The Evening Independent – 19 Oct 1933 y JAMES H. STREET New York
ACE-SHOWING BID NOT THREATENED
EXPERTS AGREE THERE IS NO CHANCE OF AMERICANS ALTERING METHOD
Bridge experts here are agreed that there is no chance of American players barring the fascinating ace-showing in bidding as the Portland club in London is reported to have done. They were slightly perturbed but not at all alarmed over an article published in London that the Portland club—spokesman for British bridge—had forbidden the ace-showing bid. Ely Culbertson said he had cabled a formal protest to the Portland club. “I am astonished.” said he heatedly, “at the Portland club’s decision and hope it has been misinterpreted, since it was issued without concurrence of the Whist club, joint author with it of the international code.”
The bids were devised by Culbertson to promote safe grand-slam bidding and take advantage of increased bonuses provided by rules made international last November. Shepard Barclay was a bit indignant over the report. Said he: “There’s not a chance that America will bar ace-showing.”
Walter Beincke, vice president of the Whist club, said the club had not been informed of the Portland club’s decision. The latest storm over bridge began brewing recently when English newspapers discussed the ethics and legality of the four and five no trump conventions.
Such bidding enabled an American team to defeat two British quartets in July. And the storm broke today when the bridge column of the London Evening Star published a statement that the Portland club had barred ace-showing.