Elizabeth Clark Mrs. Prescott Warren

Elizabeth Clark Mrs. Prescott Warren

Excerpted from the publication Forty Hands Illustrating the Culbertson Standard System of Contract Bridge, as published by The Bridge World, Inc., 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, United States, in the year MCMXXXI, 1931. The Introduction is written by Mr. Ely Culbertson, founder of the The Bridge World. The content of this book is excerpted from the publication Contract Bridge Blue Book as authored by Mr. Ely Culbertson and published by his founded company The Bridge World. Some portions are reprinted from Pocket Contract Bridge - The Culbertson Forcing system (Official) by Elizabeth Clark and Mrs. Prescott Warren, published by Harcourt, Brace, & Co. An Outline of the Culbertson (Approach Forcing) System of Contract Bridge The bidding at Contract is the mental play of the hand. From the various bids around the table a player is able to form a definite idea of the power of his thirteen cards. The player values his cards in three different ways: First - For their defensive values, should one of the opponents obtain the declaration and play the hand Second - For their offensive value, should the player become Declarer. Third - For their supporting value: that is, in the event the partner becomes the Declarer. Many hands have to be valued for these three positions during the course of the bidding. This is called the triple valuation of a hand. Before a player can bid scientifically he should have a definite idea of the value of the games and rubbers for which he is contracting. Roughly a rubber is worth about 950 points. The first game is worth about 400 points. A side can afford to take a set of 3 tricks not vulnerable if doubled rather than lose the game (400 point penalty) The second game to the same side is worth about 500 points. The opponents can afford to overbid 3 tricks not vulnerable to save the rubber. The third or rubber game is worth about 600 points. However, it is unwise to overbid deliberately more than 1 trick whenever a side is vulnerable.

A part-score is worth about 150 point; hence a player may afford to overbid 2 tricks not vulnerable, or 1 trick vulnerable, to save a part-score for the opponents. There are three objects of Scientific Bidding: First - Penalties. This is true since the amount which can be obtained from defeating the the opponents can far exceed the value of a game. Second - Game and rubber premiums. Third - Defense bidding: that is, maneuvering to push the opponents to an unfulfilled contract, or to force them to accept a penalty of less value than the trick score they could have made. So that a player may bid accurately he is given tables which he should follow during the course of his mental play. The table of Honor-Tricks is based on defensive value; that is, in the event one of the opponents plays the hand. Hence the maximum honor-trick value of a suit is 2 honortricks (Ace-King), since high cards cannot be expected to win tricks on third round of the suit against a declared trump. Culbertson Table of Honor-Tricks Defense Basis (x indicates a low card ½ trick Kx or QJx in the same suit. Qx and Jx of different suits. 1 trick A, KQ or KJ in the same suit. Kx and Qx of different suits. 1½ AQx, AJ10 or KQ10 in the same suit. 2 tricks AK in the same suit. K alone, Qx, J10x or J in the AJx combination have a plus value. 2 plus values equal ½ honor trick. (Note: In the combinations where a low card is indicted (x), two or more low crds do not affect the value of the honors). Combinations such as AKQ, AKJ, AQJ, or KQJ are worth more at a later stage of bidding, but for purposes of Opening or Forcing bids must be valued defensively as above. The value of guarded honors increases or diminishes according to adverse strength shown by bidding.

Opening One-Bids For any Opening bid of one, a player must hold 2½ honor-tricks. This is equivalent to a Queen of better than an average hand. An average hand is one Ace, one King, one Queen and one Knave (A = 1, K and Q = 1, J = plus, making a total of 2 plus). Another Queen added to Knave gives the 2½ honor-tricks required for all Opening one bids. A Playing Trick A card which may be expected to take a trick if the suit which the player bids becomes the trump is called a playing trick. With KQJ10, AKJ10, or AQJ10 suits, simply deduct 1 trick for each missing Ace, King or Queen. With other combinations count the honortricks at their full value and to these honors add low cards in long suits as follows: In Suit Player In Side Is Bidding Suits (a) Four-card suit.. 1 trick ½ trick (b) Five-card suit... 2 tricks 1 trick (c) Six-card suit. 3 tricks 1½ tricks A Supporting Trick A supporting trick is a card or a combination, which will probably take in support of partner s suit bid. The total count of probable tricks in the supporting hand consists of: (a) Honors and length in partner s suit; (b) Honor-tricks and low-card tricks in side suits; (c) Ruffing possibilities - voids, singletons and doubletons in side suits. Table of Supporting Tricks (In Partner s Suit) An Ace or King with two (or more) small cards A Queen with two (or more) small cards 1 trick ½ trick (A Queen with two or more small cards is counted as 1 trick when necessary to complete the count of a hand for a Raise or a Takeout.) Three small cards or less Four small cards Five small cards Six or more small cards 0 trick ½ trick 1 trick 2 tricks In side suits the honor-tricks and low cards are counted as in the Table of Playing Tricks.

