University of Mississippi eGrove

Haskins and Sells Publications Deloitte Collection

1971 Bridge to everwhere Richard Frey

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Recommended Citation H&S Reports, Vol. 08, (1971 spring), p. 12-15

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Deloitte Collection at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Haskins and Sells Publications by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. By Richard L. Frcy "Ridiculous!" I would have answered cruise as maitre de bridge aboard the There are really two games of con­ the most revered of 1925's seers had he plush steamship Nieuw Amsterdam. At tract bridge: the tournament game, ventured to predict that my not-too- the first luncheon, seating was catch- where they know you are an amateur distant future would include sitting as-catch-can so my wife and I intro­ if you introduce yourself when you down to play bridge with Harold S. duced ourselves to two other couples at come to a new table, and the social Vanderbilt. He had not yet skippered our table. One of the husbands replied, game, where you can find a bridge the three great yachts that successfully "Our name is Jacoby—but we don't play game to your liking and people you like defended the America's Cup. I was not bridge. And our friends here are Mr. and who will like you in any city you aware that he had just invented con­ and Mrs. Sulzberger." may visit or move to. You don't have to tract bridge. But even I knew that In my usual facetious fashion, I said, go to the bridge club, or the country Vanderbilt was a multimillionaire, the "Of The New York Times, I presume." club or the athletic club. If you are bachelor catch of society's Four Hun­ Mrs. Sulzberger nodded, "Yes," and married, you and your wife will meet dred and a scion of the tough old there I was with egg on my chin. But it dozens of other couples who enjoy an Commodore who had got his start by was a pleasant luncheon and when my evening of home bridge. plying his own private ferry to Staten wife encountered Arthur Ochs Sulz­ I am not going to pretend that Island and wound up owning the New berger at one of our island shopping husband-and-wife bridge battles are York Central Railroad. stops a few days later, she asked, "How unknown. But, if 's I was 20, a social nobody, having a are you doing?" He smiled and said, theory is psychologically sound, neither lot of fun and a modest financial suc­ "Running out of money." Her offer of are such fights unwholesome. Ely used cess eking out an extra $5 a week or so a loan was genially refused. to say that since a certain number of playing at home or at As did most everyone at the Caven­ marital quarrels are natural and inev­ the homes of friends. I don't mean that dish Bridge Club in New York, I called itable, it is better to fight about bridge I ever became Mike Vanderbilt's pal; Wall Street genius Jack Dreyfus "Baby- than about more important matters. we just played bridge together a few face." I might even have become one Whether or not he was right, so far times and once he sat beside me for a of that club's Polaroid "millionaires" as I know there is only one confirmed couple of hours, acting the part of the except that I didn't happen to be case of homicide as the result of a most silent and attentive kibitzer I around at the time that Jack was ex­ bridge argument. That was way back ever enjoyed. My contemporary, Sam pressing his confidence in that then in 1931 when John Bennett of Kansas Fry, Jr.—an early Life Master like me brand-new stock. I was one of the first City, after losing a hand with his wife and with the same highly non-social to call Alfred M. Gruenther, "General," as partner, learned too late that the background—was on much friendlier because that was how we all greeted locked door of his bathroom was neither terms with Mr. V. In fact, Vanderbilt the young lieutenant who moonlighted rageproof nor bulletproof. Mrs. Bennett loved a good bridge game so much that from his duties as math instructor at fired several shots through the door he once sent his private plane clear West Point in order to direct the most and, in the ensuing postmortem, the across Florida to bring Sam to Palm important eastern bridge tournaments. late Mr. Bennett was, for once, in no Beach for a game. Knowing that Van­ Later, of course, he did become a four- position to explain why he had bid and derbilt hated to lose, Junior has never star general. I never got to play with played the hand as he did. been quite sure whether he should con­ Al's most famous bridge partner, Ike I do not maintain that husband-and- sider this a friendly gesture or a kind of Eisenhower, but I met him when he wife bridge spells inevitable bank­ Las Vegas free plane ride to welcome dropped in at the National Champion­ ruptcy for the professional marriage an expected sucker. Since neither of us ships in Washington and spent not less counselor. A doctor friend whose bridge owned a yacht, my point is that nothing than two hours as a fascinated kibitzer. skill had helped pay his way through but bridge could have brought either of Name dropping? Of course I am. med school played bridge with his wife us into the orbit of a Vanderbilt. Nor could I have expected these things only once. After a couple of deals, she I know I have made more friends, to happen to me if I hadn't happened asked, "How can you take bridge so been to more places and earned more to be a pretty good bridge player. But seriously? After all, it's only a game." recognition because I became a good if you play any kind of bridge, you can Wisely, and promptly, he gave up play­ bridge player than ever I could have find friends fast, no matter where you ing bridge with her as his partner, and by becoming a great advertising man— go in this world. A bridge deck is like eventually gave up the game com­ my original line of work. Actually, I've 52 calling cards. pletely. made my living as a writer, but it never Then there was the time my wife hurt that some of my editors also liked and I played a friendly game against to play bridge. Not long ago, for ex­ another expert and his still-almost-new ample, I went on a nine-day Caribbean spouse. We had lost a little — never Bridge conducive to my friendliest behavior, since I cannot bear to be defeated in anything, even by my children. Never- theless, on the way home my wife agreed when I remarked, "Gee, dear, wasn't I nice tonight? I hardly criti- cized you once." Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the feminine half of the opposing team was saying to her hus- band, "Darling, if you ever talk to me the way Dick spoke to Mabel, I'll divorce you." I can add only—and not ill proof of anything, mind you—that we are still happily married. Alas, our good friends are not. College is an excellent place to learn bridge if you have not already picked up at least the rudiments at high school, or in a home game with the family. But I am not too happy about the way that some of our most expert young bridge players are neglecting their studies because they are fasci- nated by the game. It is not necessary for a college player to be a fixture of the permanent non-floating bridge game found in many a fraternity or sorority house. Nor is it necessary to graduate from university as an LM—that is, as one of the American League's Life Masters—although that achievement is far from uncommon today. It's just nice to learn to play while you're young. It is also apt to stand you in good stead for more years than most extracurricular activities.

