The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-23
OBSERVATIONS ON WHIST.
Game Recently Played illustrating a
Point of Strategy in Trunps.


Point of Strategy in TruInps.
In the following game, which was recently
played at Hot Springs, Ark, it is not CON
tended by the writer that the whist PLAYED
was by any means perfect. but it illustrates
number of important points in the game, and
if carefully studied will be found of great
use to the learner. The best way is to get
pack of cards and play the hand out, at the
same time noting after each play the various
reasonings and inferences.o of each PLAYER as
given herewith. While these may be de-
fective they will nevertheless be. found. of
great aid to a right understanding of the
game. Let the reader see if he can pick
flaw in them. The hands are as follows, A
and B playing againstsC'and
As, 5 Of hearts, a, OF diamonds, a, ln.
10, of clubs, a, k, q, Ssof spades
Be, In, 10, of hearts, q. In, 9, 4 of
diamonds 2 of clubs, KIN, 5, g. Q of spades.
&C, 4.of hearts, X, 10, s. Of diamonds, K.
O, S, 5, 4of cfabs. 6, Z of diamonds.
D-A, X, 9, Z, 8 Of hearts, z, 3. 9 of iia-
n,onds, 10, Of clubs, 10, 9, 4.of spades.
A deals, and it is therefore C's first lead.
A glance at all OF the hands, which is the
privilege Of the readar, but was not OF the
players, VIII show that thesbatt3e viii lie be-
tween A and>C. Each is streng in trurnps,
each having 5, and each has a fGir'handrto
back up his trunlps with.
Round &c k.c, B &c, Dec, A3c. C.
having Clubs andbeing strong in;diasnonds.
concludes to lead ,trlrnps As he has the a
back of the K, he leads tfie.k in order 10 bring
out the a. This.is the proper play for a plain
suit, but'in trumrs asbacl1war1i game should
be played. C's propersp!ay was.the 5 fourth
BEST. A, who is also strong ia trunsps and
very STRONG in spades, having them practi-
caly established for him at the outset, does
not'take the trick with the of clubs He
has double purposerin this. Heallows C to
play his own tA'3 game and he leaves c in
doubt as TO where the lies
Round &C 4, c, B d, D 10 c, Akin c,
When the q of clubs doesn't come out,on. the
first round c Immediately jumps to the con-
clusion thaShis partner has it. As there is a
possibility that his oartnerlnay have buttwo
trHnaps, G does not play the c, second round.
but a small club Imagine C's.surprise when
his partner shows his highest card to.be a ten
and the trick is taken by A with the kn. B..
who has no more Jrumps, discar,is from his
stropgests suit ttile rule is discard from your
strongest suit on your OPPONENTS lead of
trunnps; fronsyour weakest on your partners
leedeof tralnps).
Rounde9- Axis, C IS, .B2s.D4s. Asnow
chuckles TO himself, but he is not cutie will
ing to declare his strength in clubs vet He
knows that Band D have no more clubssleft,
because, although he is not.familiar witt, C's
playing, ne hesrdsC declare before they sat
down that he never opened suit of trumps
with less than five. SeNenyclubs have been
played already, and as,he has three left he
knows G has three more. He knows too.
thatthey are the q. S,s5. Now he proceeds
to lead out his spade suit, believing that C
VIII eventually have to trump it, as'it'is not
probable that Cts strong in spades. Then
his purpose is to exhaust the remaining
trumps in C'sShand.
Round A as, CTS, B SIS, D 9s. A con-
tinues his spade,suit
Round 5-A q S, Csc, B SIS, D los. Here
A forces C's' hand and aeconpiishes his pur-
pose.
Round 6-cr6d, B knd,Ded, A5d. B
plays properly here in putting on his KIN dia-
monds. If he had followed the ordinary rule
of second hand low A would have been OBJ
hged to play his a. With two in sequence,
second hand should aaways play the smaller
in preference TO low card.
Round 7-B-q h, Dksh, Ash, Cs4h.
Roundis-Da.h, Ash. &C h, Bah.
Round 9-DsFd, A ad, C'Sd d, Bed. D
now returns his partners lead of diamonds
Round 1o-Aa C, Csc, Bod, Dish. A
! now proceeds to follow out his original plan
discards his q Of diamonds, as he knows the
K has not been played.
Round 1l-At6c, Cqc, B kn S, D3d
Round 12-Ck'd, B I0h, D7h, A7c.
Round ia S, G 10 d, B skn h, Dsh.
a and B make two by points.
The point-on which this game hinges is AS
holding back shis,ace of tr1lrnps on the first
round he believes thar by doing this he
will be able TO make it tell with greater force
later on and get all he can out of his hand.
Does he! Tom LANSING.