New-York tribune., 1885-02-19
WHIST OR BUMBLEPUPPN
AN ATTACK ON PROFESSOR PROCIOhS
GAME.
MEMBER OF THE TROY CLUB OFFERS AN EN-
PHAIIC CRITICISM.

MEMBER OF THE TROY CLUB OFFERS AN EN-
PHAIIC CRITICISM
To the Edftor or The Tribune.
SIR: ] am induced by the following remarks
of Mr. in his article whist, in THE TRIBUNE Oh
the 18th inst. to enter vigorous protest American
whist players, who have the good Of the game at hea'
cannot afford to permit the erroneous dicd OF so us
tinGuished scientist, and Of presumably so competent
expert, to pass unchallenged:
This week in order to show how hands to he dealt
with here. give specimen hand It IA seiecleu, ~"
most az random, from number of interesting ,,i
played few days since with eeNerol hnc paysrs%n % T., i
city, who kindly gave opportunity OF Plhyihe
whist for the first time since left England last June
feel must use plain language. for am indignant that
Mr. Proctor should attempt. OF course In good l,n' "
show the very cultivated TRIBUNE cntce how modern
whist ought tn he played. by citing an illustrative ha'u
copously annotated by himself which he certainly can
not have seriously considered. | would hold up ti9
hand n striking example OF the worst ana hos' III"
taiing form of Bumblepuppy. fine player ehg"bc"
with three Bumblepuppsts simply submits 10 MS hai
lot; he has no hopes. consequently no dis
appontmcuts He occasionally looks at the clocA'
frequently suppresscs yawn. and constantly wishes
that IL were time to 20 home. But he playing Win
A. T. V or H.. Mr. procor's quartctte, his eye wonld
sometimes brighten with the hope that coup might 10
achey but alas it would soon again dun at witness
ing the disastrous consequences of little learning
I'm whist is hardly worth while to anayze the hand'
any respectable player without much thought can see
the wcchcdne>s Of the play No cards needed the
text itself sunces make clear its garlng errors
assume the correctness Of AS Lead Mr. Proctor returns
the lead His hand and the play show that his partner
Z. can only have. II he have any, the elgDt OF
kusye. very, improbahiy both. Either one or the
other would compel the play OF the queen and. Of course
establish Mr. rs diamond suit All this was fore'oen
From the play L. could that his partner did not
have five trWnps and that he probably had four oheF
wise 50 player y. would never have rsked fore
iug his partner with two miserable suits In Ill. hand
But what should the play have tau lit the other nne
player" A. II evidently dd teach him that because his
partner discarded club he must lead one to hln-and
he does "a strcugthencr the highest OF three! No'e
by Mr. Proctor: a. rightly changes SUIT. ana leads cor
rccty from q threc-carl suit but he finds h' partner
with no strength in clubs" Marvellous discovery 1t
proves one thing Es truthiulncs'-ioT ho had very
distinctly asserted the prcvou- trick. that he had no
strength in clubs. II THE were not BumblepuPpy. why
didn't A. lead hearts which his partner had indicated
and IN which lie a. held king, ten and nine Conolu-
sion A r. not "A " fine player"
A. having made the c-rcgous blunicr Of leading the
queen OF clubs let follow the play Y plays III" ton
he has no nore-or II call T.. determines to lind out
and establishes the Adversary suit by leading the ace OF
clubs Y. plays the deuce. and have no
more Tho double run Is now established
H. can play clubs and Y. diamonds with
very bright prospect Of making game Hnt no ihhi
would have ,eu simple he prefer hc governed by
very mild call Or Proctor calls sus s-'.i'h - amy
Ihing II WOHid haNr been badj, hhd leads trump.
"A that two suits. oti" fsahil-hfh ana
held 10y the adyersare~, ANA possibility That th"y may
hold both long and strong trunps 'Oh,luNloh' L.
l. not " line player
Y's play ON the sixth trick bad could lie he
must not be- m!slcd. uhintcnioualIy m-'ad. 10y us
succc-- that War due the very Cuiullt-aut hut I'M
known position uf thc caris How \. Ltew sec note
that lie queen with B-crccpt by telcpaih}-
can't conceive; unless the game were
elementary bumblepuppy-for therein would. ~
should OF course have put his king on his partner
kuaVe and assured third round Of tEump--thai IL.
Judging from point of view az tho The better,
atone Tor
m continue with diamond highest sequence. for y
knew or should known. that his partner was III
ro.i,ion To ovefru A. That is be might have caught
he auecn by the play OF the king. aud, II not his dia
unu,i- would have beeu-brggng Nr ftoctnf's pardon
for introducing slang whist Amrfo oanisI' t"i-'f'
Conclu,ion, rcgrctiully announced !. + not hnc
b. had no opportunity FOR display, and hence 10 crti
ci.m would be justified. lie could hardly make mis-
take Oh bis single lead suspect, however, that H. was
the best player AZ the table" .
~ play to coucuIo the -th trick Il a beautiful
e1aml. 0f what j. called out W",t " taking thino
ef'- chance" n successful I'm catching al IN"
ruups he was or four tricks and the game II not
hr mi ,lt lose the odd | think the play was correct
although hr odds tiu-t MIN.
I'm closing % that have the highest re-
gard and respect for distinguished guest hnt fy
all the good he has done and doing but hc
moi A natural whist player ana should not therefore SUI
cct himself TO attack by posing rs eNpouudfr
III inc game cited 10y Mr. Proctor really played al
a New York rub. am Of opinion that his adsershties
we. 80 his and. actuhtrd 10y true polite
ness ana nothing to mar the success Of Mr. Ps trans
parent little ris"t - o. NJ
Troy Ciu1 Troy. Feb 10. 1883.