Submitted by admin on April 22, 2009 - 22:51
BRIDGE, GAME OF
Bridge as played socially is either auction or contract. Auction bridge differs from contract only in the bidding. In auction the highest bidder plays the hand, there being no necessity to bid a game or slam to score the points for making such a contract. But in contract bridge to score a game or slam the contract must be bid. For example, three no trump constitutes a game. A player bids one no trump and in play makes three no trump. If playing auction bridge he would score a game, whereas in contract bridge he would get only his part score contracted for (one no trump).
Competitive bridge is contract bridge, but is known as duplicate. Hands for a contest are dealt once only and each hand is played by all players in the competition. In other words, the hands are duplicated. Players in turn try to make a better score on each hand and the winners of a contest are the pair with the best aggregate result of all hands played. These are usually 25 per session.
Bridge has for many years been a popular social game in New Zealand, and until the late 1920s was confined to the club or the home. In the 1920s the American, Ely Culbertson, fostered the game competitively. Clubs were formed in America, then in England and the Continent, and at length in the Southern Hemisphere. Late in 1933 a meeting was held in Wellington, the outcome being the formation of the first bridge club in New Zealand. Play began in 1934 in this, The Wellington Bridge Club. Within a year the New Zealand Bridge Association was formed and clubs in Auckland (Northern club), Christchurch (Crockfords) and Dunedin (Otago) started play.
The first contest, of teams of four, was played in 1936 and was won by a Christchurch team. This contest has been held annually since. The other main event held annually is the New Zealand pairs championship. A North Island pairs and a South Island pairs and provincial pairs are now regular yearly events. Many clubs also hold open yearly tournaments.
New Zealand bridge is controlled by the New Zealand Bridge Council; Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin control provincial bridge. Three systems are played in New Zealand – Acol, Culbertson, and Goren, with the addition of the Gladiator System, which originated in Auckland. This system is recognised overseas, as well as being used here. Text books on these systems are readily obtainable. t.c.
| Teams-of-Four Championships | |
| 1936 | Mrs G. B. Morgan, Miss H. J. Loughnan, Dr J. P. McQuilkin, R. D. R. Mitchell |
| 1937 | Dr and Mrs W. J. Hutchison, W. B. Rainey, H. S. Wilkinson |
| 1938 | Ditto |
| 1947 | Dr Bruce MacKenzie, Nelson Mitchell, C. L. Eastgate, B. C. Bell |
| 1948 | Dr and Mrs W. J. Hutchison, L. S. Stohr, C. G. Wilson |
| 1949 | Dr Bruce MacKenzie, Nelson Mitchell, C. L. Eastgate B. C. Bell |
| 1950 | B. C. Bell, J. W. S. Dodd, Rex Evans, J. F. Martin |
| 1951 | Ditto |
| 1952 | Ditto |
| 1953 | Dr and Mrs W. J. Hutchison, L. S. Stohr, C. G. Wilson |
| 1954 | B. C. Bell, J. W. S. Dodd, Rex Evans, J. F. Martin |
| 1955 | Ditto |
| 1956 | Mrs J. O'Donovan, Mrs H. H. McLean, Mrs C. M. Blakiston, Mrs G. F. W. Jackson |
| 1957 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin, H. K. Brainsby, Mrs H. O. Taylor |
| 1958 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin, H. K. Brainsby, Rex Evans |
| 1959 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin, A. Heymans, Mrs H. O. Taylor |
| 1960 | Ditto |
| 1961 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin, Rex Evans, Mrs H. O. Taylor |
| 1962 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin, H. K. Brainsby, Mrs H. O. Taylor |
| 1963 | Ditto |
| 1964 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin, H. K. Brainsby, R. E. Evans |
| Pairs Championships | |
| 1955 | Mrs C. L. Petry, Mrs G. Stott |
| 1956 | Mrs C. L. Petry, Mrs G. Stott |
| 1957 | B. C. Bell, J. F. Martin |
| 1958 | B. C. Bell, R. Evans |
| 1959 | Dr and Mrs W. J. Hutchison |
| 1960 | J. W. S. Dodd, J. F. Martin |
| 1961 | E. Dalton, T. Kun |
| 1962 | Mrs T. Armstrong, Mrs R. R. Bell |
| 1963 | J. W. S. Dodd, J. F. Martin |
| 1964 | F. S. Lu, J. Wignall |
