The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
HINTS ABoUr WHIST.
Every Card Played should be an fnteifi-
gibIe Sentence in tho Game.

II should always be borne in mind by
those trying TO learn TO be players Of
whist that every card played should be an
Ineligible sentence in the language OF
the game.
When yoaI play a card. no matter at
what stage OF the game, you are supposed
10 endow IL with all the whist knowledge
you possess. II may. perhaps. seem
strange that when you have TO throw
away a card, or discard as IL Is properly
called. wfsn you cannot follow suit or do
not wish tn trump the trick. that 1t should
make much difference what card IL Is or
what IL might say.
In the game OF whist. among players
Of little or no knowledge OF it's science,
the discard, 10 them, IS the most mean
ingless play they can make. on the con-
trary. IL Is one of the most important
points OF play. and there Is no doubt but
IL is neglected more than any other.
Next OF Importance to the original lead
made by a player. in our opinion. is his
original discard. There are times when
you should throw away an ace. king or
queen, as we'll as a deuce, trey or four
at another time you should discard a SUI
perfiuous trump. retaining in your hand
cards OF plain suit. This viii. no doubt,
seem strange. but nevertheless IL is true.
two distinct leads. original and forced
and they bear a great resemblance 10 one
another. 1t Is very important that you
should be able to distinguish between the
two, instantly they are made. When tn
time comes I'm play that you have none OF
the suit led, and you are obliged 10 throw
card away, the question IS. What shall
II be2
II commanding strength ~ trumps has
NO D
being originally LED 1r 'o1 !" for. I'm
this case you should discard from your
poorest suit, generally calltJ the weakest:
that Is, the suit that needs the least pro-
lection, and the one you expect the least
service from, bearing in mind that Il is
not always best 10 unCuard an honor
Under the above circumstances when you
make such a discard you say TO your
partner when the card falls:
Partner this card that I have selected
TO throw away is from the poorest suit
I hold I'm my hand. and you must not ex-
pect much, II any, assistance from me
in it,"
How much more information could be
given II you spoke the sentence aloud?
And, again. should either Of your ad-
versaries have led trumps originally. or
signaled for them. the latter. we consider.
Is expressing a desire to open the battle
with the artillery Of the hand. which
means great strength in trumps, as we'll
as In plain suits You should discard
from your strongest or best protected
suit Then you say TO partner:
This card that now play is 10 inform
you that the best strength I'm my hand
Is In the suit Of which this one Is the
lowest"
Should it occur that you are obliged 10
make another discard on a subsequent
round Of a suit select a card from your /
poorest suit. II you should discard a /
second time from the suit you first dis /
card IL says. This is M strongest suit" |
the second discard would negative the |
first. Your first discard IS the one your
partner will watch the closest or pay the !
most attention TO. always remembering /
when it is once made II is beyond recall |
You cannot undo It any more than YOU /
can your original lead
The master. "Cayendish." saws one Of
the most important points Of whist plav
is TO learn TO notice the original discard
or each player as carefully as you should
notice their lead Until you are able 10 do
this you cannot properly be said 10 play
whist at all. When the condition Of your
hand is such that your best play will he
20 lead card from the suit that your
partner has declared considerable strength
In. the one from which he discarded on |
the adverse lead OF trumps. the question
comes up. Which IS the proper card to
select?
With two or three only in suit, no mat
ter what they are headed by the ace. |
King. queen. jack or ten. lead the highest |
We know from eXperince that this IS the
hardest thing TO teach young (and many
m old player 20 DO, that is known in |
Whist and he should never play his cards
any other way. Even when you hold four
ards Of the suit Of which ne discarded.
Without they are OF some considerable |
strength, you should treat it as a three
ard suit, and lead the highest
We have stated that there are times
vhen you should discard an ace. king or
queen. It is when you hold an the master
ards Of a suit and you are obliged 10
hrow one away from il. always discard |
he highest. IT says: Partner. ! hold
10 more Of this suit, or / hold the entire
ommand OF IT," little whist percep-
ion viii tell him at a glance what SC IS.