The herald., 1895-02-04

taken with ace, follow at next opportu,
nifty with king.
@, j., 10. 9-Lsad queen, then 9.
@. j., 10, 8 and one or more-Lead
queen. then 10.
O.. j., 10 and one more-Lead queen,
then jack.
@. j.. 10 aud one or more-Lsad
queen, then 10.
SHORT TALKS ON WHIST.
The official paper of the American
Whist league is published monthly in
Milwaukee. 1t is a journal devoted to
the interests OF the game, entitled Whist,
and contains in the January number an
interesting article from which the fol-
lowing extracts are made:
1t is is getting to be the fashion now
for our most progressive whist clubs to
initiate their regular weekly or FORT
nightly whist evenings with short
talk on the game by some of their best
informed mem bsrs. Wherever the plan
has been tried it has aroused interest
and started study among that class Of
PLAYERS that never, as rule, look into
whist books.
THE DISCARD.
In an address OF this kind by Mr.. P.
j.. Tormey before the San Francisco
Whist club. OF which he is the presi-
dent, he said: l desire, to say few
words to you this evening with regard
to one of the most important plays in a
hand at whist. entertain the opinion
that any one card you play which gives
more information than any other one
card is the most important play OF each
hand. The question at Issue il: From
what suit should you select card to
throw away, when you cannot follow
suit, and cannot, or do not wish to,
trump This play is generally known
as the discard"
consider the card you select for your
original discard of more Importance
than the card you select for your orig
inal lead. All authorities on the gama i,
believe, are unit on their mode OF
discarding-from your weakest aud
most worthless suit, regardless Of trump
strength being declared in your favor or
against you. The same au thorities teach
you to endow each and every card you
play with all the information possible /;
therefore l would suggest new idea for
our whist players to think of, since. if
followed. the play of one card announces
not only weakness in one suit but
strength in another, and determines
which suit that other is.
The idea is taken from q Mexican
game and is as follows: The card suit
for over 80 years, have been mentione d
in the following order: Spades, hearts /,
clubs. diamonds. For the purpose OF
explaining my idea | shall give each
suit a number calling spades No. l,
hearts No. 2. clubs No. 8, diamonds No. 4.
Many players assort and hold thei
cards in this order in their hand. When
you are obliged to discard you can, 80
times out Of 100, select one from the
plain suit in hand next lower in degree
according to the table above) than your
strongest suit. For example: You are
strong in hearts and weak in spades !;
you discard a spade and with that dis
card convey the information that you
are strong in hearts. You discard q
heart, you are strong in clubs. You
discard club, you are strong in dia.
monds. You discard a diamond, you
are strong in spades. Thus:
Spades 1, hearts 2. clubs 8, diamonds
A. Say hearts are trumps and you have
none left. Ii clubs is yonr strongest
suit, you. of course, discard a spade,
your partner will then know the next
highest suit in your hand is three
clubs. If you should be go ually strong
in two suits the information ia lust as
good. This mode of discarding endows
your card with two fold inform alton.
E. M. Q.
WHIST EDITOR HERALD I'm reply to the
criticism signed Whist Tyro in your edition of