Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-12

LCOFdfH Lc19R.
The first Of the series of matches for
the American Whist League Challenge
Trophy took place in Philadelphia on
Saturday, the 5th. The opening match
of the season in this contest is usually of
exceptional interest, because it brings to-.
gether the two teams which played off the
finals in the preceding congress. On this
occasion the hopes of the Baltimore play
ers and their partisans ran high, but
they were doomed to disappointment
the Philadelphia team again beating,
them, and by much larger margin than
before. The visitors played Messrs. Whe-
Ian, Beverly Smith, McCay, Thomas, and
Wilbur Smith, the last two alternating.
The Philadelphia Whist Club was rep
resented by Nessrs. Kirk, Adamson, Bill
stein, and Stinson, the last taking the
place Of Mr.. Andrews, who played at the
congress.
Both teams played good whist, but par
ticularly the local team, which settled
down to steady game at the outset and
maintained it throughout. At the end
of the first half. Philadelphia was ten
points ahead, large gain on twenty
four boards. The best efforts of the Bal
timore players in the second session only
effected a reduction of their opponents
lead by three points, so that the match
went to the holders of the cup by seven
plus.
The next team in the line Of challenges
is the Maryland Club, of Baltimore, but
as it cannot produce first-class team
without drawing on the Baltimore play
ers, who are disqualified. 1t is quite like
ly that it will default. If not, there can
be no doubt about Philadelphia winning.
A similar prediction may safely be made
with regard to the Scranton Bicycle Club.
which follows the Maryland. This will
bring the American, Of Boston, into turn.
and supposing Philadelphia to be still
in possession, as is highly probable, there
should be a hard contest for the cup. II
Philadelphia can hold its own against the
Hub contingent, few easy propositions
will ensue and it should get we'll started
towards the twenty wins necessary Tor
permanent possession.
A conspicuously weak feature in the
game of the average player is his hand
ling of short suits. Leading them only
when forced" to dos o, he comes to
look upon a holding Of fewer than four
cards of little or no value unless 1t IN
cludes probable trick.
In skilful hands, short suits are often
very effective for offense and defence.
A strengthening lead from jack, ten, and
small will sometimes establish suit III
one round and high card, put IN at
second hand. from the same holding, may
obstruct the establishment by the ad-
versary.
There are four especial faults in con-
nection with the play of short suits, VIZ,
tirst-Failure to grasp favorable opportu--
mites for making secondary snort SUIT
leads; second-Bad judgment in the mat
ter Of covering; and third-ln the matter
of returning such leads; fourth-Fallure
to play short suits at second mana 10
the best advantage.
No reference is made to original leads
of short suits, because the present COM
ments are intended to apply particularly
to the PLAYERS who seldom, If ever, make
such openings. Perhaps the habit OF
precise-though often unimportant-in-
ferences, has the effect of unduly occu-
plying the attention at the expense OF the
broad and general differences that may be
drawn, not so much from the fall or the
cards as from the trend Of the play. 10
take an illustrations: AT an advanced
stage of the deal South finds himself in
the lead Spades have not been touched.
South holds jack, ten. and small,
or Jack and small Of the suit west
has played moderate holding OF announcer
plain suit, from which it may be inferred
that he does not hold ace ana King VI
spades, and East, by discard, has de-
clared weakness in them. 1t is almost
certain that the strength is divided be-
tween West and North.in such way that
the lack put through the former will ben
eft the latter. OF course South may nave
a better lead, but this is a good one IN a
typical situation which is frequently over
looked. In recent match, when Soutn
held hearts trumps, 9, 6; spades, j. 10 2;
diamonds, Z, 5; clubs, A. Q. I, 3, ., the
following position arose: North opened
LII, Of Ia m ITO
all followed suit. and continued with the
deuce; East ruffed and South over-trump-
ed What should be South's continuation?
North is player who may be depended
upon to make an original trump opening
when he holds five; East, by ruflng the
doubtful trick, pronounces himself weak,
and it is quite probable since West has
not signalized that North has four trumps.
West has four or five, more likely the
former number. If South held ace, king,
and queen Of clubs. the proposition would
be a simple one. He would lead that suit.
Of which East almost certainly has sever
al. and force West, but, with the holding
he has, and no re-entry, If he opens the
clubs, the odds being that the king is adj
verse, he practically retires his hand II
he leads spades, he gives his
partner the advantage of position In that
suit, gains the same advantage to himself
all the possible tricks his hand will az
ford. When this course was followed, a
gain Of three tricks directly attributable
to it, resulted. West. from the major
tenace, correctly put on the ace. He then
made the mistake of leading from short
clubs to his partners inferred strength.
The proper continuation would have been
low spade. but the gain is not the re-
suit of this error. East put up the club
,iChl fall tn no ole do
the queen Of that suit and then returned
to the spades. The 10 held the trick and
the brought down Vests queen to
North's king. The latter led his last dia-
mond, on which South made his remaining
trump and returned club. The entire
play Of very. pretty deal was due to
the supporting card secondary led by
South. Situations somewhat similar to
the foregoing are of frequeIE occurrence.
aEloc.c