or any player shuffle after the cut; there must be a new shuffle and a new cut.' The Deal 26. (a) The deal begins after the cut and ends when the last card has been placed in proper order in front of Dealer. (6) After the first deal, players deal in turn to the left. A player may not deal for his partner if either opponent object. (c) Dealer gives the first card to the player on his left and so on until all fifty- two cards are dealt the last one to Dealer. (d) A player may not look at any of his cards during the deal. Penalty, 25 points in the advei-se honor-score. New Deal (Compulsory) 27. There must be a new deal: * (a) If the cards be not dealt into four distinct packets in accordance with Law 26 (c). 1 The "still pack" is the one not being dealt, or used in the play of the hand. 2 A player may not cut or shufBe for partner if either opponent object. 3 A player may not cut or shuffle for partner if either opponent object. * Always by the same dealer, and with the same pack except (e) when a missing card is not |ound. See Law 62 regarding new cards. 368 FOSTER ON AUCTION (6) If, during tlie deal, any card be found faced in the pack or be exposed on, above or below the table. (c) If it be discovered during the hand that more than thirteen cards were dealt to any player. (d) If, during the hand, one player hold more than the proper number of cards and another less. (e) If, during the hand the pack be proved incorrect (Law 2). The pack is not incorrect on account of a missing card or cards if it or they be found in the still pack, among the quitted tricks, below the table, or in any other place which makes it possible that such card or cards were part of the pack during the deal. Any player may search anywhere for missing cards, including the still pack and the quitted tricks (face downward) . See also Law 56 (e). New Deal (Optional) ^ 28. During the deal any player who has not looked at any of his cards may demand a new deal: ^ (/) If the deal be out of turn, (g) If the pack be imperfect (Law 2), A new deal may be demanded by either of Dealer's opponents ^ who has not looked at any of his cards: (h) If Dealer omit the cut. (i) If Dealer deal with wrong pack. If any player, after looking at a card, make a claim under this law; or, if no claim be made; the deal stands as regular, and the player to the left deals next. In case of a deal with the wrong pack (i), the next dealer may choose either pack for the remainder of the rubber. The Declaration 29. The declaration * begins when the deal ends and ends when all four players pass ^ (Law 38) their first opportunity to declare ^ or, after a bid, (Law 30) when three players in succession have * A new deal may also be demanded under Laws 37 (d), 37 (e) and 54 (i). 2 By the same dealer except as in (/), and with the same pack except as in (g) and (i). 3 "Opponent" is always used in the general sense; "Adversary" is always an opponent of Declarer. * Declaration also means either bid, double, pass, or redouble. * The player, next in turn then deals with his own pack. < To declare means to bid, double, pass or redouble. FOSTER ON AUCTION 369 legally passed. The first legal act of the declaration is a bid or pass by the dealer. Thereafter each player in his turn to the left must pass, bid if no bid has been made previously, make a higher bid ^ if a bid has been made previously, double the last bid made by an opponent or redouble an opponent's double provided no bid has intervened. Bid Defined 30. A bid is made by specifying any number from one (1) to seven (7) inclusive, together with the name of a suit or No Trump; thereby offering to contract that with such suit as trump or with No Trump, the bidder will win at least the specified number of odd tricks. Higher Bid Defined 31. To make a "higher bid" a player must (a) name a greater number ^ of odd tricks in a suit or No Trump than the number named in the last previous bid, or (6) name at least an equal number of odd tricks in a suit of higher rank (Law 4) than the suit named in the previous bid. Insufficient Bid 32. A bid following any previous bid is " insuflficient " if it is not "higher" according to Law 31. When an insuficient bid is made. (a) The insufficient bidder, if he do so before an opponent has declared or called attention to the insufficiency, may make the bid sufficient by changing the number of odd tricks named, in which case the declaration proceeds as if the bid had been suffi- cient. (6) When either opponent calls attention to an insufficient bid before it is changed, the insufficient bidder must make his bid sufficient by increasing the number ^ of odd tricks named; and if the player on the left of the insufficient bidder then pass, the partner of the insufficient bidder must pass and may not re-enter the declaration unless an opponent subsequently bid or double. (c) If neither opponent call attention to the insufficiency and J Law 33 defines "higher bid." 2 Seven is the greatest number that may be named. 3 Not exceeding seven. 370 FOSTER ON AUCTION the player on the left of the insufficient bidder either bid, double or pass, the previous insufficiency is waived. (d) Either opponent, after the bid has been made sufficient as provided in (6), may in turn make a higher ^ bid, in which case the declaration proceeds as if no bid had been insufficient. Bed Out of Turn Defined 33. A bid is out of tum,2 (not an illegitimate bid, Law 41) : (a) If, before Dealer declares, a bid be made by any other player. (b) If, after Dealer declares, any player bid otherwise than in ' his turn. Bid Out of Tubn Penalized 34. After a bid out of turn: (a) Either opponent of the offender may cancel it. The proper player then proceeds with the declaration, ^ the out-of-turn bid being ignored, but the partner of the out-of-tum bidder must thereafter pass whenever his turn comes. ^ (6) When the player on the left of the out-of-turn bidder de- clares before the improper bid is canceled, the out-of-turn bid is thereby accepted as if made in turn and there is no penalty. (c) When the player on the right of the out-of-tum bidder is the proper declarer and declares » without otherwise canceling the improper bid, such act cancels the out-of-tum bid and (a) applies. Double Defined 35. When, during the declaration and in proper turn, a player doubles, it doubles the trick value (Law 10) of the last previous bid. Doubling does not change bidding values (Laws 4 and 31), nor the values of honors (Law 15), Slam or Little Slam (Law 16). ^ i.e.. Higher than the bid after it has been made sufficient. ' When a bid is out of turn and also insufficient (Law 32), either opponent may elect to apply either Law 32 (6) or Law 34 (o) . 3 The "proper player" must pass if he is the partner of the player in error. * The offending player, as he has not received improper information, may subsequently declare in turn. 5 When he doubles, it is a double of the last legal bid. FOSTER ON AUCTION 371 Redouble Defined 36. When, during the declaration, and in proper turn, a player redoubles, it doubles the double (Law 35) ; that is, it mul- tipHes the original trick value (Law 10) by four. A redouble, like a double, affects only trick values (Law 35). Improper Doubles and Redoubles 37. The penalties for improper doubles or redoubles follow: (a) A double or redouble before a bid has been made is void. (b) A double or redouble after the declaration ends: Law 41 (a) prescribes the penalty. (c) A double or redouble made when it is the turn of the right- hand opponent to declare is subject to the same penalty as a bid out of turn (Law 34-a) unless the partner of the offender has passed the bid involved, in which case the double or redouble is void and there is no penalty. (d) A double or redouble when it is partner's turn to declare ma}'' be accepted by the opponents, after consultation, as if it had been in turn; or they may demand a new deal; or call the bid that was doubled final and elect whether the double or redouble stand. Any of these penalties may be exacted even though the partner of the offender call attention to the error; but, if the player to the left of the