The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-17

Whist Principles-Sone Rhymod Rules
of 0iis)piay.
In the Gamo Of duplicate whist, whcro
every trick gained counts, and thore is
therefore little playing for tho odd" the
conduct of fourth hand is rendered very
simple indeed. Tho rule is to take the
trick. 1t is truo that in whist problems
the refusal of fourth hand to take tho i'd
verso trick is often the solution of the diff
ficulty, yet such situations rarely arise In
tho regular game.
Probably among tho greatest experts,
and in tournaments in which 90 minutes
have boon consumed In the consideration
and calculation of a single play, suoh oc-
cnsions may be discerned, yet these are
matters of whist strategy rather than OF
whist principles and may only DO men,
toned horo rather as examples of ingenu-
ity than as instruction in play.
If fourth hand Is strong in trumps. yct
fearful of losing control by playing the
one necessary to take an adverse trick in
suit, and If no can discard u card certain
to DO lost otherwise, and IL no is confident
the long suit game is tho best in the i'm
mediate instance, he may refuse to tako
tho trick. So, also, with trumps on his
side, no may refuse 30 take trick with
what, after trumps are exhausted, may
prove to DO a ro-ontering card. But this
is n remote contingency.
So, also, when refusal to takcmav COM
pei third hand to lead q weak suit. of
which you have none, up to your partners
strong hand, tho trick may DO passed.
When king Is led from queen and others,
fourth hand holding ace, jack and others
may pass 1t, in order that on tho second
lead of n low tho suit may be established
in his rather than tho leaders, hand. Still
with all the contingencies of ruling
gamo this is quito dangerous risk to as
sumo. 1t would be better to take tho trick
in most cases and return low of the Same
suit through the leaders strength.
The great evil about refusal to take the
trick fourth hand is that it misinforms the
partner, who may ruin his hand by trump.
ing in upon suit of which fourth hand
has the commanding cards in hidden re-
serve.
In tho first of these articles reference
was made to race characteristics as e1em-
plified in national sports and games The
German mind was especially mentioned as
devoted to those contests full of ingenious
obstacles and pitfalls and opportunities for
individual excellence rather than steady
team play. Conversely it Is mind sus-
pioious of pitfalls on the part of tho oppo-
nentS, and even on TINT of the partner
who may also be playing an individual
game. Consequently the following lines,
handed me yesterday by an enthusiastic
whist player from San Francisco, are cast
with perfect proprioty in the German
American dialect. AS Milwaukee, tho
German-American city, is known tho
world over as q whist center, place where
the game has reached its highest excel
lenoe, the many proficient players of Ger
man extraction can afford to be above
taking umbrage at the pleasantly:
REAL SCIENCE OF WHIST.
II you would peat venever you blay VISIT.
Look oud und holdt der goot cards in your
fsht,
IND If it coomes dot you don d get der besht
You inference dot it's so of all der rcsht
Look on your bardncr as your vorsetest foe:
He thinks his hand more gooc as yours you
know,
IND ven he tries his fiddle game 10 blay
Schust show him dot you know n bedder way.
Ven you in drumps n krate big handful holdt,
Schust keep en-; dey are wort dcre weig in
COLT.
Don'd let your bardner know it, all der same;
Dey may COON handy later in der game.
IND ven your bardner leads you drump, your
card
Has got to take it, though it does coome hard
To use big one from your liddle store.
Be careful, though, und don d Llay any more.
Und if it is your foorst chance for lead
Dot lonesome two Of diamonds you don d need
Schust sneak init him out early in der game
IND don'd waste drumps und high cardts al
der same.
Gif close addcn;inn to dose cardts you holdt
IND if you take your bArdners, why. he's
soldt.
IND if by chance YOU happen to revoke
Say nix, but Gre.; it as a fourst rate choke
For py und py when thick oopon der table
Der last cardts come schust Slide If you are
able,
Der fiddle cardt dot should have followed suit
Under der schcneral pile. p'raps no one
knew 1t.
Your bardner's foorst lead being nit a king,
Your having none, to drump is schust der ting
because he 3 sure der ace to also holdt
(Dot inference process makes us mighty bolCt)
Dis foorst lead business is de ting to study;
Dot leGrndt. der rest won't boddcr anybodv
Nit ace ind king Il small Won should be seen
Because your bardnor ought to hold der Tween.
IND as you've got dose same bricks anyway
Don q let the Hddcrs know schust where dey
lay.
Nit ace. kvccn, ten und low, NIT ten proceed
IND holding seven iii drump der lowest lead
Your great big cardts be kvick TO trow away
Dcy show your bHrdner vot you want him blay
IND ven your bardncr's blay gets higher und
higher
Dot is a SIGNAL, SO init drump you fire.
But If You miss n SIGNAL don'd feel plue;
miss EN- lots myself, ind so may you.
Dirtecn's enough of cirdts for one to blay
How can You watch der odders anyway?
It's schust enough to blay your handt alone
IND let your bardner manage init his own,
Except, of course, to help him in his need
Nou hust doh him Locl.4 i,a.l