Table of Ruffing-Tricks With 4 or With 3 Cards More Cards of Partner s of Partner s Suit Suit A void suit 2 tricks 3 tricks A singleton Ace 2 tricks 3 tricks (one of these for the honor) A single other than Ace 1 trick 2 tricks A doubleton ½ trick 1 trick (In addition to honor-trick value) When the hand contains two short suits, count only one of them - the shorter. When of equal length, count only one. Opening Suit Bids of One An Opening suit bid of one requires: (a) A minimum of 2½ tricks in the hand. Since only 2 honor-tricks can be held in one suit, it follows that a minimum of ½ honor-trick must be held in side suits. (b) At least four cards of the suit bid. (c) A biddable suit. The following are ranked as biddable suits: (a) Any six-card or longer suit. (With no honor strength in the suit 2½ honor-tricks in side suits are required). (b) A five-card suit with ½ honor-trick. Examples, minimum strength, Kxxxx or QJxxx. (A minimum suit requires 2 honor-tricks outside the suit.) (c) A four-card suit with 1 2½ honor-tricks. Examples, minimum strength, AQxx, AJ10x, KQ10x, KQ10x. (A minimum suit requires 1 honor-trick outside the suit.) Shaded biddable suits: AJxx, KQxx, KJ10x or Q10xxx. When vulnerable the hand should be at least a Queen stronger, or the trump suit should be longer. In third or fourth position after two or three passes 3 honor-tricks are required. Rebids and Raises A hand strong enough for an Opening bid (Queen better than average), or 2½ honortricks plus a biddable suit, should usually produce at least 4 playing-tricks, leaving 9

playing-tricks divided among the other three players, or 3 in each hand. The Opening bidder s 4+3 (average expectancy in partner s hand) equals 7 playing-tricks, or just 1-odd trick. Hence the partner raises if holding better than 3 supporting-tricks, and the Original bidder in turn may rebid once for each additional honor-trick or for each playingtrick in excess of 4. The Scale of Raises: Responses to Opening Suit Bids of One The starting point for the first Raise is 3½ supporting-tricks, which gives a probability of 4 playing-tricks. Holding xxxx, Axx, Kxx, Qxx in partner s major suit: Raise from 1 to 2 with 3½ or 4 supporting-tricks. Exception: When Second Hand passes raise with 3 supporting-tricks to keep the bidding open for a possible further bid from partner. Raise from 1 to 3 with 4½ or 5 supporting-tricks. Raise from 1 to 4 with 5½ to 7 supporting-tricks. Raise from 1 to 5 with 7½ supporting-tricks. When holding ½ trick over the minimum required for a Raise, a player holds another optional Raise. The optional Raises are not sufficiently safe to be used when the player s side is vulnerable. When partner takes out in another this, the Original bidder becomes the Supporting Hand in turn and revalues his hand accordingly. He assists his partner s suit bid with adequate trump support, when holding in excess of 4 playing-tricks already shown by first bid; or assists a no-trump with a full honor-trick over the 2½ honor-tricks already shown. A player raises his partner s opening minor suit bid of one according to rules for major suits, when holding no biddable major suit or notrump. Opening Suit Bids of Two An Opening bid of two is a Forcing Bid, obligating the partner, as well aw the bidder himself to keep the bidding unconditionally open until the game point has been reached. An Opening bid of two requires a biddable four-card or longer suit. (a) 5½ honor-tricks distributed in three or four suits if the suit bid is only a fourcard or five-card suit which is not strong. (b) 5 honor-tricks divided in three or four suits with strong five-card or longer suit. (c) In exceptional hands - 4½ honor-tricks with a powerful suit worthy of rebidding to game, or powerful two-suited hands, worthy of bidding to game. With a part-score an Opening bid of two, which is sufficient for game, is not Forcing.