offender declare, he thereby accepts the out-of- turn double or redouble. (e) A double of a double is a redouble; a redouble when there has been no double is a double; a redouble of a redouble is void and is penalized by a new deal or 100 points in the adverse honor- score. Doubling a partner's bid or redoubling a partner's double is penalized by 50 points in the adverse honor-score. Either opponent may exact any of these penalties. Pass Defined 38. When, during the declaration and in proper turn, a player passes; the turn to declare is thereby passed to the next player to the left. Pass Out of Turn Defined 39. A pass is out of turn: (a) If made before Dealer declares; (6) If made (after Dealer declares) by any player except in turn. 372 FOSTER ON AUCTION Pass Out of Turn Penalized 40. After a pass out of turn: (a) If the opponent at the left of the offending player declare ^ before attention is called to the error, the pass is accepted as regular. (6) If an opponent call attention to the error, the pass is void and the player whose turn it was, when the error was made, resumes the declaration; but the offending player may not thereafter bid, double or redouble unless the declaration he passed be over-bid, doubled or redoubled. Illegitimate Declarations 41. (a) A bid, double or redouble made after the declaration is ended is not penalized if made by Declarer or his partner. But should the error be committed by an adversary, Declarer may call a lead from the partner of the offending player the first time it is the turn of said partner to lead. (6) When a player who has been debarred from bidding or doubling, either bids, doubles or redoubles, either opponent may decide whether or not such bid, double or redouble stand; and, in either case, both the offending player and his partner must thereafter pass. (c) A pass after the declaration is ended is void. Declaring and Changing 42. If a player pass, bid, double, or redouble, and then attempt to change ^ to some other form of declaration or attempt to change the size of a sufficient bid, such attempted change may be penalized as a bid out of turn 3. Repeated Errors 43. When any player commits an error for which a penalty is provided in Laws 32, 34, 37, 40, 41, or 42 at a time when an error 1 See footnote to Law 29, which provides that a pass in a declaration. 2 A player who inadvertently says " No Bid," meaning to say " No Trump" or vice versa); or who inadvertently says "Spade," "Heart," "Diamond" or "Club," meaning to name another of these; may correct his mistake, pro- vided the next player has not declared. "Inadvertently" refers to a slip of the tongue, not a change of mind. ' Unless it be an attempt to change the third or fourth consecutive pass which closes the declaration (Law 29). FOSTER ON AUCTION 373 has previously been committed under those laws, for which the penalty has not already been fully paid: (a) If the previous error was committed by the other side, the penalty for it (or as much as remains unpaid) is canceled and the side newly in error is liable for the penalty provided for the new offense; (b) If the previous error was committed by the same side, the opponents, after consultation, may elect which error to penalize. Cards Exposed During Declaration 44. If, during the declaration,^ any player lead or expose ^ card, such card must be left face upward on the table and the partner of the player in error m. st thereafter pass whenever it is his turn to declare. If the player in error later become Declarer or Dummy, the card in question is no longer exposed; otherwise it remains an exposed card until played. If the player on the left of the player in error later become Declarer he may, on the first trick, forbid a lead of the suit of the exposed card.^ Contract and Declarer 45. With the completion of the declaration, the side which has made the highest bid assumes a contract to win at least the number of odd tricks * named in said bid: the partner of that side who first named the suit or No Trump specified in said bid is Declarer. For every trick Declarer falls short of his contract, the adver- saries score 50 points in their honor-score for undertricks. AU tricks won by adversaries beyond their "book" are undertricks. The adversaries' book is the number of the bid subtracted from seven. Declarer's book is his first six tricks. In case of a double, the imdertricks count 100 each; in case of redouble they count 200 each. When there is a double and Declarer fulfils his contract, he 1 Law 29 specifies v/hen the declaration begins and ends. 2 Law 51 deanea exposed cards. 3 When two or more cards are exposed, all are subject to the provisions of Law 44, but the Declarer may not forbid the lead of more than three suits. ^ Law 9 provides that Declarer whose contract fails, scores nothing for tricks. 374 FOSTER ON AUCTION counts in his honor-score a bonus of 50 points; and a further bonus of 50 points for each trick if any, that he wins beyond the num- ber called for by the contract. When there is a redouble, these bonuses are 100 points each instead of 50. ^ The Plat 46. After the declaration, the play proceeds according to Law 5. Until the initial lead has been legally made, Declarer's partner is not subject to any of the limitations * imposed upon Dummy. Dummy 47. As soon as the initial lead is legally made, Declarer's partner places his cards face upward on the table and becomes Dummy. 3 Declarer plays Dummy's cards as well as his own. Dummy takes no part in the play and has no rights except as provided in Laws 48 and 49. Dummy's Rights (Unconditional) 48. Dummy always has the right: (a) To call attention to the fact that too many or too few cards have been played to a trick, (6) To call attention to the fact that the wrong side has gathered in a trick, (c) To ask Declarer whether he have any of a suit he has re- fused.^ (d) To correct an error in the score, (e) To participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact after it has arisen between Declarer and an adversary, (J) To correct an improper claim of either adversary, (g) To assist Declarer as allowed by Law 54 (j) . Dummy's Rights (Conditional) 49. If Dummy have not intentionally looked at a card held by any player, he has the following additional rights : * These bonuses are in addition to the increased trick-score, see Law 10. 2 Except consultation as to the penalty provided in Law 54 (a). 3 "Dummy" is sometimes used in the obvious sense of dummy's cards. * " Refuse" is defined in footnote to Law 7. FOSTER ON AUCTION 375 (h) To claim an adverse revoke, (i) To call attention to an adverse lead out of turn. (j) To call attention to a card exposed by an adversary, (k) To call Declarer's attention to any right he may have under the laws. (I) To suggest playing out the hand when Declarer would concede any of the remaining tricks (Law 59-&). Dummy Penalized 50. (m) Should Dummy call attention to any matter involving a right of Declarer or a penalty incurred by the adversaries, said matter not being covered by Law 48 paragraphs (a) to (g); or should he, after having intentionally looked at a card held by any player, seek to exercise any of the rights mentioned in Law 49, paragraphs (h) to (0 ; then such right or penalty is canceled and may not be exercised or exacted. (n) Should Dummy, by touching a card or otherwise, suggest a play by Declarer; either adversary may require Declarer to make such play (if legal) or to refrain from making it. (o) Should Dummy warn Declarer that he is about to lead from the wrong hand, either adversary may designate the hand from which Declarer shall lead. Exposed Cabds 51. The following are "exposed" cards — (a) Two or more cards led or played simultaneously (all are exposed) ; (h) A card dropped face upward on the table, even if snatched up so quickly that it cannot be named ;^ (c) A card dropped elsewhere than on the table if the partner see its face;^ (d) A card so held by a player that his partner sees any portion of its face; ^ (e) A card mentioned by either adversary as being in his own or his partner's hand. (/) If an adversary who has legally played to the twelfth 1 If an adversary throw his cards face upward on the table, they are exposed (except as in 59- (a)) and liable to be called; but if the other adversary retain his hand, he cannot be forced to expose it. 2 The fact that an opponent sees it, does not make it an exposed card. 376 FOSTER ON AUCTION trick, show his thirteenth card before his partner plays his twelfth, the partner's two cards are exposed; {g) A card designated by any Law as "exposed." Calling Exposed Cards 52. After a card has been "exposed" as defined in Law 51, it must be left face upward on the table and Declarer may "call" it (i.e., require its owner to lead or play it)^ at any time when it is the owner's turn to lead or play, except when the playing of the "called" card would cause the holder to renounce. Declarer may call an exposed card any number of times until it may be legally played, but the owner may play it even if not called. Play of Declarer and Dummy 53. A card from Declarer's hand is not played or led until quitted. 