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diff --git a/old/51216-0.txt b/old/51216-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c2fa188..0000000 --- a/old/51216-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9102 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Advanced Bridge, by J.B. Elwell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Advanced Bridge - -Author: J.B. Elwell - -Release Date: February 14, 2016 [EBook #51216] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADVANCED BRIDGE *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif, Paul Marshall and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ - in the original text. - Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= - in the original text. - Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. - Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. - The original text used both “redouble” and “re-double” - interchangeably. In this edition only the modern spelling of - “redouble” is used. -------------------------------------------------------------------- - - ADVANCED BRIDGE - - - MR. ELWELL’S BOOKS - - ADVANCED BRIDGE: The Higher - Principles of the Game - Analysed and Explained, - and their Application - Illustrated, by Hands taken - from Actual Play. $1.50, - net. Postage, 8 cents. - - BRIDGE: Its Principles and - Rules of Play. $1.25, net. - - THE ANALYSIS AND COMPLETE PLAY - OF THE BRIDGE TOURNAMENT - HANDS. 60 cents, net. - Postage, 5 cents. - - - - - ADVANCED BRIDGE - - - THE HIGHER PRINCIPLES OF THE GAME - ANALYSED AND EXPLAINED, AND - THEIR APPLICATION ILLUSTRATED, - BY HANDS TAKEN FROM - ACTUAL PLAY - - - BY - - J. B. ELWELL - - AUTHOR OF “ELWELL ON BRIDGE” - “BRIDGE TOURNAMENT HANDS” - - - SIXTH EDITION - - NEW YORK - CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS - 1907 - - - COPYRIGHT, 1904, 1905, BY - J. B. ELWELL - - - [Illustration] - - TO - MR. HENRY I. BARBEY - - WHO FIRST INTRODUCED BRIDGE IN AMERICA - THE AUTHOR CORDIALLY DEDICATES - THIS BOOK - - - - -PREFACE - - -In the study of any game, the foundation of success must be a thorough -acquaintance with the principles of play. This once attained, future -progress becomes easy and rapid. - -Many writers on Bridge have left much of the play to the individual -judgment and knowledge of the player, and in most works on this -subject, illustrations of the fundamental principles are largely -wanting. - -The present work is an attempt to supply these deficiencies; this -volume is intended to aid the Bridge student in acquiring a practical -acquaintance with the various forms of attack and defence as outlined -by the best players. Particular attention is given to the dealer’s play -of the dummy hand, the management of trumps is outlined in detail, and -the underlying principles are fully illustrated by the complete play of -selected hands. - -The writer has endeavoured to make this work simple in its arrangement -and style so as to be adapted to the capacity of all lovers of Bridge, -comprehensive and complete so as to be a sufficient and certain guide -in the most difficult as well as in the easy situations. - -The laws of Bridge published in this edition have been prepared by -the author, who has used as a foundation the codes accepted by the -principal clubs of the world. The author does not favour the exaction -of a penalty for the dealer’s lead out of turn. The American opinion on -this point is divided, but the English practice is to exact no penalty. -Otherwise the various club codes show but minor differences. - - - - - CONTENTS - - PAGE - -PREFACE vii - -THE LAWS OF BRIDGE 1 - -ETIQUETTE 22 - -BRIDGE FOR THREE PLAYERS 25 - -THE SCORE 27 - Declaring to the score 27 - Playing to the score 28 - The non-dealer’s play to the score 29 - -THE DECLARATION 31 - “No-Trump” declaration by the dealer 32 - Rules for “No-Trump” declaration by the dealer 32 - “No-Trump” with three aces 35 - “No-Trump” with two aces and one other guarded suit 35 - “No-Trump” with two aces 36 - “No-Trump” with one ace 37 - “No-Trump” without an ace 37 - Examples of “No-Trump” makes 38 - Hearts 38 - Rules for the heart make 40 - Five hearts including three honours 40 - Five hearts including two honours 41 - Five hearts with one honour 41 - Four hearts with three honours 41 - Examples of hands that should not be passed 42 - Hearts in preference to “No-Trump” 42 - Hearts, not “No-Trump” 43 - Diamonds 43 - Clubs 46 - Spades 47 - Passed makes 47 - Abandoning spade hands 49 - -DOUBLING 51 - Redoubling 54 - Estimating the value of a hand 54 - The lead when partner has doubled 55 - The heart convention 57 - The weak suit convention 57 - -THE NON-DEALER’S PLAY AGAINST A DECLARED TRUMP 59 - The opening lead 60 - Examples of opening leads 63 - Inferences from high card leads 64 - Inferences from low card leads 67 - Examples of inference from opening leads 68 - Original trump openings 70 - Original trump openings from strength 72 - The trump lead against a spade make 72 - How to play to partner’s trump opening 73 - Leading trumps to prevent a ruff in the weak trump hand 74 - Short suit openings 74 - Leading through strength 77 - When to lead through strength 78 - Choice of suits to lead through 79 - Suggestions for third hand play 80 - Inferences from third hand play 82 - Leading up to dummy 87 - The Echo 88 - Forcing 89 - Returning partner’s lead 91 - Second hand play 91 - When you play before the dummy 92 - When you play before the dealer 94 - -INFERENCES 95 - The value of information 96 - How to draw inferences 97 - Inferences regarding the make 98 - General inferences 99 - -THE NON-DEALER’S PLAY OF A “NO-TRUMP” HAND 102 - The original lead 103 - The original lead at “No-Trump” 106 - Opening a short suit against a “No-Trump” declaration 107 - Unblocking 108 - Returning partner’s lead 109 - Holding up by the non-dealers 111 - Examples of holding up 112 - Taking out re-entry cards 115 - -THE DISCARD 116 - The discard against a declared trump 117 - The discard at “No-Trump” 118 - Hints on discarding 121 - The reverse discard 122 - Discarding by the dealer 122 - -THE DEALER’S PLAY 124 - Combining the hands of dealer and dummy 125 - Ace, Queen, Jack Combination 125 - Ace, king, jack combination 127 - Ace, jack, ten combination 129 - King, jack, ten combination 129 - Miscellaneous combinations 130 - Arranging the lead 131 - Finessing 132 - The finesse obligatory 134 - Watching the discards in order to locate finesses 135 - Second hand plays 136 - -MANAGEMENT OF TRUMPS BY THE DEALER 139 - When to lead trumps 139 - When not to lead trumps 141 - Unblocking the trump suit 142 - Not forcing your strong trump hand 142 - Leading trumps to prevent a ruff 143 - When to draw the remaining trumps 144 - Discontinuing the lead of trumps 144 - When to trump 146 - Overtrumping 147 - Re-entry cards 148 - Forcing discards 148 - Throwing the lead 150 - -THE DEALER’S PLAY OF A “NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION 151 - Choice of suits 152 - Keeping the commanding card of the adversaries’ suit 154 - Re-entry cards 158 - Unblocking 162 - Overtaking 164 - “Ducking” 167 - “Overtaking and unblocking” 171 - “Overtaking and ducking” 172 - The defence against overtaking and “ducking” 173 - -CARD STRATEGY 175 - -LOST TRICKS 183 - -“YOUR PARTNER.” HIS IDIOSYNCRASIES, AND SOME OF YOURS 190 - -ILLUSTRATIVE HANDS 195 - -END PLAYS 277 - Refusing to draw the losing trump 279 - Leading the losing trump 280 - Throwing the lead 281 - Leading a singleton 282 - Saving a low trump to lead 283 - Refusing to over trump 284 - The extra trump 285 - Unblocking 286 - Making a tenace 287 - - GLOSSARY 289 - - INDEX 293 - - - - - INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIVE HANDS - -NO. PAGE -1. Saving an entry card. Leading the losing trump 197 -2. Not showing adversaries that the weak hand can “ruff” 199 -3. Leading the losing trump 201 -4. Arranging the lead 203 -5. Not leading trumps until losing cards have been discarded 205 -6. Leading through 207 -7. Refusing to accept a force 209 -8. Not taking a finesse which, if unsuccessful, would - block the trump suit 211 -9. Saving an entry card. Overtaking 213 -10. Double entry 215 -11. Making an entry card 217 -12. A card of re-entry 219 -13. Double entry 221 -14. Overtaking to make an entry card 223 -15. Not holding up an ace. Unblocking 225 -16. Holding up a king 227 -17. Overtaking, losing a trick, in order to make a suit 229 -18. Not taking a finesse 231 -19. Forcing discards to locate a finesse 233 -20. Deschapelles coup. Finesse obligatory 235 -21. Not allowing adversary to lead through a once guarded king 237 -22. Not allowing an established suit to make 239 -23. “Ducking” 241 -24. Leading through dummy’s strength 243 -25. Preventing a ruff by the weak trump hand 245 -26. Preventing a ruff by the weak trump hand 247 -27. Not forcing 249 -28. Inference 251 -29. Inference 253 -30. Inference 255 -31. Leading through 257 -32. Overtaking by the adversary 259 -33. Refusing to play the high card of a long suit 261 -34. Arranging the lead 263 -35. Not unblocking. Deschapelles coup 265 -36. Abandoning a suit 267 -37. Discarding commanding cards 269 -38. Counting 271 -39. Allowing the weaker hand to “ruff” 273 -40. Not holding up an ace 275 - - - - - ADVANCED BRIDGE - - THE LAWS OF BRIDGE - REVISED 1905 - - -THE RUBBER - -1. The partners first winning two games win the rubber. If the first -two games be won by the same partners, the third game is not played. - - -SCORING - -2. A game consists of thirty points obtained by tricks alone, -exclusive of any points counted for honours, chicane or slam. - -3. Every hand is played out, and any points in excess of thirty -points necessary for the game are counted. - -4. Each trick above six counts two points when spades are trumps, -four points when clubs are trumps, six points when diamonds are -trumps, eight points when hearts are trumps, and twelve points when -there are no trumps. - -5. Honours are ace, king, queen, knave and ten -of the trump suit; or the aces when no trump is -declared. - -6. Honours are credited to the original holders and are valued as -follows: - - +---------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ - | | | | | | NO | - | DECLARATION. | ♠ | ♣ | ♦ | ♥ |TRUMPS| - +---------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ - | Each Trick above Six | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 12 | - | { 3 Honours | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 30 | - | { 4 " | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | - | { 4 " (All in one hand) | 16 | 32 | 48 | 64 | 100 | - |HONOURS{ 5 " | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | -- | - | { 5 " (4 in one hand) | 18 | 36 | 54 | 72 | -- | - | { 5 " (All in one hand) | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | -- | - | { Chicane | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | -- | - +---------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ - | Rubber 100, Grand Slam 40, Little Slam 20. | - +----------------------------------------------------------------+ - -7. If a player and his partner make thirteen tricks, independently of -any tricks gained by the revoke penalty, they score Grand Slam and -add forty points to their honour count. - -8. Little slam is twelve tricks similarly scored, and adds twenty -points to the honour count. - -9. Chicane (one hand void of trumps) is equal in value to three -honours, _i.e._ if partner of player having chicane scores honours -he adds the value of three honours to his honour score, while, if -the adversaries score honours, it deducts an equal value from their -honour score. Double Chicane (a player and his partner both void of -trumps) is equal in value to four honours, and the value thereof may -be deducted from the total honour score of the adversaries. - -10. The value of honours, slam, little slam, or chicane, is in nowise -affected by doubling or redoubling. - -11. At the conclusion of a rubber the scores for tricks, honours, -Chicane, and Slam, obtained by each side are added, and one hundred -points are added to the score of the winners of the rubber. The -difference between the completed scores is the number of points won -or lost by the winners of the rubber. - -12. If an erroneous score affecting tricks be proven, such mistake -must be corrected prior to the conclusion of the game in which it has -occurred, and such game shall not be considered as concluded until -the following deal has been completed and the trump declared, unless -it be that the game is the last one of the rubber,--then the score is -subject to inquiry until an agreement between the sides (as to the -value of the rubber) shall have been reached. - -13. If an erroneous score affecting honours, chicane or slam be -proven, such mistake may be corrected at any time before the score of -the rubber has been made up and agreed upon. - - -CUTTING - -14. The ace is the lowest card. - -15. In all cases every player must cut from the same pack. - -16. Should a player expose more than one card, he must cut again. - - -FORMING TABLES - -17. The prior right of playing is with those first in the room. -If there are more than four candidates for seats at a table, the -privilege of playing is decided by cutting. The four who cut the -lowest cards play first. - -18. After the table is formed, the players cut to decide on partners; -the two lowest play against the two highest. The lowest is the -dealer, who has choice of cards and seats, and who, having once made -his selection, must abide by it. - -19. Should the two players who cut lowest, secure cards of equal -value, they shall re-cut to determine which of the two shall deal, -and the lower on the re-cut deals. - -20. Should three players cut cards of equal value, they cut again; -if the fourth card be the highest, the two lowest of the new cut are -partners and the lower of the two the dealer; if, however, the fourth -card be the lowest, the two highest on the re-cut are partners and -the original lowest the dealer. - -21. Six players constitute a full table, and no player shall have a -right to cut into a game which is complete. - -22. When there are more than six candidates, the -right to succeed any player who may retire is acquired -by announcing the desire to do so, and such -announcement shall constitute a prior right to the -first vacancy. - - -CUTTING OUT - -23. If at the end of a rubber, should admission be claimed by one or -two candidates, the player or players having played a greater number -of consecutive rubbers shall withdraw; but when all have played the -same number, they must cut to decide upon the outgoers; the highest -are out. - - -RIGHTS OF ENTRY - -24. A candidate desiring to enter a table must declare such wish -before any player at the table cuts a card, either for the purpose of -beginning a new rubber or of cutting out. - -25. In the formation of new tables, those candidates who have neither -belonged to nor played at any other table have the prior right of -entry. Those who have already played decide their right of admission -by cutting. - -26. A player who cuts into one table while belonging to another, -shall forfeit his prior right of re-entry into the latter, unless -by doing so he enables three candidates to form a fresh table. In -this event he may signify his intention of returning to his original -table, and his place at the new one can be filled. - -27. Should any player quit the table during the progress of a rubber, -he may, with the consent of the other three players, appoint a -substitute during his absence; but such appointment shall become void -with the conclusion of the rubber, and shall not in any way affect -the substitute’s rights. - -28. If anyone break up a table, the remaining players have a prior -right to play at other tables. - - -SHUFFLING - -29. The pack must neither be shuffled below the table nor so the face -of any card be seen. - -30. The dealer’s partner must collect the cards for the ensuing deal -and he has the first right to shuffle the cards. Each player has the -right to shuffle subsequently. The dealer has the right to shuffle -last, but should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling, or -whilst giving the pack to be cut, he must re-shuffle. - -31. Each player, after shuffling, must place the cards properly -collected and face downward to the left of the player next to deal. - - -THE DEAL - -32. Each player deals in his turn; the order of dealing goes to the -left. - -33. The player on the dealer’s right cuts the pack, and in dividing -it he must not leave fewer than four cards in either packet; if in -cutting or in replacing one of the two packets a card be exposed, or -if there be any confusion of the cards or a doubt as to the exact -place in which the pack was divided, there must be a fresh cut. - -34. When the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the -pack he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut the cards. - -35. Should the dealer shuffle the cards, after the pack is cut, the -pack must be cut again. - -36. The fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward. -The deal is not completed until the last card -has been dealt face downward. - -37. THERE IS NO MISDEAL. - - -A NEW DEAL - -38. There must be a new deal-- - - _a_ If the cards be not dealt into four packets, one at - a time, and in regular rotation, beginning at the - dealer’s left. - - _b_ If, during a deal, or during the play of a hand, - the pack be proven incorrect or imperfect. - - _c_ If any card be faced in the pack. - - _d_ If any player have dealt to him a greater number of - cards than thirteen. - - _e_ If the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal - a third before correcting the error. - - _f_ If the dealer omit to have the pack cut and the - adversaries call attention to the fact prior to the - conclusion of the deal and before looking at their - cards. - - _g_ If the last card do not come in its regular order - to the dealer. - -39. There may be a new deal-- - - _a_ If the dealer or his partner expose a card. The - eldest hand may claim a new deal. - - _b_ If either adversary expose a card. The dealer - or his partner may claim a new deal. - - _c_ If, before fifty-one