The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-23
FOR LOVERS OF WHIST.
Diedrich Discusses a Style Based
on the Principle of Finesse.
A CLEVER BUT HAZARDOUS LEAD.
Through Strong Up to Weak-Play-
ing for Position and the Dangers
Attending It-How Two Daring
Methods of Play May Protect
Each Other.

Within the broad meaning Of the term
"hnesse, - that style of the game which
may be termed playing for position
may be very properly included. 1t Is based
on the same principle which underiles the
simple fnesse by one player in order to
catch a high card which probably lies to
the right of the one fnessing. 1t is really
hnesse by two players instead OF one.
Thus If s.. holding queen, jack and
others, leads the queen, through the king
held by W, n. having ace, the effect IS
just the same as though n. held both ace
and queen.
Tho sans principle lies back of all 50
called strengthening leads. If ten spot
is lead by S. in this game under average
conditions, n. may decline to take q Ger
tain trick and reserve his high cards, risk
ing a dnesse, which, even If successful,
reduces the forces of the opponents at lit
tie expense to his own side. However such
leads are hardly justifiable except upon the
Indication that of the opponents, second
hand is stronger in the suit and when the
lead of your own long suit or the return
Of your partners lead is iRadvisable.
Great care should be taken in this esti-
nation of the relative strength Of the
hands of your opponents. If fourth hand
is a deep finesser, he may have given false
evidence by his previous play of the state
of his hand and be able to capture by his
reserved force the cards played by your
partner.
For example, in a previous round, on
the lead of a jack heading four others by
". n. playing low from queen, and E., with
king in hand refusing to play it, if S. after
taking the trick, suppOses 3. to be weak
and leads the same suit, his partners
queen is sacrificed and the suit established
in the hands of ".
If, however, E. had played the king and
thereby disclosed the resultant weakness
of his hand, the lead of low through w,
would, if S. had enough of the suit remain
ing to fight it out afterward with W, be
quite advantageous.
With opponents who finesse very little
or never at all and with a partner who is
given to reserving his forces and trusting
to you, the lead through strength is not
only very safe but often great trick win
ner. 1t night be urged that declared weak
ness in your right hand opponent might
be taken az an Indication that trumps
could be- expected from him on the next
round, bat, with no Indication of a signal
from the others, the drawing of a trump
from him at little expense to your side is
Of no great moment.
The great merit of this style of play is
that it COmpels the man DESTROYS of estab-
fishing his suit to play his high cards at
disadvantage not knowing whether tho
commanding card lies with the first or
third hand The best method for him to
adopt is to play the highest in his hand.
II he takes the trick, he must lead a card
which your partner may take and which
you, holding the master card, are certain,
barring trumps, to capture, or he must
turn to another unknown suit and give
you, at fourth hand, a decided advantage
in position
How strong this may be can be seen
when it is taken into consideration that
you can again lead through strength, at
the expense of a trump from an opponent,
who by this time may be wildly signaling.
OF course in this game the commanding
card Of your left hand opponents declared
suit should never be led by you. You
would be then doing that which your op-
pOnent is most desirous you should do.
A good rule to follow in this case is the
reverse Of the golden one. It is, What
ever you sce your enemy doesn't like to do,
make him do it. When you know that
from the fall of the cards on the previous
round, if he could regain the lead, he
would not continue the suit at least with
the lead of a high card, then, by your play
of that suit, put him in a dilemma about
playing that high card There is a great
deal of need for good judgment in adopt
ing this style of play. DIEDRICH.
Kniokerbocker Whist Club, New York.