Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-14

first trick whether he considers it best
to continue the suit in the following
manner. If it is desirable to switch
the suit he plays his lowest card. If
he considers it desirable to continue
the suit he plays a card higher than
his lowest. The most serious objection
to the play lies in the fact that the
cards held are not always such as to
enable the dealer to know positively
that the card played is or is not the
lowest held by his paRtner, but expert
ence has demonstrated that in a vast
number of cases it is successful and in
the remainder nothing is lost if nothing
is gained. The various reasons which
may determine the third-hand player to
advise his partner to switch the suit
are too numerous for insertion in so
brief an article, but the mention of a
few will serve to direct attention of
the readers to the benefits to be de-
rived.
If, by an examination of the dummy
and his own hand, it is apparent that
the adverse hand which is short In
trumps will rough, or if it is apparent
that a king in dummy may be cap
tured or that he will be forced when
this is not desirable it is evident that
he should play his lowest card.
Conversely, if the contrary appears,
or If at any time any player desires to
show strength when not in the lead he
may do so by playing higher and then
lower card. This is, of course, con-
trary to the rule of discard advocated
by Elwell, whereby weakness is shown
by an echo discard, but as in all other
respects it is in accord with all the
best authorities and forms part of a
uniform rule that the play of a higher
card, followed by lower card, indi-
Gates strength, it has been generally
adopted as soon as understood
The great benefits which follow a
rule of general application more than
overcome the few cases in which it
is not approved. The danger of gen.
eral rules, however, is instanced by
the following incident, If readers will
pardon slight depression.
No-trump having been declared the
leader opened diamonds in which he
lost the first trick to the ace, but re-
gaining the lead in which he won the
next four tricks. His partner having
only one diamond discarded the ace,
king, queen and jack of spades, where
upon he led a small spade only to dis
cover she had no more spades. After
the hand was finished he mildly in
Quired why she had so discarded and
was answered witheringly: "I am a
pupil Of Elwell and he advises discard
from strength. 1 thought even begin
ners knew that
1t is needless to say that he did not
pursue the discussion.
Having adopted the general rule that
nigh the low means strength it is re-
markable how many and how varied
are the occasions upon which it is use
ful and how many games are thereby
saved which would otherwise have
been lost. AS a signal that you have
a winner in the adversaries' suit it en-
ables your partner to discard to better
advantage. AS a signal that you will
trump the third trick it enables your
partner to determine when he should
play his ace to the first trump lead
In order that he may let you rough
before your trumps are exhausted.
upon your partners opening lead it
encourages him to continue the suit
when otherwise he might switch in
juriously. In the end game when it is
necessary to get your partner in the
lead and there are two suits between
which you must choose in one of which
you held the ace, by leading the ace
you can determine by the size Of the
card he plays whether to continue that
suit or try the other In fact after a
little practice good player can gem
orally determine by the card his part
ner plays to the first lead of a suit the
general nature of his holdings therein.
A few games played under this system
is usually sufficient to insure it's adop-
ton.
To those who are satisfied that the
standard game is sufficient it may not
appeal, but to those who feel that
every opportunity for the exercise of
ingenuity is welcome it will prove very
satisfactory.
Among many Of the best players Of
all sections it is considered the greatest
trick winner Of the game AS between
four players of equal ability two Of
whom use this system and two of whom
ence of at least 10 per cent in favor
of the former.