cards are dealt, the - dealer should look at any card. His adversaries have the - right to see it, and the eldest hand may exact a new - deal. - - _d_ If, in dealing, one of the last cards be - exposed by the dealer or his partner, and the deal is - completed before there is reasonable time for the eldest - hand to decide as to a new deal. But in all other cases - such penalties must be claimed prior to the completion - of the deal. - -40. The claim for a new deal by reason of a card exposed during the -deal may not be made by a player who has looked at any of his cards. -If a new deal does not take place, the card exposed during the deal -cannot be called. - -41. Should three players have their right number of cards, and should -the fourth, not being dummy, have less than thirteen and not discover -such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands -good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may -have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. The -other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards. - -42. If during the play of a deal a pack be proven incorrect or -imperfect, such proof renders only the current deal void, and does -not affect any prior score. The dealer must deal again (Law 38 _b_). - -43. Any one dealing with the adversaries’ cards must be corrected -before the play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands good. If -any one deals when it is the turn of an adversary, such error must be -corrected before the cards are dealt for the following deal. - -44. A player can neither shuffle, cut nor deal for his partner -without the permission of his adversaries. - - -DECLARING TRUMPS - -45. The trump is declared. No card is turned. - - _a_ The dealer may either make the trump or pass the - declaration to his partner. - - _b_ If the declaration be passed to partner, he must - make the trump. - -46. Should the dealer’s partner make the trump without receiving -permission from the dealer, the eldest hand may demand, - - 1st. That the trump shall stand, or - 2d. That there shall be a new deal. - -But if any declaration as to doubling, or not doubling, shall have -been made, or if a new deal be not claimed, the declaration wrongly -made shall stand. The eldest hand is the player on the left of the -dealer. - -47. Should the dealer’s partner pass the declaration to the dealer -it shall be the right of the eldest hand to claim a new deal or to -compel the offending player to declare the trump; provided, that no -declaration as to doubling has been made. - -48. If either of the dealer’s adversaries make or pass the -declaration, the dealer may, after looking at his hand, either claim -a new deal or proceed as if no declaration had been made. - -49. A declaration once made cannot be altered. - - -DOUBLING, REDOUBLING, ETC. - -50. The effect of doubling, re-doubling, and so on, is that the value -of each trick above six is doubled, quadrupled, and so on. - -51. After the trump declaration has been made by the dealer or his -partner, their adversaries have the right to double. The eldest hand -has the first right. If he does not wish to double, he may ask his -partner, “May I lead?” His partner shall answer, “Yes” or “I double.” - -52. If either of their adversaries elect to double, the dealer and -his partner have the right to redouble. The player who has declared -the trump shall have the first right. He may say, “I redouble” or -“Satisfied.” Should he say the latter, his partner may redouble. - -53. If the dealer or his partner elect to redouble, their -adversaries shall have the right to again double. The original -doubler has the first right. - -54. If the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his -partner has asked “May I lead?” the declarer of the trump shall have -the right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide -that the double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue -as described in paragraphs 52, 53, 55. - -55. The process of re-doubling may be continued indefinitely.[1] The -first right to continue the re-doubling on behalf of a partnership -belongs to that player who has last redoubled. Should he, however, -express himself satisfied, the right to continue the re-doubling -passes to his partner. Should any player redouble out of turn, -the adversary who last doubled shall decide whether or not such -double shall stand. If it is decided that the redouble shall stand, -the process of re-doubling may continue as described in this and -foregoing laws (52 and 53). If any double or redouble out of turn -be not accepted there shall be no further doubling in that hand. -Any consultation between partners as to doubling or re-doubling -will entitle the maker of the trump or the eldest hand, without -consultation, to a new deal. - -[1] In some clubs, doubling ceases whenever the value of the odd -trick exceeds one hundred points; in other clubs the limit is placed -at two hundred points. - -56. If the eldest hand lead before the doubling be completed, his -partner may redouble only with the consent of the adversary who last -doubled; but such lead shall not affect the right of either adversary -to double. - -57. When the question, “May I lead?” has been answered in the -affirmative or when the player who has the last right to continue the -doubling, expresses himself satisfied, the play shall begin. - -58. Should the eldest hand lead without asking permission, his -partner may double, but only if the maker of the trump consent. - -59. Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer ask permission to -lead, the eldest hand does not thereby lose his right to double. -Should the right-hand adversary of the dealer double before his -partner has asked “May I lead?” the maker of the trump shall have the -right to say whether or not the double shall stand. If he decide that -the double shall stand, the process of re-doubling may continue as -described in Laws 52, 53, 55. - -60. If the right-hand adversary of the dealer lead out of turn, the -maker of the trump may call a suit from the eldest hand, who may only -double if the maker of the trump consent. - -A declaration as to doubling or re-doubling once made cannot -be altered. - - -DUMMY - -61. As soon as the eldest hand has led, the dealer’s partner shall -place his cards face upward on the table, and the duty of playing the -cards from that hand shall devolve upon the dealer, unassisted by his -partner. - -62. Before exposing his cards, the dealer’s partner has all the -rights of a player, but after his cards have been shown the dealer’s -partner takes no part whatever in the play, except that he has the -right-- - - _a_ To ask the dealer whether he has none of the suit - in which he may have renounced. - - _b_ To ask the dealer when called upon to play his - highest or lowest card whether he has conformed to - the penalty. - - _c_ To call the dealer’s attention to the fact that a - trick has not been completed. - - _d_ To correct the claim of either adversary to a - penalty to which the latter is not entitled. - - _e_ To call attention to the fact that a trick has been - erroneously taken by either side. - - _f_ To participate in the discussion of any disputed - question of fact which may arise between the dealer - and either adversary. - - _g_ To correct an erroneous score. - -63. Should the dealer’s partner call attention to any other incident -of the play, in consequence of which any penalty might be exacted, -the fact of his so doing precludes the dealer exacting such penalty. - -64. If the dealer’s partner, by touching a card or otherwise, suggest -the play of a card from dummy, either of the adversaries may, but -without consultation, call upon the dealer to play or not to play the -card suggested. - -65. Dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke; and if he should -revoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and -quitted, the trick stands good. - -66. A card from the dealer’s hand is not played until actually -quitted; but should the dealer name or touch a card from the dummy -hand, such card is considered as played, unless the dealer in -touching the card or cards says, “I arrange,” or words to that effect. - - -CARDS EXPOSED BEFORE PLAY - -67. If, after the deal has been completed and before the trump -declaration has been made, either the dealer or his partner expose a -card from his hand, the eldest hand may, without consulting with his -partner, claim a new deal. - -68. If, after the deal has been completed and before a card is led, -any player shall expose a card, his partner shall forfeit any right -to double or redouble which he otherwise would have been entitled -to exercise; and in case of a card being so exposed by the leader’s -partner, the dealer may either call the card or require the leader -not to lead the suit of the exposed card. - - -CARDS EXPOSED DURING PLAY - -69. All cards exposed by the dealer’s adversaries are liable to be -called, and such cards must be left face upward on the table. - -70. The following are exposed cards: - - 1st. Two or more cards played at once. - - 2d. Any card dropped with its face upward, or in any - way exposed on or above the table, even though - snatched up so quickly that no one can name it. - - 3d. Every card so held by a player that his partner can - see any portion of its face. - -71. A card dropped on the floor or elsewhere below the table is not -an exposed card. - -72. If two or more cards be played at once, by either of the dealer’s -adversaries, the dealer shall have the right to call which one he -pleases to the current trick, and the other card or cards shall -remain face upward on the table and may be called at any time. - -73. If, without waiting for his partner to play, either of the -dealer’s adversaries should play on the table the best card or lead -one which is a winning card, as against the dealer and dummy, or -should continue (without waiting for his partner to play) to lead -several such cards, the dealer may demand that the partner of the -player in fault, win, if he can, the first, or any other of these -tricks, and the other cards thus improperly played are exposed cards. - -74. If either or both of the dealer’s adversaries throw his or their -cards on the table face upward, such cards are exposed and are liable -to be called; but if either adversary retain his hand he cannot be -forced to abandon it. If, however, the dealer should say, “I have -the rest,” or any other words indicating that the remaining tricks -are his, the adversaries of the dealer are not liable to have any of -their cards called should they expose them, believing the dealer’s -claim to be true, should it subsequently prove false. - -75. If a player who has rendered himself liable to have the highest -or lowest of a suit called (Laws 82, 91, 92 and 100), fail to play -as directed, or if, when called on to lead one suit, lead another, -having in his hand one or more cards of the suit demanded (Law 76), -or if called upon to win or lose a trick, fail to do so when he can -(Laws 73, 82 and 100), he is liable to the penalty for revoke, unless -such play be corrected before the trick is turned and quitted. - - -LEADS OUT OF TURN - -76. If either of the dealer’s adversaries lead out of turn, the -dealer may call the card erroneously led, or may call a suit when it -is the turn of either adversary to lead. - -77. If the dealer lead out of turn, either from his own hand or -dummy, he incurs no penalty; but he may not rectify the error after -the second hand has played. - -78. If any player lead out of turn and the other three follow him, -the trick is complete and the error cannot be rectified; but if only -the second, or second and third play to the false lead, their cards -may be taken back; there is no penalty against anyone except the -original offender, who, if he be one of the dealer’s adversaries, may -be penalised as provided in Laws 60 and 76. - -79. In no case can a player be compelled to play a card which would -oblige him to revoke. - -80. The call of an exposed card may be repeated at every trick until -such card has been played. - -81. If a player called on to lead a suit have none of it, the penalty -is paid. - - -CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR - -82. Should the third hand not have played and the fourth play before -his partner, the latter (not being dummy or dealer) may be called -upon to play his highest or lowest card of the suit played, or to win -or lose the trick. - -83. If anyone, not being dummy, omit playing to a former trick and -such error be not corrected until he has played to the next, the -adversaries may claim a new deal; should they decide that the deal -stands good, the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to -have been played to the imperfect trick, but does not constitute a -revoke therein. - -84. If anyone (except dummy) play two cards to the same trick, or -mix a card with a trick to which it does not belong, and the mistake -be not discovered until the hand is played out, he is answerable for -any consequent revokes he may have made. If during the play of the -hand the error be detected, the tricks may be counted face downward, -in order to ascertain whether there be among them a card too many; -should this be the case, the trick which contains a surplus card may -be examined and the card restored to its original holder, who (not -being dummy) shall be liable for any revoke he may meanwhile have -made. - - -THE REVOKE - -85. A revoke occurs when a player (other than dummy), holding one or -more cards of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit. The -penalty for a revoke takes precedence of all other counts. - -86. A revoke is established if the trick in which it occurs be turned -and quitted, _i.e._ the hand removed from the trick after it has -been gathered and placed face downward on the table; or if either -the revoking player or his partner, whether in his right turn or -otherwise, have led or played to the following trick. - -87. The penalty for a revoke is three tricks taken from the revoking -player and added to those of the adversaries. - -88. The penalty is applicable only to the score of the game in which -it occurs. - -89. Under no circumstances can the revoking side score game, in that -hand. Whatever their previous score may have been, the side revoking -cannot attain a higher score toward game than twenty-eight. - -90. A player may ask his partner, whether he has not a card of the -suit which he has renounced; should the question be asked before the -trick is turned and quitted, subsequent turning and quitting does -not establish a revoke, and the error may be corrected unless the -question be answered in the negative or unless the revoking player or -his partner has led or played to the following trick. - -91. If a player correct his mistake in time to save a revoke, any -player or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards -and substitute others, and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed -cards. If the player in fault be one of the dealer’s adversaries, -the card played in error is an exposed card, and the dealer can -call it whenever he pleases; or he may require the offender to play -his highest or lowest card of the suit to the trick in which he has -renounced. - -92. If the player in fault be the dealer, the eldest hand may require -him to play the highest or lowest card of the suit in which he has -renounced, provided both adversaries of the dealer have played to the -current trick; but this penalty cannot be exacted against the dealer -when he is fourth in hand, nor can it be enforced at all from dummy. - -93. At the end of a hand the claimants of a revoke may search all -the tricks. If the cards have been mixed the claim may be urged and -proved if possible; but no proof is necessary, and the revoke is -established if, after it has been claimed, the accused player or his -partner mix the cards before they have been sufficiently examined by -the adversaries. - -94. A revoke must be claimed before the cards have been cut for the -following deal. - -95. Should the players on both sides subject themselves to the revoke -penalty neither can win the game by that hand. - -96. The revoke penalty may be claimed for as many revokes as occur -during a hand; but the accumulated penalty shall in no event exceed -thirteen tricks. (See Law 7.) - - -GENERAL RULES - -97. There should not be any consultation between partners as to the -enforcement of penalties. If they do so consult, the penalty is paid. - -98. Once a trick is complete, turned and quitted it must not be -looked at (except under Law 84), until the end of the hand. - -99. Any player during the play of a trick or after the four cards are -played and before they are touched for the purpose of gathering them -together, may demand that the cards be placed before their respective -players. - -100. If either of the dealer’s adversaries, prior to his partner’s -playing, should call attention to the trick, either by saying it is -his, or, without being requested so to do, by naming his card or -drawing it toward him, the dealer may require that opponent’s partner -to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led, or to win or lose -the trick. - -101. Either of the dealer’s adversaries may call his partner’s -attention to the fact that he is about to lead out of turn, but if -he make any unauthorised reference to any incident of the play the -dealer may call a suit from the adversary whose turn it is next to -lead. - -102. In all cases where a penalty has been incurred, the offender is -bound to give reasonable time for the decision of his adversaries; -but if a wrong penalty be demanded none can be enforced. - -103. The partner of the eldest hand may inform him that their -adversaries have incurred a penalty, but may not give any further -information. Should he suggest the penalty, or demand the enforcement -of it, such action shall be deemed a consultation, and no penalty can -be enforced. - - -NEW CARDS - -104. Unless a pack be imperfect, no player shall have the right to -call for one new pack. If fresh cards are demanded, two packs must -be furnished and paid for by the player who has demanded them. If -they are furnished during a rubber, the adversaries shall have their -choice of new cards. If it is the beginning of a new rubber, the -dealer, whether he or one of his adversaries be the party calling for -the new cards, shall have the choice. New cards must be called for -before the pack is cut for a new deal. - -105. A card or cards torn or marked must be replaced by agreement or -new cards furnished. - - -BYSTANDERS - -106. While a bystander, by agreement among the players, may decide -any question, yet he must on no account say anything unless appealed -to; and if he make any remark which calls attention to an oversight -affecting the score, or to the exaction of a penalty, he is liable to -be called on by the players to pay the stakes on that rubber. - - -SPADE CONVENTION - - I.