Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-18
BRIDGE DEPARTMENT
EDITED BY w. R. WHARTON

NUU
that you can successfully resist no
trump declaration and that certain
strength i'm hearts or diamonds Will De
sufficient to prevent the dealer from
going game at a red trump. The reauef
should form the habit as soon as pos
sible of anticipating the trump TO pe
declared by the dealer and determining
what course he shall pursue under the
various suggestions. He should hrst
consider whether any declaration VIII
suit his hand sufficient to warrant
double This will enable him to prompt
" double or not, as the case may be-
One of the most exasperating Incidents
of the game is the player who hesl-
tates after the trump is named. lie
should be prepared for any declaration
1t is just as easy to consider your line
of action before the declaration as
afterward. There are only five suppo-
sitions and in most cases this is re-
duced to three or less. It is absurd
to say that it is too much effort to
determine what you should do as re-
CARDS doubling before the declaration.
If you are the leader you should also
be ready to lead whatever the trump
named. 1t is easy to determine what is
your best attack under the various
trumps which may be named, or in any
event, if it should be difficult, ii is bet
ter to begin the consideration as soon
as possible.
Although the study of differences
really begins with the declaration, yet
in view of the great assistance given
by the opening lead and a sight of the
dummy hand, it is usual to wait for this
before attempting to draw definite con-
illusions. Assuming that the declara |
lions are sound and the opening regular, |
it is possible always to collect valuable |
information with the play of each card. |
differences may be negative as well as
positive, the former frequently more
valuable than the latter. For instance, |
If a suit be opened of which the dummy
holds the king, and it is won third hand !
by the ace, it is quite sure that third |
hand does not hold the queen. unless he |
is such careless player that his play |
is unworthy of attention. In many |
similar instances the play of one card |
denies another Every player should |
cultivate the habit of asking himself
the question, Why did he play that
card? In majority of cases the an
swer, of course, is simple, but in the |
remainder there will be found a most
interesting and instructive occupation |
These mental notes are easy to recall, |
and toward the end of the hand are
frequently very valuable. At all haz-
ards, however, form your conclusions
quickly. 1t is far better to for time |
draw wrong conclusions than to form
correct conclusions at the expense of a |
slow and tedious game. The great con-
centration required for strong play de- |
mands frequent relaxation, which is
furnished by the interval between |
hands. To unduly prolong the time re-
quired to play a hand is to say the
least, veXatious. There is no COMPARE |
son in the pleasure derived from a |
quick, snappy game with that endured |
ra1o t,IrA
that all connection is lost. 1t is some |
thing like horse race with a month |
between heats, or a baseball game in |
which one inning is played each day. |
The further consideration of this sub
ject will be subdivided as occasion re-
quires. Let us first consider
differences from No-Trump DecIa-
rations
These differences may be considered |
under the subheads positive and mega
tive. The positive differences are, first,
that the maker holds such cards that |
he feels certain of winning at least |
seven tricks, or that he has such honor
strength as to justify the declaration
for that reason only. Under the latter |
superstition he must have either three |
or four aces. Four aces always justify
no trump Three aces justify no trump |
which you are sure to win the game |
which would be doubtful at no trump |
Therefore, IL two aces are in sight you
are certain that the declaration is not |
due to honors alone. The strength upon
which the declaration is justified Is
sometimes affected by the score, but |
ordinarily is found in one of the follow
ing combinations, to-wit: Two aces
with a guarded king in the third suit. !
and the fourth suit protected, one ace
with protection in the other three suits, |
one established suit of at least five
tricks and another ace. or one estab-
lished suit with guarded kings in at
least two suits.
AS rapidly as possible from the hands
held by yourself and shown by dummy, |
or played by others determine which |
of these differences may be discarded. |
BY this process of elimination you can
soon determine the main characteristics
of the dealers hand. The cards he does
not hold your partner does.