Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-08-12
THE WHIST TABLE.
"SEOoND HAND Low NOT TO BE
s1AMwISHLY ADHERED no.


SECOND HAND Low. NOT TO BE
S1.AwISHLY ADHERED no.
Second hand low" the old rule of
the 'sbumblepuppy" whist player, has
cost many trick and made some of
the leading authorities devote consid-
cradle attention to the play at this
position at the whist table. John H.
Briggs, expert of the ST. Paul team,
treats the matter as follows:
-'The play of second hand is dictated
to a large extent by considerations
quite similar to those which would
regulate his play if the suit were his
own and he was leading. In making
a lead from numerically strong suit
you would lead low. as the best
chance of getting assistance from your
partner So, too, in second hand, you
play a low card, leaving it to your
partner, as being in favorable posi-
ton to win the trick. BY playing
your high card second hand you get
rid of a commanding card of your OPP
ponents' suit and place the original
your partner Furthermore, third
hand plays his highest card to his
partners suit, and if it is better than
yours, your high card is thrown away.
"a high card is led from suits con-
tanning strong sequence, in order to
prevent the adversaries from winning
the first trick with a low card. So,
too, in second hand high card is
played from such suits TO prevent
third hand winning cheaply. Suppose
that the long suits are cut down 10
three-card suits. The play in second
hand is still the same as if they were
strong suits of four or more cards.
There is one exception: with mod
crate sequence, such as queen, jack;
Jack, ten. nine, you play the lowest OF
the sequence if you are numerically
weak, that you may strengthen your
partner, but with numerical strength
you should play low, leaving him to
help you. When you hold only two
cards of the suit led such as king,
queen, or jack and one low, you play
the low card with few exceptions),
unless you have some special reason
for desiring to obtain the lead. With
out entering into the analysis of the
play, 1t may be stated that whist au-
thorities agree that there is a balance
in favor of the play of the low card
turning out advantageouSly. Es-
pecially is this so in the case of queen
and one low. Cavendish says that
playing the high card exposes your
weakness, and enables the leader to
inesse when the suit is returned.
''In addition to connecting your play
at second hand upon the lines already
laid down, you must have a thorough
knowledge of the leads, so that you
may be able to infer what cards are
held by the adversary on your right;
also knowledge of the play of third
hand, so that you may know how he
will play under certain conditions on
certain cards led by his partner. AS
the hands develops there is much room
for the exercise of judgment, and your
play depends upon many considera-
tons. especially your holding in
trumps and the position of the high
cards indicated by the lead or other
previous play.
when you do not head trick you
play your lowest card. II may not
matter which you play of two or three
low cards, so far as those cards are
concerned, but it is of the greatest i'm
portance in affording information to
your partner. Also IN playing a card
from sequence, you should play the
lowest of the sequence for the same
reason"
Mr.. Briggs continues by saying that
he generally makes an exception when
he holds the king and one. The best
chance of making the king is in play
ing it to the first lead. Especially is
this true, since the adoption of the low
card from ace and four more. With
a weak hand from which the lead
would be undesirable, the low card
would be the proper play. The dan
gers arising from d deep fnesse by The
original leader on the return of the
suit are exaggerated. The king is
played from king, queen, from king,
jack from king, ten, from king and
and one card. The deep finesse will
often lose. Other common false card
plays are queen from queen, jack and
jack from jack, ten.
''yFhe play of second hand in trumps
differs in many respects from the play
in plain suits. This is due partly to
the difference in the LEAFS, and partly
to, the fact that there is no danger
of losing high trumps by retaining
them. The card turned up and It's
position has considerable influence in
the play.
with ace, king, and low you should
generally play low, giving your part
ner a chance of taking the first trick.
With king, queen, and more than one
low, play low for the same reason.
''But holding ace, king, queen and
low. or king, queen, jack, and low you
should play the lowest of the sequence
being too strong to trust it to your
partner.
with ace. king, jack, and low, play
low, unless you wish to stop the lead"
Most authorities would play the ten
from ace, king, ten, and low, but the
opinion of Mr. Briggs, it is more pro-
6table to play low.
From king, queen, ten, and low, some