The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-13

WHEREIN Is ADVANTAGE

one ~ the oldest controversies IN the
literature OF tho games In the whist fam
ly Is tho reason for the advantage CON
fessedly enjoyed by tho person who
plays with dummy. Some contend thnt
this ADVANTAGE lies In the fact that his
partners hand II absolutely known. and
that nc has everything to gain and uoth-
Ing TO lose by tho exposed hand.
But there arc many who oppose this
view by tho assertion that the hand ~
also exposed TO both advcrsarlos and
therefore furnishes Information n two
opponents and only one partner. This Is
simply going back TO the old argument
about playing false cards because they
deceive two players.
The truth of the matter seems 20 ne
that the Advantage % the dealer and his
partner At dummy whist or al straight
hr''lGc and that OF tho dcclarer aud tho
third bad at auction are in every case tho
same and lie In the concealed hand, no,
IN In" hand that Is exposed. That thls
Is so must he acknowledged By any one
who has had tn" sad experience OF bcius
forced to discard on guess not know.
/ Ing what tho declarer had up hts sleeve
Then again partners who are opposed
u ti" declaration are forced by conveu-
uon and by common sense TO play Their
cards trutlIfuliy IN order 20 show each
other as far as feasible tho possibilities
or their respective hands. but the de-
INV wi PifS al Tue lblb fdT05 ne
flrcios.
Tho opponents are Obliged 10 start tie
| play "'th their best suit. or the partner
| VIII not credit them with holding any.
thiuS worth while No player opposed TO
winning declaration would think ~ DC
S!an!nf with suit Of three to a jaci. y
he held al ace king queen sui. that was
not the trump What could hc gain by
such an opening, and what would his
partner think OF him during the rest Of
tho ruDber?
1fo declarc- labors under no such OBJ.
nEttl"ns and can start ou' with any suit
he likes. lie VIII often begin VITA
su.t IN which ne has little or nothing,
Just ~ blum, 10 keep the other side
rom leading -. lie AN play all around
ana through a hand without d.ceivins
any PARTNER o. running the slightest risk
o. dlSarrans.us tho scheme of play H.,
mas planned, becausc no can adjust his
partners play 20 II ~ wiN.
II Is by confusing his Opponents az
much as anything else that tho declare.
- frequently able 10 pick III an extra
trick or two, and +. looks AZ y this plav
Tor an extra trick would shortly become
very important part OF the game r.
tho English system OF rco-l,v SO .o-
iitt'o slam and 100 for A big slam comes
INTO Fogue IA this country. the play for
u.ck or NO moro than necessary TO
''' '''N Soh4' ~ al bf Il feature mat VIII
REQUIRE more attention than I. gets now
While such trim, as 20 potrts IL all
mo difference between five by cards and
SIX odd the little slam Is regarded a.
mere Incident, quite secondary TO Ro;ne
game. Slams arc windfalls 10 most per
sons but the moment you make the sixth
trick over the book worth an extra 80
and seven by cards worth az much ss
100 nces there VIII be some sharp plsv
tor those points.
Is IN thp getting % these extra
tricks that tho expert so clearly out,
ranks the ordiadrv player. How often on.
"'ars the remark, afte- a hand has been
played Tor all there was In II, 'T Nigh,
not have made all those illnesses. but any
one could have won the game with his
cards.
AZ very ane player once remarked
10 th" writer, Any dub can run OFF three
or FOUR oy cards on sound declaration
tna' mas average support - tho dummy
"hen thero are only three losing cards
between the two hands bu. 70 get twelve
r'cEs out Of The thirteen under the same
conditions IL quito another matter"
Ns all problem HOlvery know. there a-o
w" WAYS or getting TRICKS when are no.
OF tho id'" 20 the cards one Is by max
ing successful Illnesses In trnace suits ami
Tho other Is by forcing d!scards Lead
!nG from tho weak hand TO the strong ia
something that every beginner know. and
plays with more or less skill II Is Ike
inc drive N golf Every one learns Il
before anything else
But forcing dSards is quito another
matter and requires as much practice AZ
putting, II Is. In fact. tho peculiar PROV
lnce or the crack player. who alone knows
not only When It can be done but how 10
do u, II is amusing 70 see "A beginner
who has trurped two suits leading out
trumps 70 get dlscards IN the third suit.
but that Is tho limit OF his idea Of forcing
discards.
Discards must be forced by playing
ono principle Is common 10 them all, which
Is this:
The discards must be 70 tho ADVANTAGE
OF the concealed hand
Although this may secu 10 be self-evi-
dent when ono comes to think about II. Il
- not by any means clear 10 tho average
player. 4 concealed hand l.. one whose
strength has not been disclosed and whose
suits cannot be counted. IL rs useless TO
force discards from adversares who know
what you hold, because except IN unusual
circumstances they know what 70 protect
and share tho task between them.
PROBABLY the simplest and most conf
mon method OF forcing dlscards is leading
out the long trumps when they are not
wanted for ruling. Here is a hand that
was played during o rubber at which tho
rcW scores, 90 and 100 for slams. were be-
Ing tried out. Il had tho game IN his
fingers at any time, but NOT being a.
customed 10 playing for more tricks
than he wanted he missed his chance Toy
the slam
AAo 10 D
q 8 b