Robert Frederick Foster was a disseminator of the rules of many card games, including auction bridge and other bridge variations, The card game auction bridge was developed from straight bridge in 1904 and was a precursor to contract bridge.
As an author Mr. Robert Frederick Foster was very prolific and became quite popular with his readership. He was also considered the ultimate authority on many parlour games, card games, and gambling in general. He collected, indexed, and organized the rules, regulations and guidelines for such competitive mind sports, which he then proceeded to publish for the general consumption.
To date he continues to influence bridge players around the world with his development of the Foster Echo, which is that he recommended that the third player in a No Trump contract play his second-highest |
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card on the first trick when he could not beat the card played on his right. His main concern was to provide for unblocking, but his echo can be most useful to bridge defenders when the cards involved are trivial. Also defined as a third-hand unblocking play against a No Trump contract intended to show count. With a 4-card holding, the first play is the second highest, followed by the third highest, with the lowest being played last. With a 3-card holding, the first play is second highest and the second is the highest, saving the lowest for last.
Robert Frederick Foster, 92, Scottish-born ultimate authority on parlor Games (Foster's Hoyle), who specialized in bridge, also knew all about poker, chess, cinch, dice, hearts, whist, skat, Russian bank (his favorite), dominoes; died in Eastham, Mass. |
