Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-14
SKILL IND CHANCE.
Nsoessasy Requisites to Be a Good Player of
Whist,
ESan Francisco Chronicle


[San Francisco Chronicle.l
Whist is undeniably game of skill
mixed, however, with chance. It is no
to be learned at sitting, as other game,
OF cards, but requires constant practice
and study. In fact, one has never done
studying, for with each fresh deal o
the cards new combinations and de
velopments present themselves, which
require fresh treatment The late Lore
Lytton likens rubber at whist to "a
mans life," and DR.. Pole seems to ex
pand the smile in the words: whist
II perfect microcosm-a complete
miniature society in itself. Each player
has one friend to whom he is bound by
the strongest ties of mutual interest
and sympathy; but he has twice the
number of enemies, against whose
Vaccinations he is obliged to keep per-
petual guard"
He continues on in the same strain
and draws parallels between this game
of cards and the game of life which are
very true.
The origin of the name whist" is in
volved In doubt. It's earliest mention
is in book published about 1874 called
AThe Compleat Gamester." tits there
spoken of thus: whist, vulgarly called
whisk." The original denomination of
this game is whist or the Silent Game
of Cards, and later on talking is not
allowed at whist" THE very word i'm
plies "Hold your tongue"
This derivation does not by any means
meet with universal acceptance. Whisk
is more generally agreed upon as the
original word, though from what root
it sprang will probably remain mys-
tery.
The first real authority on whist was
Hoyle, who in 1743 published book
about the game, and although in the
Sporting Magazine in 1892 learned
article appeared, for nearly 100 years
Hoyle may be said to have been without
a rival. The "Traite du Whist" by NJ
.Deschapelles, which came out in 1889,
was in reality the next important work
on the subject. Since then the works
of the immortal James Clay and "Caven-
dish" have from time to time appeared,
and now those who wish to study it
have no difficulty in obtaining good
solid advice on the game.
Like all other things. whist has had
its developments. In olden DAYS the
greatest efforts were always made to
prevent partners from communicating
the contents of their hands, Now, by
playing according to established rules,
after few rounds not only the partner,
but the adversaries, if they are equally
good men, know approximately every
card that is held by the different mem
bers at the table. Comparatively re-
Gently, too, the call and echo for trumps
have been reduced to recognizing sig
mails, which are acted on by those seeing
them according to the relationship they
hold to the signaller. The difference
between the American and English
game is that in the former honors are
not counted. Undoubtedly placing the
same value on honors as ON tricks gives
a greater element of chance to the
games, but many whose opinions are of
weight think that if honors were counted
at half their present standard more
spirited game would often result. If
tricks always counted before honors
in case arising where two points are
to make the game against one
secured by honors on the other side,
men would play more boldly to obtain
those tricks, when under present cir
cumstances they would be content to
act on the defensive and save the odd
trick The French prefer three
handed game with a dummy to one with
four. players. This way of playing is
not much in favor ip this country or in
the British Isles, dummy being decid-
eddy looked down upon. Not that it is
TO be sneered at, for there is great
deal to be learned from watching a
good player manipulate his own and
dummy cards. 1t was during such a
game that the celebrated Vienna coup
was made, when an experienced whist
man, after arranging dummy ana look
ing over his own hand, prophesied that
ne would win every trick, and, much to
he establishment of his adversaries and
ookers-on, succeeded in doing so.
There are even those enthusiasts who,
.ather than have no whist at all,
will play with double dummy.