Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-10
SPORTS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Cursory Comment on Events Past and
Events to CONS.
AN INNOVATION IN PHYSICAL CULTURE
Theories I'm whist-The American
Monte CnrIo-YnIc's Ambition
The Coming Big viii and
the Usual FIstic Chat.

Frank Keniston Is one OF the acknowl-
edged local past masters OF the game OF
whist and In talk with him few days ago
with reference to the long and short suit
argument he said: THE falacy OF the piin-
ciple that the original lead OF the longest
suit is always the best play has been fully
demonstrated In these modern days OF card
playing. Formerly to refuse to lead from
suit of four or more cards, unless they were
trumps was a fragrant violation OF the
fundamental principles OF the scientific or
philosophical game; a lead from two cards,
regardless Of the other components OF the
hand, was even worse and sneak was
simply execrabe. But there has been
change in the operations OF brainy card play
ers. They no longer handicap themselves by
adhering to these mus,y old methods. but will
insist on exercising their natiocinative
powers and resortlng to every trlck-taking
device that presents itself during the play
ing of a hand. There has been no change
with the long suit book" player. He plays
today as he played twenty years ago, and
will not even admit that the long-suit OPEN
ing lis sometimes the most advisable for
certain hands, but insists that 1t is abso-
lutey the best for all possible hands. That
points might be scored by such manpula-
ton as Is calculated to establish and defend
known elementary principle OF whist.
have known for good many years, despite
the declaration OF the so-called authorities
aud modern writers on the game that there
are many hands dealt during a series Of
games from which the opening from the
longest suit is bad whist, but the extent
of the deviation from this old-time principle
wholly depends upon the perspcuity and
judgment OF the player. But you must
not imagine | do not concede the proba-
les uprfa tYer eli |
and l always lead off from my longest suit
unless the disadvantages of such an open
ing clearly present themselves to my mind
and l have a shorter suit, such as a queen
and one other queen Jack, with or with
out others, jack and one or two small cards
which will enable me in the end to estab-
llsh and defend the small cards of my long
suit"
The second international cable chess bat
tie for the Newnes trophy, now held on this
side Of the pond, between America and Eng
land will be played February II and IS.
The Yankee team Will be composed OF Pills
bury, Showalter, Burlle, Barry Hymes,
Hodges, Holmes. Demar, Teed and hampton
and the English, Blackburn, Lee, Lawrence
Locock, Tinley Bum, Atkins Mills. Jack
son and Smith. The Americans will play
at tho Academy OF Music in Brooklyn, and
the Johnny Bulls at the Cannon street hotel,
London, while Baron Albert de Rothschild
of Vienna will act as referee OF the contest,
with L. Hoffer, American, umpire in Lon
don and Prof. Isaac l.. Reer representing
England In Brooklyn.
While on the subject OF queens and pawns
II might be apropcs to mention here that the
collegiate tournament between Harvard,
Yale, Princeton and Columbia. which ter
minated last Saturday evening was ;he
most important chess event in the history of
these great universities
II is, not only true that a greater interest
was excited In the contests than ever before
but also a verify that the standard of excel
lence OF play has been much lifted up, and
as an outcome of these two factors, there
has arisen the conviction that Ii will not
be long before great match at chess VIII
be arranged between the English and the
American universities. Such match would
be played by cable, and Pillsbury, who has
lately returned from London, has not only
received encouraging intimatDns as to how
the proposal for a match would be received
In England, but also has substantial agree
ment as to its financial support in Amer
lea. Harvard won the recent tournament by
far outclasslng the players Of Yale, Prince
ton and Columbia.
Notwithstanding the miserable success that
has invariably attended the invasons of
American racing men into Europe. Eddie
Bald is now making his preparations for a
pilgrimage thither. Since Zimmermans sue
cessful tour on the continent some years
ago, no American has been enabled to ac-
complish anything extraordinary on foreign
tracks. and II Bald expects to do anything
startling he will have to pedal much faster
than he has in this country, notwithstand-
ing 1t Is conceded that he is now our repre-
sentative rider. Tom Butler, whom Bald
himself declared was the fastest rider In
America, was ridden off his legs in France
To be sure he claimed not to he in the best
OF condition, but this did not have so much
to do with his failure as did the circum-
scribed style of the tracks over there and
the craftiness of the men who raced against
him. Eddie should wait over there until
thoroughly acclimated, and then, as the time |
made in this country is at all distances
faster than that made in Europe, he may 20 |
dn and skin the whole outfit as a Partisan |
would frog and come back home with ny- |
ing colors and kick" full OF coin.
1t looks very much as II Phil DAILY, IT., |
had established second Monte Carlo for |
the trap shooters within n couple of hours
ride from New York. The clubhouse is an |
elaborate affair and will be, when com
pleted, one OF the most thorough institu- |
tions OF the kind in the world. The build |
ings are large and are shaped like a clover |
leaf, the clubhouse proper being sur |
rounded by three wings. embracing library, |
* E E83 @e