| Show OBSERVATIONS ON WHIST 1 Gamo Recently Played HlustratInc a Point of Strategy in Tramps In the following gamo which was recently played at Hot Springs Ark itis not contended con-tended by the writer that thowhist played was by any means perfect but it illustrates a number of importantpoints in the game and if carefully studied will be found of great use to the learner The best way isto get a pack of cards and play the hand out at the same timo noting after each play tho various reasonings and iaforencesof eachplayer as given herewith While these may be defective de-fective they will nevertheless bo found of great aid to a right understanding of the game Let the reader see if ho can pick a flaw in them The hands are as follows A and B playing alnstC and DAS D-AS 5 of hearts a 5 of diamonds kn 7j 3 of clubs a k q 8 of spades BQ kn 10 2 of hearts q kn 9 4 of diamonds 2 of clubs kn 51 3 2 spades C6 4of hearts k 10 8 5 of diamonds k q S 5 4of crabs fi t of diamonds DA k 9 7 3 of hearts 7 3 3 2 of diamonds dia-monds 10 9 of clubs 109 4of spades A deals and itj tharcforeCTs flrst lead A glance at all or the bands which is tho privilego of tho reader but was not of the players win show that the + bsttla will lie be j tween A and < C Each is strong in trumps each having 5 and each has a farrhandto back up his trumps with Round lG kc B 2 c D9 c A3 c C baring 5 clubs and + being strong diamonds concludes to lead + trutUps As hohas tho q back of the k beleadsthek in order to bring out the a Thisis he proper play for plain snit but in trumps a backward game should be played Cs pr play was he 5fourth best A who is also strong in trumps and very strong in spades having them practically practi-cally established for him at the outset does uoftake the trick with tho a of clubs Ho has a double pulp in this He allows C to play his own Ab game and ho leaves C in doubt as to where e a lies Round 2C 4 c B 4 d D 10 c Akn a When the a of clubs doesnt coma outton tho first round C immediately jumps to the conclusion con-clusion that Jiis partner has it As there is a possibility that partneranaybavo bufctwo trumps C does not play the q second round but a small club Imagine surprise when his partner shows his bigbesfcardtobo a ten and the trick istaken by Awith the kn B who has no mere trumps discards from his strongestsalt the rule discard from your strongest suit on your opponents lead of trunmsj romyour weakeston your partners leaaof trumps AbsC 6 sB 2 sD > 4 So AllOW chuckles to himself but ho snot quite willing will-ing to declare his strength in clubs yet He knows + that Band D have no more clubs + left because l although bo is otffamiliar withCs playing eheard + declare before they sat down that bo never opened asuit of trumps with lessthan five Sevendubs have been played already andas bo has three left he knows C has threo more He knows too tfaattthey are the q 85 Now he proceeds to lead out his spade suit believing that C will eventuallyliave to trump it as itis not probable that Cis strong in spades Then his purpose is to exhaust the remaining trumps in CVband Round 4A asC 7 s B 3 s D 9s A continues con-tinues his spado SUnt Round5A qs C > 5 c B5s D 10 s Hero A forces CVhand and accomplishes purpose pur-pose Round 6C6 d B kn d D 2 d A 5 d B plays properly hereill putting on his kn diamonds dia-monds If ho had followed tho ordinary rule of second hand low A would have been obliged ob-liged to playhis a With two in sequence f second band sbould always playtho smaller in preference to a low card Round 7B q Dloh A 5 hC4h Kound8 Dah ASh CG h B2h Round 9D7ld A a d CS d B 9 d D now returns his partners lead of diamonds Round 10 Aac G8c Bqd D3h A now proceeds to follow out his original plan B discards q of diamonds as he knows tho k has bcenplayed Round 11 A6 c C q c B kn s D 3 d Round 12 Ck d BIO > b D7 h A 7 GRound G-Round 13A 8s C 10 d B kn h D 9 h A andB maketwo by points The pointon which this game hinges isAs holding back bis aco of trumps on the first round Ho believes that by doing this he will be ableto makoit tel1 with greater force later on and get all he can out of his hand Does he TOM LANSING |
