Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02
AMONG THE WHIST PLAYERS

Today marks the opening of the fall sea-
son of whist. Minneapolis faces the hold
ers of the a. w. L. trophy at Toledo. The
Toledo players are well calculated to hold
the hohors won at the seventh congress,
and though they have lost three successive
matches to team OF four players in their
own club the last by the decisive score of
twelve tricks. still the knowing ones will
conclude they were only making some ex-
perimental plays that will not be used
against team that has reputation sec
ond to none in the country. The Milneap-
oils players have always ranked high and
1t will not surprise the eastern clubs to
have Toledo go down before such stall
warts as Bronson, Briggs, Hemphill and
Montgomery.
Baltimore is watching this match with
great interest, and, should Minneapolis
win, Baltimore will not journey so far to
take her turn for the cup. Should Toledo
win. Baltimore will try for the trophy, and
Will send team capable of playing win
ming whist, as there are truer sports
men in the league. They will have The
good wishes of all the eastern clubs.
WEelan vas in conference with the presi-
dent OF the Atlantic auxiliary last Wednes-
day relative to the early intercity matches,
which is to be hoped will give the opportu-
nifty for frequent plays, that was looked
for after the inauguration of the Atlantic
aux1liaries. The match between Brooklyn
and the New Jersey auxiliaries occurs to-
day.
The c. Bi. c. will have match tonight
between the members of the club and their
guests. There will likely be sixty or eighty
men engaged in compass whist. The com
mittee decided to adopt the Handicap
system. Nine of the players are star play-
ers, and will give one-half, one and a half
ana two tricks each night to the players in
the classes below them. The committee re-
serve the right to rank any player higher
after the first month who they think has
been moderated. Should the committee
ram. ran themselves as star players, some of
the good players might exclaim, "What
esotlsm; put man on a committee and
ne thinks ne ranks A No l." If they nut
themselves in lower class. others will
say: nes. OF course they want to win the
prizes. However the committee. headed
by Capt. Prince, justly decided to increase
the interest of whist in the club, and have
taken the proper steps. and the c. 81. C.
:, miil regain It's former prestige. Although
II VIII miss Lindley Fogg it still has a
score OF good players of whist, including
some championship players.
The c. A. C. also has much to encourage
IT'S whist contingent. All summer the whist
room has had quorum, and the interest is
on the increase. The whist committee
meets at pm. today to arrange for the
VIII begin next week. A full schedule of
the play, whether Handicap" draw for
partners, Or being allowed to select whom
they wish Tor partners, will be decided in
committee and given in full in next Satur-
days Star.
LIT. Lewis, strong, intelligent player
from indianapolis, has recently Joined the
club. His play is of the highest order.
1laVlng the game of Work, Mitchell and
Runn, he will be candidate for any team
lie mas taken up his residence here and
thousn not a convert to the Columbia Club
style OF play, is a strong, common-sense
player. ,-'e
The recent accessions to the whist room
are crowding to the front for honors. and
tnere Will be some surprises in store for
1nose who think they know all about it.
me weak point in many of the play 10
their inability to read the last three or four
cards. They tackle game requiring ali
the ingenuity of an expert, false card
Wnere tney deceive partner. and lose trick
aiter trlck trying to initiate better PLAYERS
instead of playing the informatory game
enabling them to place the unpIayed cards
IN other words, they try to compete with
ding clothes. -"
ANY player who has an ambition to NAV
good game must study the literature or
the game. His own card sense will stand
mn. nm Ia GOOD stead in many trying situa-
.ions. put II Is the language Of the game.
tnat the cards speak. in the hands of some
payers, tnat he must understand or he
VIII find himself always a schoolboy in
.ne presence OF some players. The recog-
nized play In the whist world he must be
familiar with, and the knowledge need NOT
warp his own judgment, If his Judgment is
r1pened by years of experience among the
best whist players.
The most trying position to be placed in
IN the supporting card game is to hold X
10 10 WIN win ten led by partner. or holding K
III. with jack led by partner Here both
partner and you are short in the suit. II
second hand has ace, with four Others. the
ace Will be played second hand If second
hand will not cover. and the writer bas
saved many kings by UNDERWRITING the
jack with ten, or play the jack on the ten
according to your holding king Jack or
king. ten.
Another very trying position is holding
king, jack, nine, and your partner leads
eight spot, upon which second hand plavs
yen. Inc ace Is also likely to be in second
hand. and the suit will not live three
rounds. and the writer has found 1t a trick
winner TO play king third In hand These
are some of the trying positions in which
!hlra hand Is often placed by partner in
Holding the major Terrace with three or
more others of a suit, not trumps II is
often very difficult. when second hand plays
line or ten. to tell whether to finesse the
queen. and your holding, in .ruinps must
determine your play of ace or queen.
are keeping in practice, and there is mark
ed Improvement in many nj he players
who have matches two or three times
week.
WiModaughsis has taken great interest
In whist this fall. The members will meet
at the club. 1923 New York avenue, curing
the winter, Tuesdays at 2 o'clock. for
compass whist, commencing the first Tues
day In October Mrs. kellogg, Mrs. Meyers
Mrs. Townsend. Miss Fish. among other
new members, are found ON the roll, ind
all seem enthusiasts over the game.
The ideas OF joan r. Mitchell, in regard
to false cards. are applicable to the general
run Of players. but to indosse Ia toto every
thing he says one would be Obliged to give
up his own individuality. He says:
They Qalse cards. are the bane of mod
ern whist, interior leads. bottom of any
thing leads. top OF nothing leads. third
best leads. knave from ace, queen. knave
or ace, kraye. ten. playing the higher In