1938: Contract Bridge

Contract bridge enjoyed its greatest popularity in the year 1938 due to increased standardization of bidding methods. In previous years, various home-made systems appeared sporadically in different parts of the United States; and though none of them gained any large number of adherents, they still had a disturbing influence on the game. In 1938, the number of bridge players in the United States was conservatively estimated at 12,000,000 to 15,000,000. Of this number, more than 90 per cent played the Culbertson System.

Tournaments.

For some time, observers have noted a swing away from rubber bridge toward tournament and duplicate play. The year 1938 saw the weekly number of duplicate games throughout the United States rise to the remarkable figure of 20,000 weekly. Tournaments in every part of the country reported new highs in attendance figures. This latter fact was due particularly to the consolidation (in late 1937) of the two rival bridge associations (American Bridge League and United States Bridge Association) into one responsible governing body — the American Contract Bridge League. Ely Culbertson, to whom was due a large part of the credit for effecting this amalgamation of Leagues, was elected Honorary Life Member of the new organization.

The World Bridge Olympic, an annual event held in April, had unprecedented success. Fifty-seven different countries, represented by 192,452 players, participated. The annual tournament of the International Bridge League for 1938 was held in Oslo. Norway, Eleven European countries participated, the Hungarian team coming out victorious. During this tournament and bridge congress, it was voted to hold the 1939 tournament of the International League in New York, to coincide with the World's Fair.

Autobridge.

Perhaps the greatest single influence during 1938 for creating new players and improving experienced ones was a mechanical device known as Autobridge. This innovation, which reproduces actual playing conditions, makes it possible for one person to 'play' with an expert partner, against two expert opponents.

Five-suit Bridge.

During the early part of the year, considerable excitement was created in bridge circles by the introduction of 'Five-suit Bridge,' an importation into the United States from Austria, via England. As suggested by the title, this game was based on decks containing five suits instead of the traditional four. The innovation received its greatest impetus in England, when Their Majesties, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, visited a charity bazaar and bought some of the new decks. American newspapers and magazines gave this incident great publicity, probably as 'human interest' material, and the result was an immediate tremendous demand for Five-suit Bridge decks. The new game, however, proved cumbersome and needlessly complicated, and it was not surprising that its life in the United States was less than two months. Thus, Ely Culbertson's early observation. 'The average player has not yet thoroughly learned how to play with four suits, let alone with five,' proved prophetic.

Culbertson System.

As stated, there were only a few changes in the Culbertson System during 1938. These affected primarily the opening three-bid, which previously had been a strong and or weak bid, the true nature of which was not revealed until the opener had rebid. The new requirements for an opening three-bid were set up as follows:

For a major-suit three-bid, a trump suit at least six cards long with no more than one loser in the suit and no more than one-plus honor-trick outside the trump suit; total playing-tricks of hand between 6 and 7. For a minor-suit three-bid, an absolutely solid suit of 6 or 7 cards with same general specifications (6 to 7 total winners in the hand).

As always, South's two-spade bid in Sequence 1 remains a strong bid asking for a light raise. Now, South's three-heart, three-diamond, or three-club overcall in Sequence 2 means precisely the same as the two-spade bid in Sequence 1; i.e., a strong hand (though not necessarily a solid suit) inviting a light raise. Besides these two minor revisions, there was one addition to the Culbertson System. This involved a forcing bid by the partner of an overcaller. In such a sequence as East, one club; South, one heart; West, pass; North, two spades — North's two-spade bid (a single jump response) is forcing for one round. This, according to Ely Culbertson, makes it much easier for the so-called defending side to reach game after the bidding has been opened by the opponents.

No important changes in the laws or methods of contract bridge are expected during the year 1939, but the accumulation of minor improvements and the increasing tendency toward simplification will probably result in modification and improvement of methods and rules during 1940.

Projected Changes in Scoring.

In late 1938, Ely Culbertson and William E. McKenney (Secretary of the A.C.B.L.) came out publicly with the proposal that scoring be changed to place minor suits (diamonds and clubs) on an equal footing with major suits, spades and hearts. This would make a game in the minor suits require only four-odd and would leave the five level free for their further suggestion that a 'sub-slam' be included in the game. Their theory (which is supported by most experts and a large proportion of all players) is that this would point the way toward greater accuracy in bidding. Perfect bidders, by risking a game in going on to the five level, could earn a reward of two to three hundred points for a sub-slam. According to agreement made in 1935 among all law-making bodies, no changes in the laws or scoring can be made until 1940. It is probable, however, that the mentioned proposals will be adopted at that time.