Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11
AMONG WHISPERS
Suggestions for the Promotion of
Team Work.
SUB0RDINATING INDIVIDUAL PLANS
Meeting of Atlantic Association
Fours at Philadelphia.
THE ATLANTIC AUXILIARY

This is the season for selecting teams for
the great annual whist event at Boston
| next July. Many players ask What is
| team work.
| BouVes ideas are as worthy of considera-
tlon as any writer on the subject. He says:
! In selecting a team it is necessary that
each individual should possess the faculty
| of adapting his play to his partners, as il
| is that all four should have attained a GER
| tam degree of SKILL Unless each member
of the combination is willing to govern his
| play according to the system which it has
! been authoritatively decided to follow. it
will be impossible for his copartners to
| place that reliance in him which is an es-
| sential element in team work.
| IL Is team work to return partners suit
In place OF ones own, unless by establish
| ing the latter in preference one is likely to
gain If partner has had an opportunity to
lead trumpS when such lead looked IA
vorable and has declined one should not
lead trumpS unless very strong in them. or
| perfectly protected in all the plain suits.
As soon as partner indicates that conserva-
tive play is in order. one should try to dis
cover the weak point in partners hand
and endeavor to protect him in protecting
! ones self. When weak. one should furnish
all possible support to partners hand, and
| Hot attempt 100 muCh with ones own. III
he leads trumps. and upon gaining the lead
refuses to continue, one should not take
| up the trump lead unless able to strengthen
| his hand by so doing. except of course.
| when 1t is evident that finesse in the trump
| suit is desired by partner.
Individual ability and skill need no; be
curtaiIed to the extent of lowering ones
| standard of play TO that of another less
brilliant, but all four members must play
alike under similar conditions. Each player
| must have perfect faith and complete con-
| fidence in this partner. and conform to his
partners indicated wishes, unless willing
| to assume the responsibility Of the outcome,
| if he believes a different style of campaign
to promise better results.
Meeting n Cross Ruff.
A "closs ruff having been developed
against you, it is Tanifestly unsafe to lead
| trumps from weakness. If partner has just
| been in the lead, and with a knowledge Of
what is likely to result from continual
| ten of plain snit has declined to lead
| trUmps. This is the most likely play that
will cause a stampede to trumps among
strong players. The frantic efforts to stop
cross ruff double lay over have lost
| more tricks than the double ruff has
gained.
team play also includes the avoidance of
everything likely to disconcert partner,
particularly comments upon or criticism of
his play. One should also bear in mind
not only the positive, but the negative in
formation tacn cara he pays VIII give MS
partner. In addition, he must credit his
partner with ability to read correctly SINH
lar information furnished by opponent, and
count upon his partner taking full advan-
tage of that information at the earliest mo-
ment advisable.
No radical departure from the system of
play adopted by the team should be made
by any member, unless his position is inn
pregnabe.
1t is not team work to watch the adver-
| sary to where he will select a card to
| play. hoping thereby to be able TO read the
number lie. has that suit. Neither is ii
| polite whist to indulge in mannerisnls
| at the whist table, hating, hesitating
ma nner. saying by action. ~ almost
tempted to signal but am just little
| weak: now use your own judgment about
leading trump.
, Some players have adaptability. and can
conform to any style of play. In placing
these players care must be taken not to
put them on team where they think their
play is the only releeming feature of il.
Strict adherence to the style of play ADOPT
ed should be insisted upon. If fine is not
sufficient to curb them then they are bet
ter off the team. They must consent to
uniform lay. 'three-card echo. trump
showing leads" or whatever mode or style
of game decided upon by their captain,
unanimously selected.
Playing at Philadelphia.
The entrance for teams of tours at Phila-
delphia embraces most of the strong teams
of the Atlantic Association, and that there
will be the greatest struggle for supremacy
goes without saying. Walbrook, being next
in line to face Philadelphia for the A. W.
l.. challenge trophy, will have their regU-
lar team, and Will have a chance to play
against every team represented at the meet.
Baltimore will send three teams, and they
are liable to puzzle the leaders. Whining
ton will make better showing than at Jer-
sey City, and the five or six teams from
Philadelphia will put up the game of their
lives. The team that carries off the prizs
donated by the Press. will be a swift one.
The Juniors of Philadelphia must not be
overlooked for the Andrews Bros whist
at Jersey City was of the championship or
der and if they have another pair as good
they will be close to the front rank.
Whist in Ohio.
Last evening at the Philadelphia Whist
Club the annual meeting of the Atlantic
Whist Association opened with tourney
for ''fours." Fifteen teams were entered,
representing most of the leading clubs I'm
the association. The local clubs had rather
the best of it from numerical standpoint,
but the visiting aggregatons more than
| made up in quality what they lacked in
quantity.
The formation of the Ohio auxiliary last
week adds another strong competitor to
the lists for honors at the next annual
meet at Boston. and if Collins gets in
few of his secondhand plays there is lit
tie doubt about the location of the winner
of the auxiliary trophy. There is a wide
field of good players in Ohio, and Cincn-
Eati has taken hold in earnest to advance
the ointerest in whist. Clinton Collins an
alysis of the Observation-Disclosures game
shows marked ability, retentive memory,
confident assertion of his thoughts on the
game and good timber for a whist editor.
GUNBOAT GOES OVERLAND.