Auction of To-day | Page 6

his partner on to their mutual
destruction to murmur, "I could have made my bid." An early bid being
allowed to become the final declaration is exceptional. Whether or not
it could be made is, therefore, immaterial, but the result it may produce
is vital.
In club circles the story is told of the player of experience, who, after
he had been deceived by his partner's declaration, said: "Partner, if you
were reading the paper to a stranger, you would not vary a word of
even an unimportant item. Why, then, should you, in describing your
thirteen cards, deliberately misinform a trusting partner?"
Another exploded idea is that an advantage can be obtained by
so-called "misleading" or "trap" bidding. There are some players who
imagine that, by calling one Spade with an excellent hand, they can
induce the adversaries to believe that the bidder possesses a trickless
combination, and as a result, some ridiculous declaration will follow,
which will give an opportunity for a profitable double. Experience has
shown that in practice this idea does not produce satisfactory results.
Adversaries will not bid to a point where they are apt to be doubled,
except in the face of competition. When the Dealer has called one
Spade, his partner, unless he hold very strong cards, will not materially
elevate the declaration. If both partners have strength, it is not probable
that the adversaries can do much bidding, so that it is only in the
unusual case, and against the inexperienced and unskilled, that such a
scheme is apt to prove successful. On the other hand, it transfers the
advantage of being the first to show strength and abuses the confidence
of the partner. It is a tool which should be employed only by the
Declarer of ripe experience, and he will limit its use to the unusual
hand.
The bidder should remember that part of the finesse of the game, when
partners vary considerably in their respective skill, is to so arrange the
declaration that the stronger player is at the helm most of the time. A
weak player with a strong partner should not jump with undue haste

into a No-trump, Royal, or Heart declaration; but rather, wait for the
partner, and then back up his call. The weak player should also hesitate
before taking away his partner's bid, although of course, there are many
situations which thoroughly justify it, regardless of the greatest
difference in the skill of the players.
The objection to the game of Auction which makes it the subject of the
most severe criticism is the possibility that improper information may
be conveyed to the partner by the manner of making the bid.
After starting to bid, by using the word "one" or "two" there should
never be any hesitation, as that tells the partner that there is more than
one call under consideration. The same comment applies to hesitation
when it is evident to the partner that it must be caused by a doubt
whether or not to double, and the opportunity so to do still remains with
him. An extended delay in passing or bidding one Spade also conveys
an obvious suggestion. It goes without saying that no honorable partner
would avail himself of such information. Being the unwilling recipient
of it, however, places him in an awkward position, as he must
cross-examine himself as to whether any questionable bid or double he
contemplates is in any way encouraged by it. If he have even a scintilla
of doubt, he must pass.
A few principles of bidding applicable to all conditions may be stated
at the beginning of the consideration of the subject.
Adopt informatory and conservative methods.
A good player may bid higher than a poor one.
When your partner fails to assist your bid, do not count on him for
more strength than a Dealer who has bid one Spade.
Any overbid of an adversary shows strength; an overbid of a partner
who has declared No-trump may show weakness.
Overbidding a partner who has declared Royals or Hearts shows
weakness in his suit.

Being without a suit, or holding a singleton, is an element of strength
for a Trump declaration; of weakness for a No-trumper.
When, if you do not bid, the adversary will be left in with a declaration
with which he cannot make game, do not take him out unless you
expect to score game with your declaration.
Do not, by reckless bidding, make the loss of one rubber equal the
usual value of two.
With a love score, it requires three tricks in No-trumps, four in Royals
or Hearts, and five in Diamonds or Clubs, to make game. It is an
exceptional hand in which the Declarer does not lose more than two
tricks. Diamonds and Clubs are, therefore, rarely played