The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
AROUND THE WHIST TABLE.
MORE ABOUT THE CHARA
or sECoND- HAND PLAY


Changes in Tactics Brought About by the
Philistlnesin Undergraduates Open
cd by the Common-Senss Game but For
merly Observation-Disclosures Games.
The characteristics Of secondhand play which
were discussed In last weeks article were those
which are orthodox and respectable and which
have received the Endorsement OF tho apostles
OF the true faith But there are others. There
are characteristics about tho secondhand play
OF some persons which are far removed from
responsibility that they suggest the bushwhaoker
and tho robbor IL Ia tho uncon Intentional player
that gathers in most Of the tricks which should
have been won by the other side.
The respectable elements Of second hand play
are easily recognized Upon a small card led the
second hand protects himself by playing one Of
his high cards whenever he holds any combl-
nation from which he would have led high card.
Any card played in second hand absolutely denies
the card next below II in value except in signal
ling for trumps. Amy honor played second hand
SHOWS another honor, or no moro Of the suit.
An honor upon an honor shows q short
suit or fourchotte the exception being
the play OF an ace on jack. With
the second and third best OF a suit the second
hand protects himself by forcing the command
with such combinations queen, jack and one
small, or jack ten and one small one Of the high
cards is played II a small card is led.
Hamilton. in his Modern Scientific Whist
gives us an appalling list OF the combination
OF cards which the second hand may hold with
which IL would be udcious 10 cover certain in
terror and fourth best leads. There are sixty
pages Of these directions. with intricate tables
TO show the proper card TO play second hand from
the many and various combinations which fall
TO the lot OF the average player. and there are
whole chapters full OF illustrations of special
plays on an eight led and special plays on a
seven led to say nothing Of seven tables OF hands
which must DO played in certain ways All this
wisdom is based on the assumption that the ad-
versarics are highly respectable and truthful
leaders, who never heard Of the common sense
game. and would not lead short suit for a farm.
AS the good book says, We have changed all
that The Philisiines have made short work
OF all this learning and have rendered most OF il
useless by refusing to mako the opening leads Of
such nature that they shall be safe guido 10
the second hand as TO what he should play In
order TO protect himself. 1t was the consdera-
ton OF the great advantage given to- the second
hand by the use OF the eleven rule, especially on
the second round Of the suit, which first induced
Ca'endish TO doubt the value Of the second maxim
OF American leads and finally to Withdraw his
support from II entirely. Players soon tire Of
cutting sticks for their own backs
There is one peculiarly about second hand
play, as distinguished from that Of any other
position al the table and that Is, thatit Is usually
inc players own iault II he lets any tricks get
away IL Is his duty to protect himself above
everything else; to prevent If possible, the cs-
'aniishmen' OF the adverse suits: to protect the
suis IN "hich he has reason 70 believe that his
partner is weak, and to his partners rcentry
cards when Dlayinp a forward uame rbere
ume "hen Inc second hand had nice easy Job
Oh !. ana Always knew Just what TO do, because
inc leader ana his partner played In strict accord
ance win weil'deiincd system In which every
hihg was open ana ABOVE BOARD and the strategy
Vi 'ne hanu was oased upon the very comfortable
ou' erroneous peiiei mat Information was oil more
'a W. " VIC partner 'hah 10 he adVersariea
iho hnoi' su''eis nave changed all mat In
h'ho ou' Vi ven VI inc games played Today the
second hahu does NOT know whether he Is afoot
OF Oh horseback. Inc Phliistines lead the ten
iIom io' INC KING from IL H. the Jack from
D. anu 'ne nine from 20 The Invitation
p'ay.,e ecu a uouee from a n ana TWO o'hers
az" VI. en 'um SUI, VI oeVen caros headed by
no ~ Az aey WIN ieau mo eisht OF uumps
90 ou ~ :" Des' as "e hisnei Oh TWO OF as inc
~p Vi siA' anu "heh 'ney ieei ike ~ they viii
''- ,r, uoue, noI .iioe.ofu sun Six high
Nv u" -'n'"'1'o WIN sometimes make
IVY, e.I' .,,hs he can' ana
' -' WI, .o'ei no'i'g' oome Oh the
81 No oohoh always play down
WA wv '".us oiiy' nei'hei oeng as high as the
,eH' "neu ~ no4u' 70 '0u' af'hs inc monotony
y, '"1., p'as'ns ao"m "hen tney hoid
, n'o Vi Ola e"iuS VI VIC su'@ "heh higheT card |
good a card as the ten In PLAYING down unless |
hsy s that sssh ns 2s. in Tsss oSGs it