The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-23
THE BRIDGE WHIST TABLE.
GREaT moor ~ THE GAME Ex-
" Peeled THIS WINTER.
n u,, Been All the Rare During the Sumner
need Of a CobArsss 10 settle tho Laws
and Elements Of Play present Cncsrtainty
.hout Leads Fine Points Of the Game.

NNeu ~ " -'
IA Element, OF Play Present Cncertainty
About Leads Fine Points Of the Game.
rho.s who thought that the game Of bridge
, possins fad which would not outlast
a.. y,nter have by this time discovered that
a., game has come 10 stay. Bridge parties
80, hsen al tho rage at the fashionable sum
,,., resorts. teachers having been In demand
gary where, and II Il now practically the only
Same recognized In the leading clubs al the
ono which every man ought to know. The
c,uing winter will probably see such a boom
(, bridge M no other game has ever had. and
III ,hs indications arc that even poker will
Iva TO Weld the palm TO the new candidate
O., the public favor. which bids fair to become
ira na'iopal game OF America,
rhe laws and the elements or play are still
1, A., somewhat chaotic state In this country,
ms, PERSONS having learned the game from
hsresay. In order to remedy this there Is
sam. talk Of having a bridge congress next
wear. somewhat on the order Of the whist con-
.rs.ss.. and several men who are prominent
I, whist matters and have had experience
in the organization and building up Of tho
whist League have promised to give the bridge
,i,yors the benefit OF that experience In getting
Tho proposed bridge congress started. II IL
pore than probable that before long one or
TWO vell-known clubs win get together and Issue
Invitations, to others 10 Join them. and will
az for an expression Of opinion as TO the best
time and placs for a meeting Of delegates
such a congress. II the time were wisely
chosen and its affairs were properly managed.
would result In great benefits 20 the game
and would do much toward smoothing out
The differences which now exist among players
I'm different parts Of the country The most
important thing, OF course, would be TO for
nplate a code OF laws, and the next thing
would he TO agree upon tbs con ~ventions which
might properly be used at the table without
exposing partners to the charge Of taking
an unfair advantage. The task Of drawing
10 a suitable code OF laws should be entrusted
TO committee OF men who have had exrer-
fence in such matters and who know how to
distinguish between the laws Of a game and
the descriptions OF how IL is played. Almost
all the codes now In print would be the better
for A rood deal Of pruning down and a great
deal Of Encouragement.
Some codes contradict others in some things.
such as the revoke penalty, and the penalty
for leading out Of the wrong hand and allow
ins tho dealer the privilege Of amending his
NAV from dummy's hand after he has touched
card There is no law on the subject OF the
conventional lead at no trump when the player
on the right OF the dealer goes over. although
there should be. 1t would also be adyisableto
fix a limit to the doubling process. because
as the game is now played. it Is open to the
same objections as those which were so strongly
urged against blum, or unlimited poker. IL
might be difficult at first 20 get some clubs TO
change from their present habits in the matter
Of laws. especially with regard to the lead out
Of the wrong hand and the revoke penalty.
bat II a thoroughly good code were drawn
NJ and adopted by a con gress OF, representa-
i've players from responsible clubs, public
opinion would soon foroe lis adoption On all
tie clubs In the country. Just as with the
American Whist Leagues code
one thing which they very much need. and
that Is be opportunity 10 compare notes with
one Iss. aG 81 1'sy' a. f the s tlns5 e%,ats n the isss sy 30
the adoption Of some standard system Of leads.
which Is a thing wa very much need at present.
rs II Is rather unusual to find two partners.
meeting FOR the first time, who have any con-
hdenee IN each Others methods Of opening
saits echot1s returning or d.esrdins The
used, and one partner has no difficulty In fol-
lcS!ng the play Of another who Is an entire
without the use Of a LOT Of private conventions.
a. {, the proper card to select from certain
WHOA on the game give tables OF opening
b which are copied. from whist without
a.,aacng any reasons for their, adoption in
the game OF bridge. in which the conditions
are entirely different. There Is no book SO far
published which give the beginner any idea
Of the philosophy OF the leads and the reasons
why certain cards should be selected in certain
casea. but not In others. 1t would undoubtedly
such matters - were settled BY discussion and
experiment. az annual congresses. because the
language Of the game would, then assume q
standard form and We should be able - un-
oastand one another on first acquaintance,
Instead Of having 20 master a different dialect
III each part OF the country.
In all lnNAllARtlal Uuma9 nf NaTdQ and As
poCialy In tho members Of the whist family.
to which bridge belongs, one OF the chief pleas
Ing his methods from his play and adapting
ohe's self 70 the conditions which one infers
e1Ist, These differences are the great delight
hands is the ssrest mark q Sfne player. With
out some understanding between the partners
a. to the system of leads which they adopt,
which We 80 frequently see losing tricks and
rlhbe-s At tho bridge table are almost all trace
shig either TO a want OF knoHledYe Of me proper
n'r knows and Is folio wing them. Ii, Is use
les Tor one player 70 adopt certain leads u
his equally futile Tor ons to understand leads
which his partner doas not make. This IL
s~Jpsoialy true IN playing AGAINST qo-trHmpeIs
o'nottO unlock a suit on the hrst round.
~ an example OF such a case, take the lead
ers that Il they open with a suit which contains
the ace. but not the king. the ace should be led
tlways, and the mere fact that they do not
open with either ace or king OF a suit. should be
proof positive that they do not hold the ace,
although they may hold the king At no trump,
on the other hand. the ace should never be led
Without ut least seven cards OF the suit. but
WIN that number II should be led, whether
We players also holds the king or moi. Modern
Ilver> make two exceptions to this rule: When
| they hold 4 X j 10 they Lead the ace, regard
Ies oi Number. and II the queen Is not In dunn
ny. hand they follow with the king. so as 70
invite the partner 10 give up the queen " he
holds II When they hold A q ] they lead
We ace only when they have reasonable hope
q reentry In another suit, otherwise th9y lead
the queen. 40 rs 10 get the king out OF the way
! on the first round. The only, other original
Queen lead IL from Y j 10 or u j 9.and Others,
~ tho queen. led from A q J, holds the
ntI trck, marsing the king In the partners
hand, following II with the ace Invites the part
' het 70 give Ny the king 70. unlock, " he has
9hIE ono small card left II the ace l. led orig
1 lhaly,. and third hand knows II is not from
\ \ j. II must he from AZ least seven In suit,
ana with Ia" king and only one other. the suit
must be UNLOCKED on the first round unless
,.he queen l. left in dummy's hand, because II
ihs dealer has tho suit stopped the original
tt,Adsr must have a reentry 20 make u, whether
'hehing j. given up on the first trick OF not.
NOW look how necessary IL IL that the part
Ter shoul1 not only understand these leads,
w also have absolute confidence In the Lead
knowing and adoDting them, or what use
~ 70 unlock with a partner who will lead an
| a. WIN only i've In suit, or who leads the are