The Times

Women Play Better Bridge!

BY HELEN SOBEL The world's leading female bridge player gets the last word—almost CHARLES GOREN was the first one to say that women make better players than men. Since Mr. Goren is a man and also our number-one ranking player, his gallant statement might seem a little hard to prove. But in some ways, I really think we women are better! Through the years, men have not exactly encouraged women to use their brains. The kitchen seemed a nice, safe place for them. Consequently, devious things have taken place, and not only at the bridge table. The effect has been to make us women more acute and no doubt, much happier. And better players. There are also several psychological factors involved. If a charming, attractive woman is at the table, for example, our hero may ask himself, "My, my, what in the world is she doing here?" After some admiring glances, amiable chitchat, and lighting of her cigarette, the bidding finally gets under way. By this time, he may not be paying his customary attention to his hand and will find himself a trick or two too high. There are not too many susceptible men around, more's the pity, but the woman who meets one across the bridge table starts ahead of the game. Another male opponent, much less enjoyable, is the aggressive, hopes-to-be-overpowering kind, who not only doesn't light your cigarette, but if you aren't quick, will put it out. Such tactics at the bridge table frequently cause a normally placid, easygoing lady to outdo herself completely. I remember watching a game at a club where this happened. The lady in question was a visitor from another city, and though she knew quite a few members, she was not, naturally, completely at ease. The first crack out of the box was the announcement that the game was for pretty high stakes. And in a rather patronizing way she was told that, Mrs. Sobel with her favorite partner, Charles Goren as she probably wouldn't want to play for that much, she could be carried. But nothing daunted, after a small gulp, she said, "No, no, I'll play for the same stakes as everyone else." Perhaps I've underestimated her, and she would have defended the same way in any case. But I think a little irritant is sometimes very helpful. This is the hand—South dealer, neither side vulnerable: NORTH ♠ 10 3 ♥ 8 ◆ A K J 9 4 ♣ K J 10 9 3 WEST ♠ 9 6 2 ♥ 10 9 5 3 2 ◆ Q 8 3 ♣ A 2 SOUTH ♠ A J 8 7 5 4 ♥ A J 6 4 ◆ 6 5 ♣ 8 EAST ♠ K Q ♥ K Q 7 ◆ 10 7 2 ♣ Q 7 6 5 4 The bidding: South | West | North | East 1 ♠ | Pass | 2 ◆ | Pass 2 ♠ | Pass | 3 ♣ | Pass 3 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♠ | Pass 4 ♠ | Pass | Pass | Pass The opening lead by the visitor was the ace of clubs, followed by the deuce. Declarer won in dummy with the king of clubs, discarding a heart from his hand. He then led the singleton heart, winning with the ace in his hand, and ruffed a heart in dummy. Now, of course, his problem was how to get back to his hand to ruff his remaining heart. The opening lead of the ace of clubs, followed by another, surely looked like a doubleton. So he played the ace and king of diamonds, intending to return to his hand by ruffing another diamond. Well, here is where West's really inspired play occurred. Without a blink or hesitation, she dropped the queen of diamonds on the king. That brought declarer up short. He mulled about the situation for a while and finally came to the conclusion, I suppose, that it was more likely she had only two diamonds than that she would drop the queen if she could help it. So he led a club and trumped with the eight of spades, which was promptly overtrumped with the nine. A trump was returned, and now there was no way South could find to make his contract. He had already lost two tricks, and was obliged to lose a spade and a heart. I really felt sorry for the poor fellow. He played the hand the way almost anyone would have, but was just outsmarted by a very determined woman. Incidentally, her side won the rubber on the next deal. As you have probably gathered by now, I tend to be taken with a bit of ethical flimflamming whenever it is possible. The dividends are high, and it makes for a lovely day. Continued on page 14 Suburbia Today, December 1960