BRIDGE STORIES by LEE HAZEN, told to Thomas H. Wolf; From CoMers Magazine, December 1946
As chairman of the Committee on Ethics of the American Contract Bridge League, I can vouch for the fact that unethical conduct is practically unheard of at national tournaments. Occasionally, unwittingly, a player gets a glimpse of an opponent’s hand. Some players, even good ones, hold their cards in such a fashion as to make it impossible fear them not to be seen.
The saying that “a peek is worth two finesses” is the greatest understatement in bridge. But peekers quickly become known and are dealt with then and there by the other players.
I remember one local tournament when I was paired with a most charming lady. After the first couple of hands, it became obvious that one of our opponents was intentionally peeking. After the fourth or fifth deal as his eye started roving toward my partner’s hand, she turned to him with her sweetest smile and said, “I wish you wouldn’t look at my hand. I’m superstitious”
At another small match I heard an expert torn to the player on his right and remark acidly: “Do you mind if I look at my hand first?”
Actually the Committee on Ethics has little work to do. Not so the committees on interpretation of the rules. I remember one incident in which an old lady asked the tournament chairman to rule on a point.
She had bid four diamonds over an opponent’s four-spade bid. The director explained the rutine ruling including the option of making the diamond bid sufficient with no penalty.
After the hand was over the little old lady sought out the director and complained. “You said I could bid five diamonds ‘with no penalty.”
Well, I bid it and went down 1,700 points. What do you mean no penalty?”