Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-07
SECTION 2
Original Weak Declarations

Under this heading the discussion
will be limited to those cases in which
the dealer considers it safer to declare
than to run the risk of a declaration
by his partner when his own hand is
so constituted that he cannot render
such assistance as is necessary to sue
cess thus eliminating from present con-
sideration black makes to the score
and kindred declarations
The best argument in favor Of such
declarations is negative, in that If
dummy knows that his partner will not
PASS unless possessing certain strength
he is thereby enabled to make u
stronger declaration specially no-trump
than he would dare if confronted with
the possibility of a pass from absolute
weakness.
It's greatest objection is that abso-
lutte weakness is in itself evidence OF
probable great strength in the dummy
hand. and should that strength be
trump it frequently consists of four
honors in one hand and often Of suff1-
cient length and honor strength to-
make a winning declaration.
Another objection is that it's advo-
Gates are not agreed either as to the
score or the strength at which it should
be played, but this is the case in nearly
all departures from the standard game.
Addington Of Chicago, to whom more
than to any single individual is due the
introduction and general acceptance Of
this system and who has devoted much
time to it's consideration, holds that the
dealer should never pass unless he
holds the equivalent of two queens
One ace or a king and a jack are con-
Sidered by him as equivalent. This rule
he advocates, regardless of the score
That he plays this system with remark
able success is a strong argument in
itc fo hut no pnfig-o1xy iH-o
as he is in all departments of the game
very strong player and would prob
ably also be very successful if he fol-
lowed the more general rule among
eastern players that when the dealer
is "A or more he should pass, regard
less of weakness
Another large class of players,
among whom are some very strong
California players, consider that more
strength is necessary before passing,
holding that at least an additional
guarded jack should be held and that
a single ace is not enough.
OF course there remain a great many
very fine players who advocate passing.
regardless of weakness, at all stages Of
the game, holding that upon dummy
alone should rest the responsibility Of
determining when the hand should be
abandoned.
The consensus of opinion among ex-
pert players OF all sections, so far a S
the same has developed, may be said
to be that in the hands of a fine player
who is capable of judging under what
circumstances the rule may be violated
it is very useful, but that as a fixed
rule it is dangerous, more particularly
when followed by the player of mod
erate,N nor even average skill.
The writer has noted a great many
hands in which the system has been
IN io@ Il
as a result would advise the player of
moderate experience to follow the old
rule of throwing the responsibility upon
dummy
To those who by long experience are
qualified to distinguish he advises the
public adoption Of a fixed rule that he
does not "pass a bust" to the end
that his partner in determining the
declaration shall consider him in pos
session of certain strength, but at the
same time reserving to himself the
privilege of exceptions. Of course i'll
the event that this deception of his
partner causes disaster he must cheer
fully accept the blame.
1t would be hopeless to attempt to
explain these exceptions to any player
who is not so strong as to make ex-
plantations unnecessary.
To the average player the safe rule
seems to be to pass, regardless of
weakness, II the score is tWenty-fOur in
your favor, and you are not justified in
making a declaration at which you may
reasonably expect to go game. With a
smaller score never pass unless you
hold the equivalent of a king and a
queen.
There is another class of original
declarations which are similar but are
governed by different considerations.
These will be discussed under the
heading
Protective Declarations
There are hands in which there is
sufficient strength to justify passing
under any rule yet are SO constituted
that there is little likelihood of dummy
being able to make a better declaration
than your hand presents, and at the
same time your hand does not possess
such strength as is usually considered
necessary to Justify a strong declara-
ton.
Such hand is the follows: Hearts,
jack, 8, z, 5, 2; diamonds, king, jack, 6,
2; clubs, ace, 10; spades, king, 5.
To pass this hand is to invite a black
declaration. but should dummy possess