A bid of two when used to overcall an opponent is not Forcing. Example: Dealer, one club. Second bidder, two spades (non-forcing). Responses to Opening Suit Bids of Two (a) Holding as good as xxxx or Qxx of partner s suit (called adequate support), raise once provided hand contains at least 1 honor-trick. Each additional supporting-trick justifies another Raise. (b) Name any biddable suit provided hand contains 1 honor-trick (the 1 honor trick may be in partner s suit). (c) Bid three no-trump with 1½ or 2 honor-tricks. (d) Bid four no-trump with 2½ or 3 honor-tricks. (e) Bid six notrump with3½ honor-tricks. (f) Bid two notrump with all other holdings. (The minimum response, indicating weakness.) Over an intervening bid, the partner is excused from bidding but should respond if possible according to (a) or (b). Opening Major Suit Bids of Three of Minor Suit Bids of Four Opening major suits bids of four indicates an extremely long suit which may have such defensive weakness that it is important to shut out the bidding. If the opponents hold the missing honors they may easily arrive at a game if allowed to bid, or if partner holds strength the hand would play best at the suit named and a game should result. No outside strength is required: (a) Eight playing-tricks when vulnerable. (b) Seven playing-tricks when not vulnerable. Opening Minor Suit Bids of Five, Called a Preemptive Overbid Opening minor suit bids of five are made on the same type of hands as Opening major suit bids of four. They require: (a) Nine playing-tricks when vulnerable. (b) Eight playing-tricks when not vulnerable. The partner should not raise an Opening bid of four of a major suit or five of a minor unless 3 sure tricks in three suits. Two-Suited Hands Holding two four-card, two five-card or one five- and one six-card suit, a player should bid the longer suit first.

Holding one four-card and one five-card or longer suit, a player should bid the longer suit first. Rebid a higher ranking six-card suit once or a seven-card suit twice before showing the four-card suit. With equal strength in each suit the partner should show preference for first suit. Merely showing preference is not a Raise. Culbertson Rule of Eight The 8 : 5 Yardstick All honor combinations form a total of 8 to 8½ honor-tricks. Of the 13 tricks taken in each hand, 4 are taken with Aces, 4 with other honors and remaining 5 tricks with lower cards which the honors promote. Honor-tricks in the combined hands should develop playing-tricks as follows: At Notrump 4-4½ One-odd (or defeated by not more than 1 trick) 5 Two-odd 5½ Five-odd - game 7 Slam zone 7½ Small Slam At Suit Bid 4-4½ Two odd 5 Three-odd 5½ Four-odd - game at major suit 7 Slam zone 7½ Small Slam It follows that the Rule of Eight is of supreme value in estimating the balance of strength (first and second round tricks in each suit, necessarily honor-tricks) held by the opponents. An Opening no-trump bid denies a biddable suit. Opening Notrump Bids A biddable suit of four or more cards should be bid in preference to no-trump regardless of the distribution. This is known as the Approach bid and was developed by Mr. Ely Culbertson in the day of Auction Bridge. Bid one no-trump with honors distributed in at least three suits: First or second position:

2½ honor-tricks, not vulnerable 3 honor-tricks, vulnerable Third or fourth position: 3 honor-tricks, not vulnerable 3½ honor-tricks, vulnerable Bid two no-trump (non-forcing): 5 honor-tricks distributed in three suits. 4½ honor-tricks distributed in three or four suits with strong intermediate cards. Bid three notrump: 8 positive taking tricks. Example: AKQ AKx AKQ QJxx Responses to Opening Notrump Bids Raise partner s bid of one notrump to two with more than 2 and less than 3 honor-tricks. First player then bids to three with 3 honor-tricks (when vulnerable 3½ honor-tricks). Raise from one to three with 3 honor-tricks. Raise from one to four with 4½ honor-tricks. First player then bids to six with slightly better than 3 honor-tricks. Raise from one to six with 5½ honor-tricks. Raise from two to three with slightly better than 1 honor-trick. Takeout Bids Non-Forcing Over partner s Opening suit bid of one - holding less than four small cards or Queen and two small in partner s major suit bid, or to give information over partner s minor suit bid, take out with any biddable suit in a hand with 1½ to 2½ honor-tricks. Four-card suits are rarely shown when a bid of two is necessary to overcall partner s bid. With no biddable suit, take out with one notrump with 1½ or 2 honor-tricks. This is called the negative notrump response and is considered to be the backbone of the Forcing System. Two notrump with more than 2 but less than three honor-tricks. Three notrump with 3 or 4 honor-tricks. Four notrump with 4½ honor-tricks. Six notrump with 5 or more honor-tricks. Over partner s notrump bid of one take out with: Any five-card major or minor biddable suit in a hand with 1½ to 2½ honor-tricks, or any six-card suit with but 1 honor-trick in the hand.