2 If Declarer name or touch a card in Dummy he must play it. 3 If he touch two or more cards simultaneously, he may play either. Declarer and Dummy are not Uable to the call of exposed cards.* Leads Out of Turn and Cards Played in Error 54. (a) After the declaration and before a legal initial lead, should the partner of the proper leader lead or expose a card, Declarer may either call a lead ^ from the proper leader or treat the card ^ as exposed. Declarer's partner may call Declarer's attention to the offense but, should they consult regarding the penalty, it is canceled. Should Declarer's partner spread any part of his hand before Declarer selects the penalty, Declarer may not call a lead. (6) Should an adversary who has played a card which, as against Declarer and Dummy, is a winner lead another or several such winning cards without waiting for his partner to play; 1 Declarer and Dummy are not liable (Law 53). 2 A card is "quitted" when the player no longer touches it. 3 Unless Declarer say "I arrange," or words to that effect; or unless his touching the card is obviously for the purpose of uncovering a partly hidden one or to enable him to get at the card he wishes to play. * But see Law 54 (a) . B If the player called on to lead a suit have none of it the penalty is paid. 6 Or cards. FOSTER ON AUCTION 377 Declarer may require said adversary's partner to win, if he can, the first or any of these tricks, after which the remaining card or cards thus led are exposed. (c) Should the adversaries lead simultaneously, the correct lead stands and the other is an exposed card. (d) Should Declarer lead out of turn either from his own hand or Dummy, either adversary may direct that the error be recti- fied, but Declarer may not rectify it unless so directed. (e) After a lead by Declarer or Dummy, should fourth hand play before second hand; Declarer may require second hand to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. 1 If second hand have none of the suit led, Declarer may call his highest of any designated suit. If second hand hold none of the suit called, the penalty is paid. (/) Should Declarer lead from his own or Dummy's hand and then play from the other hand before second hand plays, fourth hand may play before second hand without penalty. (g) Should any player (including Dummy) lead out of turn and next hand ^ play without claiming the penalty, the lead stands as regular. (h) If an adversary lead out of turn. Declarer may call a lead as soon as it is the turn of either adversary to lead or may treat the card so led as exposed. (^) If a player (not Dummy) omit playing to a trick and then play to a subsequent trick. Declarer or either adversary (as the case may be) may demand a new deal whenever the error is dis- covered. If no new deal be demanded, the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered played to the imperfect trick but does not constitute a revoke therein. (j) Whenever it is suspected that any of the quitted tricks con- tains more than four cards, any player (including Dummy) may count them face downward. If any be found to contain a sur- plus card and any player be short, either opponent may face the trick, select the surplus card and restore it to the player who is short; but this does not change the ownership of the trick. The player who was short is answerable for revoke as provided in Law 56 (e). 1 Except as provided in (/) . 2 Declarer accepts wrong lead if he play next either from his own or Dummy's hand. 378 FOSTER ON AUCTION Renounce 55. When a player, having one or more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit; his act constitutes a renounce.^ Revoke Definitions 56. A renounce (Law 55) becomes a revoke and subject to penalty (Law 57): (a) When the trick in which it occurs is turned and quitted ^ by the rightful winners, except as provided in Law 58 (c) ; (6) When the renouncing player or his partner, whether in turn or otherwise, leads or plays to the following trick; (c) When one side having claimed a revoke either opponent mixes the cards before the claimant has had reasonable opportu- nity to examine them. (d) When a player has incurred a penalty requiring him to play the highest or lowest of a suit, or to win or lose a trick, or to lead a certain suit, or to refrain from playing a certain suit, and fails to act as directed when able to do so; he incurs the revoke penalty. (e) If at any time a player be found to have less than his correct number of cards, and the other three have their correct number; the missing card or cards, if found (see also Laws 27-e and 54-^), belong to the player ^ who is short and, unless he be Dummy, he is answerable for any revoke or revokes as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand continuously. Revoke Penalty 57. The penalty for each revoke is: (a) When Declarer revokes, he cannot score for tricks and his adversaries, in addition to any bonus for undertricks,* add 50 points to their honor-score for each revoke. (&) When either adversary revokes. Declarer for the j&rst revoke may either score 50 points in his honor-score or take two ^ See also "refuse," Law 7, footnote. 2 A trick is "quitted " when it is turned and the player no longer touches it. 3 The fact that such player made no claim of irregidarity at the time of the deal is conclusive, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the missing cards were dealt to him. * The fact that Declarer revokes does not permit adversaries to score for undertricks, provided Declarer has won (even with the help of the revoke) at least the number of tricks called for by his contract. FOSTER ON AUCTION 379 tricks ^ from his adversaries and add them to his own.^ Such tricks may assist Declarer to make good his contract, but shall not entitle him to any further bonus ^ in the honor-score by reason of the bid having been doubled or redoubled; nor to a Slam or Little Slam not otherwise obtained. For each revoke after the first, Declarer adds 50 points to his honor-score. (c) The value of honors as held is the only score that can be made by a revoking side unless both sides revoke; if one side re- voke more than once, the other scores 50 for each extra revoke. Revoke Avoided 58. A ^eno^mce (Law 55) may be corrected, and the revoke (Law 57) avoided, under the following circumstances: (a) If made by Dummy, the renounce may be corrected before the trick is turned and quitted. After the trick has been turned and quitted, whether by the rightful winners or otherwise, the renounce may not be corrected. In neither case is there any penalty. (6) A renouncing player, other than Dummy, may not correct his error (except as in c) after the trick is turned and quitted nor after he or his partner has led or played to the following trick. If the correction be made in time, there is no revoke penalty; but the player in error (except as in e) may be required to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led. Any player, who played after the renounce, may withdraw his card and substitute another. (c) If, before the trick is turned and quitted, the partner of the renouncing player ask him whether he have any ^ of the suit refused, subsequent turning and quitting does not establish a revoke until the renouncing player has answered in the negative, or imtil he or his partner has led or played to the following trick. (d) If the renouncing player be an adversary and the renounce be corrected in time, declarer instead of calling the highest or lowest may treat the card played in error as exposed. (e) The highest or lowest may not be called from Declarer * The value of the two tricks — undoubled, doubled or redoubled as the case may be — is counted in the trick-score. 