The San Francisco call., 1906-11-15
Copyright, 1903, by r.. #. Foster
No. "a

No.
The last article pointed out the ad-
vantage Of getting to q certain stage
in the score by making declarations
that would probably reach desirable
positions. The next thing TO consider
is the Importance Of making declara-
tions that viii take you home from
these desirable points which have al
ready been reached. The first Of these
which requires attention is the game
score, there being A great difference in
your position when you have won the
hrst game and when you have lost it.
There are many hands in which there
is no choice whatever about the decla-
ration, and the players decision can
not be Influenced by the score. But
there are many cases in which the
player does not think there is any
doubt about the make until his atten-
tion is called TO the state Of the score.
This is so well known that it is against
the rules of the game for a partner
10 direct attention TO the score be-
cause an oversight in that direction is
Just as bad as forgetting how many
trumps are out, or which is the best Of
a suit You viii find that If you ask
any good player his opinion about a
declaration he win always demand the
score at which the question arose.
which shows that he realizes the i'm
portance of this factor in his decision.
{ When there is any choice Of declara-
tion, and there are a great many hands
in which there is something to say
in favor of two different makes at
least, even If there is no additional
question as 10 the advisability of pass
ing the declaration TO dummy, the fol-
lowing principles should be kept in
mind
Between two declarations. equally
reasonable, choose the safer.
Between two equally safe games,
choose the one that viii win the most
points.
Between two risky games. choose the
one that viii lose the least.
The first principle finds its most nat
uraI illustration in the choice OF hearts
Instead Of no-trumps. and it is worthy
Of remark that beginners all fall fata
this error occasionally. calling doubt
ful no-trumpers on perfectly safe heart
hands. The second may be best Ilus-
trated by the choice of hearts ii pr-f-
erence to clubs If the two suits are
equal in every way save five to A. K
. in each The third principle is usu-
ally applied by the dummy when he
declares spades in preference to
hearts. knowing that he will probably
lose the odd trick in anything that he
makes it.
These principles are. a safe guide at
any state Of the score, but they are
most important when the score has ar
rived at such stages as make it pos
sible TO distinguish between your
chances as dealer and the chances Of
your adversaries. II you are not GER
tain OF winning the game yourself you
must be careful about making declar-
ations that viii let them win it; but if
you cannot lose the game in any event
you should always make the declara-
tion which is most likely to win Il.
That is why good players have such
an objection TO diamond make on
the rubber game; il is so unlikely to
win the game on the hand from zero.
The first part of the score that the
beginner should train himself to pay
attention to is the relative Importance
OF the first and second games of the
rubber. At the score Of love-all the
important thing is 10 get to a good
position, but after YOU have won the
49, game the great thing is to hold
N-our advantage and not to let the ad-
lversaries go out on your deal. If you
have lost the first game all your ef-
forts must be directed TO getting even
by winning the second, so as TO save
the rubber and have another chance to
win Il.
If it is to the players advantage to
be conservative when he is a game
ahead, SO as to run no risk of losing
his lead, IL is obviously to his interest
10 abandon those tactics when he is
behind and to take all manner of
chances to catch up, on the principle
Of nothing venture, nothing win"
This does not mean that he should
make rash or impossible declarations,
but that he should not be too timid
about leaving II if he cannot himself
make q declaration that is likely to
win the game He should also be will
ing TO declare some pretty thin no.
trumpers IL there is any hope for them
at all
Having won the first game, the odds
are 10 l that you win the rubber;
therefore they must be 3 to l against
your winning the rubber IL you have
lost the first game.
IT is a principle in betting that you
should never lay odds against your
self The violation Of this simple prin-
ciple is what loses almost all the
money that is lost at games like poker.
II you make a risky declaration when
you are q game in, you are letting the
aoversaries have bet at even money
when they should be laying you TO
L that is, the odds against them should
be 3 10 /.
II on the contrary, you have lost the
, frst game. and you have chance,
even II il is 2 to ! against its coming
on. il is your duty TO take that risk;