The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-28
FOR LOVERS OF WHIST
Diedrich Upon the Important
Play of Second Hand.
LOGIC OF sssECOND HAND LOW"

High Card Should BE Played-Illustra-
ton of Wrong Leads Continucd-The Sim
gleton.
We must look with even moro disorimi-
nation ut tho 'book" play Of second hand
than at tho original "Amerioan" leads.
According to the principle laid down in
this column for tho conduct of the game,
based upon information, the play of Sec
ond hand, like that of first, must primarily
DO MISUNDERSTANDING Is, handled so rs
to conserve the strength of the player and
partner and to either induce or compel
tho play of commanding cards from the
antagonists When this requirement. is
fulfilled, then the card played must impart
oil the information of tho state of tho
holders hand that is possible.
With this principle in view lot us exam
inc tho plays laid down as proper for sec
ond hand.
In tho first place, the general rule of
second hand covering an honor led is Il
logical one. 1t either takes tho trick or
compels tho play of II high card from third
hand, who would otherwise have passed it.
In both cases it saves the strength of
fourth hand, tho host position for reten-
tion of command of tho leaders, suit.
The cases where these ends arc not secured
by the covering of an honor form the OK
captions to tho rule.
With king and two small cards tho low
est is played. Turning to tho table of
American leads tho only case where
queen is led from hand not possessing
tho king also is where the aco is absent as
well. If third hand has this your play
of tho king brings it, and first hands suit
iG HlpurrU If fOttTtL hand bnc tI,o
damage is not so great, except, indeed, rs
often happens when tho AGO is tho only
card held by him. If low is played by sec
ond hand, it is true that AGO will DO re-
tanned by tho third, but then it is pretty
sure to fall on tho second round, when
second hand plays the other low card
This leaves tho commanding king alone
in second hand.
Tho jack is never led from q hand not
possessing tho king also 1t might be
thought good thing to play tho low from
king and but one small card. 1t is lost
anyway If third hand has tho ace, but be-
comes tho commanding card when this lies
with fourth hand. But in this latter
event its play will save the ACC to your
partner, who may have strength in the
suit in which you are certainly weak.
With suits of three or more headed by
a jack led for similar reasons to those
which prompt tho play of low in case of
king and two small cards. There is
chance on tho third round for tho queen
which has been retained to take tho trick
The queen, supported by one low card
alone, having no chance to count in tho
second round, is played upon jack lead,
in tho hope to assist thereby tho partner
A or 10 led is covered by second hand,
except in the following cases:
With ace and throo small ones low is
played because of tho general principle OF
second hand low" A card certain OF
taking trick is not played whore tho
PARTNERS lower cards may count.
With king and two small ones the low
Is played as in tho case Of an honor led
and for tho samo reasons.
With queen, jack and two small cards.
or jack, 10 and two small tho low is
played to retain final command
With either queen and two othors, OF
jack and two others, low is also played on
10 or 8, in tho hopo that tho leading card
may take III the third round
Upon low card led, low is played by
second hand in all but tho following cases:
With force which may be rendered by
the play certain of command in tho second
or third rounds, such ms ace, king and
others, king, queen and Others, ACC, queen,
jack ana small, ACC, queen, 10 and small
king, jack, 10 and small, u high card is
played on {. low ono led. This is because
second hand is probably as strong in the
suit rs first and therefore should play as
though leading tho suit originally.
Jack is played on low in case Of queen,
jack, small, and the 10 in case of Jack, 10
and small, because in no possible case could
either be established, and the play may
preserve good card i'll tho hand of tho
partner 1t will DO readily seen that the
play Of low card second hand where a
high one is proper will result in disaster
analogous to the original lead of low
card instead of n high Accordingly no
special example is required as ali ilustra-
ton Of tho evils of wrong play at second
hand.
1t is better to continue the illustrations
of wrong leads. Tho following exempli-
fles tho ruin resulting from tho lead Of
singleton, or 'sneall." 1t is given by
Professor Proctor, tho we'll known astron-
omcr, who, in the days preceding the game
OF exact information, elaborated the logical
principles fundamental to thom:
GAME HI.-LEAD FROM SINGLETON.
Cards held, South-Hearts, Q, 3, g; clubs, A,
Q, 10, Z, A. diamonds. j; spades, 0, 8, s, 2.
Cards held, Wcst-Hearts, A, J, 5; clubs, 3,
diamonds. A, X, 10, 8. 5, a. 2: spades. a, g.
Cards held, North-Hcarts. TO- 0, A; clubs, X,
j, 8; diamonds. Z, 6, 81 spades. X, Q, TO- A.
Cards held. East-Hearts. K, s, z, O.; clubs, g.
g. 8, q diamonds, Q, 0; spades, J, Z, @.
The eight of hearts turned rs trumps to the
East. South leads. The underlined card wins
the trick, and tho card below is led
] ~. ? = , .
s'.'.'''''.....H 3 T. II