2 Dummy may advise Declarer which penalty to exact. 3 They may enable him to win a game and, if that game end the rubber, give him the 250 points bonus. * Or none. 380 FOSTER ON AUCTION unless the adversary to his left have played to the trick after the renounce. (/) Should Dummy leave the table after requesting protection from revokes,^ Declarer cannot be penalized, following a re- nounce, unless an adversary in due time call the renounce to his attention. ig) The revoke penalty cannot be claimed after the next en- suing cut (Law 25) ; nor, if the revoke occur during the last hand of a rubber, after the score has been agreed upon ; nor if there have been a draw for any purpose in connection with the next rubber {e.g., as in Law 23). Claiming and Conceding Tricks 59. (a) If Declarer say "I have the rest," or any words indi- cating the remaining tricks or any number thereof are his; either adversary may require him to place his cards face upward on the table and play out the hand. Declarer cannot then take any finesse, not previously proven a winner, ^ unless he announced it when making his claim; nor may he call any cards either adver- sary has exposed. (6) If Declarer concede one or more tricks, and either adversary accept the concession before Dummy lawfully demands that the hand be played out (Law 49-0, such trick or tricks belong to adversaries even though, had the hand been played out, Declarer could not have lost them. (c) If an adversary concede a trick or tricks to Declarer, and such concession be accepted before the other adversary objects, it is binding on both adversaries. Penalties and Consultation 60. Laws which give "either partner," "either opponent," etc., the right to exact a penalty do not permit consultation. (a) If either partner suggest or name a penalty he is deemed to have selected it. (6) If either direct the other to select a penalty, the latter must do so; and, if an attempt be made to refer the privilege back, the penalty is canceled. ^ Sometimes called " courtesies of the table." 2 "Proven a winner" means that the adversary who plaj^ last to the trick in which the finesse is to be taken, has previously refused that suit; the fact that a finesse in the same suit has previously won is not enough. FOSTER ON AUCTION 381 (c) If either says (in effect), "Which of us is to select the penalty?" the penalty is canceled. (d) A proper penalty once selected may not be changed. (e) If a wrong penalty be selected, ^ the selection must be cor- rected upon request of either opponent. (/) If a wrong penalty be selected and paid without challenge, the selection may not be changed. (g) A reasonable time must be allowed for the selection of a penalty, and the selection must be made within a reasonable time. (A) If, instead of exacting a penalty at the proper time, either opponent of the side in error play or declare, no penalty may be exacted. Information 61. (a) During the declaration, information must be given concerning its details up to that time, but, after it is ended, should either adversary or Dummy inform his partner regarding any detail of the declaration except the contract. Declarer or either adversary (as the case may be) may call a lead the next time it is the turn of the offending side to lead. At any time during the play, any player inquiring must be informed what the con- tract is. (6) Any player except Dummy may, before a trick is turned and quitted, demand that the cards so far played be placed before their respective players; but should either adversary, in the absence of such demand, in any way caU attention to his own card or to the trick, Declarer may require the partner of the offender to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. (c) Either adversary, but not Dummy (Law 50-o), may call his partner's attention to the fact that he is about to play or lead out of turn; but if, during the play, an adversary make any unau- thorized reference to any incident thereof, or to the location of any card, Declarer may call the next lead when it becomes an adversary's turn.^ (d) If before or during the declaration a player give any unau- 1 If the "penalty" selected be something not described in the Laws, no penalty may be exacted. 2 Any such reference by Dummy, may be similarly penalized by either adversary. 382 FOSTER ON AUCTION thorized information concerning his hand, his partner may be barred from subsequent participation in the declaration. (e) The penalty for looking at quitted tricks (except where the Laws permit examination) is 25 points in the adverse honor-score for each offense. New Cards 62. One new pack must be produced to replace an incorrect one (Law 27-e) or an imperfect one (Law 28-^) . Otherwise, when new cards are demanded, two packs must be furnished and the opponents of the player demanding them have the choice unless the demand be made at the beginning of a rubber, in which case Dealer has the choice. Except under Laws 27(e) and 28 (^), new cards may not be introduced during a deal. (See Law 20-a.) THE ETIQUETTE OF AUCTION In the game of Auction slight intimations may convey im- proper information. To offend against etiquette is more serious than to offend against a law; for in the latter case the offender is subject to prescribed penalties; in the former his opponents are without redress. 1. Declarations should be made in a simple manner, thus: "one Heart," " one No Trump," "pass," "double"; they should be made without emphasis. 2. Except by his legitimate declaration, a player should not indicate by word, manner or gesture the nature of his hand, nor his approval or disapproval of a play, bid, or double. 3. If a player demand that the cards be placed, he should do so for his own information and not to call his partner's atten- tion to any card or play. 4. An adversary should not lead imtil the preceding trick has been turned and quitted; nor, after having led a winning card, should he draw another from his hand before his partner has played to the current trick. 5. A card should not be played in such manner as to draw attention to it, nor should a player detach one card from his hand and subsequently play another. 6. A player should not purposely incur a penalty nor should he make a second revoke to conceal a first. FOSTER ON AUCTION 383 7. Conversation which may annoy players at the table or at other tables in the room should be avoided. 8. Dummy should not leave his seat to watch his partner play nor call attention to the score. 9. If Declarer say, "I have the rest," or any words indicating that the remaining tricks, or any number thereof, are his, and an adversary exposes his cards. Declarer should not allow any information so obtained to influence his play. 10. A player having been cut out of one table should not seek admission in another unless willing to cut for the privilege of entry. INDEX TO LAWS Abiding by decision, 22. Ace(s). — as honors, 14, 15. — high in play, 3. — low in di'awing, 3. Adversary (ies). — 's book, 45. — claim or concede tricks, 59(6), 59(c). — correct renounce, 58(c). — exposes cards, 51(5), 51(/). " — " is opponent of declarer, 28. — lead simultaneously, 54(c). — leads out of turn, 54(/i). — leads several winning cards, 54(6). — revokes, 57(b). — 's undertricks, 45. Agreement to terminate rubber, 13(6). Appointing substitute, 21(a). Asking partner, 58(c). Auction, how played, 1. Bid. Changing — , 42. " Declare " includes " 29. Higher — defined, 31. — , how made, 30. Insufficient — . See InsufScient Bid. — made after declaration ends, 41 (a). — made when under compulsion to pass, 41(6). "no — " changed to "no trump," 42. — out of turn. See Bid Out of Turn. Seven the highest possible — ,31. — ing, values, 31, 35, 36. 