Blum on Bridge Trivia
	How many of you truly know what the expression "Not through the Iron Duke" really means? What actually constitutes a Chinese finesse? Of course you all know the "Rabbi's Rule," or do you? What is the derivation of "kibitzing"; you know, what the armchair quarterback is doing when he's looking over your shoulder? We all know what a "quack" is. However, if it doesn't come from a duck, but from our favorite game, does that change your answer? Then there's, heh, heh, "The curse of Scotland" and "The kiss of death." Stay tuned, for it is here you will find the answers to these and other monstrous problems that have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of your life. The Iron Duke common usage indicating a strong hand is improper. When you announce it after splitting touching honors to avoid a finesse, then you is bridge-wise grammatically correct. Ah, the "Rabbi's Rule." Milton Shattner, a New York attorney nicknamed "the Rabbi" because of his most authoritative whimsical pronouncements, stated "When the king is a singleton, play the ace." A "Chinese finesse" is an attempt to win a trick by leading an unsupported honor. You hold Q943 opposite dummy's A5. LHO holds K862 and righty has J107. You attempt the lead of the queen hoping LHO thinks you also hold the jack. If he does not cover with the king you win three tricks in the suit. This play might well be better than trying to drop a singleton king by playing the ace first. The word "kibitzer" is derived from the German word for a green clover, a highly inquisitive bird. The Bridge Encyclopedia relates a true and classic story concerning a kibitzer, which I will summarize. At one of New York's prestigious clubs a pair reached a five-level contract that was promptly doubled by the opponents. With the defenders on lead at the 10th trick, declarer promptly spread his hand claiming the rest of the tricks just making the contract. The opposition agreed but with the cards about to be thrown in the kibitzer at the table pointed out a defensive lead that would have defeated the contract. After quite an argument the case was brought before the card committee. The final decision was that declarer made the contract doubled, the defense was credited with defeating the contract one trick and the kibitzer was ordered to pay the difference. Sometimes when authors speak of the queen or jack and it makes no difference which is held or played, the term that may be used is the "quack", a combination of the two words. The "Kiss of death" is a penalty of 200 points on a part score in a pair contest, down one doubled or down two not doubled both vulnerable. The "Bridge Magazine" gives a number of possibilities why the nine of diamonds is called the "curse of Scotland." In a once popular round game "Pope Joan" the diamond nine was called the Pope, the antichrist of Scottish Reformers. Another possibility is that an unhappy Queen Mary introduced a game called "Cornette" where this card was the chief card. A third theory is that the order for the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692 was signed on the back of the diamond nine. It seems the true origin may be a bit blurred. Amazingly the simplest of bids is named after somebody. If your opponent opens 1NT and you make the natural overcall of your best suit, 2 spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs the overcall is called "Mosher" named for Robert Mosher. Better hadn't put that on your convention card. It'll confuse everybody. Hey guys and dolls, this is fun. Know what? I think I'll continue this next week. Till then...