--Where players agree “not to play spades” the rule - is, that if the spade make is not doubled, the hand - shall be played where either side is 20 or over. - - II.--If the third hand player ask, “Shall I play?” or - should he lead out of turn, or should the eldest - hand lead without asking permission to play, the - spade maker may take two on the score or may call - a lead and require the hand to be played out. - - III.--Should the third hand player double before his - partner asks permission to play, the spade maker - may decide whether the double shall stand or not; - but the hand must be played out. - - - - -ETIQUETTE - - -It has been truthfully said that there is no game in which slight -intimations can convey so much information as that of Bridge. In -justice to those who, by their manner, give information, it may be -stated that most of the apparent unfairness at the Bridge table is -unintentional. Hesitation and mannerisms, however, cannot be too -carefully avoided; such a breach of etiquette is an offence for which -the adversaries have no redress except perhaps a refusal to continue -the play. - -It is obviously a greater fault to take advantage of information -thus given. A play in your judgment may be perfectly sound, but you -leave yourself open to criticism if it is in any way contingent on -information obtained from your partner’s manner. - -Cultivate uniformity in your style of play; let there be no -remarkable haste or hesitation in making or passing; try always to -use the same formula of words, and do not call attention to the score -after the cards have been dealt. - -Remember that any undue hesitancy in regard to doubling will deprive -a fair-minded partner of the privilege of so doing. Such delays are -too frequent at spade declarations. - -Emphasise no play of your own and show no pleasure or displeasure at -any other play. - -Do not ask to have the cards placed unless it is solely for your own -information. - -It is an offence either to revoke purposely or to make a second -revoke in order to conceal the first. - -The dealer’s partner should not call attention to the score nor to -any card or cards that he or the other players hold, and neither -should he leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner’s -play. - -When there is an unusual distribution of the cards, no remarks of any -kind should be allowed. - -After a hand has been played, it may be discussed to the common -benefit; but the bore who is continually blowing up his partner to -show his superior knowledge, together with the player who interrupts -the game to discuss the play, should be ostracised from the -card-room. Superiority of skill is shown by the play of the cards, -not by mannerisms. - -It is often difficult to refrain from showing pleasure at the -accomplishment of a desired purpose, but undue elation is most -aggravating to the adversaries. - -Do not make a dig at the adversaries by confiding to your partner -that your success was due to an ill-judged play of the opponent. - -It is not good form to complain of poor cards, as you imply that the -adversaries profit by your weak hands and not by their skill. - -The better players rarely criticise unless asked to do so; it is -usually the inexperienced player who offers an astonishing amount of -gratuitous and unsought-for advice. - -Do not tell your partner, after seeing all the cards, what he should -have done, but think what you would have done in your partner’s -place. Do not criticise at all, but if you must, criticise fairly. - - - - -BRIDGE FOR THREE PLAYERS - - -When the game is played by three persons, the cards are cut to decide -which shall have the dummy; the one cutting the lowest card has the -deal and a permanent dummy during the game or the rubber, as the case -may be. It is then customary for each player to have dummy in turn, -during one game or rubber. - -In playing rubbers, 100 points are added to the score of the winning -side. - -In playing games, 50 points are added to the score of the winning -side. - -If the make is passed to dummy, four aces or three aces constitute a -compulsory “no-trump” declaration; otherwise, dummy must declare the -longest suit. - -When there are two suits of equal length, dummy must select the suit, -which counts most by spots, the ace counting eleven and the other -honours ten each. If the suits are still equal, dummy declares the -one having the higher trick valuation. - -Only one adversary, the leader, can double. - -If the dealer has seen the two hands, he is not allowed to redouble. - -The dummy hand is not exposed until the doubling has been settled and -a card led. - -When the dummy is the leader, his partner must look at the dummy hand -and lead from it before seeing his own cards; and dummy alone has the -right to double. - -There are various methods of playing Dummy Bridge. An approved -feature is to allow either adversary to double the dealer’s make and -to eliminate doubling on a forced make. - - - - -THE SCORE - - -Practise soon shows a player the relative importance of playing for -the greatest possible number of points and tricks, and of playing -to win or to save the game. No matter how cleverly the cards are -managed, the player who underestimates the attention the state of the -score demands, will unnecessarily lose many a rubber. The declaration -largely depends upon the score, and much of the play is influenced by -the number of tricks required to win or to save the game. - -Most Bridge players take means to ascertain the score before -announcing a declaration; it is only an occasional game that is lost -by a hasty declaration regardless of the state of the score; but in -the play of the hand, the score is frequently entirely overlooked. -Interested in his scheme of play, the dealer will try for too much or -too little, and quite lose sight of what should be his first goal--to -win or to save the game. - - -DECLARING TO THE SCORE - -With a game to the good, the advantage conferred by the position is -too great to risk by a rash make. When you are a game ahead, make -none but a conservative and sound declaration. When you are a game -behind, the score justifies a bold make. - -On the rubber game, particularly if the adversaries are over twenty, -the dealer may attempt a forward declaration, but his partner should -not be too reckless, realising that the dealer knew the situation and -did not consider his hand worth a venture. - -At twenty-four or more on the score, with a strong black suit the -make should not be passed; average assistance in your partner’s hand -will probably enable you to win the game; and with weak red suits, -a passed red declaration may be doubled and the game won by the -adversaries. - -When the score is twenty-four to nothing against you either on the -first game or when you are a game to the good, avoid a doubtful -declaration which may enable the adversaries to win the game on your -deal. There is a vast difference whether the adversaries start their -deal wanting a few points or whether they have the first deal on a -new game. - -When the score is twenty-four all on the rubber game, the dealer -may pass a fairly strong hand trusting he can win the game with any -declaration; and at this score dummy should not hesitate to declare -his best suit. It is highly probable that the adversaries would win -out on the next deal. - - -PLAYING TO THE SCORE - -Correct dealer’s play is closely influenced by the state of the -score. The game is an important goal which should never be hazarded -for the sake of an extra trick; but, if this goal is not assured, -the loss of a few extra points in an effort to reach it, demands but -small consideration. - -When there is the slightest chance that the adversaries may win the -game on your deal, hasten to secure the tricks needful to insure its -safety. Many times the game can only be won or saved in case the -cards lie in a certain position, and the dealer must assume that the -cards are favourably placed and play the hand accordingly. - -When the game is saved, but with no possibility of winning it, the -seventh trick should be the objective point in the dealer’s play. -When you cannot reach game, never hazard the odd trick in an attempt -to win two tricks. In a no-trump declaration, the risk would be -twenty-four points for a possible gain of twelve points; and if you -lose the odd trick, it may enable the adversaries to win the game on -their deal. - - -THE NON-DEALER’S PLAY TO THE SCORE - -The probabilities are not in favour of winning against declared -strength. The score will indicate the number of tricks needful to -save the game, and the adversaries should take no chances until this -important object is attained. Until the game is saved, make no effort -to gain extra tricks. Many a rubber which the prompt lead of a high -card might have saved is lost by trying for too much. - -If you find that the continuation of a certain line of play will lose -the rubber, abandon your scheme and take the one chance of finding in -your partner’s hand the cards that will save the game. The loss of -an extra trick is of slight importance compared with the loss of the -game. - - - - -THE DECLARATION - - -The advantage of the deal is enormous, and it is important to -utilise it properly to make the largest possible score with the -least possible risk. The make shows the great increase in percentage -of the good player over the poor one. More rubbers are lost by bad -makes than by bad play. The cautious man who passes “no-trumpers” -will lose many games by his extreme carefulness. The reckless man -loses even more by declaring “no-trump” when his partner must have -a “no-trumper” to pull him through. As the element of luck has a -potent influence on the result of a make, a sound declaration based -on the merits of the hand may be unsuccessful. No one can select -the winning trump every time, and an occasional loss must be borne -with equanimity for the sake of the many successes; the make that -will win with average strength in the dummy hand will pay in the -long run. Do not hope for too much, or expect too little assistance -from your partner; give him credit for no more and no less than the -average hand. If you question yourself--what will my partner probably -make it if I pass?--you will find it a great help in determining the -declaration. He will usually make it your weak suit, and it follows -that you may depend on him for protection in that suit. - -A sound make may necessitate the sacrifice of the possibility of a -large score for the sake of positively winning the game. The chance -for the game takes precedence of all other considerations. - -As Bridge is played for points, a fair amount of regard is also due -the honour score. A declaration that is apt to give honours to the -adversaries is a costly method of winning the game. - -It is difficult for the beginner to understand the reason for certain -formulated rules for the makes, but it will pay the average novice -to accept the judgment of those who have learned by, often bitter, -experience. Sound makes will win in the long run, and the rules -should not be scorned merely because in a few hands the cards were -badly placed. - - -“NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION BY THE DEALER - -While a good red declaration is always preferable to a doubtful -“no-trumper,” yet when a bold dash for the game must be made, a -forward “no-trump” declaration is the safest risk; and experience -certainly shows that what is called a doubtful “no-trumper” will -succeed more often than it fails. Such a declaration has a great -advantage over a light red make. There is a wider range for -assistance in the dummy hand. The make does not disclose the dealer’s -principal strength. It offers the adversaries a larger scope for -errors, and an error is more costly in a “no-trump” hand. The -opponents have no means of knowing their combined strength, and for -this reason their best suit may never be made; while the dealer -knows the suit to establish and can arrange the lead to bring it in. -In short, the dealer can utilise his strength and the adversaries’ -drawbacks to the best advantage in a “no-trump” hand. As a logical -consequence, a strong player may take more chances in the make. - -Your goal is the game, and at a love score, this can be reached with -fewest tricks at a “no-trump” declaration. Therefore, lacking a good -red hand, a “no-trump” declaration that with average strength in your -partner’s hand will secure the odd trick, will more often win than -lose. - -What constitutes an average hand, and how much help should you expect -from your partner, are frequent inquiries. As the trick-taking value -of a hand may depend entirely on the distribution of the remaining -cards, these questions are difficult to answer. An average hand, -however, contains the equivalent of one ace, one king, one queen, etc. - -An established suit that can be made before the adversaries obtain -the lead the second time is always a great advantage. - -A “no-trump” make that is not protected in three suits is dangerous, -but, even if you are entirely void of a suit with real strength in -the other three, you can reasonably expect your partner to supply -protection in the missing suit. Aces are an important help in -establishing your suits, and are much greater strength than kings -or queens, which may be led through and captured. A no-trump make -without an ace is liable to score honours for the adversaries--in -rare cases 100 points--and is almost never sound. - - -RULES FOR “NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION BY THE DEALER - -There should be a certain set standard for a “no-trump” make, but at -times it is difficult to draw the line that divides the hands that -should be passed from those that warrant a “no-trump” declaration. -It is obvious that a good player will make more with a hand than a -poor one; consequently a greater risk may be taken by players who -thoroughly understand the finesse and strategy of the game. The make -which would prove successful if played correctly, if badly played -might be disastrous. Then again your adversaries must be regarded; if -pitted against weak players, you are more apt to pull a “no-trumper” -through than when matched against opponents who will take advantage -of any failing in your hand or play. - - { 4 Aces. - Declare { 3 Aces. - “No-trumps” { 2 Aces and one other guarded suit. - holding { 1 Ace and three other guarded suits. - { 1 long established black suit (A K Q x x x) - and one other Ace. - - -“NO-TRUMP” WITH THREE ACES - -Unless you hold a strong heart hand, or, unless the game can be won -with a trump declaration, three aces should usually be considered -an obligatory “no-trumper.” No doubt a three-ace hand containing -no other honour, is a weak one with which to make the strongest -declaration; but experience demonstrates that if your partner -holds an average hand or any one long suit, loss seldom occurs. -When the make does lose, the points secured above the line usually -compensate for the loss sustained in trick points, and if the rule is -consistently followed, the total gain will be many times greater than -the aggregate loss. - - -“NO-TRUMP” WITH TWO ACES AND ONE OTHER GUARDED SUIT - -At a love score, if the ace suits contain additional -honours, “no-trumps” should always be declared -with two aces and a guarded honour in another suit. -This is particularly true if the aces are red; if you -hold the two red aces, it is doubtful if your partner -could declare any other than a black make. A long -suit, particularly one that can be easily established, -is additional strength; and jacks, tens and nines are -an important assistance to a two-ace “no-trump” -declaration. - -If all the remaining cards in the ace suits are small, and if the -protection in the third suit is doubtful, “no-trumps” can scarcely be -considered a safe declaration. A guarded honour or a protected suit -is supposed to imply a certain trick; but a king once guarded or a -queen twice guarded may be led through and captured. - -Guarded suits are: - - K Q J K 10 x Q J 10 Q x x - K Q x K x x Q J x J 10 x x - K J x K x Q 10 x J x x x - -The value of these suits is greater or less according to the size of -the top honour, the number of cards in sequence, and the length of -the suit. - -An ace suit may contain: - - A K x A Q x A J x A 10 x A x x A - -But the value of the ace suit diminishes according to the decreased -value of the next card. A single ace is of little use in blocking the -adversaries’ suit, and it may often block the long suit in dummy. - - -“NO-TRUMP” WITH TWO ACES - -A “no-trump” declaration that is unguarded in two suits, is always -dangerous; while you can rely on your partner to protect one suit, -it is a bit sanguine to expect him to hold guards in two. However, a -hand containing a long established suit, headed by ace, king, queen, -and another ace, wins at “no-trump” many more times than it loses, -and the make must, therefore, be classed as sound. If you hold two -suits headed by ace king, and particularly if these suits are red, -a “no-trump” declaration is preferable to passing; but with less -strength, the make should not be attempted except at an adverse score. - - -“NO-TRUMP” WITH ONE ACE - -With one ace and general protection in all the suits, “no-trump” -should be declared. Of course, the adversaries may secure the