Auction of To-day

Milton C. Work, author of Whist of To-day, published this guide to auction bridge in January 1913. It is dedicated to the auction players of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, who adopted the new count early. In one passage he says the book is meant for the moderate player and describes the system of bidding and methods of play used by the best exponents of the game. He also tells a beginner to give the game concentrated attention, from the first bid until the last card is played.

The contents begin with the declaration and the dealer's original declarations, among them the bid of one no-trump and when to bid two no-trumps, and continue with suit declarations and the two spade bid. In one passage Work says three clubs should not be declared without consideration, since it asks the partner for two no-trumps if he has the adverse suit stopped. In another he counts a void or a singleton in the value of a hand, with an example of four small hearts worth three or four tricks.