The New Authorized Laws of Contract Bridge

The Bridge Clubs of New York Have Finally Agreed Upon A Code of Penalities and Rules

R. J. LEIBENDERFER

ONLY a few months ago, it was still doubtful whether or not Contract Bridge would receive very serious consideration by the Auction world, but today that doubt has been removed. The evidence of this is the new code on Contract Bridge which has just been completed and offered to the public by The Whist Club of New York, the national authority that has prepared the Auction Bridge codes ever since that game took the public fancy.

The Whist Club is noted for its conservatism and the fact that it has capitulated and formally recognized Contract is the best evidence to date that Contract is really on its way to national recognition and popular favor. The Special Committee of The Whist Club in charge of the codification of the laws of Contract was appointed by Charles M. Schwab, the President of the Club, and consisted of the following: H. C. Richard, Chairman; R. D. Little; H. S. Vanderbilt; C. C. Cadley and W. E. Talcott. At the request of this Committee, the Knickerbocker Whist Club also appointed the following Committee to cooperate in this codification: R. J. Leibenderfer,Chairman; E. A. Wetzler, G. M. Scott and W. C. Whitehead. The completed code has now been approved and adopted by both Clubs; also by the Cavendish Club of New York, the Racquet & Tennis Club of New York and the American Whist League. The fact that these leading Clubs and the American Whist League, the National Association of Whist and Auction Bridge players, have adopted the new code makes it certain that it will receive national recognition.

The main change in the code and one that makes it very different from the Contract Codes of Europe and South America and the code published by the Knickerbocker Whist Club last January (now withdrawn) is the adoption of the Vanderbilt count, so called because it was originated by Harold S. Vanderbilt, probably the best known Contract player in the country and generally regarded as one of the game's leading experts. Under the Vanderbilt count, the trick value of the suits and no-trump and game value are as follows:

Clubs . 20 points

Diamonds . 20

Hearts . 3o

Spades . 3o

No-Trump . 35

Game . 100

From the foregoing table, it is evident that the number of tricks required to score game are exactly the same under the Vanderbilt count as in regular Auction. That is, the relative game going value of the major and minor suits and no trump is the same. There are two striking differences, however; First, in the demotion of the diamond suit as a possible game scorer from an advanced score. For example, in auction, from a score of three diamonds (21 points), you can score game by making one odd at spades or no trump but not so at Contract. Three diamonds (60 points) plus one spade (3o points) or one no trump (35 points) no longer scores game.

This result demotes the diamond suit to a parity with the club suit as a game scorer from an advanced score. The diamond suit, however, still takes precedence in the bidding so is still the more valuable of the minor suits. Second, the value of the heart and spade suits, as game scorers from an advanced score, is promoted. For example, it is now possible to score game in tw'o deals if you score two no-trump (70 points) on one deal and one heart or one spade (3o points) on a succeeding deal. This is not true at Auction so the demotion of the diamond suit, as a game scorer from an advanced score, is more than offset by the promotion of the heart and spade suits.

The next important change made by the new code is the bonus given for the winning of the rubber. The winners of the first game of a rubber (either side) score no bonus whatever. But the winners of the second or rubber game, if a two game rubber, score up a bonus of 700 points, but if three games are required, the rubber game bonus is only 5oo points. Thus for the first time, a distinction is recognized and rewarded for winning a rubber in two games, instead of three. This distinction, however, is more apparent than real. Under the old system of scoring at Contract, a bonus was given for each game and also for the rubber game. Naturally if a side won two games in succession its bonus for winning the rubber was greater than if it won the rubber in three games. In the latter case, the bonus for each side winning a game would offset one another and the net bonus for the rubber would be the bonus given for the rubber game. The new rule gives the same result and saves bookkeeping, so should be approved by every one. It has always been the writer's contention, even at Auction, that the pair winning a two game rubber is entitled to a greater bonus than a pair winning two games out of three, so that he regards the present scoring as a step forward.

The Auction revoke penalty has also been changed. The revoke penalty at Contract, for the first revoke, is two tricks, (same as at Auction) but succeeding revokes are only penalized TOO points each. The reason for this is very evident. The penalties and premiums at Contract are so much higher than at Auction that the Committee considered a penalty of more than two tricks as excessive and so limited revokes of more than one to the TOO point penalty. The modern tendency is to lessen the revoke penalty and this change is along those lines.

THE LAWS OF CONTRACT BRIDGE

This is a synopsis of the new laws for the playing of contract bridge as adopted by New York clubs and made effective September is, 1927.

TRICK VALUES

No trumps 35; Spades 30; Hearts 30; Diamonds 20; Clubs 20; Doubling doubles trick values. Redoubling multiplies them by four.