honour -score, and it is probable that such a hand will contain no long suit; -but any good suit in your partner’s hand will ensure the safety of -the make. - -With one ace and but two other protected suits, “no-trumps” should -not be declared unless the guarded suits include at least two -honours. “No-trump” declarations with one ace and a single honour in -each of two other suits are often made to the score, but a venture of -this kind is dangerous and is more apt to lose than to win. - -A six or seven card suit headed by ace, king, and queen, with a -guarded king in another suit, will usually succeed as a “no-trumper.” - - -“NO-TRUMP” WITHOUT AN ACE - -A “no-trump” make without an ace is almost never sound. There are, -no doubt, extreme cases where, with a king and queen in each suit, -this make may be justifiable; but the honour score obtained by the -adversaries will usually far exceed the trick points secured by the -dealer. - - -EXAMPLES OF NO-TRUMP MAKES - - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - |A 8 5 3 |A 10 6 4 |7 2 |A 8 3 | - |A Q 6 |7 3 |A J 10 8 4 |A 6 2 | - |A 5 |A Q 10 8 |A J 10 6 |10 7 4 | - |8 3 |A Q 7 5 |A J 10 7 |K J 5 | - |K J 4 |8 6 |A J 7 4 |A 10 6 5 | - |8 6 |A Q 10 7 |A K 7 5 |Q 8 4 | - |A 10 8 6 |Q J 10 |A J 9 4 |7 3 | - |A 7 5 |K Q 8 |Q J 10 6 |K 8 6 | - |J 10 7 4 |A K Q |Q 8 5 |K Q 6 | - |A 10 4 |A K 3 |K Q J 9 4 |Q 7 | - |A |J 5 3 |9 3 2 |A K Q 9 7 5 | - |K |A J 7 4 |A K Q 8 5 |6 3 2 | - |K 7 |6 5 |7 2 |A K Q J 7 5 2| - |K Q 6 |K J 7 |A K 4 2 |6 3 2 | - |K J 9 7 |A Q 9 8 |K Q 6 4 |10 | - |K Q 9 8 |K J 3 |A Q 10 4 |10 6 | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - - -HEARTS - -The advisability of a heart make is contingent on the length and -strength of the heart suit, as well as on the probable trick-taking -value of the hand. However, as the honour score must also be -regarded, hearts should be declared with four honours irrespective of -the strength of the other suits; the honour score will usually more -than compensate for any possible loss in trick points. - -Declare hearts with but four cards, including three high honours, -provided you hold another long suit or two outside tricks; results -show conclusively that this make is sound. - -Hearts should be declared with five hearts, including two honours and -at least one outside trick. Without this extra trick a five-heart -declaration with two honours--unless they are ace and king--is unsafe. - -Hearts should be declared with six trumps, including one honour; -but, with fewer than six trumps, a one honour make is doubtful. -Occasionally it may not be advisable to pass five hearts with one -honour--holding, say, five hearts and four diamonds; your partner’s -make would probably be black. - -In considering such a declaration, the value of a long side suit that -either is, or can be easily established, must not be overlooked. The -strength of a five-card trump hand with a long suit and a re-entry -card, is apparent to those who have had Whist experience. It requires -but one trump honour from your partner to make this a winning hand, -and unless the remaining cards are very unfortunately placed, it is -difficult to defeat the make. - -With a good side suit, do not hesitate to declare hearts with five, -including an honour. Even a four-card side suit is usually a help. It -is when the hand is divided 5, 3, 3, 2, that you are apt to lose by -being forced to follow suit. Therefore a short suit is a help to a -five-trump hand; to be sure, it may at times enable the adversaries -to force you, but as you can always prevent the adversaries’ high -cards in that suit from making, a short suit is a greater benefit -than detriment. - - -RULES FOR THE HEART MAKE - -Generally declare a red make holding six cards with one honour, five -cards with two honours, or four with three honours. Some makes may -be attempted with or without outside strength, while others require -a certain amount of strength in side suits. The value of a long suit -and the importance of inferring the probable passed make, has been -mentioned. - -Below are given various combinations of honours showing the strength -required for a red make. Only general rules are cited and the -particular value of the hand must be left to the individual judgment. -In these examples, the score has not been considered. - - -FIVE HEARTS INCLUDING THREE HONOURS - - A K Q } - A K J } - A K 10 } - A Q J } With or without other tricks. - K Q J } - A J 10 } - K Q 10 } - - K J 10 } With one outside trick. - Q J 10 } - - -FIVE HEARTS INCLUDING TWO HONOURS - - A K With or without an outside trick. - - A Q } - K Q } - A J } With one outside trick. - K J } - A 10 } - - K 10 } - Q 10 } With a four or five card plain suit, or two - J 10 } outside tricks. - - -FIVE HEARTS WITH ONE HONOUR - - } With any good four or five card plain suit, - A } when partner will probably declare black, - K } or with two or three outside tricks. - Q } - J } With an established black suit, especially - 10 } when void in one suit, or with two or three - } outside tricks. - - -FOUR HEARTS WITH THREE HONOURS - - A K Q } - A K J } With any good suit, with an outside ace, - A K 10 } or with two or more outside tricks. - K Q J } - - -EXAMPLES OF HANDS THAT SHOULD NOT BE PASSED - -A number of hands are given below to illustrate -the value of a long suit. If your partner holds an -average hand the long suit can usually be made. - - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - |J 10 8 6 4 |7 5 |A K 5 3 2 |8 | - |10 9 8 7 5 |None |K Q J 7 6 3 |K 7 | - |K J 8 6 4 |6 |8 3 |K 10 8 7 4 | - |A 9 7 6 4 |K 8 6 5 3 |4 2 |6 | - |J 9 8 7 4 |6 |A |K Q 10 8 7 6 | - |K 9 8 6 5 |4 |A Q J 6 3 |3 2 | - |Q 9 7 6 3 |None |K J 10 7 5 |A 10 4 | - |A 9 8 5 3 |K 7 |6 |K Q J 9 6 | - |10 9 8 6 5 |None |Q J 9 |A K Q 7 5 | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - - -HEARTS IN PREFERENCE TO “NO-TRUMP” - -There are many players who delight in declaring “no-trumps,” -overlooking the fact that they may hold a suit declaration that would -be certain to win the game without the risk attending a “no-trump” -make. - -Although one more trick is necessary at hearts, the chances are that -if the game can be won at “no-trump,” it will be won with equal -facility at hearts. The adversaries may hold an established suit or -may establish and make a suit at “no-trump” which it would be -impossible for them to bring in with a trump declaration. There is -no rule so universally followed among the better players as that of -declaring hearts in preference to “no-trump.” - - -HEARTS, NOT “NO-TRUMPS” - - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - |A Q J 9 5 |A 6 4 |A 7 5 |7 3 | - |K Q J 9 6 3 |A 7 5 3 |A |8 4 | - |A K Q 9 8 |A Q 7 |A K Q J |4 | - |A K Q 9 |A 8 4 |5 |J 10 8 6 3 | - |A K Q 9 |7 |Q 1O 5 |K J 8 5 3 | - |K Q J 9 7 |A |A 5 |K J 9 8 7 | - |A K Q 9 8 |K Q 7 |A Q 5 3 2 |None | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - - -DIAMONDS - -As there are two declarations of greater value, it is often advisable -to pass a fair diamond make to your partner in the hope that he may -be able to make it a “no-trumps” or hearts. There is no declaration -more universally disliked than diamonds. It is frequently spoken -of as the “deadly” or “unlucky” diamond make. Players seem to be -continually making or not making it at the wrong time. Often an -original diamond declaration will find your partner with a game -hand at “no-trumps” or hearts; again, when the make is passed and -your partner declares spades, you make eternal vows never to pass a -diamond hand. - -The diamond is essentially a score make, and should be attempted at -a score which admits of a reasonable chance to win the game. With a -love score it requires a very strong hand to win the game; eleven -of the thirteen tricks must be won. When the adversaries are 24 to -your nothing either on the first or on the rubber game, it is most -important that you win the game before it becomes the turn of the -adversary to deal. Winning three or four odd tricks will be of little -use, as in all probability the adversaries will make the number of -points requisite to go out on their own deal. At this score, it is -usually better to pass a fair diamond hand in the hope that your -partner can make a stronger declaration. - -If at least 24 points are necessary to win the game and there is a -question between a diamond and a “no-trump” make, the preference -should be given to the “no-trump” declaration. Each trick at -“no-trump” is worth just twice as much as at diamonds, and if it is -possible to win four or five odd tricks with diamonds, you will have -no difficulty in making the fewer number required at “no-trump.” - -In considering the advisability of a diamond make, infer from your -hand your partner’s probable declaration. If you hold no ace, there -is a fair chance that he will declare “no-trump.” If you hold but one -or two hearts, you are likely to get a heart declaration; an honour -included in these hearts would support the supposed make. If you hold -length in the heart suit, say five diamonds and four hearts, there -is small hope for a red declaration by your partner; at this time, -and when your hand contains cards that preclude the possibility of a -“no-trumper,” the make should not be passed. - -Occasionally diamonds should be declared as a safety make, with a -hand that affords little help to a “no-trump” or a heart declaration. -Take the following hand: - - ♦ ♥ ♣ ♠ - J 10 7 5 3 2 8 J 7 5 3 6 4 - -Should the hand be passed, partner will either declare hearts or -“no-trump.” Unless he holds great strength or the cards are very -fortunately placed, you must lose, and not only that, your partner’s -make is also very apt to be doubled. If your partner holds a strong -hand the diamond declaration may win the game; at any rate it will -sufficiently increase your score to facilitate winning on your next -deal. As a matter of fact, this hand was held and the make was -passed. The dummy held the following hand: - - ♦ ♥ ♣ ♠ - K 6 A K 10 6 2 K 9 Q J 9 5 - -Hearts were declared, the adversary doubled, and the dealer lost -three by cards. While in this hand the remaining cards were -unfortunately placed for the dealer, still it shows that a strong -make may be defeated when you can lend it no support. - -The general rules given for the heart makes may be applied to the -diamond declaration. - - -CLUBS - -An original club should be made only when the score is 18 or more, -and the hand strong enough, with slight assistance, to win the game. -As there are three declarations of greater value than either clubs -or spades, unless there is a reasonable chance to win the game, -black makes should not be considered. Your partner may be able to -make a red or a “no-trump” declaration, and, failing these, his -defensive black declaration may suit your hand. There are unpleasant -occasions when you hold a strong club hand and your partner declares -spades. When the make has been doubled and you have little strength -to support it, you are very apt to regret that you did not make -an original club. While this may be true of an occasional hand, -don’t forget the many times your partner can give you a heart or a -“no-trump” make which will enable you to win the game. - -If, however, you hold a black hand when you are a game to the good, -with 8 points or more on the second game, particularly if the hand -contains four club honours, it may not be advisable to pass the -declaration. The honour score together with the probable trick value -of the hand will win more points than the average hand is worth, -whereas you could not support your partner’s red declaration. - - -SPADES - -Spades should never be declared offensively, unless to win the -game at a score of 24 or more points. With a very weak hand some -players advise a defensive spade make with the hope of preventing a -disastrous passed make. Statistics, no doubt, prove the correctness -of this theory, still but few of the better players attempt a -defensive spade declaration unless the score justifies their so -doing. If you are a game to the good and perhaps well along on the -second game, with a hand too poor to support an average “no-trump” or -red make, it might be wise not to risk the advantage already gained. -Should the adversaries win the game on your deal, it would give them -the first deal on the rubber game. - -At a love score, however, no player should deprive his partner of -the privilege of declaring the trump to win. Many times a passed -“no-trump” or red make is strong enough with slight assistance to win -the game. - - -PASSED MAKES - -The success of an original “no-trump” make is often due to the fact -that the adversaries do not discover the dealer’s weak suit; a passed -“no-trumper,” however, is exposed, and has the additional -disadvantage of the dealer’s acknowledged weakness. The dealer -shows by passing that he has not a strong hand; neither has he -much strength in the red suits; while this latter inference may be -doubtful, for the dealer often passes with fair strength in diamonds -and occasionally in both red suits, still the fact remains that a -passed “no-trump” make that is weak in the red suits, is extremely -risky. - -It is remarkable how many passed “no-trumpers” go astray, and the -number proves the necessity for more cautious passed makes. The -dummy hand, in declaring the trump, should keep in mind the general -rules suggested for the dealer, and be governed in his choice by the -state of the score, by the general strength of his hand, and by the -dealer’s acknowledged weakness. - -A speculative spirit is so strong in some players that they find -it difficult to resist announcing a make which they know to be -unsound, yet with which they hope, by a fortuitous combination of -circumstances, to win. Often the result of one hand, which proves -nothing, will encourage this tendency toward unsound makes. - -Be very careful about declaring a red trump with but four cards. The -beginner’s distaste for spade makes, frequently leads to a light red -make which is doubled, and the game thrown away. As a general rule, -it is wrong to attempt a red trump unless the hand is worth at least -four tricks. With fewer than four tricks, make the declaration that -will lose the least. The score will often warrant a risky make, but -consider that your partner knew the score and did not deem his hand -worth a venture. Do not flatter your partner by a few kind remarks -and then place a hand on the table that is a disgrace to your -judgment. - -When you are ahead on the game, avoid all weak heart and diamond -makes. If you must gamble, a “no-trump” make is a safer speculation. - -With four or more clubs, including two honours and one or two -worthless spades, clubs will usually prove the more profitable -declaration. For defensive purposes a club is useful and is a safer -defence than an extremely weak spade, which the adversaries will -probably double. - -Do not hesitate to make it spades when your hand is weak; and be -cautious at all times about making a declaration which will more -easily win the game for your adversaries than for you. - - -ABANDONING SPADE HANDS - -A custom that is rapidly growing in favour is that of not playing an -undoubled spade make unless the dealer is 20 or more on the game. If -the hand is not to be played, the dealer scores two points for the -odd trick and the honours are credited to the side that holds them. - -All Bridge players have objected at times to the tediousness of spade -hands, and this may be the cause of the increasing popularity of this -innovation in the more prominent clubs. When Bridge is played for a -stake, the result is reached in a much shorter time by throwing spade -hands, but there is no reason why other players should not find as -much interest in a spade hand as in a stronger declaration. - -The rule of abandoning spade hands unless the dealer is 20 or more -is unsound. If this custom is to stand the test of time, it must be -equitable. It should read: “If either side is 20 or more the hand -should be played.” It is an obvious injustice to the adversaries not -to play a spade hand when the dealer is, say, 14 and the adversaries -28; for, if the opponents do not double, they have no chance to win -the game on that hand; while if they do double, a redouble might -follow, which would give the dealer an excellent chance to win the -game. - - - - -DOUBLING - - -With any kind of fair strength the novice at Bridge is invariably -anxious to double; but a few experiences with an adversary glad to -embrace the opportunity to redouble, will turn the course of his -anxiety to a desire to conceal such strength as he may hold. - -Ordinarily be satisfied to win at all on the opponent’s make. By -doubling you not only place the strength and thus enable the dealer -to finesse successfully, but your double is a warning to the dealer -to be cautious in leading trumps, and therefore, lessens your chances -of winning tricks. - -To increase safely the value of the tricks it is essential that you -consider the state of the score, the possibility of a redouble, and -your position in regard to the maker. - -The score is a most important factor, and even, at times, justifies -a double with only a fair hand. For instance, suppose the odd trick -wins the game for your adversaries, and does not win it for you; if -you double and secure the odd trick, the additional count may enable -you to win the game on that deal or the next. - -It is bad play to double when you need only an odd trick to win the -game. If you double you lessen your chance of winning the trick, and -by opening the way to a redouble perhaps give the adversaries the -game. - -Doubling on the rubber game is dangerous. The increased value of the -tricks may enable your adversaries to win the rubber on that hand, -when, otherwise, you might go out on the next deal. - -Your position in regard to the maker claims equal consideration. If -the trump has been made at your right, you play after the strong -hand, and are, therefore, in a good position to make your high trump -cards; but, if you double when this arrangement is reversed, and the -maker is over you, the dealer has this advantage. - -As spades are made for safety, occasions