I’ve found something big – well, something that I think might be big to bridge players.

One of the most famous quotes about bridge attributed to Woody Allen, isn’t. (At least, not unless he had a time machine going back to somewhere just after the Titanic disaster – or unless the resources listing this newspaper quote are wrong.) 

Let’s present what I have. 

During a reading session looking for bridge maxims, I came across this one through a simple Google search:

“A good partner is rather to be chosen than great hands.” 

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? 

In more modern English, you’d rather have a good partner than a good hand. That’s where it hit me – at least, when I looked at the publication date of this little newspaper segment.

April 1912.

Timing is Everything

This quotation is from The Advertiser, a newspaper in Adelaide, issue 17 April, 1912 according to Trove.

Several bridge maxims are listed including “Jack of all suits is mater of none”, “A little ten-ace is a dangerous thing”, “Money makes the game go”, “It’s a long suit that has no returning” and “The wages of bridge is debt”.

One of the most famed Woody Allen quotes might date from earlier – and be a repetition of something learned from a bridge teacher or game instead.

See the original link for the newspaper article. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5336622

What do you think, bridge players?