The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

There are no trurnps and Y is in the
lead. The question is. can he succeed
In forcing four tricks on A and b? The
answer is that he cannot provided A
and y understand tho proper defence to a
nullo attack. which is to keep two cards
of every suit in one hand or the other.
rs line OF attack is to force two dis
cards from each adversary by leading the
diamonds. The natural play for A and u
II to get rid of their highest cards ut the
nrst opportunity. but this would at once
be fatal in this case. or II u can get both
20 discard the same suit the problem is
solved.
The plan OF the defence is to arrange
matters so that ON the third lead from
rs hand no matter what suit he picks or
what Y has left, II shall be possible to
transfer the lead from A to Il. or from
u TO A, as occasion demands. This IL n
situation peculiar to nullos and seldom
arising at straight auction.
Several correspondents thought the four
tricks could be forced on A and Il rather
easily. One says: Let us suppose the
first tricks to be two diamond leads by Il.
On the first A discards the heart king.
y the spade ace and Il the club queen.
On the next trick A lets go the spade
king. the spade deuce and Il the heart
queen.
NOW when leads the spade. which a
or Il must win. Y gets rid of the acc of
clubs. because that is the only suit that
A can lead twice. v is already safe in
the only suit that B can lead twice. With
the same tactics pursued In any of the
suits INTERCHANGEABLE A and b must win
four tricks"
This Is true. but the trick Is for TO
keep two cards OF tho suit 4 discards and
for TO keep two cards of the suit b dis
cards. II does not matter what Y dis
cards as he cannot get rid OF three aces
~ We ITaHa tharafnra
have two cards left OF some suit or other,
no matter which.
The intended solution can therefore be
defeated by As keeping two cards of any
suit while r dscards both cards of that
suit, or by AS discarding two cards of
the same suit while B discsrds one In each
of the others.
Suppose keeps two clubs. discarding
The kings OF hearts and spades. 3 dis
cards both his clubs and keeps two cards
in hearts and spades. must have two
cards of some suit left and no matter
which suit II Is A can lead IL twice Il II
II clubs and = can lead 1t twice II II Is
hearts or spades
But In order that either may be able
20 win the third trick and lead the suit
IN which is unprotected Il must be care
ful 10 keep the queens and discard the
tens. II r were left with only the tens OF
hearts and spades and had let go the
aces OF those suits u could lead either of
them and A could not get rid Of the lead.
as he has no clubs.
But let Il hold his queens and which
ever suit u leads for the third trick Il
can overtake his partners jack IL II Is Il
that holds two cards OF the suit I'm which
has still two left, or u can underplay
his partners king II II is that has the
suit IN which Y Is defenceess.
The situation Is an extremely instruc-
tive one and goes far to show the posi-
hilities or the new declaration. nullos.
when handled by those who understand
the principles Of play. As one solver says.
Mr. Braine is to be congratulated on
having put this position IN such a form
that IL was free from the usual complca-
ton Of different suits, the same principle
being equally evident In any of the per-
mutations"
Correct solutions from:
George h. Glover. g. r. O'Connor. r.. NJ.
Frost. Harris Burg, Walker McMartin. c.
J. Schramme, W. y. w, l.. =. Hart. Jr.,
James T.. Cox, u. a. w. ID. Perry, X. w.
woollcombe- Boyce, II. Beebe and o. II,
Boston.
Here is little problem in which the
required number OF tricks seem TO be In
plain sight at the start, but they do not
mater,alAe quite SO readily after the play
has advanced a bit.