October, 1929 will always be remembered for the devastating stock market
crash that initiated the tragic depression
years. Hardly a propitious moment to launch
a publication catering to a game, you would
think. At the nadir of public confidence,
however, some were distracted from their
troubles by The Bridge World, a magazine
founded that very month by Ely Culbertson, a
brash self-styled political scientist and
one of the most successful entrepreneurs in
history. Today's deal (modernised bidding)
was among those discussed in the first issue:
Neither side vulnerable North deals
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
2 |
Pass |
2 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
6 |
End |
|
Opening Lead:
4
The declarer was Harold S. Vanderbilt, who contributed more than anyone
else to the development of contract bridge,
the form of the game that has been popular
since that era. He realised that he needed a
normal three-two trump break, and would have
to develop dummy's powerful club suit.
Although the North hand was very strong,
entries were scarce, even with the opening
diamond lead. Declarer, aiming to minimise
the chance of interference with the
establishment and use of dummy's clubs,
discarded a club on dummy's
A,
ruffed a club, crossed to dummy in spades,
ruffed another club, and returned to the
North hand with a second round of trumps. He
then led winning clubs, and East-West could
take only their high trump. Other approaches
would have required at least a lucky guess
in clubs. By trumping the first and second
round of clubs rather than the second and
third (East could ruff in profitably with
the trump queen), declarer had improved his
chances significantly.
The Bridge World evolved from a Culbertson promotional vehicle into a
respected international forum for new ideas,
expert advice, instructional deals and
interesting situations. Next month's
seventieth anniversary issue, summarising
highlights of the magazine's history, will
be a special treat.