The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-31
FOR LOVERS OF WHIST.
Howell on the Long Suit Form of
Whist Strategy.
Opening With Small Card-Dangers
of Such Leads.

In what shall have to say of the long
suit form of whist strategy l will try 20
avoid giving the impression, which some
people arc too roady to got, that tho small
card opening Is an indication of numerical
trump strength. The lead of a small card
merely for the purpose Of showing four or
more trumps l have never recommended.
In whist Openings" (page 83), 1 gave
the maxim, "You shall not indicate the
long suit game by your original lead un-
less you are perfectly willing that partner
should Immediately lead trumps, from
strong or weak ones" A hard and fast
rule was careful to lay down, telling the
player that he must use his discretion in
regard TO the matter of trump strength in
connection with the small card opening
At the samo time I stated, as my own ex-
perience, that the original leader should
not attempt nor indicate the long suit
game unless he has four trumps with an
honor cr two honors, irrespective of
length This advice / see no reason now
to alter. It appears to be founded In rea-
son as well as in experience. A practition-
or Of the logical, common sense game never
tries at the outset OF q deal TO establish a
long suit not headed by a sequence unless
he has a good hand. The good hand bis
logical, common sense partner will inevta-
bly, infer from the small card lead. Part
ner Is thereby encouraged to play a for
ward game. He will lead trumps from q
hand that would not justify the trump at
tack without the original leaders encour-
agement.
1t follows, therefore, that the original
leader, In considering his opening, must
also consider very seriously what his part
ner may infer, and, in short, the original
leader when he starts With small card,
must be prepared for a trump lead from
partner. How far he must 30 prepared Is
the matter that is TO be left, to a certain
extent, to tho players discretion, but it
seems reasonable to say that he should
have either length in trumps or else with
out length, some high ones with which to
give partner support and assistance In the
trump attack. Some high ones" 1 have
defined TO mean at least two honors, so
far as experience has taught me the dcfni-
tion. The student of the advanced game
can hardly do better than 20 accept this
limitation, as a rule, for general practice.
Hands he will have, not containing as
great trump strength as that which / have
indicated, from which the long suit open
ing will strike him as safe and advisable.
Very well. There are exceptions to all
rules, and the intelligent player will be
able, with practice and experience, TO rec
ognize the exceptions TO this rule when
they present themselves. Only let me add
this advice: II, taking into account part
ner's inferences, you have grave doubt of
the wisdom of venturing the small card
opening, don't. If there is question be-
tween the long suit and the short suit in
itiatives, prefer the short Always en-
deavor not to mislend partner in regard to
the character Of your holding.
One Of the most difficult opening hands
that ever held consisted of hearts Grumpy,
8, g.; clubs, "A, 9, 3; diamonds, X, j, 8, 8,
4, g spades, A. 2. Hore we have two ele-
ments Of long suit strength the good plain
suit diamonds and the re-entry &C Al,
but the third element-fair trump strength
lis missing 1t is hand for the short
suit opening, IL there were one, but we
cannot start the only short plain suit
(spades) without deceiving partner by the
small card lead of the or 2. Studying
the hand, speedily rejected the idea of
leading the spade The long diamonds
were the next thing 1 considered. II /
opened them, 1 argued, must lead a
small card, ard then partner would give
me credit for something in trumps. This
might bo dangerous, thought What,
then, could do9 The lead of club, high
or low, would be purposeless. And the
trumpf Well, / didn't dare, on account OF
the weak spades, knowing that partner
would give mo credit, after short trump
lead. for all round plain suit strength.
So eventually l decided on the small
card opening from the diamonds. Part
ner won the first trick with the ID A. both
adversarles playing low. and then led the
ace Of trumps. All followed with small
ones. Partner camo along with the III @;
second hand, III j; /, III 8; fourth hand,
II X. Partner had all the rest--seven
trumps TO tho ace and queen originally.
The winner OF the third trick now led
small spade. Partner had the S A with
two small ones and also a small diamond
to give me. III he had gone in with the s
A at second hand, next leading the dia-
mond, we had all the other tricks--f2 on
the deal. He played a small spade, how
over, and third hand won. We made only
IL tricks therefore After the play asked
partner why lie had not jumped in with
his 5 A. because" no replied, "from
your small card opening, followed by the
disclosure ot utter trump weakness on my
lead, supposed you must have strength In
overy plain suit, and trusted you for the
first spade trick" What could sayf !
had deceived him by the indication OF
strength on my original lead. Finding
that had no strength whatever in trumps.
he naturally inferred my strength TO lie in
plain suits. Tho inference was wrong,
and itcost us a trick I'm an important
tournament game. But 10 was my fault.
What. thon. should 1 have led2 Why,
1t Is just here that tho moral OF our little
story comes In. l should have led the
trump. We wonld then have ''coopered"
second hands king; partner would have
cleared tho trumps with his ace and queen
in two rounds and would then have led
two moro trumps 20 get my discards; i
wouldhave trashed" spade and club:
ho would have given mo the ace and then
the small diamond. and we would have
won i3 tricks. orc better than ary other |
pair In the game. instead of losing one as
compared with tho best score. Moral