The San Francisco call., 1896-08-23
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A correspondent desires short and concise
directions for the management and play of
trumps. Short and concise directions cannot
be given.
1t would be about as easy to give short and
concise instructions in chemistry and then re-
quite g student to make complicated
analysis
The best players watch the developments
with care and play trumps according to the
situation.
poor player often handles his cards SO that
he would have mada more tricks had he had
fewer trumps, and situations often arise where,
in the hands of players en- tirely great, the long
suit cards are mightier than the trumps.
AS an instance of judgment and playing to
the situation, the following play of De Vie is
given. He held seven clubs, including the
four highest and the king and two of trumps.
His remaining cards were two small ones of
each of the other suits. His partner opened
the hand with the ace of trumps, on which he
played the king. He afterward gave as a rea-
son that the probabilities were in favor of his
partner playing from A. Q, ], and Others
rather than from ace with seven in suit. If he
was correct, he was certain of three rounds of
trumps, If he did not block the suit, and could
show his strength by his discards. AS a result
OF the play of the king he gained four tricks.
Now, to show how some players blindly fol-
low precedent or rule we quote the following
from the St Paul Globe:
s'The Whist Editor sat opposite bright and
ambitious young player, who had read of the
De Vie play mentioned above. The editor
had the lead after the first two tricks had
been played, an established suit in his part
ner's hand, strength in the other suits in his
own hand, and threatened cross ruff seemed
to require the lead of the ace of trumps from
ace and two small; the Aforesaid bright and
ambitious young player promptly dropped the
king from king and one small; the resu 1t was
disastrous"
Study the situations as they arise. Do not
call for trumps simply because you have
great trump strength, nor hesitate to call with
only moderate strength or even weakness, If
the situation demands 1t.
Do not play like an automaton, waiting for
four trumps two honors. or five trumps. one
honor before you lead them, simply because
the books say so.
The subject is too extensive for our space.
We can only reiterate our Instructions to use
YOUR best judgment in determining what to do
and do not be discouraged If in the exercise of
your Judgment you lose tricks at first Prac-
tice and observation will make you proficient.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO. IL.
Twelve solutions were received to our prob
lem published August 2
Some of them were correct as far as they
went, and many made it possible for North and
South, to win all the tricks by playing the East
and West hand poorly. The solution as given
by the author, Mr.. Whitfield, is as follows:
North leads two of his trumps. To the first
trump South discards the of clubs. The rest
of the play depends on the discards of East
and West 1t should be noticed that East can
not discard two diamonds, since in that case
West would have to play the Jack on
the third round of the suit, leaving South
with the best East must therefore unguard
clubs or hearts. 1t is obviously DISADVANTAGE
GUS for him to unguard two suits. Therefore
the cases in which he discards one diamond
and one club or one diamond and one heart
need not be considered. Also in the cases
in which East and West unguard the