Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-08
Solutions to Problems

that unless the dealer disposes of at
least two trumps he will be compelled
eventually to lead up to the king, jack
in the fourth hand. The proper play,
therefore is to trump the hrst TRICK
with the Z. Spades should be led, ana
from the dummy play jack or king, ac-
cording to play of second hand. Ciups
should be led from dummy upon which
dealer plays of hearts. Spades again
lead and won by dummy. Upon lead Of
diamond the dealer must win the last
two tricks Correct solutions nave
been received from "E. A. B." and
Reader"
Article 6-Section I
Before discussing further the dealer s
play Ii is considered advisable to take
up the leaders, play, as many OF the
principles which govern the latter are
applicable to the former and are more
easily comprehended when treated from
that standpoint. In considering the
proper play of the leader most attention
should be devoted to the proper open
ing. as you should thereby convey to
your partner as much information as
possible This, as is the case in al
most all departments of the game, IS
naturally divided into classes, to Wit:
No trump and declared trump. Let us
first consider
Opening Lead-No Trump
1t is obvious that at no trump the
player who first establishes long suit
whereby he can take tricks with his
small cards is most successful. AS has
previously been stated, any one can
win tricks with aces and kings, but
tricks won with deuces and treys count
lust as much and are evidence of skill.
Furthermore only eight tricks in one
deal can be won by aces and kings,
leaving always five and usually more
to be won by smaller cards owing to
the fact that sometimes kings are
taken by aces. The leader should al
ways remember that if he holds a suit
of five or more that usually three
leads will be sufficient to draw all the
cards held by others in that suit, leav-
ing him with two or more which are
trick winners, however small they may
be. He must also remember that they
are of no value unless he can obtain
the lead after these small cards have
been made good by the fact that the
larger cards of that suit have been
played Hence he must first consider
the possibility of establishing his long
suit, and second how he can thereafter
obtain the lead. 1t may be adopted as
general rule that at no trump the
leader should always open his longest
suit. The particular card in the suit
which should be led depends first upon
whether he holds card of re-entry in
another suit, and second upon the high
cards which he holds in the suit itself.
If he has no re-entry in other suits II
is evident that he must so play as to
be in the lead on the third round of the
opening suit.
This may be illustrated by the fol-
lowing examples: Having no re-entry
in other suits, but holding twelve to the
ace, it is obvious that by leading the
-.- ace he must win all the tricks, but un-
der the same circumstances holding six
to the ace, queen, it is evident that tC
lead the ace he would probably make
only one trick in the suit, whereas by
leading a small cards and losing the
first trick either to his partner or the
adversary, upon the return of the suit
by his partner he would probably wiz
five tricks in the suit. With no re-
entry therefore, it is best to lead low
unless you either hold three honors ir
sequence, or hold enough of the high
est honors to warrant you in believing
you can draw all the cards of the sui
without losing the lead, as, for in
stance, holding seven or more to ace
king, or six or more to ace, king, queen
Holding three or more honors in Sc
quence not including the ace, you
should lead the highest honor, as yor
cannot afford the risk of the dealer
winning the first trick too cheaply
when you do not seriously impair youl
: own strength in so doing. With three
honors you can afford to force the high
er cards yourself, and should they bt
held by your partner no harm is done
and should they be held by the dealer
much good is accomplished. With {
re-entry the leader can afford to play
more boldly Holding five or more tt
ace, king or ace, queen, jack, the ace
should be led. followed by the mex
highest honor to the end that the sui
may become established at once. There
are two other combinations worthy Of
consideration at this time-to wit: ace
jack, 10 and king, Jack. 10. With either
of these combinations 1t is best to leaC
the jack for the following reasons: II
the former case, If the king is helC
by your partner and the queen by
either dummy or the dealer, 1t must bt
captured, for IL the queen Is in dummy
your partner will not play his king, an6
IL the queen is not in the dummy youl
partner will win the first trick with his
king, and upon his return OF your leaC
the queen is at your mercy. If botf
king and queen are held by dummy n6
harm Is done, and If both king and
queen are held by the dealer one Of
them will be at your mercy when youl
partner returns your lead. BY parity
of reasoning. you must capture the
queen by leading jack from king, lack
TO-, If your partner holds the ace. With
few exceptions not necessary to men
tion at this time in all other cases the