The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14
AROUNDTHE WHIST TABLE.
me CONTEST ron THE AMERICAN
UHIsT UE TROPHY.
III. Match In Albany Last Nteht-Arain
the Question of Common-Sense sys-
u. Another Perceptions Problem.

IN. Question OF Common-Sen-e sys-
tenn. Another Perceptions Problem
The last OF the eastern series of matches for
enc American Whist League trophy was pln, ed
=, Albany yesterday. the whist Club Of New
ynrv being the challenger. The result WINS not
,roy n when this column went to press. but will
n. .pupd on the sporting page tomorrow morn
L., Nv a series Of well-earned victories AL
ha,v has climbed into second place In the list
~ prize winners. ard has now seven matches to
II, credit. the Hamiltons being In first place
iii fourteen. while 81. Paul aud Minneapolis
have five each. Twenty gives permanent pos
session Of the coveted trophy.
4, the midwinter match to be played next Sat
,rday the Western representative Will DO st.
poul and the Eastern will be the winner OF yes
,.r1ny', match. should the trophy come back
90 ~. Fast there are several hold over chal-
,o,c.. 10 he disposed ot. and the lists will prob
,bly be- olencd for others. The play so far has
be.n rather one.sided. and the trophy has never
hanged hands 50 little In proportion to the
nrmber OF matches played. II st. Paul wins
IN, mldwinter match and the trophy goes to
,te Northwest. we shall probably hear very
u,i,, OF II. MS few clubs care to send q team so
t,r tor a match. There Is some talk of having
,vo trophies in future. one for the East and
another for the West. the holders OF each to
meet and play at the midwinter meeting, Just
10 see which is the better team.
rnE Tor or NOTHING.
Continuing the discussion OF the merits OF the
xs,,,us commou-.ense or short.suit systems
NOW in vogue. II must be admitted. as pointed
mt by Sc, eral correspondents. chat the theory
n, leading which was outlined In The SuN
Jan. II is the most attractive for the beginner
IN account OF its simplicity. Briefly expressed.
n, may he said that II consists in never leading
the bottom OF a plain suit. No matter how
small the card led, 1t IL the top; and II 1t is n
deuce 1, is certainly a singleton.
In m article devoted TO singleton leads pub
lishrd In The SrS May 10. 1906. the opinions
of nil authorities from Hoyie TO the present day
were given and review ed. and IT was shown that
IN not u single instance al any OF them object
to the singleton itself: but every one OF them
pointed out the danger that the partner Of the
singleton leader might make n fool OF himself
BY getting out the trumps TO defend suit which
had no existence except in his own IMAGINATION.
great many al,empts nave oesn imads TO re e.
nisunderstaadins and that a sinel-ton, or a
two card suit should be recognized for what Y
was. The method recommended by. the old
writers was always TO lead the top Of 4 weak
tuit. and they even went 20 far a. TO play the
s %p,o OF W Ne" Mri, ting in lsss. saws. With TWO
cards only OF u suit, leading highest and after
ward playing the lowest shows Your partner
for a run lie does not state how the partner
l. 10 recognize the higher card for what II j..
and We are left to suppose that lie remained In
ignorance until, the lower card fell. Modern
piiyers would assume, that tho lower
S Sar% % rs inference; but We and NJ
trace OF srcn conclusions In the days OF
Major A. He does not directly express hts opin-
lon otthe lead. bu, seems 70 disapproye OF i by
What lie says OF! page ~: y" You run the RISK 81
Srns Iri ,a1s ny your w, GTn ai T.,'R roa as :r ssi Won tor
strengtn instead OF weakne~s in this and lead
TImIs.' "Crlebs.' writing in ls5l. call. At.