for doubling the spade -declaration obviously arise more frequently than any other; yet -players are prone to go to extremes in doubling spade hands, for, -while it does not require much strength to double a defensive spade -declaration, there is always a possibility of great trump strength in -the adversaries’ hands. - -Do not double the make of hearts, diamonds, or clubs without some -strength in the trump suit; as high cards, particularly if the -suits are long, may be trumped, strength in the side suits alone is -unreliable. Spades, however, may be doubled with but little strength -in the trump suit. - -Be particularly conservative in doubling a “no-trump” make; for but -rarely does it pay to double with a hand containing general strength. -Remember that while you are in the dark as to your partner’s hand, -the dealer has the enormous advantage of seeing and combining his -own hand and the dummy; that he knows what suit to avoid, and what -suit to establish; and that your doubling will place him in a still -more advantageous position by enabling him to locate honours and make -successful finesses. Be cautious, also, when you hold fair strength -in three suits and are weak in the remaining one. The maker is apt to -hold a very long suit and you will not find it easy to discard, and -at the same time protect your hand. - -Usually it is not safe to double a “no-trump” make unless you hold -a suit that you are reasonably sure is established. It is a gamble -to double with a six-card suit headed by ace, king, and queen with -no other trick in the hand. You depend on your partner to take one -trick, which he may not be able to do; and, should you find your long -suit protected in the adversaries’ hands, you run the risk of being -very badly beaten. If the odd trick wins the game for the adversaries -and does not win it for you, such a double may be justifiable; still -you cannot hope to win more than 24 points by doubling, and you risk -losing three or four odd tricks with a possibility of a redouble. -While such a double will often succeed it can hardly be classed as -sound. - -As the younger hand, it may be wise to double a “no-trump” make in -order to prevent great loss or to save the game. In other words, it -may pay to show your partner by a double that you have strength in -a particular suit. There are at present two methods used by Bridge -players to indicate this strength, one known as the Heart Convention -and the other as the Weak Suit Convention. - - -REDOUBLING - -Although the score may sometimes warrant a redouble without -extraordinary strength, a redouble practically avows the ability -to take six, and probably, seven tricks. In estimating your hand -consider the possibility of finding all the remaining trumps in one -hand, and do not value honours in the side suits too highly, for if -he holds great trump strength the maker is probably short in the -other suits. A redouble at “no-trump” indicates protection in every -suit. - -The dealer should often redouble, not so much on the strength of his -hand, but to the score; knowing that should the adversaries win the -odd trick the game is lost, and that his redouble will equalise the -situation and make it possible for the odd trick to win the game for -either side. - - -ESTIMATING THE VALUE OF A HAND - -In considering your probable tricks those in the trump suit are of -course most certain. - -On the right side of the maker three trumps with a single honour, -ace, king, or queen, may be estimated as being worth but one trick. - -Do not count on ruffing with a single trump. - -Should you hold three trumps with two honours, headed by the ace -king, the king queen, or even the king jack, you are reasonably sure -of two tricks in the trump suit--as can also be said of four trumps -with two high honours. Indeed in the last combination, with the third -best card an eight or better, there are probably three trump tricks. - -With four trumps including three, or five trumps including two -honours, provided the suit is headed by the ace or king, you can -reasonably expect to secure three tricks in the trump suit. - -Aces and kings in the side suits are usually good for a trick each; -but allow for the length of the suit, the shorter it is the less -probability that your honours will be trumped. It is not safe to -count on making your queens; they may be classed as doubtful tricks. - -Spades may be doubled with four tricks. To double hearts, diamonds, -or clubs you should be sure of five tricks. - - -THE LEAD WHEN PARTNER HAS DOUBLED - -A double by your partner indicates some strength in trumps as well as -in the side suits. It does not necessarily imply a desire to get the -trumps out, nor should you invariably lead trumps when your partner -has doubled; your play must be influenced by the general character of -your own hand. - -If you hold a short suit it is obviously a better lead than trumps. -You may be able to ruff with your small trumps. - -It is also bad play to lead trumps up to the maker. This would place -your partner’s high cards in a position to be easily captured by the -dealer. - -When dummy is the maker, the trump lead from weakness through the -strong hand gives your partner the advantage of position; but it is -safer play to win the first trick, if possible, and decide on your -subsequent play after seeing the dummy hand. - -Avoid leading trumps to your partner if you hold the ace, the king, -or the queen of trumps guarded; your partner may have doubled on high -suit cards with but little strength in trumps. - -In leading trumps from weakness always lead the highest card, so that -your partner can discover the distribution of the suit, and place the -dealer’s trumps. - -As a doubled spade make does not of necessity show strength in -trumps, it is not as a rule the custom of good players to lead -spades, except from strength, before seeing the dummy hand. If -you hold trump strength your partner has probably doubled on his -suit cards, and your trump lead will insure the safety of his high -cards. Should you hold a strong suit hand, your partner’s double is -presumably an indication of trump strength, and the trump opening -would be advisable. - -With only fair strength in the side suits and weak trumps, especially -where you hold a short suit, do not be tempted to lead the trump -originally. Wait until you learn more of the position of the cards. - - -THE HEART CONVENTION - -When you have the first lead and your partner has doubled a -“no-trump” make, you are expected to lead your highest heart. - -Under this system the younger hand does not double “no-trumps” unless -he is willing that a heart should be led; and although the doubling -power of the younger hand is reduced, it makes your lead, unless you -have the misfortune to hold no heart, a practical certainty. - -Should you hold an established suit and the ace of hearts you must, -of course, double to have the heart led. When you hold an established -suit of hearts, or a long suit of hearts that can be established in -one lead and a sure card of re-entry, a double may save the game. - - -THE WEAK SUIT CONVENTION - -In England and in some parts of this country, if the younger hand -doubles it is a signal for his partner to lead the highest card of -his weakest suit; trusting that this weak suit and the doubler’s long -one will prove identical. - -As this convention justifies a double with any established suit, it -multiplies the opportunities to double; but, on the other hand, since -the leader may have to choose between two weak suits, there is no -certainty that he will make the desired lead; he may instead strike -the dealer’s long suit with a disastrous result. - - - - -THE NON-DEALER’S PLAY AGAINST A DECLARED TRUMP - - -Remember that in playing against a trump declaration, unless it be -spades, you are sure to find trump strength, probably five or more, -with the maker. If you are weak in the trump suit, and your partner -does not show strength by doubling, your best defence is an endeavour -to save the game by making high cards early in the hand. - -In playing against a red declaration, be on the defensive from the -start. The only time that you can afford to be aggressive is when it -is evident that the dealer is trying to establish a “cross-ruff,” or -a “ruff” in the weak trump hand. - -It is an advantage to win the first trick, as this enables you to -see the thirteen cards in dummy. The scheme of play of a hand may be -changed after the dummy is seen; therefore, it is not possible to -state what should be done after the opening lead; but, as a general -principle, it is safe either to continue the suit led originally or -to endeavour to help your partner’s hand by leading through strength. -You should be careful at all times neither to establish a suit for -the adversary, nor to give the dealer an opportunity to discard his -worthless cards. - -When there is an established suit against you, unless you can stop -the dealer’s lead of trumps, make all possible tricks before you give -up the lead. If the dealer once obtains the lead, he may exhaust the -trumps, and make the established suit. - -As the dealer sees the dummy hand and his own, and therefore knows -the cards that are against him, give your partner correct information -regarding the cards you hold. While this may be valuable to the -dealer in placing the cards, the knowledge will be of greater benefit -to your partner and yourself. - - -THE OPENING LEAD - -When trumps are against you, unless you lead your high cards early in -the hand you may lose them. The dealer may be able to exhaust trumps, -and make some one suit on which to discard his losing cards. When -your hand is strong in each suit, there is not this danger; there can -be no established suit against you. - -No doubt the best opening that can be made against a trump -declaration is from a combination containing both ace and king. The -lead of the king from this combination gives you an opportunity to -see the dummy and does not clear the suit for the adversary. While -the king lead should usually be followed by the ace, in some cases, -where it is apparent that the dealer’s weak hand can trump on the -second round, or that the lead may clear the suit for the dealer or -dummy, the suit should not be continued. It is rarely wrong to lead -from a sequence, especially from one of three high cards. If you -hold no sequence of three, perhaps those containing two honours in -sequence, such as king queen, queen jack, or even jack ten, may be -classed as good openings. Often when you hold no high card sequence, -the lead is a disadvantage; experience shows that you make more -tricks in a suit if it is led to you; for that reason it is often -advisable to refrain from opening tenace suits or suits with a single -honour. - -The following are given as examples of combinations from which it is -not advisable to lead: - - A Q x x - A J x x - K J x x - K x x x - -In opening a suit headed by the ace, avoid the lead of a low card. -The dealer may win the first round and find means to discard his -remaining losing cards in that suit. - -No objection can be raised to the lead of an ace with four or more -other cards in the suit, but with less than five it is better play -to avoid leading that suit. If the lead comes up to you, the ace may -kill some high cards in the adversary’s hand and promote the value -of the cards held by your partner; whereas if you lead the ace -presumably only small cards will fall, making high ones good for the -dealer. - -If your hand is hopelessly weak in trumps and in side suits, even -with but three cards in the suit, an ace should be led in order to -save a grand slam. - -If you are forced to open a suit containing a single honour, or a -suit with two honours not in sequence, not including suits headed by -the ace, the fourth best card should be led. - -The following are given as examples of combinations from which the -fourth best card should be led: - - K J x x - K 10 x x - K x x x - Q x x x - Q 10 x x - J x x x - 10 x x x - -With a long weak suit it is better play to lead the fourth best card. -Any irregular lead may suggest a short suit to your partner, and loss -may result from his incorrect interpretation of the lead. - - -EXAMPLES OF OPENING LEADS - -THE UNDERLINED CARD INDICATES THE LEAD. - -(_Hearts_) TRUMP DECLARED BY DEALER. - - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets. | - | For example [K]. | - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - - _Holding the Lead._ - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - | ♥ | ♠ | ♦ | ♣ | - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - | J 8 2 | K J 7 6 | A [K] Q 5 3 |7 | - | 8 |[A] Q 6 5 4 2 | Q 8 4 | 9 8 | - | J 10 | 10 8 4 | K J 9 |[A] 8 7 4 3 | - | 6 4 |[A] Q J 10 9 | 7 3 2 | 9 6 4 | - | 10 4 | A 6 |[A] J 7 5 3 2 | 8 7 5 | - | 9 7 | A [K] 4 | A 8 6 4 3 | 7 6 3 | - | 6 5 3 | 8 6 5 2 | K J 5 3 |[A] K | - | J 6 5 | 9 6 4 2 |[A] 10 | 9 7 4 3 | - | 9 5 3 |[A] 6 | K 9 5 2 | A Q 5 4 | - | 8 6 5 | 9 6 3 |[A] J 9 4 | 10 5 3 | - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - - _Leading from a Sequence._ - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - | ♥ | ♠ | ♦ | ♣ | - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - | 8 6 | A 5 | A J 5 |[K] Q J 7 6 4 | - | 9 8 6 4 | 7 | A 8 5 3 |[K] Q J 10 | - | K 8 5 | 8 5 4 | 10 6 5 3 |[Q] J 10 | - | K 10 5 | K 6 3 |[K] Q 8 5 | A 7 3 | - | A J 6 | K 6 4 | 8 6 4 3 |[K] Q J | - | Q 7 5 |[Q] J 10 6 | A 8 5 | A Q 7 | - | J 6 4 | 10 |[K] Q J 9 7 5 | Q 7 3 | - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - - _Leading from Long Suits._ - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - | ♥ | ♠ | ♦ | ♣ | - +--------------+----------------+---------------+--------------+ - | Q J 7 4 | K 10 8 [4] | A 7 | J 9 5 | - | K 6 |[Q] J 9 6 4 | 9 8 6 | 6 5 2 | - | 8 5 | A J 6 | K J [10] 8 5 | K 7 4 | - | J 10 | Q J 7 [3] | A Q 6 3 | A J 8 | - | A J 7 5 | 4 3 | 10 8 7 [4] 2 | Q 5 | - | J 8 5 3 | K 10 7 [5] 3 | A 8 6 | 8 | - | 8 6 4 | 9 5 2 | 8 6 3 | Q 9 6 [4] | - | 10 6 | K 10 8 [3] | 10 7 6 2 | A J 5 | - | K 10 7 | A J 8 | 10 7 5 [4] | Q 9 2 | - | A J | J 6 4 | Q 10 8 [6] 2 | 8 5 3 | - +--------------+----------------+-------------+----------------+ - - -INFERENCES FROM HIGH CARD LEADS - -It is not easy to determine from the lead of a high card how many -cards are held in the suit. You can only assume the length from the -number of cards you hold and the number in dummy. The fall of the -cards may give the information, but you cannot rely altogether on the -dealer’s play; it is his object to make it difficult for you to place -the cards. - -=The lead of an ace= denies the king. If the king is neither -in dummy nor in your own hand, it should be placed with the dealer. -Should your partner, however, lead an ace and follow with the king, -the lead indicates that he holds no other card of that suit, and -should enable you to locate the queen. - -Among the better players the lead of an ace also denies the queen, -since if the suit is led up to the ace, queen, tenace, two tricks may -be made. This inference, however, should not be too rigidly drawn, -because great length in the suit might justify an opening from an -ace-queen combination. - -The lead of an ace followed by the queen indicates the jack. - -The lead of an ace followed by the jack indicates the ten, or no -other card in the suit. - -If it develops that your partner has led the ace from ace and two -small cards, it indicates either a very weak hand or a tenace in some -other suit. - -=The lead of a king= indicates the ace, the queen, or both. -Should the king win the first trick, you should infer that your -partner holds the ace. If the king is taken by the ace, the queen is -marked in your partner’s hand. If the king is followed by the ace, it -denies the queen. - - { A K Q - { A K J - =The king should be led from= { A K x - { K Q J - { K Q x - -=The lead of a queen= denies the ace and the king, consequently -the lead places both of these high cards. - -If a queen is led by your partner, you should infer that the lead is -from jack ten; perhaps it would be better to say that the lead shows -the jack. If you find the jack is either on the table or in your own -hand, the lead was evidently from a short suit; queen and one or a -singleton. - - {Q J 10 - {Q J 9 - {Q J x - =The queen should be led from= {Q J - {Q x - {Q - -=The lead of a jack= denies the ace, the king, and the queen; -consequently your partner holds no higher card of the suit; against a -declared trump, it usually indicates a short suit. - -There is some difference of opinion among Bridge players as to this -lead; the jack is sometimes led from king queen jack, from king jack -ten, and even from ace jack ten. The lead of a jack as the top card -does away with the confusion that is caused by numerous interior -leads. It simplifies the lead and facilitates the placing of higher -cards. - - {J 10 9 - {J 10 - =The jack should be led from= {J x - {J - -=The lead of the ten= indicates the king jack and ten and denies -both ace and queen. If either the king or the jack is in your hand or -in dummy, the ten lead denies any higher card, and is probably the -top of a short suit. - - { K J 10 x - { 10 9 x - =The ten should be led from= { 10 9 - { 10 x - { 10 - -=The lead of a nine= denies all higher cards of the suit; it is -led only as a top card, and usually indicates a short suit. - - - { 9 8 x - =The nine should be led from= { 9 x - { 9 - - -INFERENCES FROM LOW CARD LEADS - -An application of the Rule of Eleven will materially assist you -to draw correct inferences from the lead of a small card. It will -indicate whether the lead is from a short or a long suit. - -If you see more high cards than the Rule of Eleven would allow, you -can mark the lead, not as fourth best, but as the top of a short -suit. If the lead indicates a long suit, you can often determine the -exact combination of cards from which it has been made. - - -=The Rule of Eleven= - - Deduct the size of the card led from eleven, - and the difference will show how many cards - higher than the one led are held _outside_ the - leader’s hand. - -The lead of an eight or a seven (except at no-trumps) is more apt to -be from a short than