The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26

The solution is as follows: To begin with. N
invariably leads two rounds Of trumps. and, on
the first round s invariably discards a small
spade. The continuation depends on the dis
cards Of Z and W. and they have four varia-
tons which give them a sound defence.
In the first place. It must be obvious that f
cannot discard two clubs. because W would
have to give up the jack on the third round.
leaving S with the best. AS Z cannot afford to
unguard two suits. 1t follows that neither Of
his first discards can be clubs. and he must
therefore select one OF the other suits and dis
card it twice. This shows that all proposed So
lutions which begin by discarding a club. or
discarding two different suits from Els hand.
are unsound. We must also reject all solu-
tions In which f and W are made to discard
the same suit. as that makes 1t very easy for
N and 8 to get every trick.
The four sound defences for land W and
the proper and only replies to them by n and S
are as follows:
/. When + discards two spades and " dis
cards two clubs. Upon the first discard OF a
club from W 1t Is evident that 8 must let go
his other spade. as W will be compelled to dis
card another club. y then follows with the
club 0 on the third trick. ruling the third
round OF clubs and leading the SPADE 8. 8
keeping the suit which + discards. II leads
the spade 0 arst the same result is brought
about. provided he follows it with the club 8
and does not give up his trump until he has to
ruff the clubs.
2. Whom L discards two spades. and " dis
cards a diamond to the first trick. s must dis
card a diamond TO the second trick. which will
compel W 10 let go another diamond n then
leads the 3 OF diamonds and s returns the
spade 9. 4 discarding a club. n then leads his
last trump. and f must either make Ms dia-
.--l no. -. nv r~.,as IL a. GOD ---l
II they refuse TO do either. both discardinG
clubs. the club 9 from n settles it.
3. When + discards two diamonds and w dis
cards a spade. SIS second discard must be a dia-
mond. w discardinG another spade. Then \
leads the diamond 3. enabling s To come
through with the spade q. and again n forces
both T. and w TO discard clubs on the last
trump.
4. When + discards two diamonds and w
discards a club. S must discard a diamond on
the second trick and W will discard another
club. In this case \ must lead a third round
OF trumps at once. every ne describing clubs IL
T. does So. The club " then puts S int" the
lead and he goes back with the q 81 diamonds
and the ace Of clubs. This puts w in al ,ilcul
ties. and whichever SGit he keeps must he the
Any variations In the defence which are not
included in the above are unsound. because
;hsy make It too easy :9r y and : % win, Any
va iubi'ho ~ ~ 0NpNSh iL'hl ii'oC RlNth. .
the correct replies to tho discards Of + and "
are also GnsOund. as y and \ cannot get eight
tricks in any other way II L and w play we'll.
Out of all the answers received there was
only one correct solution. from {. H.. Fuller Of
Toronto. That he had fully mastered the
problem WAS evident from mis- analysis, which
eliminated all weak defencss and showed that
y and = could get eight tricks. no matter what
defences were made ny T. and. ". Those who
gave one variation correctly. but failed L. see
the difficulties, which T and W might make bv
variations In their discards were; =. H., Moore
Of New York. W. q. Hosea 81 Cincinnati. $. A.
Clarke Of CohOes. and !. F. c. of Hartford. The
last sent in no fewer than twenty. eight Varia-
lions. all carefully typewritten. but the only
one that was correctly worked nut was when
4 discarded two spades and w two clubs, or
W a club and a diamond. lie takes no notice
81 three q the most interesting defences pos
sible for 4 and W.
Quite a number gave a solution which would
hC correct prp vided f. and " discarded in a
certain wav. bur as thev failed - giy" the ,.iS-
cards II T. and WI mast bo assumed thai they
did not realize their Importance For il
stance. ~, A, u. at Newark says: ~ leads two
rounds 81 trumps on which : discarlS two
spades. y tnen leads club 81. Sr" This ia all
riRht, provided T. has discarded two Shades
and w a club, but II W has discarded a dia-
mond on the fret trick SIS second discard OF a
spade will not solve the problem,
A great many started with the aSsum ption
that N must open the club suit, and no end OF