This minimum Takeout does not encourage partner to continue bidding unless he is holding values not shown by his first bid. Forcing Takeouts After partner has bid, bidding one more than necessary in another suit (two spades or three clubs over one heart, or three hearts over one notrump, etc.) promises 3 or more honor-tricks and obligates the partner to keep the bidding unconditionally open until a game point has been reached. It does not necessarily deny adequate support for partner s bid but indicates a choice of bids. An intervening bid by the opponent does not affect the Forcing bid. Example: First player one heart, second player one spade, third player three clubs. The third player now has made a Forcing bid and both first and third players must continue bidding until a game bid is reached. A bid of two notrump over partner s suit bid of one is not a Forcing bid. After a Forcing Takeout the Original bidder (in order of preference) is obligated to: (a) Support partner s major suit-bid when holding xxxx or as good as Qxx (adequate support) of partner s suit. Jump once for each trick not promised by first bid, or (b) Show another biddable suit, or (c) Rebid own suit if a five-card suit as good as AKJ or six-card suit with two honors, or (d) Support partner s minor suit bid with adequate support, or (e) Bid notrump - a negative response. With 3½ honor-tricks jump the bid. Third Type of Forcing Bid (Jump Shift) (Used with two-suited hands) A bid of one more that is necessary in another suit made by a player who has previously bid is called a Jump Shift and is a Forcing bid, obligating the partners to continue bidding until a game point is reached. Defensive Bids A defensive bid is one made after an Opening bid by an opponent. It promises 1½ to 2½ honor-tricks. (a) When a bid of one is sufficient to overcall: Bid any biddable five-card or longer suit in a hand with 1½ to 2½ honor-tricks. (b) When a bid of two is necessary to overcall: When not vulnerable bid a fair (always biddable) five-card or longer suit (about 4 trumptricks) in a hand with 1½ honor-tricks. When vulnerable bid a a strong five-card or longer suit in a hand with at least 2 honortricks.

Count partner for 2 supporting-tricks when vulnerable, or 3 when not vulnerable, and value hands accordingly. Bid notrump with a minimum of 2½ honor-tricks with opponent s suit twice stopped. Takeout Double Promises 3 honor-tricks with strength distributed in three suits or in a least two suits with a fair biddable suit (strategic Double.) The Takeout Double may be used over opponents bid of one or two (not three) or over one notrump (not two), provided that partner has not bid or doubled or made a Penalty Pass. In responding to partner s Takeout Double a four-card major suit is bid rather than a five-card minor suit, unless the minor suit is really strong. If holding a stopper in opponents suit, provided that the hand contains at least 1 honor-trick, and no four-card major suit, the correct response is one notrump. With 2 honor-tricks in the hand with a fair four-card major suit (even as weak as QJxx) a Jump two-bid may be made. This is the only time in Contract when a player makes a Jump bid on an unbiddable suit. With more than 2 honor-tricks and a strong suit, about 4 trump-tricks, a double Jump is made. With 3 or more honor-tricks and strong suit, game can be bid. Penalty Pass A penalty Pass is a pass made over partner s Takeout Double. It shows expectancy of defeating the contract. The player should hold six cards of opponents suit (4 sure trump-tricks) and 1 outside trick. A Penalty Pass over one notrump can be made with more than 2 honor-tricks. The Redouble of a Takeout Double can be made when holding 2½ honor-tricks. Jump Overcalls A Jump Overcall is a Jump bid in a different suit over an adverse Opening bid. A Jump Overcall is not Forcing. It indicates a powerful hand, with more than 3 honetricks and a strong suit of at least five cards. A Jump Overcall promises a further bid (two-suited hand or very stone rebiddable suit). Partner is not forced to bid, but should do so when holding 1 honor-trick or 1 supporting-trick, and adequate trump support is unnecessary. The partner should endeavor to support partner s Jump Overcall even with an intervening adverse bid.