RANK OF BIDS

A bid of greater number of tricks ranks higher than a bid of a lesser number. When two bids are of tinsame number, they rank: No trump, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs. GAME

A game is won when one side makes a trick score of 100 or more points. Of the tricks made, only those contracted for are scored in the trick score. All extra tricks (tricks made over and above those contracted for) are scored in the honor score.

RUBBER

A rubber is ended when one side wins two games. VULNERABLE

After a side wins one game they become "Vulnerable." Until a side wins a game it is "Not Vulnerable". PREMIUMS

All premiums are scored in the honor score and are classified as follows:

4 in one hand (or fifth in partner's). 100 points

5 in one hand. 150 "

4 aces in one hand in No Trumps. 150 "

All other honors.000 "

Final game of rubber (if a two game

rubber). 700 "

Final game of rubber (if a three game

rubber). 500 "

Other Games. No bonus

MAKING CONTRACT

If Undoubled. 000 points

If Doubled (When Declarer is Not

Vulnerable). 50 "

(When Declarer is Vulnerable). 100 "

EXTRA I RICKS

If Undoubled (When Declarer is Vulnerable or Not Vulnerable). 50ptspertk

If Doubled (When Declarer is Not

Vulnerable). 100 " " "

(When Declarer is Vulnerable).... 200 " " " SLAMS WHEN BID AND MADE Little Slam (When Declarer is Not

Vulnerable). 500 " " "

(When Declarer is Vulnerable).... 750 " " "

Grand Slam (When Declarer is Not

Vulnerable). 1000 " " "

(When Declarer is Vulnerable).... 1500 " " "

UNHID SLAMS Made. Nothing

Slam premiums arc additional to all other premiums. Doubling and redoubling do not alter slam

premiums. PENALTIES

l_ NDERTRICKS

(Scored in Adversaries Honor Score)

If Undoubled (When Declarer is not

Vulnerable). 50 pts per tk

(When Declarer is Vulnerable).... 100 " " "

and 200 " " "

for subsequent tricks If Doubled (When Declarer is Not

Vulnerable).

100 points per trick for the first 2 tricks 200 j joints per trick for third and fourth tricks 400 points per trick for subsequent tricks (When Declarer is Vulnerable)

200 points for the first trick 400 points per trick for subsequent tricks REDOUBLING

Doubles the doubled premiums and penalties. Doubling and redoubling do not affect the premium for games, slams and honors or the penalty points for the second and third revokes.

REVOKE

The revoke penalty for either side is the loss of two tricks for any player's first revoke. 100 points additional penalty for each subsequent revoke.

Continued on page 134

Continued from page 87

The various bonuses and penalties awarded for making or failing to make Contract, are too complicated to discuss in detail. It is suggested that the synopsis of the new code, as printed in this article, he cut out and referred to until the scoring is memorized. Attention is called to the difference in bonuses and penalties when "vulnerable" and "not vulnerable" which should he carefully noted.

The Contract code in general follows the Auction code very closely and the differences just specified are due to the difference in the games. The new code may not be perfect, but it is by far the best existing one. Any suggestions, as to improvement of the code or of the game of Contract, should he referred to The Whist Club and he given fair and courteous consideration.

Contract is of the greatest value to the Auction player, irrespective of his like or dislike of the new game, by giving him new viewpoints or angles of bidding that make him a far better Auction player, after he has played Contract, than he was before.

Here is a good example:

No score, rubber game. Z dealt, bid one no trump and A passed. Now, here is where Contract is different from Auction. Y's proper bid at Contract is three no trumps which B must pass. B's only possible bid is four spades and the certain double that would result would be too great a penalty to pay to save the rubber. Played at three no trumps, Y Z must make three odd with the proper opening, which is the ten of hearts. At Auction, however, Y would probably pass a one no trump bid by his partner and thus give B a chance to hid two spades. Z cannot double this hid or rebid and, if Y should bid two no trump, hoping that Z has a stopper in spades, Y Z will fail to make game with a spade opening. If Y should double two spades, he will only defeat the hid two tricks. Some Auction players would be tempted to hid two no trump after A's pass hut very few, even the best would do so. Note the effect, however, on the Auction player who has played Contract and then reverts to Auction. Do you think that he would nowT pass one no trump, even at Auction, with such a hand? No, indeed; he would now hid three no trump and thus shut out the game saving bid at Auction, as well as at Contract. Points like this come up constantly at Contract and show the clever Auction player how he can improve his game. All in all, Contract is hound to effect Auction in many ways and the ultimate result will probably he a consolidation of the two games, one that will retain the best features of both and eliminate the had ones. Contract is undoubtedly here to stay, either as now played, or in some form that will suit both Contract and Auction players, the ultimate desire of the lovers of both games.