However, almost anything is likely to happen if you spend a little time learning bridge at college. did, for example, when three co-eds nagged him into making a Everywhere fourth in their bridge game at McGill University. It bugged Charlie that the girls made him look so bad, So he read a bridge book, and look what hap- pened. Charlie became the world's greatest bridge authority. Somewhat bafflingly, in view of his start, two women, Sally Young and , became his favorite bridge part- ners. And Charlie remains a bachelor. The best way to learn is by playing— but first it's a good idea to read a beginner's book. Even better, if no one almost every newspaper. Although to win a single master point, and you in your family plays, is for married most of these hands are not for begin­ need at least 300 master points to be­ couples to join a bridge class and learn ners, lots of what Charles Goren calls come a Life Master, the top player together. One highly successful "napkin players" never play the game ranking of the American Contract teacher organized his groups by house- in any other form. Basic descriptions Bridge League. Yet anybody can af­ to-house canvassing and put emphasis of bridge are also to be found in books ford to play bridge, and to play in a in his pitch on the parties that would of rules of games, almost invariably game with the best players in town, be included in the course. He was fol­ called "Hoyles." My own, for example, too, because is played lowing the proved technique of danc­ According to Hoyle (Fawcett) is avail­ for no stakes at all. In some places the ing schools because, after all, bridge is able in paperback for 95^. entry fee is as low as $1 per session and entertainment whether you are playing The beauty of contract bridge is that includes free cake and coffee, though or just learning. even the player who is dealt a poor most fees run around $2, which still There are perhaps 10,000 profes­ hand has a fighting chance to triumph makes a cheap afternoon or evening's sional bridge teachers in the country if he can cooperate with his partner to entertainment. and not too long ago that occupation outbid the opponents, or to win the Duplicate is an exceptionally good won a separate listing in the Dictionary trick or two necessary to defeat them game for travelers, whether singles or of Occupational Titles published by when the opponents bid their hands to pairs. There's scarcely a city of any the U.S. Department of Labor. How­ the limit that will give them a chance size in the U.S. that doesn't have at ever, since everyone who already to collect the rich slam and rubber least one of the 6,000 duplicate clubs plays, or thinks he does, is all too will­ bonuses. Thus, even a run of poor cards affiliated with the American Contract ing to teach, there may be as many as does not make bridge boring, although Bridge League and some of these clubs 30 million amateurs to add to the admittedly it may make it frustrating. offer a game virtually every afternoon teaching list. There are also bridge Or, if you can afford a yen to become and evening. You can call the club schools, and classes given in high school a Life Master player in the shortest manager in advance, or just turn up at adult education programs, the YWCA possible time, you can hire a tourna­ game time and chances are that he can and other organizations. ment star to give you private lessons find you a partner. You don't even have Then, too, there are games or self- and to play with you in anything from to be an ACBL member—dues $5 a instructional devices with which you your local duplicate game to a national year — although sometimes this may can at least begin to learn—and with championship. Some thirty years ago at help. A copy of the Directory of Dupli­ which, in fact, you can play a kind of the bridge club which he organized, cate Clubs may be had on request by solitaire bridge—all by yourself. Good Ely Culbertson became concerned at writing Club Directory, ACBL, 125 ones include Bradley's Rollamatic and the size of the losses of one of the Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, Conn. Parker Brothers' Autobridge, in the wealthy "little old lady" members play­ 06830. Ask for either the Eastern or $5 to $10 range, and go all the way up ing in the three-cent game, located Western edition. But you may have to a self-dealer of teaching hands, appropriately enough on the third floor both if you wish. called Bridgeveryone, complete with and attended usually by at least three Poker, once America's favorite card lesson book, that sells in the neighbor­ top experts to carve up her losses. One game, is still widely popular. But poker hood of $30. New ones, including cas­ day Culbertson suggested that perhaps isn't a good "sociable" game. It's sel­ settes-plus-visual aids, are on the draw­ she might enjoy playing one floor dom a family affair; it's not much fun ing and may be ready in a year. lower, where the stakes were two cents unless the stakes are high enough to lower. "Thank you, Ely," bridled the be expensive if you lose and worth­ Incidentally, additional sets of deals L.O.L.—the "in" term for anyone, male while if you win. It's not the kind of that go beyond primary instruction are or female, who plays in top competition game that you can comfortably play available for both Rollamatic and Auto­ but doesn't play very well. "However, with strangers, and you aren't apt to be bridge. In fact, some people learn by I have set aside $15,000 a year for my invited to join a rich man's game unless ticking off the cards as the play is de­ bridge entertainment and I intend to you play so well that you're a consis­ scribed in the articles that appear in lose it to only the best players." tent winner—which doesn't add to your popularity. Today, with play-for-pay experts Bridge, although you can play for getting as high as $150 per session high stakes if you like, is mostly just (plus expenses) to play with their the opposite. The most frequent game "pupils," that $15,000 wouldn't go very is between couples; the most frequent far. It has been estimated that it costs stake is something like a quarter a cor­ the untalented player as much as $200 ner or a tenth of a cent a point, at *

