St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-19

markable lead was % fool the adversaries
We cannot see that the play has any other
merit. %A tra sfs'
4, Trick 6-Easte thinks that he and his part
ner will make couple of trumps by a cross
ruff on diamonds and spades, and leads ace
Of diamonds, undoubtedly intending to fol-
low 1t with small one. stsfssa
+. Trick 7-North's play of queen on the last
trick induces East to lead ace of hearts.
Trick S-East has not much else to do,
and leads diamond.
Trick 9-North now leads a trump from
three remaining after trumping the diamond.
We are inclined to criticise East's play in
putting UP ace second hand from ace, king,
seven; East does not want the lead and had
better give West chance to win this trick.
Tricks 10-13-East's lead of the thirteenth
heart is best. North makes his queen Of
trumps and the other tricks belong to East
and West.
Table p
Trick North begins the unlocking play
by holding UP his lowest spade.
Trick S-North feels that he is too weak
in suit to lead trumps, and returns his part
ner's suit, though he knows he may be lead
ing up to the tenace with West; North leads
the eight, temporarily concealing his length
in order that the adversaries may not
think best to continue the suit for a ruff.
ing the unlocking play is difficult one, some
players advising the lead of the lowest, others
the intermediate card, and others the best.
We do not favor any hard and fast rule on
this point, but allow the fall of the cards and
the general situation to guide US; in the ma
1ority OF cases perhaps the intermediate card
Is best, as 1t carries out the idea of the nm
blocking game most consistently Note how
North can place every card in the spade suit;
South has two, the queen and nine; West the
ten. and East no more; this is so simple that
IT Is unnecessary to explain how North places
the cards thus, but some players never seem
TO De able TO reason out even so easy stu
alton as this, and there can be no good whist
without placing the unplayed cards; conyen-
tions are good, judgment is necessary and
strategy is hne thing, but conventions are
useless, the exercise of Judgment misnomer.
and strategy impossible without the faculty
of using the information conveyed by the
cards that are played to place those that re-
main unplayed.
Trick North now ventures trump lead :
he can place three trumps exactly with East.
for East has shown four hearts, four dia-
monds and two spades; West has probably
not more than three trumps, as he has not
led in spite of the development Of his part
ner's heart suit and the ace turned East
plays king second hand, in the hope of fore
ing West on diamonds and making his own
small trump on a spade.
Trick 10-South returns the trump. West
played the eight at trick Z, and now plays the
ten; North makes fine play by refusing to
cover with queen; North knows that West
has jack of trumps left and East the ace and
either the seven or three; by refusing to COW
er, he sees that North and South will take
but one more trick, the ace of trumps, for II
West leads spade, East must trump with
ace to win 1t; IL West leads diamond, North
can either pass and let South trump or he
! can trump and lead spade, on which East
must play ace of trumps or North will win
the trick; IL West leads a trump. as he did
| do, North has the thirteenth trump and a
| spade on the other hand, If North covers
| with queen, East's ace will win, East will
| lead the thirteenth heart, on which West will
| play his jack of trumps, and If East's trurur
is the seven, 1t is thus made the best one
The situation is an interesting one, and the
| play one that no player who had not drawn
careful and correct inferences, and placed thu
cards remaining in each hand, would have
made.
The Hands
/ North-Spades. 10, 7. Q; hearts, A. @. 10, 8
clubs, A, 4; diamonds. A, K 5, T. East
| Spades, A, X hearts ], 8. 6, 8; clubs. K. O.
8. s; diamonds, 10, g. 2. South-Spades, @. 8
8. 5, 81 hearts. 7. 4; clubs, J, 10. T. 5, g. dia-
5, 2; clubs g. 2; diamonds. @. 9, z, G, g.
Five of spades trump. Leader, West.
The Play
Table 1. Table 2.
ISu u