The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-27
FOR LOVERS OF WHIST
Diedrich's Observations Upon a
Critical Point In the Game.
THE PLAY OF SECOND HAND.

The Principle of the PIay-Reservation of
Strength In Suits OF Your Right Cppo-
nent-Analysis of Proper Second Hand
Plays.
The management of second hand is con-
s1dered the best tes5 of whist play. 1t is,
more than any other feature of the game,
the shibboleth which distin guishes the SUI
perior tactician from the routine player.
1t is true that second hand low is the
countersign, but one must know why this
is the normal rule in order that at critical
times, he may be Intelligent enough to
give 1T the proper variation.
Many time when blind adherence to
this injunction has resulted in disaster the
look of injury on the face of the response
BILE party would be ludicrous if it were not
piteous. 1t is part of the great class of
grievances against the ipanimate. ''The
cards were against me!'' But in duplicate
whist this excuse doesn't go.
Too often tho play of second hand is left
to caprice, and no systematic rule is adopt
ed With queen and a small card it may
be a question whether or not the queen
should be played a low lead. The
game of information dictates the play OF
the small card. Experience and personal
suggest the play of the queen. But what
ever is the decision arrived at stick to it.
Do not play low at one time and in exact
ly similar circumstances at another time
the queen, for this will result in the worst
form of INSTRUMENTATION, confusion worse
confOunded in the mind of your partner.
In a recent game the partner of the
writer was Latin teacher, more vivacious
than veraciOus in her hours of relaxation,
for she said she ''doted on whist and
yet when it came her turn to play in such
a situation as that described above, she ar
rived at n decision by rhyming over the
cards the Incarnation of
Eerey, meeny, 1niney, mo,
Carpe ncgrum digito,
ST eKclamat liberol
and thereby proved that the game she
had with the Eleusinian m ysteries, certain
1y was not whist
The play of second hand proceeds on the
following principles: Reserve as far as you
safely can the commanding cards in the
suit which, from indications, has been led
from strength by your right hand oppo-
nent. Conceal, therefore, from him the
presence of these cards in your hand. En-
courage your left hand opponent to play
his commanding cards in such a manner
as to permit your partner either to utilize
or reserve his strength in the suit. Espe-
cially follow these principles if your part
ner is one of that increasing class of play
ers who Hspar for position and unaccus-
toned to lead back through strong second
hand up to exhausted strength or declared
weakness in the fourth hand, thus putting
the opponents call abroad as to the
whereabouts of the command.
On a high card led play the ace, if alone,
or the lower one of two cards in sequence
higher than the one led. Holding K, Q
or J, and Only one small, cover an original
lead of nine or any higher card; otherwise
play low.
On a low card led play a high card
whenever it is necessary to establish there
by your own strength in the suit (See
American leads.) Play, however, the low
of any sequences; otherwise play a small
card,
Generally play low on trump lead.