Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-23
Nc. IL.
Nc. IL.
PLAYING Dummy In a No-Trumper.

Playing Dummy in a No-Trumper.
As soon as the first card Is led dummy Is
laid down and you. being the dealer, have
before you all your resources. You must
try at once to estimate the combined value
of the twentv-six cards you control.
Every no-trumper can be classed as good,
average or poor.
II It Is a good hand you should strive for
nine tricks-that is, three odd and the game.
II It is average. the question at issue is
the seventh or odd trick. which really counts
twice Its value, as either you make Il count
ing twelve. or the adversaries make 1t.
counting twelve net difference of twenty
four.
If It Is Door. and the opening of the game,
Ii Is obvious that If you take only four
tricks the opp6nents will make three odd
and go out. Therefore you must take five
tricks to save the game.
Keep in mind that your fifth trick saves
the game, your seventh trick wins you the
odd and your ninth wins you the game.
Therefore having secured four, six or
eight tricks. and seeing one more sure. take
no dangerous finesse, nor any chance TO lose,
but make that at once. Conversely, hav-
Ing secured five. seven or nine tricks, 1t Is
right to finesse and take fair chances. as
You have already saved the game made
the odd. or won the game; one more trick
now Is of httle moment, while two added to
the fifth will gain the odd. and added to the
seventh will win the game.
Watch the score closely, note how many
tricks are necessary and work with that end
in view.
Against a no-trumper the adversary will
almost always open his strongest suit, and
when you have seen the dummy you can tell
just how much strength you have to oppose
his attack.
Second Hand Play In Dummy in a
No-Trumper.
When the leader opens his suit fourth
best TO play high card second hand pre-
vents the development of the suit. If second
hand plays low third hand will attempt to
win the trick. and you will then know how
strong or weak his best card may be. If he
proves weak you may hnesse against him
later.
Do not try to win a trick with a card from
dummy when you have a fair chance of WIN
ming 1t to better advantage in your own
hand.
To play Jack from jack and one low in the
dummy when YOU hold queen ten In your
own hand Is simply throwing away your
best chance to stop that suit later, allowing
the adversary every chance to finesse
against you.
But should dummy hold a high card so
slightly guarded that IT is nearly sure to be
captured later. and YOU have card which
could win. your best chance is to play the
high card at once.
With king and one low or queen and one
low In dummy the rule is to play high sec
olu manu- Inc exceptions When you play
low are when YOU have in your own hand
jack and two others or ace. ten and another.
Having in dummy any two honors in Sc
quence play one of them unless you hold a
card as good in your own hand. With the
king and two low in dummy and no card of
any value in your own hand, do not cover
queen or Jack led: II the suit is continued
the second time you may perhaps know
more about it: If there is no development
you viii probably have to chance the high
card.
With queen and two low in dummy, and
no card good as the ten In your hand.
play the queen. on the chance that the
leader has led low from both ace and king.