The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-20
SOME or THE FIRST PRINCIPLES
IN MODERN SCIENTIFIC WHIST
Leads and the differences To Be Drawn
Therefron.
HOW TO CALL FOR TRUMPS.
Rudn71enfs The Mastery of Which VIII Be Z
Long Step Touard <'Good Gan1e.>
By
Table IloyleS INCIDENTALLY &C.
Copyright; all rights reseved.)

Again. Il suit is numerically" strong,
if it contains four or more cards, Of what
ever value This being more than the
average number held by a player. Be
tween these two kinds of strength it is
often difficult to decide. Any one can sac
that ace. king, queen, is a stronger suit
than two, three four, five; but between
these TWO extremes, as the high cards
diminish, and the low cards advance III
value or number, there is a. doubtful re-
sion wherein the player will have TO use
his own judgment. bearing in mind. now
ever. that, as q general rule. numerical
strength is 10 be preferred. a five-card
suit. whatever its composition, should be
led in preference TO a four-card suit, I'M
less the latter contains at least two
court cards
Next comes the question, which card
of the strong suit to lead This question
IS answered by very short and simple
code of rules which the aspirant cannot
dc better than at once commit to memory
Indeed, if he desires to play real whist at
ali, he must do so, for they are the very
foundation OF the scientific game.
The rules of the lead. stated as shortly
as possible. are as under:
! Leading the king.-The king is led
more frequently than any other high card
Run a sequence long or short, headed by
ace OF king (and for this purpose even
two cards are regarded as a SeqUencel the
king should be led.
Inference from King Led.-The player
holds ace or queen also. There Is only one
exception to the rule above given lioldahS
king queen. knave, with two or more
cards YOU lead the knave, in order that
if your partner holds the ace, ne may
play it. and so give You the command
of the suit Note particularly that the
execution only arises if You hold hVe
cards or more. The great American WHIST
teacher. Foster. gives nselui memory
peg whereon to hang il. The Wora h.ms
has four letters only. knaVe hEe 1'iS
will remind YOU that with four cards only
Won should lead king; with five. knave
. Leading the Acct cannon be TOO
strongly borne il mind that the ace Is
never led when You hold the KING a.So
There are. in fact, Only two cases WHICH
IT should be led-viz., when it is IN COM
pany wi h queen and kaave. or Win io"r
or more card, OF whateVe" value. Lie
reason why see II Il me iatler case
is that. as You yourself no d SO many
some one else must be short, and 1t may
well haopen ,hat the second round OF the
s.i j. trumped You, Therefore, cnaca
vor TO make TIE fist tIisk certainty.
The artv attIer case eli az a@G !2.. Is we
have lust seen. is when holding queen anu
knavc. An ace lead, therefore, le!s your
,aartner. first. thai you have not the KING:
anu. SSCDIt-N- AiiS't = ~ "a
cards g. hte suit. or queen and knave
II he himself holds queen or knare, or as
soon as ether card fails from ona OF the
adgersaries he knows with certainty mat
YOU led from a suit of five or more.
3. Leading uhe Queen.-Ihe queen Is
only led from strength when II heads
sequence OF queen. knave. ten, WITH or
without other cards. Inference ffom
queen led: The player has not ace nor
king. but probably has knaye and len.J
l. Leading the ltnave-.rhe case. ana
the only case, in which kEaVe IS lie" mas
beer! already mentioned
s. Leading u1e Ien.-The ten is only
led from king. knave, ten, with or Without
others.
6. Leading the Fourth Best Card.-From
any combination. save those already
specitied. the fourth best card should be
led. This Is a conven ionat maxim, but
ii is grounded on sufficient reason, ana
cannot be TOO strongly insisted upon. BY
adherIng To this mode of play you enable
your partner TO apply what is known as
the eleven" rule (another OF Fosters
:, DIS to good play), and thereby To ga n
important informa ion
The rule In question is as follows: Sub
tract the nunbe- of pip Of tn card led
from eleven. The rema.nde. IA1 repre-
sen, the number of card. high than
the one led, In the three other hands. and
your partner, by noting how many such
he himself holds, can tel! how many are