Auction of To-day | Page 3

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and at 10, were accorded a more thorough trial.
They met objection on the ground that three Royals, equally with three
No-trumps, carried a side to game from a love score, and, therefore,
while some continued to experiment with Royals, it cannot be said that
they were anywhere accepted as a conventional part of Auction. Finally,
some clever Bostonians suggested that their value be made nine, and
this proved both more logical and more popular.
With affairs in this state, the author determined that it would materially
improve the game to arrange the count so that the various bids be as
nearly as possible equalized, every suit given a real rating, and the
maximum competition created. After some little experimentation, the
very simple expedient now in vogue was suggested. It makes the game
in reality what it previously was only in name.
In September, 1911, the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, the first club to
act upon the subject, incorporated in its club code the count of 10 for
No-trump, 9 for Royal Spades, 8 for Hearts, 7 for Diamonds, 6 for
Clubs, and 2 for Spades. Other clubs in this country and abroad slowly
but surely followed, and the card-playing public in its social game
adopted the new plan as soon as it received a fair trial.
Early in 1912, the Whist Club of New York, a most conservative body,

yielded to the pressure, and accepted the new count. Since then, it has
been universally used.
It has been given various names, such as the "new count," which is, of
course, a title that cannot long be retained; the "Philadelphia count,"
which is now inappropriate, as it is played in all parts of the country;
the "game of Royals," which is grossly incorrect, as it is not a game of
Royals any more than of any other suit, and certainly is not one-tenth as
much a game of Royals as the old count was a game of No-trumps. One
writer, who ably advocates the new count, calls the present game
"Royal Auction Bridge," yet frankly admits that No-trump is still
played more frequently than Royals, and Hearts almost as often. There
can be no question that the number of Diamond and Club declarations
has materially increased, so the only apparent reason for calling the
game Royals is the desire for some name to distinguish the count now
used from its predecessor. That, however, is totally unnecessary. The
old, or Bridge count, is a thing of the past--dead and almost forgotten.
The "new" count is "Auction"--"Auction of To-day" if you will, but
unquestionably the best Auction yet devised, the only Auction now
played, and destined to be Auction for all future time, unless some
system be suggested which will create keener competition in bidding. It
is generally conceded that this is practically impossible.
In this book the author does not attempt to drill the uninitiated player in
the intricacies of the game. The rudiments can be learned far more
satisfactorily by watching a rubber, or by receiving the kindly
instruction of a friend or teacher.
In perusing these pages, the beginner will seek in vain to receive such
information as that the 10 is a higher card than the 9; or that the Third
Hand plays after the Second. The reader is supposed to thoroughly
understand the respective values of the cards, as well as the underlying
principles and the rules of the game.
Neither is this book intended for the player who recognizes himself as
an expert and continuously prates of his own ability. Even should he
condescend to read, he would find either "nothing new," or "nothing
new worth knowing." Why, indeed, should he waste his valuable time

considering the ideas of others, when by his brilliant exposition of his
own inimitable theories, he can inculcate in the minds of his inferiors a
new conception of Auction possibilities? Such a player may at any time
confuse a conscientious partner by making an original bid without an
Ace or King, or by committing some equally atrocious Auction faux
pas, but as even a constant recurrence of such "trifles" will not disturb
his equanimity, why suggest ideas for his guidance?
The real purpose of this little book is to point out to the moderate
player the system of bidding and methods of play now adopted by the
best exponents of the game, and to advise generally how to produce a
satisfactory result at the end of the rubber, sitting, or season.
Much of the success of an Auction player is due to his ability to
concentrate his entire attention upon the game. If it were possible to
make only a single suggestion to a beginner, the most important point
that could be called to his attention would be the necessity for
concentration.