The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-24
The BRIDGE WHIST TABLE.
tactics FOR THE BEGINNER
AT NO-TkCMP.


versarIes -siaxims for the Ieade
An Example Of the Possibilities Of
Some Hands AS 10 Playing Long suits.
When you are playing a no-trumper,
the whole scheme of the hand for the dealer
is to avoid the sdversaries' suits. IL he
has a long suit between the two hands, he
may play for that from the start or he
may take advantage Of various favorable
positions for fnesse and tenace.
He can fnesse freely while he still holds
the command or shoppers In the adver-
saries' suits, or he may devote his atten-
ton to going through an adversary when
he is sure tina, he has the best Of the posi-
ton and cannot lose by il. There are
many occasions on which the dealer must
let his longest or best suit alone for a time
in order TO take advantage of the position
Of The lead or to get some secondary cards
established. either TO avoid future incon-
venient discards or TO make sure OF
tricks which might be doubtful later ON.
In all these tactics tho dealer has the
great advantage Of knowing what he Ia
doing. The dangers TO be avoided are
evident: the advantages to be taken are
apparent.
The adversaries hav q no such scope and
they must be content TO play on general
principles until such time as the hand has
been sufficiently developed to show them
the best plan Of action. Even then they
are never quite sure Of themselves except
in suits 10 which the dealer renources, be-
cause il is his business TO hold up, 10 play
false and to mjslead them in every way.
They cannot take advantage Of positions
-. -, - ,la.n ~ Il, rat,.r thE,a oil
the dummy or in reading the partners
fourth-best as an index to the Dealers
cards. Until this iDfof nation L. acquired
they are cropping in the dark and they must
trust to probabilities, or inferenoes from
the make, or the dealers play.
The first lead must always he in the
dark, hut the dealer does not play a card
from either hand until he has seen all that
Is possible in both. He has made Il no
trump and II Is his part to attack, as he
has the strong hand. The adversarics
have TO content themselves with the de-
fence, and the only possible attack that
they can institute is In getting one round
on a suit which they hope to establish
against the dealer.
For this reason II Is seldom or never
wise to start a short suit at no-trump,
because unless it happens TO be the part
ner's long suit. and the odds against that
are ? to !, they have simply wasted tim
and thrown away the advantage Of a lead,
Even il the partner is strong in the suit he
Ii placed at a great disad Vantage in being
made third hand in il, because his high
cards must be sacrificed or his tenaces
killed.
In a n~o-trumper the aces and kings are
probably with the dealer, and the only hope
OF the adversaries is TO take tricks with the
small cards in some suit in which they get
the dealer high cards out OF the way
early in the play. Even after these high
cards ara gone il is not easy to get into the
lead again to ma Ike the small cards. unless
the whole al attention of both players il fixed
upon that one suit and its possibilities,
United they may pull through divided in
interest they usually fail.
The simplest maxim for the beginner IL
TO start always with the long suit. II he is
the leader, and To stick to the suit first
opened, IL he is third hand There are
cases. of course, in which IL IL obvious
that 20 go back with the suit first opened
would Ire playing into the dumnys hand,
but one should never he afraid Of going
back TO the best of the suit, or even To the
q bNNN AHIt' q II tblik ~
either Of those cards remain in the dummy
the partners suit IL stopped and II might
a. we'll no, have been opened
II the third hand shifts In another sui
II IL more than likely that II will take out the
partners only possible reentry. after which
the dealer does not care much whether ho
establishes his suit or not Go on. get
out the high cards ~ the suit first opened
and after that the dealer mus, make nine
tricks before you get into the lead again
in order 10 win the game.
II he cannot do this, and the chancs,s are
against II unlas>s he II very strong. you must
gel IN and make the remaining cards of
your suit. II this was one 81 five cards
and you make four Of them, those four
tricks and the one with Inch YOU re'nter
~ We the gan.
The dealer will. Of courea, take every
Isss-ib!e chance To prevent this He viii
hold up aoes 80 that n IL only Jne hand
that he hAs "a fear. lie will Jump In Hs>cond
hand with inferior cards 81 the clAno. ~
coping a -ui 'arly ~ the play
II 10 simli ans What possibilities
th-r. are ~ r1Hn- hhnis II one would only
take advantage Of th@m ilefe ~ a desc
played iu IOipdon lAst month ~hich hAs a
swing of sev"nte~n tucks la u fAch al
y-nsary offered III" deal eT q clisnoe "a mAk.
n -lAm. neither ~ Wllch ho took, allowing
thsm 10 make four by oard- against ham
Tho snp- bsiug hove ali, Ilbts'r game
ihs dsalrf IAsssd To- naAk" and ths dummy
holding -r,"n s"lid tnoks M sisde- and
a." a.. ~ riuts. Siil a i~lo gthrissd lark
"Fvt gui iu be- wuu4d stu 10 sanis NitH
tus eight iurif Co., hlart and ~ r.t.rng
card o.. hr mul' Do 90 trump ihs % ~hsi
afIAalIk IualIau4mI