The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-25

Our Whist Corner
|EssssEEsss2sssssssssSssSsSsss sssssssssssssssssl
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CUES
TT0N

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CUES
III TION.
z The Philadelphia Telegraph of Octo-
Der IL publishes in full an article on,
The Old and New Ten Lead" and
adds an able argument on the other
side Of the question. which we take
pleasure in reproducing here:
Under the head of The Old and
New Ten Lead Mr.. George L. Bum
has. in the current number Of the ST.
Paul Globe, q most interesting article
on a much-mooted whist question. AS
Mr.. Bum views the matter from
players standpoint and advances the
most practical arguments we take
pleasure in giving our readers the
benefit of his views by quoting the
article in full, although we are not in
accord with Mr. Bunnaon this point.
In this department, however, pains
will always be taken to give the read
ers all the sound argument obtain
able on both sides Of every question.
We have SO often voiced the local
sentiment in regard to. this lead and
so fully. given all the arguments fav
orable to our contention that It seems
unnecessary to repeat them now. We
WILL however. in view of the reference
made by Mr.. Bum to a certain tourna-
ment deal, merely state that while
the result of the deal mentioned is
given with perfect accuracy. and while
the Hamilton team at Brooklyn had
another deal in which the small lead
cost them a. trick, still, on the whole.
by the fourth best lead from king,
jack. ten. and still heartily advocate
it.
All interested in whist statistics will
remember that in a large number of
test deals that were made in this city
in connection with 1.-THE Telegraph
contest, and In Newark by Mr.. T. q.
Otis for the purpose of examining this
lead. 1t was found the fourth best
won in a vast majority of instances.
st. Paul is almost alone in sticking
to the old ten lead. Chicago. New York.
Baltimore. New Jersey, and Philadel-
phia being some of the prominent
whist centers where experts are prac-
tically unanimous in their desertion
OF it.
Mr.. Bum is undoubtedly accurate
in stating that when the zen is led and
taken by partner with the ace. the
leader can safely finesse the second
round, as the queen, if to his left, must
have a guard In trumps the situation
necessarily becomes ffnesse obliga-
tory In plain suits. however. fwfthout
great trump strength) we cannot be-
lieve many tricks are made fineSsing
!
chances being that either the right
hand adversary or the partner will
not have more than two of the suit.
We think that the information given
to the original second hand as to how
to make use of the queen and one
small and ace. queen makes many
tricks for the adversaries. and all the
statistics we have as yet had on the
subject confirm this view.
In progressive play during the past
week at the Philadelphia Whist club
the second hand had ace, queen. two
small. and strong trumps. The leader
had king. jack, ten, and one other:
athe third hand the nine solus. If the
ten Is led by a, king jack. ten leader.
the queen is played. the trumps ex-
hausted, and the small clubs eventual
ly discarded If fourth best is led
the nine wins third hand. and event
uaily that spiayer rufus two club
tricks. leaving the original leader with
the best club. "A difference of four
tricks. Now. as we have always con-
tended. single Instances mean practi-