The San Francisco call., 1906-10-11

4 hlLE tnere is very nItle QlIer-
NHI ence of opinion as to the
Wv strength upon which the dealer
is justified in declaring, there
is great difference with regard to the
exact amount of weakness which should
prevent him from passing. This is a
part of the subject which cannot be
properly understood, however, until the
principles which govern the dummys
declarations have been discussed, be-
cause the dealers decision must be
largely influenced by a consideration
OF what dummy will do If the declara-
ton is left to him. For the present
we shall not trouble ourselves with the
dealers reasons for passing, but SIM
ply assume that he does pass, and take
up the question OF what dummy should
do.
When dummy is asked to declare he
is justified in assuming that the dealer
is not particularly strong. especially
In the red suits. and that his hand is
in general below the average. There
are some conditions of the score which
may modify this inference, but that
VIII come later
Leaving the score aside, it may be
said that dummy should have something
more than average strength to justify
an attacking declaration. When the
dealer declares he does so upon gen
eral principles, one of which is that
dummy will lay down average cards
to help him. When dummy declares
he knows, the contrary, that his
partners cards are below average. and
dummy must therefore have something
more than average to make up the de-
ficiency.
Dummy can usually afford to go no
trumps with three aces. unless he has
better or safer heart declaration.
With four aces, Of course, and gener
ally with two aces and protection in
third suit. provided two of the three
suits are red. With both red aces. and
protection In black suit, the make is
fair risk; as it s-.with the ace of
hearts and protection in diamonds 1t
is always dangerous for dummy to go
no trumps unless he has both the red
suits protected, because those are the
suits in which his partner is probably
weak. If any risk is to be taken in
the red suits, it should be on the dia-
monds, not the hearts, because the
dealer will often pass with consider
able strength in diamonds, but rarely
with strength in hearts.
Dummy may occasionally try a
sporty notrumper with one very
long established black suit, such as six
to the A, K, @, or better, and one red
ace or X, Q suit to get ii with. Unless
hand should come into play early
and win the game easily, unless the
cards lie very badly.
AS a rule, dummy should give the
preference to safe trump makes, be-
cause in no-trumpers one of the prin-
cipal advantages is lost When the
dealer goes no-trumps his hand is con-
cealed and the adversaries are always
afraid of him. When dummy declares.
on the contrary they hasten to ex-
press their contempt, and as soon as
the cards are laid down they pick
out the weak spots and cut the hand
to pieces, unless it is very strong
Many a hand would be a fair mo-
trumper for the dealer which would be
folly for the dummy.
In estimating the value of a red suit
for the trump. dummy should be able
to count the hand up to nine in order
to make up for the declared weakness
in his partners hand. Beginners should
be especially careful about making
red suit the trump just because they
have five of them, with one or two hon
ors Unless there are tricks in the
plain suits, such makes will inevita-
bly, lose In the long run. One contin-
ually sees dummy declaring hearts
with five Of them to the Q or j, and
nothing outside but X in one suit
and a in another To pull through
such a make, the dealer must have
almost a no-trumper.
With three honors in a red suit
especially If one is the ace, and one or
two outside tricks, the make is usually a
good one With five cards to the A, x, @
it is safe make even with nothing out
side. as honors are certain, and the
game cannot very well be lost. Even
four hearts to the A, K and two outside