from a long suit; combinations in which these -cards would be fourth best are seldom opened by good players. - -It will be easier for your partner to read your lead, if with long -weak suits, headed by jack, ten, or nine, you lead the fourth best -card. These cards can be led to indicate a short suit. - -You can determine the length of your partner’s suit by noticing the -fall of the low cards. - -When it is evident that your partner has led the lowest card of his -suit, his lead indicates exactly four cards. If your partner is -leading from a long suit and plays down on the second round, he holds -more than four cards. - - -EXAMPLES OF INFERENCE FROM OPENING LEADS - -A is the leader, Y the dummy, Z the dealer. - - 7♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - A♠ | A B | 8♠ 5♠ 4♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -A’s lead of the ace denies the king and probably the queen; both of -these cards should be placed in the dealer’s hand. - - 8♠ 7♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - Q♠ | A B | A♠ 9♠ 3♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -Third hand should play ace on queen; king is in -the dealer’s hand. A has probably led from queen -jack ten. - - 9♠ 5♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - J♠ | A B | K♠ 6♠ 3♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -B should play the three; his partner’s lead indicates the top card, -and also shows that both ace and queen are in the dealer’s hand. - - J♠ 8♠ 5♠ - x-------x - | Y | - 10♠ | A B | A♠ 6♠ 4♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -A’s lead of ten with jack on the table indicates -the top of a short suit. King and queen should be -placed in the dealer’s hand. - - 8♠ 7♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - 9♠ | A B | A♠ 10♠ 3♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -The lead indicates the top, probably, of a short suit. King, queen, -and jack are all marked in the dealer’s hand. - - -ORIGINAL TRUMP OPENINGS - -If a trump has been declared by the dealer it is not, as a rule, -good play to lead trumps up to his strong hand; this lead would -necessarily place any high trump cards that your partner may hold -in a bad position. If, however, you hold a sequence in trumps and -strength in the side suits consisting of combinations from which you -do not wish to lead, a trump lead is admissible. - -The following are given as examples of hands from which the trump -should be led when the dealer is the maker. In these cases hearts are -trumps. - - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | [K] Q J | A Q x x | K x | K J x x | - | [K] Q | K J x x | A Q x | K x x x | - | [Q] J 10 | A J x x | A Q x | K x x | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - The underlined card indicates the lead. - - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets. | - | For example [K]. | - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - -When dummy is the maker of the trump, there are many hands from which -the trump should be led as an initial opening. If you hold tenace -suits, or suit containing single honours, and the adversary or your -partner leads to you, you are in a better position to make your high -cards, hence a trump opening in order to throw the lead. - -If, however, you hold a sequence in any one suit, the trump lead -is not necessary. Leading from a sequence is always good play, and -rarely results in loss. - -The following hands are given as examples of original trump openings -when dummy is the maker. - - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | ♥ | ♦ | ♣ | ♠ | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | [J] 10 | A Q x | K J x x |A Q x x | - | [9] x | A J x x | A x x x |K x x x | - | [7] 3 | A Q x | K x x x |K J x x | - | [8] 5 | A Q x x x | A J x |K Q x | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - The underlined card indicates the lead. - - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets. | - | For example [K]. | - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - - -ORIGINAL TRUMP OPENINGS FROM STRENGTH - -It is advisable to lead trumps from strength in comparatively few -hands, for the reason that the lead indicates to the dealer the -position of the trump strength held against him. If, however, you -hold four or five trumps without an honour, and combinations in the -plain suits from which you do not wish to lead, the trump may be led -through the strong hand. This is especially true of a four-trump -hand, which contains three cards of each of the other suits. - -Avoid opening the trump from strength when you hold a single honour, -or even two honours. You will gain, by waiting for the lead to come -to you. - - -THE TRUMP LEAD AGAINST A SPADE MAKE - -As a rule, the aggressive spirit that should characterise the -non-dealer’s play of a spade hand is lacking. While a spade is not -necessarily made from weakness, the declaration in itself shows -sufficient weakness in the side suits to embolden the adversaries’ -play. With a hand containing five trumps (spades) the initial opening -should be the trump. Your partner must hold suit strength which your -trump lead will protect. - -If your five trumps contain a tenace and you can advantageously lead -from another suit, it may be advisable to wait for your partner to -lead to your tenace, particularly if by doubling you have indicated -trump strength. - -If you have been redoubled and your hand contains four trumps and -strength in the side suits, the trump lead requires more careful -consideration. - -Unless your partner has doubled the spade declaration it is -impossible for you to place the trump strength, and you should be -cautious about leading originally from a short trump suit. - - -HOW TO PLAY TO PARTNER’S TRUMP OPENING - -Any trump opening from your partner is an indication of strength, -usually of strength in the side suits. It does not necessarily -follow that your partner wants the trumps out, but _it is_ an -indication that he is anxious to have his suits led to. If you win -the first trick in the trump suit, look to see if dummy offers you -an advantageous lead. If you hold fair strength in the side suits -with no protected honour in trumps and no short suit, there can be no -objection to the return of the trump lead; but if you hold a tenace -over dummy’s strength in trumps, or a high card that is protected, -it would be a bad play to return the trump lead. Wait until your -partner or the adversary leads up to you. Do not return the trump -lead if you hold a short suit. Lead the short suit. You may be given -an opportunity to make one of your trumps. - - -LEADING TRUMPS TO PREVENT A RUFF IN THE WEAK TRUMP HAND - -When the dealer seems backward about leading trumps, the inference is -that he is trying to establish a ruff in the weak trump hand, and you -should be on the alert to prevent this by leading trumps (through the -strength). It may be necessary for you to lead the trump after your -initial lead. It may be advisable to stop leading a suit, which would -help to establish a ruff in the weak hand; or it may be essential -that you try to place your partner in the lead, so that he can lead -the trumps through the strong hand. If you are weak in dummy’s long -suit, it is always more or less dangerous to lead trumps. When this -is the case, your lead might help the dealer to exhaust trumps and -make this long suit. - - -SHORT SUIT OPENINGS - -In Bridge the term short suit implies a singleton or a two-card -suit, although, strictly speaking, any suit of fewer than four cards -is short. With a very weak hand (no high cards in any suit) it is -evident that the only possible way of making tricks is by a short -lead, which may enable you to ruff the suit on the second or third -round. With a hand that contains tenace suits or suits with a single -honour, it is often advisable to lead short; this opening gives you a -double advantage; you may have an opportunity to ruff, and you throw -the lead with the purpose of having your honour suits led up to. - -With most players the desire to make a small trump is very strong, -and often leads to thoroughly unsound openings. It is always wrong -to open a short suit when you hold an ace king suit. Why play in the -dark, when by leading the king of your ace king suit, you are in a -position to hold the lead until you have seen dummy and can judge as -to the advisability of the weak lead? A suit headed by king queen -is also a safer opening than a short lead, which may establish the -suit for the dealer; although, if you hold an honour that will stop -the adversaries’ trump lead, say an ace or a guarded king, you are -almost certain to be in the lead before the dealer has an opportunity -to discard worthless cards on his established suit. Any short lead -may establish a suit for the dealer or dummy; in fact, the chances -are that it will. If you are weak in trumps and have little or no -strength in the side suits, you have not much to lose by the short -lead. The dealer will establish and make his suit with or without -help. On the other hand, if you are strong in trumps, you may be able -to make it most difficult for the dealer to exhaust the trumps and -make a suit unless, by your weak lead, you establish it for him. - -With strength in trumps the short opening is unsound, particularly -with four trumps is it apt to ruin your hand. One force given your -hand makes it easy for the dealer to exhaust your trumps and to make -the suit that you, by your short lead, have established. - -With four trumps open your long suit. The maker probably holds five -trumps, and when one force is given to his hand, you have an equal -number. Even though your trumps are small the dealer must exhaust -his own to draw them, and a card of re-entry in your hand or that of -your partner will probably enable you to make your suit. At any rate, -you have made it difficult for the dealer to establish his suit, or -retrieve any subsequent error in his play. - -With five trumps and any good suit the latter should be opened. -When the make has been passed, should you hold no long suit, choose -preferably a short red suit. In other words lead up to the dealer’s -supposed weakness. - -With six trumps little or no objection can be raised to the short -lead. When the trump situation is known you may be forced to lead -them to the maker, so that you should early in the hand try to take -as many trump tricks as possible. - -At all times select the highest card of a short suit for the lead. -This is done to give requisite information to your partner. Unless he -can see, in his hand or dummy, great strength in the suit, the lead -of a very low card is most difficult to read as short. - -The following are given as examples of hands from which a short suit -may be led. The trump (hearts) declared by the dealer. The card -underlined indicates the lead. - - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets. | - | For example [K]. | - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | ♥ | ♣ | ♦ | ♠ | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - | K 5 2 | A J 6 4 |[10] 9 | A Q 5 3 | - | A 9 3 |[8] 6 | 9 7 4 2 | Q 8 6 4 | - | A Q 8 | K J 6 3 |[J] 10 | K 8 4 2 | - | A 9 3 |[Q] | K 8 6 4 2 | J 8 5 3 | - | Q 5 2 |[J] 10 4 | K 8 4 | K 5 4 2 | - | J 7 3 | A Q 9 6 |[K] Q | K J 4 2 | - | 8 6 2 |[9] | J 8 6 4 2 | 10 8 4 | - | 7 5 | Q 6 4 3 |[9] 8 | 10 6 5 3 2 | - +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ - - -LEADING THROUGH STRENGTH - -The fundamental idea of leading through strength is to help your -partner to make his high cards by allowing him to play after the -exposed hand. “Leading through” means to make a person play second -hand to the trick. You always lead through your left hand adversary. - -Should your partner hold K J x with A Q x in dummy, it is obvious -that if you lead through the suit, your partner may win two tricks, -whereas if he is forced to lead up to the strength, one trick at -least would be lost. Players will often say, “How can I know that -my partner has any high cards in that suit?” Perhaps you cannot be -certain of the distribution of the high cards; in leading through -strength you hope that your partner holds the missing honours, -realising that if all the strength is with the dealer, nothing -is lost. “Leading through strength” is simply looking ahead and -foreseeing what may happen. In other words, not placing your partner -in a position whereby he may be forced to lead up to the strength in -dummy. - - -WHEN TO LEAD THROUGH STRENGTH - -After taking the first trick, study the dummy carefully in order to -see which suit may be led through advantageously. If there are two -suits to choose from, select the suit in which you are short, hoping -it may afford you an opportunity to make a small trump. - -The fall of the cards will often indicate that your partner can -trump the second or third round of the suit you are leading. Before -giving him the ruff, consider that he will be compelled to lead, and -if there is no suit in dummy that he can lead to advantageously, it -is better for you to lead through the strength on the table than to -force your partner to lead up to the strong hand. Of course, if it -is necessary to save the game by all means give your partner the -ruff, but if, on the other hand, you hold the ace or guarded king -of trumps, _i.e._ a high card that will stop the adversary’s trump -lead, it is preferable to lead through dummy’s strength. Later you -can stop the trump lead and give your partner the ruff. - - -CHOICE OF SUITS TO LEAD THROUGH - -In leading through strength, certain suits are preferable to others. -A guarded king in the dummy is an ideal suit to lead through when you -hold the queen, jack, ten of the same suit. By leading the queen, if -your partner holds the ace, you can prevent dummy’s king from making. - -In leading through strength, avoid a suit in which you yourself hold -a protected honour. For instance, holding king, jack, small, it would -be bad play to lead through ace, queen, ten, as this would give the -dummy an opportunity to make three tricks in the suit. - -The following may be classed as good combinations from which to lead -through strength in dummy: - - =Holding= =Lead through= - - J 10 9 } - 10 9 x } A Q x in Dummy - x x x } - - x x x A J x or A x x in Dummy - - 10 9 x } K J x in Dummy - x x x } - - Q J 10 } - Q J x } - Q x } K x x in Dummy - J 10 x } - 10 9 x } - x x x } - - J 10 9 } - J 10 x } Q x x in Dummy - x x x } - -In leading through any of these combinations, the top card of a -sequence should be led. In fact, with three cards or fewer in a suit, -it is almost an invariable rule to lead the highest card. - -The following are combinations which should be led through only as a -last resort: - - =Holding= =Avoid leading through= - - { A J x - Q x x { A 10 x in Dummy - { K J x - { K 10 x - - { A Q x - { A J x - K x x { A x x in Dummy - { Q J x - { Q x x - { Q x - - J x x x { A 10 x - { K 10 x in Dummy - - -SUGGESTIONS FOR THIRD HAND PLAY - -When you are trying to win the trick, play high third in hand; but -if your cards, or your cards combined with those in the dummy are in -sequence, play the lowest card of the sequence. - -Do not finesse against your partner; help his hand at the sacrifice -of your high card. If, however, you hold ace, jack, small,--with -king or queen in dummy,--the play of the jack is permissible; your -partner’s lead practically shows one of these honours. - -When you hold the ace and your partner leads a jack through a guarded -king or queen in dummy, it is often good play to pass the first -trick. By playing the ace you will probably establish two high cards -for the dealer. - -If your partner’s lead clearly indicates a short suit, with the ace -marked in the dealer’s hand, do not sacrifice a king. Allow the -dealer to win the trick cheaply, if necessary, but keep your king -guarded. By playing a low card you may deceive an unwary dealer, and -at any rate you will put the dealer to some trouble to catch your -king. - -At “no-trump,” provided the dummy holds an honour, you should finesse -deeply in your partner’s suit. The application of the Eleven Rule -will materially help you in finessing. When there is a guarded queen -in the dummy and you hold the king, ten, small, or ace, ten, small, -to finesse is sound play. If dummy holds a twice guarded king and you -hold the ace, jack, small, it often pays not to take the finesse, for -should you abandon the suit to wait until your partner can again lead -through the king, you may take out the only re-entry card in his hand. - -Unless your partner holds two re-entries, you gain nothing by the -finesse. - - -INFERENCES FROM THIRD-HAND PLAY - -It is very important for the leader, especially in a “no-trump” hand, -to be in a position to determine whether his suit should be continued -or abandoned. Careful notice of the card your partner plays to the -first trick will often enable you to place the high cards in that -suit, and in this way suggest your subsequent play. - -The following are given as illustrations of inferences to be drawn by -the leader from third-hand play: - -A and B are partners, and the underlined card in each example -indicates A’s lead; Y’s cards are exposed. - - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets. | - | For example [K]. | - +---------------------------------------------------------+ - 8♠ 7♠ - x-------x - | Y | - K♠ 10♠ 6♠ [5♠] | A B | Q♠ - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ - -B’s play of queen denies the jack, which should therefore be marked -in the dealer’s hand. The small cards cannot be placed. - - 6♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - A♠ J♠ 7♠ [5♠] | A B | 9♠ - | Z | - x-------x - K♠ - -B’s play of the nine denies the eight and the queen. Both of these -cards must be in the dealer’s hand. The ten should be placed with B. -The leader, in order to catch the dealer’s queen, must await a return -of the suit. - - 7♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - Q♠ 9♠ 6♠ [5♠] | A B | J♠ - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ - -The play of the jack denies the ten and the king; both of these cards -are marked in the dealer’s hand. Should A continue