Bidding Opponent s Suit Bidding on the suit which the opponent has named promises more than 3 hour-tricks and demands a Takeout by partner. It is Forcing in the sense that the bidding must be kept open until the game is reached: (a) At a low stage of bidding it shows unusual distribution (often freakish) and guarantees in the suit either a void or Ace with or without small cards. (b) At a higher stage of bidding it guarantees no losing cards in the suit to assist a Slam. Slam Bidding In the Forcing System Slams are bid from interference. When the bidding reveals that a player and his partner hold 7½ honor-trice a Small Slam should result either at a suit bid or at notrump. With a suit bid 8 supporting-tricks should produce a Small Slam over partner s Opening bid. From 8 to 8½ honor-tricks will often produce a Grand Slam. However, since there are many pitfalls in the road to the Grand Slam, players should content themselves with the Small Slam unless there is a three-to-one chance that no trick can be lost. Artificial Ace showing has no place in the Forcing System. The danger lies in the confusion. The only exception, already give above, is bidding on the suit the opponent has named which, late in the bidding, promises no losing tricks in the suit. Advantageous suits in order of preference. Opening Leads (The underlined card is the one led.) Declared Trump 1. AK and others. Watch for an encouraging card from partner. 2. KQJ or KQ10 with or without others. 3. AK alone. 4. A worthless singleton when holding less than four trumps when the other two suits contain honors, from which it would be advantageous to lead. 5. If the partner had bid: Lead best card of partner s suit. Exceptions: Lead fourth best from four or more, unless holding Axxx, KQxx, or QJxx. 6. QJ10: QJ9 with or without others. 7. J109, J108 with or without others. 8. xx worthless doubleton or two honors in sequence.

9. Axxx or more. 10. QJxx; J10xx; xxxx. 11. xxx with no better lead. 12. KQx with or without others (when only 1 trick is needed). Disadvantageous Suits 1. AQ; AJ; KJ with or without others. 2. Two-, three-, or four-card suits with single honor, especially King - lead low. 3. A short suit with Ace. Never lead a low card from a suit which contains an Ace. Lead Ace unless holding the King. 4. To avoid leading from tenace suit (AQ, AJ; KJ) or Kxxx usually lead top of a short suit or a trump. 1. AKJ with six or more. No Trump 2. AQ10 with sever or more with a re-entry. The lead of an Ace demands the partner s highest card in the suit. AKQ and others. AKJ with less than six. AK10 with six and a re-entry AK with seven and a re-entry. KQJ and others. KQ10 and others. KQ with sever or more. 3. AQJ10; AQJ9 (intermediate sequence). QJ10; QJ9 and others. 4.AJ109; AJ108 (intermediate sequence). KJ109; KJ108 (intermediate sequence). J109; J108 and others. 5. A1098; A1097 (intermediate sequence). K1098; K1097 (intermediate sequence). Q1098; Q1097 (intermediate sequence). 6. Fourth best from all other combinations. 7. Lead top of short weak suit in preference to four-card tenace suits (AQxx; AJxx; KJxx). What partner has bid: Lead won suit in preference copartner s, if own suit is within one round of establishment with a re-entry, or within two round of establishment and two re-entries. When leading partner s suit, lead fourth best of four or more (unless holding honors in sequence) or top of three or more. Exceptions: Axx; Kxx; Qxx; Jxx; 10xx.

Mr. Culbertson s Five Do s and Don t s Let us assume that a player well versed in the Culbertson Forcing System as just described finds himself the partner of someone absolutely ignorant of the system. If this partner is an intelligent card player, he can get on very well with the following bits of advice: 1. Do not raise partner s Opening suit bid of one or two unless holding at least four small cards of the suit or three headed by the Queen. 2. Make every effort not to pass partner s Opening suit bid of one when there is no intervening bid. If the suit bid cannot be supported with barely 3 supporting-tricks and there is no biddable suit in the hand with 1 honor-trick, respond with the negative one notrump when holding 1½ honor-tricks. 3. When raising partner s bid (suit or notrump) show full value of the hand. 4. Always prefer a biddable suit to a notrump when opening the bidding. 5. Do not pass partner s Forcing bid when there is not intervening bid. No exceptions. Both players are obligated not to let the bidding close until a game point has been reached. The three Forcing situations are: (a) An Opening two-bid when the game is not contracted for (b) A jump bid in a new suit by either partner provided one of them has opened the bidding (Forcing Takeouts). (c) An Overcall in the opponent s suit bid.