The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-07
FOR LOVERS OF WHIST.
Diedrich Discusses Old Time
Principles Of Play.
Two Great Masters Of Finesse-
The Teachings of Deschap-
peIes and Clay.
Whist Strategy Undisturbed by Con
strength and Beauty
of Whist"

As &c. " p in his Whist Universal
remarks, "the rules for lead and follow
have changed, but the law of dnesse, the
strength and beauty Of whist has never
changed, will never change.
It is accordingly to the old masters of
whist, especially to those originals, Des-
ohappeles the Frenchman and Clay the
Englishman, that We must return, as
geometrician does to Euclid, tor the abso
Lutte results of pure reasoning, undisturbed
by convention.
DesohappeIes played for position, often
foregoing the trick and throwing the lead,
that thereby he could control the game in
the end. Bystanders thought him an in
spired mailman simply because, as is the
case with most critics of genius, they could
not follow the subtle though certain logic
of his arriving at the desired results. Is
pecially was he strong in the dnesse, the
six modes of which are thus practically
formulated from bis play
l. Finesse in partners suit. The regu-
lar hnesse upon lead of low by partner
Example, the play of queen from ace and
queen when king appears to lie at the
right or when chances are even that either
opponent holds it.
g Forced 6nesse in your own suit.
The hnesse in your own suit when returned
by your partner to a certain master card
in fourth hand on your left Example,
the play Of the ten from queen and ten,
when king was drawn II PREVIOUS round,
and ace lies to your left, and chances are
even that jack is to left or right.
3. Finssse in right opponents suit.
This is the 6nesse at second hand when
the third hand opponent has already played
, his best card Of the suit now led him again
By his partner. Example, second hand
originally had king, queen and ton of suit
led. he played the queen, which was
taken by ace third hand. On the second
lead from the original leader, second hand
plays ten, dncssing over probable jack at
the right.
4. Finesse in left opponents suit. This
is simply tina reserve Of the master card in
second haad, when the lead is through
him up to probably exhausted strength in
third hand. Example, b leads low through
king and Jack in S up to W, who had pre-
viously opened the suit with the ace. S
illnesses with the jack upon the equal
chance THAI the queen is with & and tbs
added probability that n holds no moro of
the suit and can trump queen anyway II 10
is played by W.
g. Forced 6nesse upon partner. This is
the fnesse where you make the partner
take the trick, maybe of his own suit, that
you may hold command Example, of
king and jack you play the Jack that left
opponent may play queen and SO draw de-
olared ace from your partner. leaving you
with king and command.
8. Finesse on general strength This is
the fnesse whom sure tricks are held in
other suits, and even in the one led. and
is played that whatever strength may be
to your left shall be exhausted and your
partner given what is possibly his only op-
pOrtunity to make his cards count. TX
amle with command in other suits, and
with king, jack and several others Of the
suit led on the second round, with ace
already played, you play the jack that
oven if the left hand opponent holds the
/ queen it may be played and not held back
/ to regain command when trumps are eI-
+ hausted, there also being a chance that
/ your partner has the winning card, or,
/ failing that, can utilize a low trump.
DIEDRICH
Knickerbooker Whist Club, New York.