this suit, it -would allow the dealer to make tricks with both ten and king. The -suit must be abandoned until the lead can come from B’s hand. - - J♠ 8♠ - x-------x - | Y | - K♠ 9♠ 7♠ [6♠] | A B | Q♠ - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ - -B’s play of the queen with the jack exposed on the table denies the -ten, which must be in the dealer’s hand. - - 10♠ 7♠ 5♠ - x-------x - | Y | - J♠ 9♠ 8♠ [6♠] | A B | K♠ - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ - -B’s play of the king denies the queen. To continue the suit might -allow the dealer to make two tricks. A should abandon the suit until -B can return it through the dealer’s hand. - - J♠ 7♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - 10♠ 9♠ 6♠ [4♠] | A B | Q♠ - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ - -It is impossible to tell whether the king is held by the dealer or -by B. The suit, however, may be continued with the ten. If B holds -the king this may shut out the jack. If the dealer holds the king -probably nothing will be lost. - - 8♠ 7♠ 5♠ - x-------x - | Y | - [Q♠] J♠ 10♠ 9♠ | A B | A♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -B’s play of the ace denies the king, which should be placed with -the dealer. - - - K♠ 6♠ 5♠ - x-------x - | Y | - Q♠ 8♠ 7♠ [2♠] | A B | A♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -It is customary holding the ace and jack with the king or queen in -dummy to finesse the jack third in hand. B’s play of ace would, -therefore, deny the jack, which is marked with the dealer. Avoid -continuing the suit. - - K♠ 6♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - Q♠ 7♠ 5♠ [3♠] | A B | 10♠ - | Z | - x-------x - 8♠ - -As the dealer does not take the ten, the ace and jack are presumably -in B’s hand. B’s play of ten denies the nine, which should be placed -with the dealer. - - 6♠ 4♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - J♠ 8♠ 7♠ [5♠] | A B | A♠ K♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -B plays ace to the first trick, and returns the king; this indicates -no more cards in the suit, and marks the queen in the dealer’s hand. - - -LEADING UP TO DUMMY - -With dummy on your right, you should invariably lead up to the weak -suit. This is especially important when you hold no high cards in the -suit, for in this case the strength lies between your partner and the -dealer. By leading through the dealer’s hand you give your partner -the advantage of position; otherwise he may be forced to lead up to -the dealer’s strength. - -In leading up to weakness, the general rule of leading the highest -card of a sequence should be followed. It is often good play, when -dummy holds no honour in the suit, to lead a card higher than dummy’s -best. This permits your partner, if the lead is not covered, to pass -the trick. - -If dummy’s weakness is in the trump suit, your best play will often -be to lead trumps through the dealer’s strong hand, rather than to -lead up to the high cards in dummy. If you hold a guarded king and -dummy a guarded queen, do not be tempted to lead up to this honour. - -It would be obviously wrong to lead up to a king if you hold the -ace. You must wait until this suit is led by the adversary or your -partner. Do not lead up to an ace in dummy if you hold the king. You -are reasonably sure to make a trick with this card if you wait until -the suit is led by the dealer or your partner. If you hold a sequence -headed by the queen or jack, little or no objection can be raised to -your leading up to an ace or king, and on each occasion the highest -card of the sequence should be led. - -Should you lead a low card up to dummy’s strong suit, your lead would -indicate a singleton and a desire to “ruff.” - - -THE ECHO - -In Whist the play to a lead of a high and then a lower card is a -signal for a lead of trumps, and is necessarily an indication of -strength in trumps. - -In Bridge this convention is used to show control of the third round -of the suit led. Some players use this echo or signal to show that -they can trump the third round of the suit, while with others it -implies control of the third round either with the high card or by a -“ruff.” - -This signal should not be used except on your partner’s lead of king, -as otherwise it would give information to the dealer. To use it -on the adversary’s lead would help the dealer to make successful -finesses, and to mark the distribution of the suits. Be careful when -you use this signal not to echo with an honour. If you hold Q x, J -x, 10 x, do not play the honour to the first trick; not only is your -partner apt to think you have no more of the suit, but these honours -are too valuable to throw away. - - -FORCING - -To force is to make a player trump. This will, of course, reduce his -trump strength and weaken his hand. It is as a rule good play to -force the adversary’s strong trump hand. It will often prevent his -exhausting the trumps, and hinder his bringing in an established suit. - -The beginner hesitates to force the strong trump hand. He feels that -he is wasting a high card and allowing the adversary to make a small -trump, not realising that no card of this suit can make, unless the -trumps are exhausted. - -If no force be given to the strong hand, it is, ordinarily, an easy -matter for the dealer to exhaust trumps and make a suit; unless there -is unusual length in trumps, judicious forcing will do more than -anything else to break down a strong trump hand. - -Do not lead a suit with the intention of forcing the strong hand -unless you hold the commanding card or can mark this card with your -partner; you may give the dealer an opportunity to win the trick and -to discard a worthless card. - -You should hesitate to force when by doing so you establish the -remaining cards of the suit for your opponent. - -You should not attempt to force the strong hand when there is an -established suit against you, particularly when it can be inferred -that the dealer has all the high cards in the trump suit. At this -time, make what you can in the remaining suit before you give up the -lead. - -It is wrong to force the weak hand. You lose one of your high cards, -and the maker’s trumps are still intact. Do not continue a suit when -it is shown that the weak hand can “ruff.” - -In playing against the make, if you infer that your partner is weak -in trumps and also short in a side suit, it is usually advisable to -allow him to make small trumps by forcing him. This should always -be done when a short suit has been led by your partner. His lead -practically asks for the “ruff.” - -If, however, your partner has doubled, be more careful about forcing -him. By reducing his trump strength you may severely injure his hand. - -It is bad play to lead a suit that both the dealer and the dummy can -trump. It allows the dealer to trump in one hand and to discard a -worthless card in the other. - - -RETURNING PARTNER’S LEAD - -Ordinarily it is not possible to establish a suit against the -dealer’s strong trump hand, and this does away with the usual -argument in favour of returning your partner’s original lead. On the -contrary, it is probably the last thing that should be done. Your -play is to make any high cards you may hold, and then to search for -a weak suit in the dummy hand. If you lead up to this weakness, the -dealer cannot place the strength in the suit, and your partner is in -a very good position to win a trick cheaply. - -After making your high cards, should there be no weak suit in dummy -to lead up to, return your partner’s lead. - - -SECOND-HAND PLAY - -When opposed to the dealer the question of correct second-hand play -is relative to your position at the table. That is whether you play -before the dummy or before the dealer. In other words, whether the -dummy is at your left or whether the dealer is at your left. - -If you will try to infer why the dealer is leading that suit, it -will assist you to decide on the correct second-hand play. It is, of -course, reasonable to suppose that he has some strength in the suit. -What this strength may be you must judge from the cards that you hold -and those that you see on the table. - - -WHEN YOU PLAY BEFORE THE DUMMY - -It is evident that when dummy is weak the second-hand play is greatly -simplified. You either play higher than dummy’s best, or pass the -trick to your partner. Should dummy hold strength or a high card in -the suit, it is usually better to play higher than any card dummy -holds. For instance, if you hold K x x, with the queen and others on -the table, your second-hand play would be the king; otherwise the -queen in dummy may win the trick. In this position, however, there -are times when a low card should be played. For instance, dummy holds -K with others, and you hold A J x; the second-hand play is low; for -should the adversary take the trick with the king and return the -same suit you win two tricks instead of one. If you hold ace and -one or two small cards with king and jack in dummy, the second-hand -play should be a low card. Should the dealer finesse the jack, your -partner may win the trick. - -Should dummy hold over you in a position to overtake any card you -may play, unless you hold two honours in sequence, always play your -lowest card. For instance, when you hold K J x, and dummy holds A Q -x, it is useless to play any card but the lowest. Dummy is sure to -win two tricks in the suit. - -If you hold K Q x with A J x in dummy, your two honours are in -sequence and the lower honour should be played. - -Should you hold A Q x with K J x in dummy, the ace is the best -second-hand play. If a low card be played, the dealer, by finessing -the jack, can place the ace and the queen in your hand, and of course -he will not continue the suit; while if the ace is played, the queen, -not being so clearly marked, may win the third round. - -Usually cover an honour with an honour even though you know that -your high card will be lost. Do so whenever you hold a fourchette; -whenever you hold the ten of the same suit, which you may eventually -make good; or whenever, by covering, you can reasonably hope to make -a card good in partner’s hand. It is not, however, advisable to cover -a queen led holding K x x x unless one of the small cards be a nine -or better; the adversary will find it difficult to catch a king that -is three times protected. On the other hand, a king that is once or -even twice guarded can be easily captured, and for that reason, and -with the object of promoting a card in your partner’s hand, it is -usually good play to cover the lead of a jack or queen. - -Do not give the dealer an indication of the cards that you hold by -hesitating in your play. Decide on and play a card quickly. If there -is a doubt as to your play, play your lowest, remembering that the -dealer must guess the position of missing honours. - - -WHEN YOU PLAY BEFORE THE DEALER - -When the dummy is weak and you play before the dealer, it is with -the assurance that the missing strength in the suit is over you. -This strength may be held by the dealer or by your partner. As he -is leading the suit, the chances are that the balance of strength -is with the dealer; therefore, unless you know that you can win the -trick, do not play a high card. - -With ace and others in a suit, if you do not play the ace second in -hand, the dealer may win the trick and discard his worthless cards in -that suit. The second-hand play of an ace is particularly necessary -later in the hand, and when the trumps are against you. - -When you play before the dealer follow the same general rules as to -covering an honour, and as to playing the lower of two honours in -sequence. If dummy holds an ace and others of a suit, and you hold -K J x play the king second hand. With small cards of a suit in dummy -and ace queen and others in your own hand, the ace should be played -second in hand. - - - - -INFERENCES - - -There is no subject in Whist or Bridge so interesting as that of -inferences. Each card that is played carries with it some information -that will often render valuable aid to the play of the hand. - -To be able to read the cards correctly, and to draw the proper -inferences, requires not only experience, but a certain amount -of inherent card genius. The beginner marvels at the amount of -information obtained by the expert, wondering how it can possibly -be secured. To the average person who sits down to watch a game of -Bridge there is nothing more demoralising than to see how readily the -good player finds out the location of most of the high cards, and, in -many cases, even the distribution of the various suits. - -Strange as it may seem, writers on Bridge and Whist have, as a -rule, devoted little space to this almost inexhaustible subject. A -good-sized book could be written entirely on inferences; and let -no one be discouraged at his lack of skill in this direction, for, -even among the good players, errors are very common. The best Bridge -players, however, are undoubtedly those who can draw inferences -quickly and correctly. - - -THE VALUE OF INFORMATION - -When playing against the dealer, give your partner all possible -information. Any deception or play of false cards, any irregular lead -that is not conventional, will often react to the benefit of the -dealer. - -Information may be given by leading correctly, by taking a trick as -cheaply as possible, by discarding properly, by correct second-hand -play, and by returning or not returning your partner’s lead. - -At times the information that you give your partner may benefit the -dealer by enabling him to mark the distribution of a suit, but more -often is it of greater value to your partner. The dealer knows from -the start the exact cards that are held against him; while your -partner needs all the information you can give to combine with you in -defending the dealer’s attack. - -There are players who claim that you should not lead the fourth best -card against a trump declaration, asserting that the information it -gives may benefit the dealer, and that, should a card lower than the -one led be played, your partner may think it a short lead. These -players make the distinction of leading their lowest card against -a declared trump, and the fourth best only against a “no-trump” -declaration. This may appeal to those who neither count cards nor -apply the useful Eleven Rule, but it does not satisfy the clever -player, who wishes to count his partner’s suit, and to determine the -exact combination of cards it contains. - -If you deprive your partner of the information to which he is -entitled, you rob Bridge of much of its intellectual pleasure. How -can he know when the weak hand can “ruff” your suit? How can he tell -whether a lead will force the strong hand or give it a discard? How -can he count your hand or the dealer’s? How can he make correct end -plays without knowing the position of the cards? - -Without this help to partnership play you are in no position to -combat the dealer. It is not difficult to win tricks from adversaries -who neither give, nor make use of information. - - -HOW TO DRAW INFERENCES - -Bridge is in this respect a much easier game than Whist. In Bridge -the declaration and the exposed dummy hand, both absent in Whist, -lend enormous assistance in locating the cards. - -The beginner invariably becomes interested in his own cards, or those -of the dummy, and plays without paying any particular attention to -the card that is led or to the one that wins the first trick; in -other words he knows nothing about the location of the cards in that -particular suit, and his disregard of the fall of the cards continues -throughout the entire hand. - -A notice which nothing escapes, the ability to count cards, and -absolute confidence in your partner’s play, is the _sine qua non_ of -correct inferences. - -Notice particularly the card that your partner leads; if it be a -high card, understand what it indicates; and, if it be a low card, -ascertain whether it is led from a long or a short suit. - -Watch the cards as they fall, the adversaries’ as well as your -partner’s, with unceasing attention, and make a mental interpretation -of each play, with due allowance for the dealer’s false cards. - -Don’t jump at a conclusion which masses the remaining cards of -a suit, but count each suit accurately, with a certainty of the -particular cards that must be held by the dealer and your partner. - -Much of the intellectual enjoyment of Bridge is derived from playing -your hand in conjunction with your partner’s. Credit your partner -with playing for the common interest of the hands and place absolute -confidence in the information he gives you. A trust in your partner’s -Bridge ability will overcome many an obstacle in the way of drawing -inferences. - - -INFERENCES REGARDING THE MAKE - -In many hands the declaration and the cards in dummy will show you -the dealer’s probable strength; and will also suggest the number of -trumps held by your partner. - -For instance, should you hold three trumps with three in the dummy, -you cannot expect your partner to hold more than two trumps, allowing -for at least five in the dealer’s hand. - -Should you hold four trumps, with three on the table, your partner -cannot have more than one; he may have none. - -Although at times you can place high cards in the trump suit, it is -difficult to locate honours in a “no-trump” hand. However, keeping -the general rules for the make in view, you can form some idea of the -adversary’s strength. - -When the dealer has passed the make you can often infer from his -subsequent play the absence of certain cards. For instance, should -the dealer, having passed the make, play two aces, he probably does -not hold much strength in the other two suits. - - -GENERAL INFERENCES - -When your partner makes what appears to be an unusual play, do not -condemn it, but ask yourself why the play was made. For instance, Why -does your partner not lead through the strength in dummy? It may be -that he has an honour in that suit, and is waiting for the adversary -to lead. - -Why does your partner lead up to dummy’s strong suit, instead of to -the weak one? He is probably leading a singleton, or he may be very -long in that suit and