Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-04
new TACTICS In BRIDGE
Discussion Of Echo Plays for Third
Hand at No Trumps.
USE OF DOWN AND OUT ECHO
Conventions that Help to Remove
Old Difficulties, and Thoughts
on the Change the suit
Signal.

The present season has seen several new
developments in bridge tactics which are
not yet in the text books. Some of them
are stiIl in the experimental stage, but
all look as If they had come to stay, not
with every bridge player perhaps, but each
of them with some coterie of players who
like to take up new things.
Among the many difficulties of the game
which are recognized by the experts prob
ably none has given more trouble than
the matter Of understanding between the
partners who are opposed to the dealer,
especially in no trumpers. Almost every
text book gives a different set of rules
for the play of the third hand at no
trnmps. although they agree upon the
leads and upon the third hand plays when
opposed to a trump declaration.
The authorities all admit the necessity
of third hands unlocking. but they advise
the player to go about II in different ways.
Bridge teachers all tell the third hand to
show what he holds in his partners suit,
but they differ In the manner Of doing 1t.
Now they are trying to combine unlock
ing and echoing at no trumps with a con-
vontion which is intended as an invitation
10 shift to another suit and to lead through
dummy.
1t is obvious that any such system as
this will be impossible until the authorities
agree upon the foundation upon which
this new convention. shall be built. You
cannot tack one idea OF an invitation to
lead through dummy upon three different
ideas of echoing and unlocking. In order
to make the system Of any value it will
be necessary first to agree upon the ele-
mentary principles OF the echo at no trump,
so that the variations from this standard
form may convey the invitation intended.
Three Methods Followed.
There are three principal methods of
third hand playing at no trump which are
now followed. each being applied to cases
in which third hand makes no attempt to
win the trick; that Is. when either the
leader or the dummy plays such a card
that third hand does not need to go over II.
The first method adopted by the great
mass OF players is to play your smallest
card always. regardless OF number. The
second method. used by those who have
had a few lessons, but not from a good
teacher, is TO play the next to the smallest
only VIXEN you have four cards OF the suit
led. The thind method, used by the ex.
perts. Is TO play the second best always.
regardless OF number or value.
In the first method the card first played
Is Followed by the next higher in following
suit; but II the suit Is afterward led from
the original third hand he may return the
higher Of two remaining or the lowest Of
three, or he may lead any card that will
beat dummy. regardless of the number he
holds himself.
In the second method the lowest but one
Is followed by the lowest Of all In follow
ing suit. but the returns are the same as
In the first case. When the two cards
that would be left In the third hand after
completing the echo are such that they
might block a five card suit in the leaders
hand. the lowest card must be retained
and the echo must be suppressed. In such
cases It is not only useless to begin 1t. but
confusing.
Must AVoid Confusion.
In the third method the lowest card is