384 FOSTER ON AUCTION 385 Bid out of turn. — also insufficient, 33. — defined, 33. — penalized, 34, 41, 42. Bonus(es). — counted in honor-score, 17. — for doubled and redoubled contract, 45. — for game, 13(6). — for revoke, 57. — for rubber, 13(a), 57(6). — for undertricks, 45. Book. Adversaries' — , 45. Declarer's — , 45. Breaking up a table, 21(6). Calling. — a lead, 41(a), 50(n), 54(a), 54:(h), 61(a), 61(c). — exposed cards, 44, 52, 54(6), 54(c), 54(/i), 5S(d), 59(a). — highest or lowest cards, 54(e), 58(6), 58(d), 58(e), 61(6). Candidate (s). — for entry at table, 18, 19. Priority among — , 18, 19. Card(s). See also Pack. Adversary leads several winning — , 54(6). Calling exposed — . See Calling. Calling highest or lowest — . See Calling. ' Choice of — . See Choice. — dealt into four packets, 27(a). Declarer plays Dummy's — , 47. — displaced in the cut, 25(6). Drawing — . See Draw(ing), — dropped, 51(6), 51(c). — exposed. See Exposed Cards. Exposed — . See Exposed Cards. — faced in the cut, 25(6). — faced in the deal, 27(6). — faced in the declaration, 44. Four — in cut, 25(6). — improperly dealt, 27, 28. Kind cf — used, 2. 386 FOSTER ON AUCTION Card(s). See also Pack. Laying down — , 47-59. — led or played simultaneously, 51(a), 54(c). — looked at during deal, 26(d). Marked — , 2. Missing — , 27(c), 540"), 56(e). Mixing the — when revoke is claimed, 56(c). More than thirteen — held, 27(c). New — . See New. One — of each denomination to a suit, 2. One or two packs of — used, 2. Placing — 61(6). — played in error, 44, 54, 55. Player holds too few or too many — , 27(c), 27(d), 54(J). 66(e). Quitted trick contains too many or too few — , 54(2), 64 (j) Rank of — in drawing, 3. Rank of — in play, 3. Soiled — , 2. Substituting — , 58(6). Thirteen — to a suit, 2. Too many or too few — played, 48(a), 54(7*). Tom — , 2. — touched by Declarer, 53. -:- touched by Dummy, 50(n). — touched simultaneously, 53 Two packs of — used, 2. — withdrawn following renounce, 58(6) Changing declaration, 42. Choice. — of cards. See — of Packs. — of packs, 22, 62. — of seats, 22. Claiming ''the rest," 59. Club(s). Rank of — , 4. — tricks count six, 10. Complete table, 18. Conceding tricks, 59. Consultation. — in general, 60. FOSTER ON AUCTION Consultation. — regarding choice of packs and seats, 22. — regarding improper double, 37(d). Contract. — bonus for double and redouble, 45. — defined, 30, 45. Failing to make — , 45. Giving information regarding — , 61 (o). — lost by revoke, 57(a). Odd tricks and — , 9. Slams and — , 16. Winning — , 9, 45. — won by revoke, 57(&). Correct pack (see also Incorrect), 2, 62. Cut. Deal begins after — , 26(a). — described, 25. Hand begins with — ,11. Improper — , 25(&). Must — four cards, 25(6). New—, 25(6). No shuffle after — , 24, 25(6). — omitted, 28(h). Partner must not — , 25. Cutting for deal and partners. See Drawing. Cutting out. — at beginning of rubber, 13(a). — at end of rubber, 23. Deal. ■—after cut, 26(a). — after shuffling, 24. Cards faced or exposed in — , 27(6), — described, 26(c). Drawing for — , 22. Looking at cards during — , 26(d). New — . See New deal. New cards during — , 62. — out of turn, 28(/). Partner may not — , 26(6). Players — in turn to left, 26(6). 388 FOSTER ON AUCTION Deal. When — begins and ends, 26 (a). — with wrong pack, 2S{i). Dealer. — completes cut, 25(a). — deals out of turn, 28(/). — deals with wrong pack, 28 (i). First — , how selected, 22. — 's partner may not deal, 26(6). — 's partner shuffles, 24. Same — deals, 27, 28. — shuffles last, 24. Decision, abiding by, 22. Declaration. (See also Declare.) Cards exposed during — , 44. — changed, 42. — described and defined, 29. First legal act of — , 29. Giving information regarding — , 61 (a) . Illegitimate — , 41. " includes "bid," "pass," "double" and "redouble," 29. — made when under compulsion to pass, 41(6). Rank of suits in — , 4. When — begins and ends, 29. Declare(s). (See also Declaration,) — ing and changing, 42. — defined, 29. " includes "bid," "pass," "double " and "redouble," 29 Declarer. " Adversary " is — 's opponent, 28. — and contract, 45. — and Dummy, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 59, 60. — 's bonus for double and redouble, 45. — 's book, 45. — claims or concedes tricks, 49(Z), 59. — condones lead out of turn, 54 (gf). — defined, 45. — leads out of turn, 54(d), 54(/). — makes contract by adverse revoke, 57(6). — makes contract by own revoke, 57(a). FOSTER ON AUCTION 889 Declarer. — may not forbid lead of more than three suits, 44. — not Hable for exposed cards, 53. Only — scores for tricks, 9. — ^'s partner exposes hand, 54(a). — 's partner not subject to Dummy's limitations, 46 Partner who first names suit is — , 45. — plays Dummy's cards, 47. — plays out of turn, 54(d), 54(/). — revokes, 57(a) . — scores slam on losing contract, 16. — takes two tricks or 50 points for first revoke, 57(5). — taking finesse, 59(a). — touching card, 53. When — coimts odd tricks, 9. Definitions. Adversary, 28. Auction, 1. Bid, 30. Bid out of turn, 33. Book, 45. Contract, 30, 45. Correct pack, 2. Cut, 25. ''Cutting," 22. Cutting out, 23. Deal, 26. Dealer, 22. Declaration, 29. Declare, 29. Declarer, 45. Double, 35. Double out of turn, 37. Drawing, 22. Dummy, 47. Exposed cards, 51. Following suit, 7. Game, 1, 12. Hand, 11. Higher bid, 31. Honor-score, 17. Honors, 14. Illegitimate declaration, 41. Imperfect pack, 2. Insufficient bid, 32. Lead, 5. Member, 18. Net points, 17. No trump, 8. Odd tricks, 9. Opponent, 28. Part- ners, 1. Pass, 38. Pass out of turn, 39. Plain suit, 8. Play, 1, 5. Player, 18, 22. Quitted card, 53. Quitted trick, 56(a). Redouble, 36. Redouble out of turn, 37, Refuse, 7. Renounce, 55. Revoke, 56. Rubber, 13. Shuffle, 24. Side, 1. Slam, 16. StiU pack, 24. Table, 18. Total points, 17. Trick, 6. Trick-score, 17. Trump, 8. Undertricks, 45. Winning rubber, 13. Deuce low in play, 3. Diamond(s), Rank of — , 4. — tricks count seven, 10. Displacing other players, 20, 21. Double. — iafter declaration ends, 37(6), 41(a). — before a bid is made, 37 (o). 390 FOSTER ON AUCTION Double. Bonus for — d contract, 45, 57(6). Changing a — ,42. "Declare" includes ", 29. — defined, 35. — doubles trick values, 10, 57(6). Honor values not changed by — , 15. — of a — 37(e). — of partner's bid, 37(e). — when turn of partner, 37(d). — when turn of right opponent, 37(c). — when under compulsion to pass, 41(6). Draw(ing) All — from same pack, 22. — for cutting out, 23. — for deal, 22. — for entry, 18, 19. — for partners, 22. Rank of cards in — , 3. Rank of suits in — ,4. — two cards, must draw again, 22. Dummy. Declarer plays — 's cards, 47. — defined, 47. — lays down cards too soon, 54(a) . — leaving table, 58(/). — 's limitations begin after initial lead, 46. — not liable for exposed cards, 44, 53. — not liable for revoke, 58(a). — penalized, 50. — 's rights (conditional), 49. — 's rights (unconditional), 48. " — " sometimes means " — 's cards," 47. — suggests " playing it out," 49(0, 59(6). — takes no part in play, 47. — touching cards, 50 (n). Touching cards in — , 53. Entry at table, 18, 19, 20, 21. Error. Cards played in — , 44, 54, 55. FOSTER ON AUCTION Error. — in dealing, 27, 28. — in declaring, 32, 33, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43. — in doubling and redoubling, 37. — in honor-score, 17. — in trick -score, 17. Repeated — s, 43. Exposed cards. — after the declaration, 54. Calling — . See Calling. — cannot force renounce, 52. Declarer and Dummy not liable for — , 53. — defined, 51. Dummy may call attention to — , 49 (j). — during deal, 27(&). — during declaration, 44. — may be called several times, 52. Faced cards. See Cards. Failing. — to play as directed, 56(d), — to return to table, 21(6). Finesse must not be taken, 59(a). First. — dealer, 22. — legal act of declaration, 29. — in room, 18. — to play, 18, 22. — to withdraw, 19, 20, 21, 23. Following suit, 7. Forming tables, 18, 19. Game(s). AH — points counted, 