,rr'idn to the fact that this invitation for :
force had been entirely supplanted by the cal
for trumps. Although he do-s not say 20. thi'
would lead one TO believe that he referred to thu
Use of the system of playing q higher card be
fore n lower under, any ci,cu,nstnnc-. Aud tina
ease. the play of a nine and then a six on an ad
versary's king and ace must nave meant -.
want 10 trump that snit Se16 time e 10, rss'mer,'
ner the holder was probably anxious TO avoi'
When IL is considered that this system Of pla,
could I've used on the lead of either adversary. o.
on Partners lood cards. and that IL was availa
be every time the player had exactly two card
OF tie suit. IL looks AS IL IL must have been more
u.eful than the trump signal that took 4,
ihr- seen to have been simply a reversal of tn,
mtaninv u. All old established System OF play
rsi.r, l' n ,t,ns' +. PLAY lay, , the ni smn. f Sa, to orr,
ne With this suit" B%cntinck changed 1t to
"ion'i force me, but lead trumps" IN,
vrite- OF TIT. article once tried the older system
with {. L. Becker ~ the American team rs a
partner. and found IL worked extremely well
jnicmen; spiayed by Mr. Becker in takinl
advantage Of the situations that arose. Wh.the
It would be -oually profitable with the oruinar!
run Of players is n question.
HowelFs system Of showing partner that
.ult Is short, and that the leader desires To ruf
certain cards the u. Z, and ~ shall be led undo
tuch circumstances and at no other time. Lik,
all purely conventional arrangements this sys
TEN will not NJ the majority. OF hands. for un
les the short suit Is headed by one of thes
three specified cards, the invitation to be forcr'
cannot he extended to the partner: or at leas
he would not understand IL. Howell Recognized
the value OF a run as the best trick-tnking sys
TEN for a great many hands. and he tried to oh
viate the Misunderstanding that so irequentl,
arise between partners by agreeing upon thre
cards our ~ thirteen rs conventional signal
thAi the ruling game was best suited tn III
leaders hand. But he did NOT provide for til
great majority Of hands in which the run woul
also be the hest. but which do not admit OF tn
original lead of n y. Z. or \.
The system given In The Sun. Jan. Il. oh
vist-s all these ANTIQUITIES. and precludes an,
possibility OF misunderstanding ing, The theory
Sa, besm the ,onnant,on Of Wis, s,ra,eSv TfT ror
lh- earliest times; that with u strong hand so
can AFFORD to play small cards. whetherin lead
hani but that with "A weak hand one should d
the best be can 10 get tricks while he NAV. an
enough to begin with a small card Of a plat
snit, he should be stroag enough to lead TRUMP
be ia probably not strong enough to begin Wit
ssnal card OF An nneslablished plain suit.
hhs Deeh demonstrated by both calculation an
practice that To lead small cards from sui
containing single honors. or nigh cards not !
sequence. Is a losing game; and a player who
strong enough 10 play a losing game at the on
gel. should lie strong enough to lead trnmps; Q
least that II the theory OF this style OF game.
~ plain suit Is headed By u sequence OF goo
cards, The top Of II will. Of course. be led. III
KING being led from \, X, q. or perhaps frol
v N. although such an OF ening lead II not To l
recommended. With the single exception
we king. which mas he ed with n higher car
htLe hand. there Is no plain suit lead which.
hpt mo top of the suit: therefore there can |
20 mlsnhderstanding the nature Of the origin
Ithu' however email tho card may be. IL Is NJ
necessary to agree upon certain cards ~ the u
Wl WORTHLESS suits. a. IN the Howell game. AT
cara Is the top, even II IL Is n trey; because M
Owe VINO can atiprl To- begin with the bottom
hhinilsuit can Afford To and would lend trump
lhis theory "f lcnGing Is the outcome Of
careful examination Of the tabulate. results
various systems Of opening u great many hand
aNol, which were taken from actual play, AZ
~ ne hrNt practical solution OF the diricul
Winth has puzzled whist PLAYERS for more thT
hundred years how 10 lend a singleton or
,nIt hIll So INIT partner cannot possibly mi
hke Il for n long or "A sirong suit. IL has repea
.uiy been pruyrd that Vhen the possibility
tllN tnlsluIe Fstu uIi,y Ia rau,.p. md tho rp