This is a method of distributional valuation developed as part of the Baron System developed by Mr. Leo Baron, Mr. Adam Meredith, and other collaborating bridge experts in the 1940s.
Mr. Leo Baron was born in the city of Lodz, Poland. The country was invaded during the World War II on September 17, 1939, by the countries of Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent, and which became known in the history books as the Invasion of Poland, the September Campaign, Polenfeldzug (German), and Kampania wrzeĊniowa (Poland).
Following the invasion Mr. Leo Baron moved with his family to Germany and then relocated to London, England, following the end of the World War II. In the year 1952 Mr. Leo Baron emigrated to the country of Zimbabwe and took up residence in the city of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.
He was by profession a lawyer. He also made many important contributions to the bidding theory in the game of bridge during the 1940s, He won the Gold Cup representing England in the years 1946 and also 1951. Source.
Note: Playing in the year 1946 for the Gold Cup his team mates were Nico Goldinger (aka Gardener), Dr. H. Leist, Pedro Juan, Boris Schapiro, Norman Squire. Acquiring second place was the team of Mrs. Riki Markus.
Note: Playing in the year 1951 for the Gold Cup his team mates were Louis Tarlo (Captain) Nico Gardener, Albert Rose. Acquiring second place was the team of Terence Reese, Boris Shapiro, Adam Meredith, Dr. H. Leist.
It has been maintained that he officially retired from the bridge community following his emigration to Southern Rhodesia.
Note: The bridge student can discover more information about the career of Mr. Leo Baron at this source on the Internet. This information has only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.
Mr. Adam Meredith was born in the year 1913 and died in the year 1976. He was of New York, New York, United States. However, he was born in County Down, Ireland. During his professional bridge career he acquired the nickname of Plum. The reason for the nickname is unknown. He was considered to be one of the more brilliant players, nationally and internationally.
His victories at the bridge table include the Bermuda Bowl with team mates Leslie William Dodds, Kenneth Konstram, Jordanis Pavlides, Terence Reese, Boris Schapiro, Reginald Corwen (npc).
He also won the British Gold Cup in the years:
| 1948 |
John Terence Reese (Captain), Boris Schapiro, Dr. Hans Leist, Dr. Sidney Lee, Pedro Juan |
| 1950 |
John Terrence Reese (Captain), Boris Schapiro, Dr. Hans Leist, Dr. Sidney Lee, Mrs. Dimmie (A.L.) Feming |
| 1952 |
John Terence Reese (Captain), Boris Schapiro, Dr. Hans Leist, Dr. Sidney Lee, S. Booker |
| 1953 |
John Terence Reese (Captain), Boris Schapiro, ADr. Hans Leist, Dr. Sidney Lee, S. Booker |
| 1956 |
John Terence Reese (Captain), Boris Schapiro, Leslie William Dodds, Kenneth W. Konstam, Pedro Juan |
Ill health limited his career at the bridge table in later life owing to chronic asthma and diabeties, which was, as rumored, partially self-inflicted. After his relocation to dryer countries such as the south of France and also in the United States his condition continue to suffer owing to the consumption of alcohol.
As a side note to his life Mr. Adam Meredith was purely a bridge professional and his income was supplanted by playing rubber bridge. He was neither a bridge writer, a bridge journalist, an independent author of bridge-related publications, nor teacher / instructor of the game as so many of his peers.
Principle of the Valuation Method
This is a devised valuation method, which is also classified as a distributional valuation. The method was developed as part of the Baron System. The principle behind the concept is that when valuing a holding for a raise of partner's suit, then the honor trick value of the holding is added to the following distributional values:
| Shape |
|
3 trumps |
|
4 trumps |
| Void |
|
2 |
|
3 |
| Singleton |
|
1 |
|
2 |
| Doubleton |
|
0.5 |
|
1 |
The principle behind the distribution value is that as soon as the partnership finds a fit in one suit (Note: not No Trump), then the supporting partner can add the high card points, based on the Work Point Count, to these distributional values as devised by Mr. Adam Meredith and Mr. Leo Baron. The total of these two valuations determines the value of the holding and also the response level.
Note: In this valuation method the bridge student must also be aware of the original feature that a second shortage counts a half-value unless five trumps are held.
An example for this valuation method follows:
In response to a 1 Spade opening bid by one partner, then with the holding below -
the responder, finding an immediate Spade fit, values the holding as counting three ace values (two for honor tricks plus one for the Club doubleton), and this distributional valuation allows the responder to jump to the three level.
According to the method devised by Mr. Adam Meredith and Mr. Leo Baron the continuations by the opening partner are as follows. If the opening bidder is planning to raise the response of the responder, then the opener subtracts two from his ace values and raises to the level of the answer, i.e. with four ace values the opener raises to the two level, and with five ace values the opener raises to the three level, and with six ace values the opener raises to the four level, etc.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.