12. — bonus, 13(6). — , defined, 1, 12. — , how played, 1. — , how won, 12. Thirty points to a — , 12. Two — win rubber, 13(a). — , when completed, 12. — won by revoke, 57(a), 57(6), 392 FOSTER ON AUCTION Giving information, 61. Grand Slam. See Slam. Hand. — begins witii cut, 11. — defined, 11. Each — played out, 12, 13(6). Laying down — , See Cards. One — or more to a game, 12. Third — shuffles, 24. Heart(s). Rank of — , 4. — tricks, count eight, 10. High. — card in drawing and play, 3. — suit in declaration and drawing, 4. Higher bid. Bid, if not — , is iasufficient, 32. — defined, 31. Highest or lowest. See Calling. Honor(s). — based on trick values, 15. — coimt as dealt, 14 — count in the — score, 14. — described, 14. — not affected by double, 15, 35. — not affected by redouble, 15, 36. Only — scored by revoking side, 57(c), — score, 17. Slams counted as — , 16. Undertricks counted as — , 45. — values, 15, 35, 36. " I arrange," 53. Illegitimate declarations, 41. Imperfect pack. — causes new deal, 28(g). — defined, 2. " Inadvertently" defined, 42. Incorrect pack. — causes new deal, 27(e). — defined. See Correct FOSTER ON AUCTION Information, 61. Initial lead, 5. InsuflBicient bid. — also out of turn, 33. Bid after— 32(c), 32(d). — corrected by maker, 32(a). — corrected by opponent, 32(6). — defined, 32. — penalized, 32. — waived, 32(c). King high in drawing, 3. Laying down cards, 47, 59. Lead. Adversaries — several winning cards 54(6). — by partner of proper leader, 54(a). Calling a — . See Calling. — defined, 5. — during declaration 44, Initial — , 5. — of several winning cards, 54(6). — out of turn. See Lead out of turn. — simultaneously, 54(c). Which player — s, 5. Lead out of turn, 44, 54. Leaving table, 13(c), 20, 21, 58(/). Little Slam. See Slam. Looking at cards, 26(d), 28, 49. Looking at quitted tricks, 8, 61(e). Losing rubber, 13(a). Low. — card in drawing and play, 3. — suit in declaration and drawing, 4. Making up tables, 18, 19. Marked cards, 2. Members. — draw for partners and deal, 22. — leaving tables, 20. — of table, 18, 23. Six — make complete table, 18. 394 FOSTER ON AUCTION Missing cards, 27(e), 540), 66(e). Net points, 17. New. — cards, 27(e), 28(^), 62. — cut, 25(6). — deal. See New deal. — pack. See — cards. — shuffle, 25(6). liew deal. Compulsory — , 27. — for cut omitted, 28 (A). — for deal out of turn, 2S(J). — for dealing with wrong pack, 28 (i). — for faced card, 27(6). — for illegal double or redouble, 37(d), 37(e). — for imperfect pack, 28(^). — for improper number of cards dealt, 27(c). — for improper number of cards held, 27(d). — for incorrect pack, 27(e). — for irregular deal, 27(a). — for omitting cut, 28 (^). — for omitting playing to trick, 54 (i). Optional, 28. No trump. changed to "no bid," 42. — defined, 8 — honors, 15 Rank of — in declaration, 4 — tricks count ten, 10. Odd tricks. — defined, 9. — not counted when contract fails, 9. — , values, 10. — , when counted, 9. — , where scored, 10, 17. Opponent, 28. Out of turn. See Bid out of turn, Lead out of turn. Pack(s). (See also Card.) All draw from same — , 22. FOSTER ON AUCTION Pack(s). (See also Card.) Choice of — 22. Correct — . See Correct pack. Cutting the — , 25. Imperfect — . See Imperfect pack. Incorrect — . See Correct pack. New — . See New. One or two — s used, 2. Perfect — . See Imperfect pack. Same — used, 27, 28. Stm — . See StiU pack. Wrong — dealt, 28(i). Partner (s). Consulting — , 60. Dealer's — shuffles, 24. — defined, 1. Drawing for — , 22, — first naming suit is Declarer, 45. — may not cut, deal, shuffle, etc., 24, 25, 26(6). — of proper player leads, 64(a). Two — constitute a side, 1. Pass. " Declare " includes ", 29. — defined, 38. Four players — in succession, 29, — made after declaration ends, 41(c). — out of turn, 39, 40. Third consecutive — ends declaration, 29. Penalty. — and consultation, 60. — applied. See Penalty applied. — counted in honor score, 17. Reasonable time for selecting — , 60(p). Selecting wrong — , 60(e), 60(/). Penalty applied. Bidding errors, 32, 34, 41, 42. Breaking up table, 21(6). Consultation, 60. Contract failure, 9, 45. Cut omitted, 28(h). Cutting wrong, 25(6). 396 FOSTER ON AUCTION Penalty applied. Dealing errors, 27, 28. Declaration errors, 32, 34, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. Doubling errors, 37, 41. Dummy penalized, 50. Exposed cards, 52 Failure to play to trick, 54(2"). Improper information, 61 . InsuflBcient bid, 32. Leaving table, 13(c), 20, 21. Looking at card during deal, 26(d). Looking at quitted tricks, 61(e). Pass out of turn, 40, 41(c). Redoubling errors, 37, 41. Repeated errors, 43. Revoke, 57. Shuffling errors, 24. Wrong number of cards held, 27, 56(e). Perfect pack. See Imperfect. Placing still pack, 24. Plain suit, 8. Play. — described, 1, 5, 46. Failing to — as directed, 56(d). Fourth hand — s before second, 54(e). — ing highest or lowest. See Calling. — ing out of turn, 54. —ing out the hand, 49(0, 59(6). — ^ing to a trick, 5. — of Declarer and Dummy, 53. Rank of cards in — ,3. Terminating — by agreement, 13(6). Player (s). — cuttmg out, 13(a), 23. — defined, 18, 22, Four — in game, 1. — leaving tables, 13(c), 20, 21. Priority among — , 21, 22, 23. Points. All game — counted, 12. Net — in rubber, 17. FOSTER ON AUCTION Points. Scoring — , 17. Thirty — to game, 12, Total — in rubber, 13(a), 17. Priority. — amoag candidates, 18, 19. — among members, 20. — among players, 21, 22, 23. " Protection from revokes," 58(/), Quit(ted). card" defined, 53. Looking at — tricks, 8, 61(e). Missing cards in — tricks, 27(e). Searching — tricks, 27(e), 54(y), 56(c). Too few cards in — tricks, 54(0- Too many cards in — tricks, 54 (j). — tricks and the revoke, 56(a), 58. ** — tricks " defined, 56(a). Rank of candidates and players, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Rank of cards. — in drawing, 3. — in play, 3. Rank of suits. — after double or redouble, 35, 36. — in declaration, 4. — in drawing, 4. Redouble. — accepted, 37 (d). — after declaration ends, 37(6), 41(a). — before a bid, 37(a). Bidding values not increased by — , 36. Contract bonus and — , 45. " Declare " includes 29. ~ defined, 36. — doubles double, 36. Honors values not increased by — , 15, 36. Improper — s, 37. — multiplies trick values by four, 10, 36. — of — etc. 37(e). 398 FOSTER ON AUCTION Redouble. — of partner's double, 37(e). — out of turn, 37. Penalties for improper — , 37. Revoke and — , 57(6). Slam values not increased by — , 36. Undertricks and — , 45. — when under compulsion to pass, 41 (fe). Refuse (d). — defined, 7. Dummy calls attention when Declarer has — , 48(c). Suit — and partner " asks," 58(c). Renounce. — becomes a revoke, 56. — corrected, 58. — defined, 7, 55. Dummy calls attention to — , 48(c), 49 (i^). Repeated errors, 43. Returning to table, 20, 21. Revoke. Adversaries take penalty for — , 57(a) Adversary — s, 57(6). — avoided, 58. Both sides — , 57(c) . Declarer — s, 57(a). — ing Declarer cannot score tricks, 57(a). Declarer takes two tricks or 50 points for first — , 57(6). — defined, 56. Dummy and — , 48(c), 49(/i), 540'). — helps to win contract, 57(a), 57(6). Dummy not liable for 7-, 58(a). — on account of card short, 54 (j), 56(e). Only honors scored by — ing side, 57(c). — penalty, 57. — penalty does not gain slam, 16, 57(6). — penalty not increased by doubling and redoubling, 57(6) " Protection from — 58(jr). Renounce becomes — , 56. Searching tricks for — , 54 (j), 56(c). Time limit of — , 58(g). — when following trick is led to, 56(6). FOSTER ON AUCTION Revoke. — when opponents mix cards, 56(c). — when player fails to play as directed, 56(d). — when trick is quitted, 56(a). Room, first in, 18. Rubber. Bonus for — , 13(a), 57(6). Cutting out at end of — , 23. — defined, 13(a). Net points of — , 17. Not starting — after specified time, 13(6). Scoring unfinished — ,13. Total points of — , 13(a), 17. Unfinished — , 13. When — begins and ends, 13(a). — when won, 13. " Winning a losmg — 13 (o). Same dealer and pack, 27, 28. Scoring. error in — . See Error. — honors, 15-17. — revoke, 57. — rubber, 13, 17. — slams, 16, 17. — tricks, 9, 10, 12, 17, — undertricks, 45. — unfinished rubber, 13. Searching quitted tricks, 27(e), 54C?)