14 THE BENNETT MURDER HAND which rate only rare hard luck could If you have ever heard an amateur a spade and two or three heart tricks, cause you to lose as much as $10. Even try to tell about a bridge hand he in addition to the ace of diamonds. when played for no stakes at all, as played as recently as five minutes Both and Ely Culbert- bridge frequently is, the game is so earlier—never mind the excitement of son discussed ways that Bennett might challenging stakes really don't matter. an intervening murder—you will under­ have saved his contract and his life, stand why the diagram reconstructed even without dropping the queen of It is a mistaken idea that a knowl­ by the three survivors is called the spades via a finesse. edge of mathematics is required to "alleged" hand by The Official Ency­ Culbertson suggested that Bennett play good bridge. In any event, ac­ clopedia of Bridge. ruff his losing diamond, come back to countants are not numerous among the NORTH his hand with the king of trumps and leading players. At one time, lawyers A A 10 6 3 lead his 10 of clubs to dummy's ace. led the list by a wide margin. Today, • 10 8 5 Next would come the 9 of clubs, cov­ the top hundred is top-heavy with com­ • 4 ered by East's queen, ruffed by South puter programmers. Doctors may be *A9842 and over-ruffed by West. A heart or a found among the stars, but when you WEST EAST diamond return by West would permit examine their degrees you find that *Q72 *4 declarer to lose only one heart trick. A most are dentists, who rarely if ever VAJ3 VQ94 heart would establish South's king and get night calls. Today, when house calls • AQ10 92 • K J 7 6 3 let him discard two other hearts on the are more rare and doctors who make *J6 *Q753 established clubs, after drawing West's them even rarer, more medical spe­ SOUTH last trump with dummy's ace of spades. cialists are pushing toward the top. AKJ985 A diamond would let dummy ruff while VK762 South discarded one heart, and, after However, it isn't necessary to be first • 85 cashing the ace of spades, declarer rank to get great enjoyment from con­ *K10 could then discard two more hearts on tract bridge. Indeed, all the world, ex­ the good clubs. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST cept maybe your immediate partner, As Culbertson somewhat lamely ad­ loves a loser. Of course, the better you (Bennett) (Hoffmann) (Mrs. B) (Mrs. H) mitted, however, a spade return by 1 4b 2 • 4 A Pass play the more enjoyable you will find West after over-ruffing the club lead Pass Pass the game, but there are all levels of "might still have permitted the fatal bridge skill in all levels of society. Opening lead: ace of diamonds. denouement, but at least Mr. Bennett One significant survey, made some would have had the satisfaction of years ago by North American Van True, the corpse-to-be did not have knowing that he had played the cards Lines before they chose to sponsor the sufficient values for his opening bid, dealt to him by fate to the very best of Goren Bridge program on TV, showed but no other bridge player in history his ability." that among young executives — those has paid so high a penalty for failing Presumably the Angel Gabriel would whose families moved most from city to make a four spade contract. then have lent a sympathetic ear to to city—bridge was the most popular After winning his ace of diamonds, Bennett's hard luck story. At any rate game. And they found it far and away West shifted to the jack of clubs. Ben­ here on Earth there must have been at the best game to help in making new nett won with the king and tried to least one sympathetic bridge player on friends in new localities. drop the queen of spades by cashing the jury that heard the murder charge, If, after giving bridge a try, you the ace and king. Eventually, he lost for Mrs. Bennett was acquitted! still feel you don't care for card games, there's always an appropriate moral to be drawn from Buddy Hackett's story If you already play bridge, you may about his emotional uplift at watching recognize the name of Richard L. Frey a candlelight procession at Lourdes. as one of the first players to he named "My wife and I are Jewish," he told a Life Master, an original member of one of the priests. "What can we do?" the famed "," a former part­ Laconically, the priest replied, "Take ner of Ely Culhertson, and editor-in- pictures." chief of the Official Encyclopedia of What can non-bridge-playing ac­ Bridge. Mr. Frey's books include How countants do? Well you can always to Win at Contract Bridge and Accord­ keep score. But for your reputation's ing to Hoyle. He wrote this article sake, it had better be accurately. especially for H&S Reports. *