Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17
ECHOES FROM THE WHIST
CONGRESS.

One very important lesson has been
learned az the recent whist congressional
Is, the inability of one system of play 10
suit every hand. Whelan gained three
tricks, and would have gained Eve, had not
his partner insisted on the iron-clad fourth
, best even after his partner had ordered the
play. Whelan held jack and spot in hearts
which was trumps, spot being turned on
his right, seven clubs to the ace jack.
queen of spades and three diamonds to The
king. He opened with the jack OF trumps.
after the trumps were exhausted and his
partner in the lead, instead of returning
him his best club, led the conventional
deuce, showing four in the suit This hand
was played in the Minneapolis pair contest
as flyer. Baltimore being behind, and IL
vas great pity there were not more such
flyers.
The Matthias brothers of Toledo. who won
the minneapolis pair trophy hands down.
nave been playing modern whist two years
ana half. use American leads when there
IS chance of winning, top of nothing with
Tour Gas the famous Hamilton i'm their last
match with Baltimore did, leading ten of
spades, which enabled them to gain two
Tricks on board 46, thus tying the match),
with occasional supporting cards. At 10
time during the match was the partner de-
ceiVed Therefore they played the invita-
ton game. modified, and their style of play
was given in full in an interview after the
match.
One brilliant play needs especial atten-
ton. Prof. Matthias, holding ace, queen,
jack and spot in trumps. and having an
esta bished suit and no re-entry, the adver-
sar'es' suit also established. and neither of
them having FIVE trumps, played low sec
ond hand, wishing to have the trump re-
Turned by the enemy. which they did. en-
ablng him to exhaust trumps and to gain
four tricks on the hand
In the criticism upon the hand opened by
N ha rlxry,
the invitation game is censured for the loss
Of two tricks. This hand has four spades,
eight high. and, not having any suit, has 10
business playing the invitation game. but
the singleton nine Of clubs is the opening
by the common-sense player. With six
trumps to the ace. king and queen and
spot IN hearts he invites a trump lead by
opening the singleton or establishing his
partners suit by the lead The hand is re-
plete with common-sense suggestions. and
must appeal to every lover of the game
hot TO rush out mis- trumps simply because
you have them
What are trumps for? To bring to trick
taking value your small cards OF stopping
the winning cards of the enemy. If your
partner has suit he will be in on the sec
ohi round OF that suit, and you will have
completed your call for trumps if you
want TO protect his suit. In the Hamilton
Brooklyn against minneapolis, Hemphill
and Briggs against Taylor and Elwell,
demphill opened the ace of clubs, held the
trick and then the singleton diamond.
What inference could he draw from his
partner by the fail OF the four spot of
clubs? What inference could Briggs draw
from the lead of ace, save he had five of
that suit or no more? Is this the great
American game, or are there enough eX-
cep;ions to establish a rule? Is this cause
enough TO have every player who has opin-
ions of his own and differs from the con-
tinuous opening of the conventional game
in all hands belittled by some long suit
writer's, who do not know a situation i'm
whist when they see it, and who in their
frantic efforts 10 put some plays in coup!et
and doggerel, are in danger of causing a
rush of blood to the head and causing in
fa2tile paralysis? The claim that the
common-sense players. such as Henriques.
Baker. Foster and Walls. were up against
only weak players unfamiliar with the
new style of play. is direct misrepresen-
tation, which is shown by the score below,
where thirty-one clubs are represented in
the progressive tours. When Greater New
York. with two ladies and two gentlemen,
who had never played with each other be-
fore. tied for secopd place against such
clubs as Albany. Chicago Baltimore and
others of a national whist reputation as
the score will show, be the game they
played common-sense or system, they made
a great showing.
The first progressive fours match at Put