> 66(c). Seats, choice of, 22. Shuffle. — after the cut, 25(6). — before deal, 24. Cutting after — , 24. Dealer may — last, 24. — described, 24. New — 25(6). Partner may not — ,24. Side. Either — scores slam, 16. Net points of — , 17. 400 FOSTER ON AUCTION Side. Total points of — , 13(a), 17. Two partners constitute a — , 1. Which partner of — is Declarer, 45. — wins rubber, 13(a). Simple honors, 15. Slam(s). — count as honors, 16, 17. Declarer scores — on losing contract, 16. — defined, 16. — not affected by double, 35. — not affected by redouble, 36. — not earned by revoke penalty, 16, 57(6). — scored by either side, 16. Value of — , 16, 35, 36. Soiled cards, 2. Spade (s). Rank of — , 4. — tricks count nine, 10. Specified time, stopping at, 13(6). Still pack. — defined, 24. - how shuJBBed, 24. Missing cards found in — , 27(e). Stopping rubber at specified time, 13(6). Substitutes, 13(c), 21(a). Substituting cards, 58(6). Sufficient (bid). See Insufficient bid. Suit(s). Each — has thirteen cards, 2. Following — , 7. Four — in correct pack, 2. No trump regarded as — , 4. Only three — may be forbidden, 44. Plain — , 8. Rank of — in declaration, 4. Rank of — in drawing, 4. Rank of — not affecting by doubling or redoubling, 35, 36. Table(s). Breaking up a — , 21(6). FOSTER ON AUCTION Table(s). Candidates at — , 18, 19, Complete — , 18. Cutting out of — , 23. Entry at — , 18, 19, 20, 21. Leaving — , 13(c), 20, 21. Making up — , 18, 19. Returning to — , 20, 21. Six members make complete — , 18. Termination of rubber at specified time, 13(6). Tom cards, 2. Total points. Greatest — wins rubber, 13(a) — , how reckoned, 17. Touching a card, 50 (n), 53. Trick(s). Claiming and conceding — , 59. — defined, 6. — gained by revoke, 57(a), 57(6). Giving information regarding winner of — , 61(6). Leading to — , 5. Looking at quitted — , 8, 61(e). — not played to, 54(i). Number of — in book, 45. Odd — . See Odd tricks. Omitting playing to — , 54(^). Order of playing to — ,6. Playing to — makes revoke, 56(6). — quitted, 56(a). Quitted — containing fewer than four cards, 54(*). Quitted — containing more than four cards, 54 (j). Quitting — establishes revoke, 56(a), — required to be won or lost. See Win or lose trick. — score, 9, 10, 12, 17. — scored only by declarer, 9. Searching — , 27(e), 54(j), 56(c). Slams and — ,16. Trumping a — ,8. Under — , See Undertricks. — values, 10, 35, 36, When — quitted makes revoke, 56(a), 58(6). 402 FOSTER ON AUCTION Trick(s). Who leads to — , 5. Winning a — ,8. Trump (s). — defined, 8. No — . See No Trump. — values, 10. — wins trick, 8 Undertricks. — counted as honors, 17, 45. — defined, 45. Score for — , 45. Unfinished rubber, 13. Vacancies at tables, 19, 20, 21. Values. Biddmg — , 31, 35, 36. Honor — , 15, 35, 36. — of suits. See Rank. Slam — , 16, 35, 36. Trick — , 10, 35, 36. Win or lose trick, 54(&), 54(e), 5Q{d), 61(6). Winning. — contract, 9, 45. — game, 12. " — losing rubber," 13(c). — rubber, 13. — " the choice," 22. — the trick, 8. Withdrawing from tables, 13(c), 20, 21. Wrong. — dealer deals, 28(/). — pack dealt, 28 (i). — penalty, 60(e), 60(/), GENERAL INDEX Note. The figures refer to the serial numbers of the hands that illustrate the point indexed. POINT ILLUSTRATED HANDS Ace-jack-ten finesse 1, 115 Ace-queen finesse 116 Ace-queen-jack finesse 127 Ace-queen- jack-ten finesse 8 Ace-queen, second hand 130 Ace-ten 4th hand, queen small 2d hand 117 Acknowledging weakness of a take-out 37 Against no-trumpers, sit tight and lead 61 Allow for having overbid forced declarations 55 Anticipating a bid by asking a lead 82 Asking a lead, 3d hand, after two passes 21 Asking a lead, 4th hand, at no-trump 67, 85 Asking a lead, when 2d hand doubles 84 Asking a lead, while it is cheap to do so 82 Asking if take-out is strong or weak 36, 37 Assist, in spite of intervening bid 56 Assist a forced bid, with more than average 55 Assists always show tricks outside trumps 46 Assisting a forced bid once only 51 Assisting more than once, if strong enough 57 Assisting on length in trumps 59 Assisting on more than average values 54 Assisting on outside tricks 49 Assisting secondary bids 92, 94 Assisting three times, if strong enough 57 Avoid discarding weak suits at no-trump 107 Avoid double meaning in down-and-out echo 103 Avoid driving no-trumpers into safer bids 52, 86 Avoid establishing winners in dummy 100 Avoid leads from tenace suits 23, 98 Avoid singleton leads, with four trumps 99 Avoiding premature trump leads 123 403 404 GENERAL INDEX POINT ILLUSTRATED HANDS Bidding suits 2d hand against no-tnimps 52 Bidding for attack only, without defence 17, 18 Bidding higher ranking of two equal suits 23 Bidding on length, without the tops 16, 17, 18, 20 Bidding supporting suits on 2d round 47 Bidding two, with six of the suit 45 Bidding two no-trumps, instead of doubling 81 Bidding v.'eak suits, with strong side cards 15 Blocldng re-entries by the eleven rule 114 Bluff doubles and redoubles 71 Bluff doubles, to frighten opponents 40 Border-line no-trump bids by dealer 33 Borrowed tricks, for forced bids 55 Building up a bid that should have been shut out 11, 12 Coaxing a cover by 2d hand and not getting it 21 Come-on signal, by the 3d hand 103 Concentrating upon certain suits in the play 118 Contract bridge 135 Cover an honor with an honor 110 Cross-ruffing an entire hand 3, 125 Coimting leader's hand 132 Danger of doubHng one-trick bids on average 68 Danger of opponents building up a bid 11 Deduct for short trumps, in assisting bids 58 Defence shown by bids in minor suits 5 Defenceless-suit bids deceive the partner 16 Defensive bids on hands below average 80 Defensive bids, 3d hand, to indicate a lead 83 Defensive bids, 3d hand, after a double 84 Defensive bids, 3d hand, after two passes 21 Deny a suit first, then assist on side tricks 58 Deny partner's suit with any sure-trick suit 26 Denying alternate suits by partners 30 Denying two suits to try a third 41 Denying assistance for a forced bid 29 Denying both no-trumps and a suit 37 Denying major-suit take-outs 36, 37 Denying minor suits with minor suits 28 Denying partner's suit with two small only 24 Denying a suit and also the take-out. 27 GENERAL INDEX 405 POINT ILLUSTBATED HANDS Difference between denying and greater strength 25 Difference between original bids of one and two 45, 46 Difference between warning and strength 25 Directive discards at no-trump 109 Discarding best protected suit at no-trump 107, 108 Discarding losers before leading trumps 124 Discarding weakness at no-trumps 108 Distinguishing strong take-out from weak 14 Down-and-out echo against a trump contract , 102 Double use of the double, to encourage partner 68 Doublers are responsible for the outcome 66 Doubles with a double meaning 69 Doubling after assisting, to show stoppers 70 Doubhng after bidding, to show stoppers 40, 58, 64 Doubling to force the partner to declare 63 Doubling original bids of two 66 Doubling original bids of three 73 Doubling to bluff opponents into another bid 40, 71 Doubling suit that overcalls partner's no-trump 60 Doubling a suit asked for by 4th hand, no-trump 67 Doubling twice, if partner does not answer first double 63, 67 Doubling when partner has passed is dangerous 72, 77 Ducking the first round of a suit 128 Dummy-up 136, 137 Each partner denying the other's suit 27 Eleven rule for the 3d hand 113 Eleven rule in connection with the bids 114 Elimination of unessentials at no-trimip 118 Establishing the 4th card of a weak suit 120 EstabUshing suits by ducking first round 128 EstabHshing suits by ruffing them out 98, 117, 126 Finding the right suit by denying others 37 Finesse, by placing the lead in proper hand 121 Finessing with ace-jack-ten 115 Finessing with ace-queen. . 