Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17
AMONG THE WHISPERS
Qualification at the Success of the Balti-
more Four.
At the Head of the Teams in the East
description of It's style
of Play.

over the American four of Boston last Sat
urday in the latter city, as told in Mon
days Star, was a pleasing surprise to the
followers of the fascinating game in this
city: The Baltimore four is undoubtedly
one of the strongest teams in the country.
but the Americans have simply been having
a walkover among the eastern clubs dur
ing the past three months. and for this
reason it was thought the Marylanders had
only fair chance of winning. This trophy
is now considered the most important in
the American Whist League. and the DIFF
ferent games that will follow will be
watched with great interest by enthusiasts
all over the country. 1t is to be deplored
that Washington has not had a team in the
first ranks of minister's for several years
past, but the sunshine of expectation is
breaking through the clouds of disappoint-
ment in the fact that it is anticipated that
prominent tours of the Ladies Whist
League will be allowed to contest for the
trophy. Should such a step be taken by
the American Whist League, and there is
nothing in the constitution to prevent it.
great interest would be added to the
matches and many more cities embraced
in the contest. There are teams in the
Ladies' Whist League fully capable of con-
testing for the big trophy and there are
not few of the whist experts of the coun-
Try WHO cldlrn lUdt THESE louTS DtlllS
kept out of the contests through prejudice
or jealousy. Be that as 1t may. when the
time comes for the Washington club four
to confront either of the top-notch teams
of the country laurels will come to this
city that in years past were made promi-
nent by the Capital Bi Club four.
Today the Baltimore team will have to
defend the trophy, won last Saturday from
the Americans. against the strong Wal
brook four also of Baltimore. This trophy
becomes the permanent property of the
club winning twenty matches. and the fol-
lowing table shows the victories Of the diff
ferent teams:
Minneapolis Chess and North Shore Club Of
Whist Club l6 Chicago ...-----.... 2
Chicago Whist club 10 New Jersey Whist club
Baltimore Whist Club. 10 of Newark ....-....
American Whist Club Cicero Whist Club
of Boston. .......... 8 Chicago ..--...-.-.
st. Paul Chess and The Whist Club OF New
Philadelphia Whist Toledo Whist club:
Club .-.-..;--;;-..- . knickerbocker Whist
Whist Club. -. 4 Buffalo Whist Club. 1
Hamilton Club Of Chi Aurora city Club. -.
cago ............-.. 1 wahrook Whist Club
Albany Club. ......... B OF Baltimore. /
Park Club of Plain Ravenswood whist
field, y. J-...-....- . Club CChicagol......
Milwaukee Whist Club .
The sensational string of victories Sc
cured by the Baltimore four last season.
before the trophy was turned over 10 the
western section of the league, attracted
universal attention, and the system of play
adopted by the Orioles was discussed pro
of the country. II is more than probable
that the Baltimore four will repeat their.
great playing and for this reason is here
with given the teams system of play,
The original lead of king or jack an
nounces strong trumps (four or more). while
a queen or ten originally led declares weak
ness. The original opening of an ace does
not indicate in itself either trump strength
or weakness, except when ii is accompa-
MED by the king, when the lead would nat
urally show weakness. 1t is the card which
follows the ace which tells the story. IL
the lead of ace is followed by the jack or
the lowest card in the suit strength is af-
firmed; any other card following the lead
of ace declares weakness in trumps
Among low cards land all cards below the
ten are such) the invitation lead is used to
announce strength, and it carries with 1t
the conventional significance of a suit
worth playing for, strength in trumps, and
card of re-entry in another suit than that
opened. The lowest card in the best plain
suit the hand contains is used for invita-
ton purposes. The negative inference
naturally attaches to the lead among low
cards or any other than the lowest
American leads are not used except in
the trump suit. where they are followed
rigidly.
worthless one of not more than four cards,
nor when your trumps are headed by a
lower card than the jack. In either Of
these cases open either an intermediate
card in your best plain suit or start trumps
whichever your hand will best justify.
False carding with honors in sequence,
third or fourth in hand, is ordinarily sug-
gestive of weakness in trumps.
Use force-me and dont-force-me leads
and discards. For discard purposes the
five is a high card and is the dividing line.
After ruffing the lead of a four or lower,
and from high-card combinations a king,
jack or nine, indicates willingness to take
another force: also ace followed by lowest
of suit. All other leads ask partner not to
force again.
An invitation lead made when king or
queen is turned on the leaders right is a
call through that honor.
The echo to partners lead Of trumps
shows three exactly.
The book discard is used except that when
the disorders partner has the initial lead
OF the deal and opens trumps. the rotary
discard, in the order spades, hearts. clubs.
is made
Finessing in partners suit. whether plain
or trump, is seldom permissible, the single
exception being with ace, queen and one
small. With ace and queen only play ace
and return queen; with ace, queen and two
or more shall play ace and return lowest.
This seems like a long and tedious series
Of complicating conventions, but a little
careful study will quickly demonstrate the
systems simplicity and effectiveness. en-
bracing as 1t does the better part of the
81.