The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

The press of the country treat the n ew
book with considerable kindness, actuated,
we believe, by the personal feelings of the
whist-writers for Mr.. Howell. IL appears
wofully weak and vague in spots.
In the first hand used to illustrate the
ADVANTAGE of the short-suit play gain OF
two tricks is claimed for the short-suit
opening. An examination of the hand,
however, shows that the gain is not made
altogether by the opening, but by the good
play in the trump suit in the middle OF
the hand. Does shOrt-suitism need to
be upholstered by erroneous statements?
The American leads and long-suit play
never needed any such supports.
Milton Work speaks as follows OF the
book: 1t outlines complete system OF
leads (mainly of the short-suit Variety,
which when used at once removes from
short suitism the objection of being nom
informatory. The plan suggested is to
divide all leads into five classes, viz:
Long-sult game when you lead 2, 3,
or 5.
Rufing game when you lead a 6, Z or g..
Supporting-card game when you lead a
8, 10, jack or queen.
High-card game when you lead an ace
or king.
Trump game when you lead trump.
The following are some of the writer s
main ideas on the subject:
"Play the long suit game if you have a
good plain suit, fair strength in trumps
and at least one reasonably proha BILE card
of re-entry in another suit.
"You should not indicate the long suit
game by your original lead unless you are
perfectly willing that partner should i'm
mediately lead trumps from strong or
weak ones.
with an established suit (either in
your own or your partners handy four
trumps and card of re-entry in another
suit lead trumps."
He gives the meaning of leads in the fol-
Ace followed by king indicates the
high card game, generally five or more in
suit with little or no strength outside of
the suit led, followed by small card indi-
Gates the rutfing game with probably no
more in the suit led.
King followed by ace indicates the
high-card game, but greater accompany
ing strength than ace followed by king
unaccompanied By ace indicates the high
card game with probably queen and Jack
and others of the suit remaining.
Queen indicates the supporting-card
game and not more than two in the suit.
Jack, followed by queen, indicates the
high-card game, tile suit led being queen,
jack, ten and others, followed by ace or
king or small card, indicates the sup
porting card game. and generally not more
than three in suit.
Ten or nine indicates the supporting
card game; followed by jack or ten, re-
spectively, indicates a suit of four or
more; does not deny higher cards in suit.
Eight, seven or six indicates the ruffing
game, with generally not more than two
in snit; generallyslenies any higher card
in the suit.
Five, four, three, two, indicates the
long-suit game, with probably good suit
and certainly trump strength; commands
partner, if he gets in early, to lead trump.
This is all thoroughly, ably and care
fully explained IN style that is sure to in
terest any whist-player. One objection to
the system (which we believe to be the
greatest trick loser we have ever been
called upon to consider) is that while it
may fit a few hands, in many cases it will
force disadvantageous lead. As an ex-
ample, we give few of the leads it neces-
states, al of which Mr.. Howell advocates.
Hearts are trump in all three hands,
and in no case is the turn-up an important
factor. The card NJ. Howell would lead
is indicated by an asterisk