116 Finessing with ace-queen-jack 127 Finessing with ace-queen- jack-ten 8 Forced bids, on hands below average 80 Forced bids are borrowed tricks; deduct later 53, 55 406 GENERAL INDEX POINT ILLTTSTBATED HANDS Forcing partner to bid a suit 10 Forcing the strong trump hand 4 Forcing better than shifting suits 59 Foster echo at no-trumps 104, 105, 106 Fourth-best lead and the eleven rule 113, 114 Fourth hand asking a lead at no-trumps 67, 85 Fourth hand bids on the bidding 87, 88 Fourth hand refusing to ask a lead at no-trumps 86 Free bids must have defensive values 89, 90 Getting adversaries to lead a suit 134 Getting one hand into the lead twice 122 Getting partner in, to come through declarer 100 Getting rid of losers, before leading trumps 124 Getting established by ruffing 126 Hands that are too strong to pass 15 High cards from hand shorter in the suit 119, 127, 131 Higher of two, 3d hand, inviting a force 102 Higher ranking suit selected for first bid 9, 41 Holding high trump for 3d round, as re-entry .27, 111, 126 Holding up command of opponent's suit 130 Holding up command by eleven rule 113 Honor on honor, when led through 110 Importance of denying partner's suit, if weak 26 Importance of play on first trick 122, 129 Importance of position for finessing 122 Increased value of hand when assisting 24 Indicating a lead, in anticipation of a bid 82, 84 Indicating a lead, 3d hand, after two passes 21 Inferring finesse would fail 133 Inferring outside tricks in rebid hands 48 Inferring weakness of bids against no-trumps 74 Inferring where support hes in partner's hand 47 Intervening bids disregarded in denying suits 41 Intervening double disregarded in denjdng suits 41 King led, to show ace or queen, or both. 97 Leading correctly from high combinations 97 Leading fourth-best and eleven rule 113, 114 GENERAL INDEX 407 POINT IliLtJSTRATED HANDS Leading from ace to queen for a finesse 116 Leading from the weak hand to the strong 127 Leading queens to aces, without jack or ten 116 Leading short, to get a ruff 61 Leading through denied suits 30, 36, 44 Leading through strength in dummy 109, 110, 113 Leading to weakness in dummy 104, 113, 115 Leading trumps up to declarer, first trick 32, 98 Leading trumps only after discards 124 Leading trumps only after ruffing dummy 123 Leading up to declared stoppers at no-trurrip 85 Length, without tops, no excuse in free bids 19, 92 Length in trumps adds nothing to assists 59 Length, without the tops, deceives partner 18 Locating the weak suit in a no-trumper 9 Longest suit between the two hands 120, 127 Losing cards got rid of before leading trumps 124 Losing Uttle slam, through not being warned 35 Major-suit bids on four cards only 6, 41 Major-suit take-outs from weakness 35 Major-suit take-outs from strength , 43 Making trumps separately .3, 52, 123 Minor over major, to support the other major 79 Minor suits bid on high cards, not length 5 Minor-suit bids are one trick only , 8 Minor-suit bids of two tricks, for no-trumps. , 9 Minor-suit bids of two, to force partner's birl 10 Minor-suit bids of three or four 6 Minor-suit bids of five, to go game 11, 13 Minor-suit bids show assistance for better bids 5 Minor-suit take-outs of no-trumps are warnings ..... .31, 32, 33, 34 Minor-suit take-outs on strength are wrong , 31 Never assist a no-trumper when overcalled 60 No-trumpers denying support for take-out 34 No-trumpers that are weak in one suit. 9 No-trumpers that will stand a take-out 39 No-trumps bid against a no-trumper 39 No-trumps at 10, better than hearts at 8. . , 43 408 GENERAL INDEX POINT ILLUSTRATED HANDS Original bids of two, to show length 45 Original bids must show defence 5 Overbidding hands that need assistance 59 Overbidding on account of honors 44 Overbidding on account of outside tricks 44, 53 Overbidding, to distinguish from denial 25 Overbidding a take-out, with great length 42 Overcalling no-trumpers 2d hand, with a suit 52, 75, 76 OvercalHng no-trumpers 2d hand, with major suits 61, 62, 74 OvercaUing no-trumpers, with the lead 32, 34, 35 Overcalling a suit prevents its denial 44 Partner's minor suits a help for no-trumpers 7 Partner's silence, after a rebid 96 Penalties or game? 74 Placing tlie lead to start a suit II9 Placing the lead for a finesse 121 Postponed bids on secondary suits 93 Postponed bids do not deceive the partner 19 Postponing the trump lead, to rufT dummy 123 Postponing the trump lead, to discard losers 124 Possible two- trick bid in a minor suit 26 Preventing a lead through declarer 118 Promoting powers of high cards 1 Protective discards at no-trumps 107, 108 Putting one hand into the lead twice 122 Queen and one small, 2d hand 1,21 Queen and small, 2d hand; ace-ten 4th hand 117 Rebidding aiter an assist 51 Rebidding without waiting for partner 49, 53, 55 Rebids always indicate outside tricks 45, 46, 48, 50 Redoubhng the best defence to the double 63, 65 Redoubling to get out of a double 71 Redoubling forces 4th hand to bid 66 Redoubling a no-tnunper, to indicate strength 64 Redoubling to show weakness in the suit 65 Reduced value of denied suits 24, 27 Re-entries made on first trick 122, 129 GENERAL INDEX 409 POINT ILLtrSTRATED HAWBi Re-entry only in the suit itself 128 Refusal to rebid, sho-u-? nothing but the suit 57 Refusing to overcall no-triunpers, 2d hand 75 Refusing to lead up to declared stoppers 29, 77 Refusing to rebid forced bids 53, 55 Refusing to rebid, even after assist 54, 57 Refusing to rebid two-trick bids 68 Refusing to bid, with the lead, at no-trumps 40, 74, 75 Refusing to take out no-triunps in major suits 43 Return to no-trumps, after denying take-out 36, 38 Reverse discard at no-trumps 109 Ruffing dummy, before leading trumps 123 Ruffing out suits to establish 98, 117, 126 Second-best, 3d hand, at no-trump 104, 105, 106 Second bidder overcaUing no-tnunpers. 32 Secondary bids distinguished from free bids . , 89, 90, 92 Secondary bids do not deceive partner 19 Secondary bids need not be denied 92 Secondarj' suit bids, when first is denied 41 Secondary bids follo'^ing free bids 91 Selecting the suit of higher rank 6 Separating the trumps, when dummy can ruff 62 Separating trumps by a cross niff 125 Setting up a suit before leading trumps 37, 126 Shift bids, to push up a no-trumper 60 Shifting from a suit to no-trumps 48 Short-suit bids to show sure tricks 7 Short suits bid to show defence 6 Showing partner what to lead for defence 5 Sho-wing secondary suit in a no-tiiunper 36, 37, 38 ShoTsdng where there is support for a suit 40 Showing support by doubling another suit 40 Showing support is unnecessary in suit bids 46 Shut-out bids in the major suits, 12 Shut-out bids in the minor suits 11 Shut-outs useless if not afraid of a suit 14 Silence of the partner, after a rebid 96 Silence of partner may mean two things 95 Singletons add nothing to declarer's hand 2, 16, 17, 18, 20 410 GENERAL INDEX POINT ILLtrSTRATED HAKD* Singletons indicated by avoiding suits bid 99 Singletons in dummy add a king value 3 Singletons are bad leads with four trumps 4, 99 Sporty no-trumpers, not as good as strong suits 13 Strength in dummy should be led through 109, 110, 113 Siut bids always safer than no-trumps 42 Suit bids after a no-trumper is abandoned 40 Support partner first; then bid a big suit 25 Supporting suit never named in suit bids 46, 47 Taking a one-trick sting to sa ve game 46 Third-hand caution when dealer has passed 22 Third-hand defensive bids, after two passes 21 Third hand may reopen the bidding for dealer 21 Third-hand play against no-trumps 104, 105, 106 Third hand wdnning tricks cheaply 101 Too lat€ to force 112 Too strong to pass up certain hands 15 Too strong for a major-suit take-out 43 Trump leads, postponed by declarer 3 Unblocking; high cards from the short hand 131 Unblocking by overtaldng 130 Undeclared major suits probably spHt up 88 Unequally divided suits the best to play for 127 Unnecessary increase of bid by partner 23 Unsoimd free bids deceive the partner 90 Unsound free bids induce unsafe doubles 20 Values necessary for doubling 68 Warning an opponent who bids no-trumps 52, 86 Weak "rescues" in the major suits 35, 39, 41 Weakness of secondary bids allowed for in assists 94 When game is safe, let them play the hand 78 Winning last round of trumps in a certain hand 119, 126 Winning tricks cheaply, third hand , , , , , , , 10^ 3li.77"3 I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 029 604 580 9