The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05


ers, as some writer designates large class
of minister's, often complain that they have
no opportunity of practicing and playing
with the players of recognized merit.
Some never make an audible remon-
STRANGE, but unquestionablv think they
are not receiving treatment that is quite
fair. Others voice their grievance, and
the protest often reaches the ears OF the
managing committee of the club. In
many places schemes of rotation play have
been tried, by which each player will play
with all other members, or the partners
have been drawn by lot, or progressive
teams of eight have been started, with the
winners of each match moving mp into a
better grade, but all such plans which aim
to compel the good players to practice
with beginners usually result in failure,
the good players remaining away or re-
fusing to enter the contest.
The beginners have certain amount of
justice in their complaint; perhaps they
could make good scores if given an oppor-
tunity to play with the assistance OF
strong partner. The graduate" must
not, however, be censured too severely. 1t
is the same in all walks of life. At dancing
school the finished walters do not care to
tread a measure with beginners who con-
tinually stumble over their toes; business
men do not choose an inexperienced and
ipcom mpetent partner in business venture,
but select brainy and gifted men who can
aid and not retard.
The young whist-player is like the
young lawyer. He must show his ability
before he is recognized. He must make
him mself feared as an opponent; then he
will be sought after as partner. To do
this requires study, work and practic-.
Whist being purely mental recreation,
every one cannot play with equal ease.
Nevertheless whist-players are made, mot
born, and all can hope to become good
players. Some will need to do more
work than others to acquire the desired
rally to mathematics and some d o not.
With the former the addition of long
column of figures is Accomplished with
rapidity and ease, while the latter must
take much time and pains to perform the
addition correctly, but they will find the
sum just as surely, and with practice they
will become skil1ful.
If you wish to acquire foreign language
it will require study and application. You
cannot hope to wake up some morning
and be able to speak and understand
French, having acquired the language in
your dreams.
That skillful writer, T. E. Otis, in speak
ing of becoming proficient at whist, says:
ITO become a proficient whist-player
there is no better practice than TO play
over hand, then analyze it, noting the
fine plays and the errors. Do this after
the play of the hand, never during the
play. From the moment the first card
touches the table until the last trick is
turned, never discuss the play. II series
of hands is played and record kept of
each card as it is played, and these an
alyzed in the most thorough manner, with
all the cards spread on the table, the
bad plays may be noted and particu-
larly impressed upon the mind and
their bad effects be SO marked that
they will not be easily forgotten. 1t
is only by continuous, patient study of the
many conditions and com binations of
cards that one is able to acquire an easy
manner and get accustomed to playing
correctly without making q great effort
Memory is not so much factor in whist
as is the natural or acquired habit of care
full observation. If you observe carefully
and thougntfully you will recoIlect Asa
test of your usual habits lay down this
paper and see how much you can recollect
of the thoughts and wording of the article
quoted above from Mr.. Otis. If you can
not recall much of it read it over again,
considering the ideas and meaning care
fully, and then try again. This is not
memorizing, but simply observing and
noting.
Some one has said that If on coming out
of room, in which you had been only a
few minutes, you were asked how many
chairs there were in the room, you prob
ably could not answer. This would not
be fault of the memory. 1t would simply
be lack of observation. If you had OBJ
served that there were seven chairs the
mind would have no difficulty in remem-
bering the fact. So with cards played at
the whist table. If you will note and OBJ
serve them the mind will remember them,
Draw differences when the cards fall so
- - Il
will know what TO do, because the remain
ing cards are placed A sad habit is to be
inattentive during the fall OF the cards
and late in the hand try to go over the
play to locate the unplayed cards.
Do not play listless game. Give each
hand your undivided attention or better
not play it at all.
lay all the cards before you on the table;
imagine yourself each one of the pla-ers
IN turn; before you play card stop and
think what you would do if it was your
turn to play in an actual game and note
wherein your play would be different from
that in the illustration.
Practice and play of this kind will soon
make whist easy and make the beginner
desirable and sought-after partner.
WHISTLES.
"Cavendish" and Whitfield will sail for
on July 4.
Miss Wheeiock is reported to have said
that the most delightful game she mad in
Brooklyn was with Whitfield ss partner.
The June number of whist" has ar
rived. 1t is more than usually full OF good
things, including problems and interest
ing illustrated hands, and a contribution
by Pole on 'The History of Modern Whist
We have received copy of "Whist
Openings: A System attic Treatment of
he Short-Suit Came by Z. G. Howell. |