The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12

A Woodworking and ambitious student re-
marked the other day that she had learned the
leads, but was troubled what to play second
hand. This is mainly the result of failure TO
pay sufficient attention to the differences that
can be drawn if the leads are well known.
student seeing A, @, 10, 8 together in hand
will quickly learn to lead the nine from this
combination, but If the nine is laid on the
table alone he will not as quickly recognize
what is in the leaders hand. In other words
the student must learn to ''box the compass
backward" as well as forward. The old rule
Tor second hand to play low has so many
exceptions that it is violated as often as fol-
lowed. II second hand holds the K and one
small and a is played originally there should
be no mental debate as to whether the K or the
small should be played The holding of the
leader should be as plain as if the cards were
exposed.
Absolute rules are hard to give, and in whist
Age cannot wither, nor custom stale
Its infinite variety.
Yet second hand has as a guide the informa-
ton given by the original card and this
knowledge must be taken advantage of rather
than any rule.
In the few cases where the card led gives but
little information the old rule of second hand
low should be followed. unless holding high
cards in sequence, with @, J, and one
small, play the las the small card will do as
well as the to protect the Q on the second
round) unless the lead is such as to mark the
cards in the leaders hand. For instance, il
you hold @, J, 8, and z is led, play the and
not the ]. The leader must hold either A, 10,
8, q or X. 10, 8, z, and the will win or force
the or X.
If the original card led is the or higher
one, the leaders cards are usually well
marked. The Q announces the K, the
both Q and X. Such differences are simple.
But the lower cards are more difficult. If,
however the secondhand tables of Hamilton
or other good whist writer's are carefully
studied the 8, z and 6 tell as plain a story SIS
the high cards.
Suppose is led and you, as second hand,
hold Q, 8, 8, q Now. if you are thoroughly
familiar with the combinations from which q
is led as fourth best you know that it must
include either the 8, 8 or 10. AS you have the
8 and 9, the leader must hold the 10. Further
you should know that there are but two COM
binations in which the 10 is found in con-
junction with the without either the or 8,
j. e., A, Q, 10, z, or A, J, 10, z. AS you hold
the Q, the leader must hold the A, ], 10, z.
Having this information, you can play intel
ligently. Knowing the only card that can
win the z is the king. you should play the g.
to force the K If in third hand or enable your
partner to hold itup If ne has it.
Suppose you held K, 10, 8, q and a was
led to your right, would you cover? Perfect
familiarity with the leads will show you at
once that the leader must have A, @, 8, z. or
A, J, 8, z. Your K Will unquestionably take
the trick, but it is better not play it, as the
opponents suit would be at once established
Third hand, or your partner. must mold either
@ or 1.-THE odds being equal. Play the .,
trusting the trick to your partner and holding
the to preserve the double tenaee over the
leader.
Second hand must also be on the watch for
forced or irregular leads. II you hold A. X, 8,
and an is led on your right, you should not