The fine points of auction bridge together with an exposition of the new count

Preface

Although it may seem, to the casual reader, that there are already enough Bridge books and Auction books on the market, the real Auction devotee knows that no two books are ever alike, and that the last word on the subject is never said.

Moreover, the game has undergone such wonderftd developments in the past year that it was necessary that some record of them should be made.

After the publication of certain portions of this little volimie in serial form, the demand for them in book form was so great that I feel justified in adding one more to the list of Auction books, without further apology.

I have made it my chief aim to put before my readers all the various schools of bid and play, with their strong points and their flaws. It is not enough to know only one point of view — even though you may consider it the best. Any book will tell you what the author himself thinks on the subject. I have tried to present iii iv Preface

the opinions and theories of the vaxious contending authorities.

And, last but not least, I have the good fortune to be just in time to explain the New CounL This latest development of the game has sprung into immediate and universal popularity, and is sweeping the country like wildfire. It has given to Auction its one lacking touch — a perfect balance between red suits and black, — and has made it as nearly perfect a bidding-game as it is possible to conceive.

F. I.