The Uses Of Losing A Trick

Antibridge, the trick-losing game reported in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (EVENTS & DISCOVERIES, Oct. 12), is not an entirely new idea. In the early days of auction bridge you could bid "nullos," which, like antibridge, was a contract to lose tricks. The difference was that in nullos a bid was generally played without a trump suit; in antibridge you may make a minus bid in a suit. Nullos would be virtually forgotten today if it were not for the occasional caustic reference to a partner's play, "I thought you were playing nullos." Meaning, "You couldn't have lost more tricks if you tried."

Yet there are some deals where the only way to win the game is by losing a trick. For example:

Neither side vulnerable North dealer

NORTH

[Ace of Spades]
[King of Spades]
[Queen of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[Queen of Hearts]
[9 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[King of Clubs]
[5 of Clubs]
[3 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]

WEST

[7 of Spades]
[6 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[6 of Hearts]
[5 of Hearts]
[4 of Hearts]
[Queen of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[9 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[8 of Diamonds]
[7 of Diamonds]

SOUTH

[9 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[Jack of Hearts]
[10 of Hearts]
[8 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[8 of Clubs]
[6 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[10 of Diamonds]
[6 of Diamonds]
[2 of Diamonds]

EAST