The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-22
FOR LOVERS OF WHIST
Diedsich Upon the Important
Play Of Second Hand.
LOGIC OF ''SECOND HAND LOW"
Exceptions to the Rule-Cases When a
High Card should he Piayed-Iiiustra-
tion of Wrong Leads Continued-The Sim
cleton.

High Card Should He Piayed-Illustra-
tion of Wrong Leads Continued-The Sim
gieton.
We must look with even more discrimi-
nation at the "book" play of second hand
than at tho original "Amerioan" leads.
According TO the principle laid down In
this column for the conduct of tho game,
based upon information, the play OF sec
ond hand, like that of first, must primarily
be mathematical-that is handled SO as
to conserve the strength Of the player and
partner and TO either induce or compel
the play Of commanding cards from the
antagonists. When this requirement Is
fulfilled, then the card played must impart
all the information of the state Of the
holders hand that is possible.
With this principle in view let us exam
Inc the plays laid down as proper for sec
ond hand.
In the FIRST place, the general rule OF
second hand covering an honor led is
logical one. 1t either takes the trick or
compels the play of high card from third
hand, who would otherwise have passed it.
In both cases it saves the strength OF
ton of command of the leaders suit.
The cases where these ends are not secured
by the covering Of an honor form the ex-
ceptions 10 the rule.
With king and two small cards the low
est is played. Turning to tho table OF
American leads the only case where q
queen is led from hand not possessing
the king also is where the aco is absent as
well. III third hand has this, your play
of the king brings IT, and first hands suit
Is cleared If fourth hand has IL, the
damage is not so great, except, indeed, as
often happens, when the ace Is the only
card held by him. IL low is played by sec
ond hand it Is true that acc Will be re-
tained by the third, but then 1t Is pretty
sure To fall on the second round, when
second hand plays the other low card.
This leaves tho commanding king alone
in second hand
The jack is never led from hand not
possessing the king also. 1t might be
thought a good thing toplay the low from
king and but one small card. IL is lost
anyway if third hand has tho ace, but be-
comes the commanding card when this lies
with fourth hand. But in this latter
event its play will save tho 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
the queen the low Is always played upon
jack led for similar reasons TO those
which prompt the play of low in case Of
king and two small cards. There is u
chance on the third round for the queen
which has been retained TO take the trick.
The queen, supported by one low card
alone, having no chance to count In the
second round, is played upon jack lead,
In the hope TO assist thereby tho partner.
A 8 or 10 led is covered by second hand,
except in the following cases:
With ace and three small ones low is
played because Of the general principle of
"second hand low" A card certain Of
taking "a trick is not played where the
partners lower cards may count.
With king and two small ones the low
is played as in the case of an honor led,
and for the same reasons.
With queen, jack ard two small cards,
or jack, 10 and two small tho low Is
played to retain final command.
With either queen and two others, or
jack and two others, low is also played on
a 10 or 8, in the hope that tho leading card
may take In the third round.
Upon low card led, low Is played by
second hand in all but the following cases:
With a foroo which may be rendered by
the play certain of command in the second
or third rounds, such as ace, king and
Others, king, queen and Others, acc, queen,
jack and small, ace, queen, 10 and small,
king jack, 10 and small, n high card Is
played on low one led. This is because
second hand is probably as strong in the
suit as first, and therefore should play as
though leading the 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 n good card in the hand of tho
partner. 1t will bo 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 n low
card instead of high. Accordingly no
special example is required as an illustra-
tion Of the evils of wrong play at second
hand.
1t is better to continue the illustrations
OF wrong leads. The following oXempli-
fles the ruin resulting from tho lead OF
singleton, or SNEAK" 1t is given by
Professor Proctor, tho we'll known astron-
omer, who in tho days preceding the game
Of exact information, elaborated the logical
principles fundamental to them:
GAME uI.-LEAD FROM SINGLETON.
Cards hold, 'otth-Hearts, q, 3, 2; clubs, A,
@. 10. z 4; diamonds, J spades, 8, &, 5, 3
Cards held. Wcst-Hcarts A, j, b; clubs, 3;
diamonds, A, X, 10, 5, 5, 4, 2: spades, A, 3.
Cards held, North-Hcarts, 10 9, 4; clubs, X,
j, o. diamonds, :, G, o; spades, k, Q, 10, 4.
Cards held, East-Hca X, $, :, O; clubs, 8,
@, g. ,; diamonds g, o; spades, !, Z, 6.
The eight of hearts turned as trumps 10 the
East. South leads. The underlined card wins
the trick, and the card below Is led
8. W. N. r.
1.............D Ok ID o