hopes that you will trump. - -Why does the dealer not lead trumps? He may be trying to establish a -“ruff” in the weak hand; he may be trying to arrange the lead so that -his trumps can be led advantageously from the weak hand; or it may be -because the balance of trump strength is against him. - -Why does your partner abandon his long suit against a “no-trump” -make? It is because his card of re-entry has been taken out, because -the suit is hopelessly against him, or because he is waiting for you -to lead through the dealer’s hand. - -Why does your partner refuse to return your lead in a “no-trump” -hand? It is either because he has no more of your suit, or because he -considers that his suit is stronger. - -Why does your partner immediately return your lead against a declared -trump, instead of showing his own suit, or leading up to dummy’s -weakness? He is evidently anxious to trump the third round of your -suit. - -With a “no-trump” hand, why does the dealer part with the ace of -his adversaries’ suit on the first round? It is because he has that -suit protected, because he can see enough tricks to win the game, or -because he is afraid that some other suit may be made against him. - -After you have led up to the weak suit in dummy, and your partner has -taken the trick cheaply, why is it that he does not return that suit? -He is evidently waiting for you to lead through the dealer’s hand. - -If, against a “no-trump” declaration, you are in doubt as to the -location of the winning card in your own suit, notice the card that -your partner plays in returning your lead, and remember that he will -return his highest card. This will enable you to tell what higher -cards are in dealer’s hand. - -If you lead a high card, against a “no-trump” make, notice the card -that your partner plays to the trick. If he has four or more of that -suit, he will not play his lowest. - -If the dealer takes out the commanding trump, he is either trying -to make you lead up to high cards in his hand, or some long suit is -established against you. If it is for the latter reason, be cautious -about forcing him. Make what you can in the remaining suit. It may be -dangerous to lose the lead. - -If the dealer continues to lead trumps after the trumps in the other -hands are exhausted, you should be careful not to give information -that will be of use to the dealer in locating successful finesses. - - - - -THE NON-DEALER’S PLAY OF A “NO-TRUMP” HAND - - -Usually lead from your longest suit, against a “no-trump” -declaration, trusting that it will prove to be the weak spot in the -maker’s hand, or that you may be able to take out any high cards held -against you and eventually establish the suit. To make an established -suit, it may be necessary to have a card of re-entry. Therefore, be -careful not to lead aces and kings in order to see dummy. These cards -should be reserved as re-entry cards, and will no doubt be found most -useful later in the hand. - -As leader infer from the fall of the cards, relying on your partner’s -correct third-hand play, the position of the remaining cards of your -long suit. Correct inferences will assist you to decide whether to -continue or to abandon the suit. If you find the cards so placed that -an advantageous lead of the suit must come from your partner, plan -carefully how best to put him in the lead. - -If you know that the adversary has two high cards of your long suit, -especially when your card of re-entry has been taken out, abandon -your suit, and endeavour to help your partner by leading the suit -which you infer must be his. This may be your only chance to save the -game. - -If the dummy has a long suit, and no card of re-entry, do not be in a -hurry to part with the commanding card of that suit. Wait until the -suit is exhausted in the dealer’s hand, so that he cannot lead it to -dummy. If, however, dummy has a sure card of re-entry there is little -reason for holding up your high card. It is better play to take the -first trick and hope that your partner holds a card that will stop -the suit. - -When a high card of dummy’s long suit is marked in your partner’s -hand, it is well to take out dummy’s re-entry card before the suit is -established. - -Notice carefully your partner’s discards in order to determine his -strong suit, as well as to be able to infer what high cards he is -endeavouring to protect. This will help you to discard correctly. -Avoid playing a selfish game, and do not feel indignant if your -partner, instead of returning your lead, attempts to play for his own -suit. His hand may fully justify the change of lead. By changing the -lead he shows not only a good suit, but also a card of re-entry. - - -THE ORIGINAL LEAD - -The long suit is the best opening lead against a “no-trump” -declaration. While the declaration is, in itself, an indication of -general strength, in the majority of makes by the dealer one suit is -left to the dummy to protect, and your long suit may be the weak spot -in the dealer’s hand. - -The leads against a “no-trump” declaration differ from those that are -in use against a trump declaration, for the reason that high cards -cannot be ruffed. With great length or considerable strength in your -long suit a high card should be led, but unless you can reasonably -expect to catch all of the remaining cards, your partner should be -given an opportunity to win the first trick in the suit. - -If you hold no card of re-entry, except perhaps a high card in -your own long suit, you should be careful not to take out of your -partner’s hand the only card that he may have to return your lead, -for if you have no card of re-entry, and your partner has none of -your suit to return, your suit, even though established, is useless. - -As unblocking is a very important feature of the play against a -“no-trump” declaration, it is necessary that you show your partner -from what combination of cards you are leading. The failure to -unblock is largely due to a lack of confidence in partner’s lead. - -Those who are not familiar with the correct leads at “no-trump” would -do well to remember that the lead of a high card indicates three -honours or seven cards in the suit. - -Frequently in opening a hand you will have two suits of equal length -to choose from. It is then advisable to keep the suit headed by the -higher card, for re-entry. For instance, holding two suits, one -headed by an ace and the other by the jack or queen, open the weaker -of the two, saving the ace as re-entry. This principle is sound; in -practice it may sometimes be found that your partner is strong in -the suit you do not open. Nevertheless, this lead from the weaker -of two suits, if consistently followed, will gain in the long run. -If you hold a red and a black suit, of equal length, especially if -the “no-trump” declaration has been made by the dummy, give the -preference to the red suit, inferring that the dealer is weak in red -cards. - -When you are opening from a long weak suit, and especially when you -hold no re-entry card, endeavour to inform your partner that your -long suit is weak. Don’t encourage your partner to return your lead -unless there is a fair chance to establish and make your suit. From -each of the following combinations it is best to lead the highest -card: - - 10 9 7 6 - 9 8 6 4 - 8 7 5 3 - -When the top cards are not in sequence the lead -of the highest may lose a trick, and it is, therefore, -safer to lead the second best. As with - - 10 [8] 7 5 2 - 9 [7] 6 4 3 - The underlined card should be led. - - +--------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets.| - | For example [K]. | - +--------------------------------------------------------+ - -If, however, you hold a long weak suit, and, say, two or more -possible re-entry cards, do not hesitate to encourage a return of the -lead by opening a low card. - - -THE ORIGINAL LEAD AT “NO-TRUMP” - - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | LEAD | HOLDING | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | | Ace, Queen, Jack, and others with a re-entry | - | | card. | - | =Ace= | Ace, with 7 or more others. | - | | Ace, Queen, with 5 others. | - | | Ace, Jack, with 5 others. | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | | Ace, King, Queen and others. | - | | Ace, King, Jack and others. | - | | Ace, King, ten, and 3 others, with a re-entry | - | =King= | card. | - | | Ace, King and 5 or more others. | - | | King, Queen, Jack and others. | - | | King, Queen, ten and others. | - | | King, Queen and 5 others. | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | | Queen, Jack, ten and others. | - | =Queen= | Queen, Jack, nine and others. | - | | Ace, Queen, Jack and others. No card of re-entry | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | =Jack= | Jack, ten, nine and others. | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | =Ten= | King, Jack, ten and others. | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - | =4th Best= | From other combinations. | - +------------+---------------------------------------------------+ - - -OPENING A SHORT SUIT AGAINST A “NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION - -If, as leader, your long suit is worthless, and your hand is -generally weak, there is a chance that your short suit may prove -to be your partner’s long one, and that the lead may help him to -establish his suit. While the odds are two to one against the success -of a short lead, in this case it may gain and certainly cannot lose -much. If, however, you hold five or six cards in your suit, open it; -there is always a chance that your partner may hold sufficient length -in the same suit to help you establish and bring it in. - -If your long suit contains but four cards headed by one honour, king, -queen, or jack, with no other re-entry card in the hand, and you hold -a good supporting short lead, like jack ten or nine (particularly if -the make has been passed, and your short suit is a red one) the short -opening admits of no criticism. - -If you hold a three or four card suit headed by ace, king, and queen, -no matter the length in other suits, the opening lead should be from -the ace king queen combination. With three cards of re-entry you can -certainly afford to lead one of them to determine whether conditions -justify the long suit lead. - -The dummy hand may discourage the lead of your long suit and make it -advisable to try for your partner’s suit instead. - - -UNBLOCKING - -To be able to use proper judgment in ridding yourself of cards -that you fear may block your partner’s suit, you should thoroughly -understand the leads, and above all things, you should have perfect -confidence that your partner has made the correct one. Remember that -a high card led against a “no-trump” declaration indicates great -strength or great length, and that you can rarely lose more than one -trick by throwing your own high card on the one led by your partner; -whereas a failure to unblock will often occasion the loss of several -cards in your partner’s hand. If you hold four cards in the suit that -your partner leads (provided of course the lead is high) save the -lowest card, playing the third best to the first trick, and then play -up. With five cards, play the fourth best to your partner’s high card -lead, and then play up or down as the situation demands. - -With length in the suit that your partner leads, especially as an -original opening, it is often advisable to indicate your strength -by playing first a high and then a lower card. This echo or signal -encourages your partner to continue the suit. - -With three cards in your partner’s suit two of which are honours, the -lower of the honours should be played to the first trick. By playing -the lowest card of all you will invariably block the suit. - -With three cards including but one honour, the middle card should be -played to a high card lead, and the honour should be thrown or played -to the second lead. Be careful to return the highest card of your -partner’s suit, as this will minimise loss from blocking and allow -your partner to continue the suit without interruption. - -The following are given as examples of unblocking: - - +-------------+----------------+----------+ - | HOLDING | ON PARTNER’S | PLAY | - | | LEAD OF | | - +-------------+----------------+----------+ - | J 9 8 7 2 | K | 7 | - | J 8 5 3 | K | 5 | - | K Q 7 | A | Q | - | Q J 8 | K | J | - | K Q 5 | J | Q | - | Q 8 3 | K and A | Q on A | - +-------------+----------------+----------+ - - -RETURNING PARTNER’S LEAD - -To return partner’s lead, or to play for your own long suit? At times -you will find this a most difficult question to decide. It can be -stated that ordinarily it is better play to return your partner’s -original lead, for rarely are two suits made against a “no-trump” -declaration. In fact, it is hard enough to bring in one suit.... It -will assist you to settle this difficulty if you notice carefully the -card led by your partner, and infer from it the length of his suit. -You can often tell how many cards of that suit are in the dealer’s -hand. If, for instance, your partner’s lead indicates four cards and -there are three cards of that suit in dummy and two cards in your own -hand, it is evident that the dealer must hold four, and the chances -are, if the lead is returned, he will eventually be left with the -master card. As it is, of course, your purpose to avoid making cards -good for the adversary, should you hold a good suit under these -circumstances and a sure re-entry card, abandon your partner’s lead -by all means and play for your own hand. - -When dummy holds four cards in your partner’s suit, hesitate to -return the lead, if by so doing you may establish the suit for your -opponent; but when dummy is weak in the suit, lead at the first -opportunity, through the dealer’s hand. Sometimes, if your own long -suit is headed by ace and king, it is well to lead the king before -returning your partner’s lead. This should always be done if the -queen is on the table, to make sure that your suit will eventually be -led through dummy’s queen. If you hold ace queen or ace queen jack -over the king in dummy, you would naturally prefer that your partner -lead the suit; but with a hand containing a sure re-entry card in -another suit, particularly when you hold the commanding card of the -adversaries’ suit, do not wait for your partner to lead; establish -the suit yourself. If, with no re-entry card, you intend playing for -your own long suit, do not draw all the cards of your suit from your -partner’s hand. If your partner has a card of your suit as well as a -card of re-entry, your suit will make; otherwise it is useless. - -With four cards or fewer of your partner’s suit, the highest card -should always be returned. This is done in order that the suit may -not be blocked, and also to show your partner what high cards are -held by the dealer. When it is evident that you and your partner -hold an entire suit with the same number of cards in each hand, it -is well to arrange the lead on the last round of the suit according -to whether you would prefer to lead up to weakness or to have your -partner lead through dummy’s strength. - -With five cards of your partner’s suit, especially if his lead -indicates but four, it is very difficult to decide how the suit -should be returned. If a low card is returned, it may lead your -partner to believe that all the high cards are in the dealer’s hand, -and induce him to discontinue the suit. On the other hand, the return -of a high card may block the suit so that you will be left with a -card which may never make. No rule can be given for this situation. -It must be left to the judgment of the player. - - -HOLDING UP BY THE NON-DEALERS - -Holding up is a strategy resorted to at “no-trump.” The idea is to -retain a high card until one hand is exhausted and cannot lead the -suit to the opposite hand. Holding up does not often gain when the -hand with the long suit contains an entry card except at such times -as the dealer does not or cannot overtake; usually it is better play -to take the trick and trust that your partner can eventually stop the -suit. Do not hold up a high card if you can block the suit later, or -if there is a possibility that your partner holds an honour in the -suit. - -The following are examples of holding up: - - (The underlined card indicates the lead.) - - +--------------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The underlines have been replaced with square brackets.| - | For example [K]. | - +--------------------------------------------------------+ - - K♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ - +-------+ - | Y | - | A B | A♠ 6♠ 5♠ - | Z | - +-------+ - [Q♠] - -In this case, dummy holds no entry card. The ace should not be played -by B until the dealer has no card of the suit. - - A♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 7♠ 5♠ - +-------+ - | Y | - 4♠ | A B | K♠ 6♠ 3♠ - | Z | - +-------+ - [Q♠] - -If dummy holds no entry card, B should not take the first trick. - - [Q♠] J♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | A♠ 8♠ 5♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -B should pass both the queen and the knave. By passing the second -trick, if the dealer fails to overtake, or if the dealer does not -hold two re-entry cards, the suit cannot be made. - - A♥ - K♠ J♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠ - x-------x - | Y | - 2♠ | A B | A♠ 5♠ 4♠ - | Z | - x-------x - [Q♠] - -Y has an entry card. B should refuse to win the trick, trusting that -Z has no other card to lead. - - A♠ 10♠ 7♠ - x-------x - | Y | - K♠ 6♠ 3♠ | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - [Q♠] - -A should refuse to cover the honour. If he waits until the third -round, the suit is blocked. Z may have no re-entry card. - - [Q♠] J♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | K♠ 6♠ 4♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -In this case, the honour should be covered. If Z -holds the ace, the suit is blocked. - - A♠ J♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - Q♠ 5♠ | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - [10♠] - -A should cover the ten led. It may establish the king and nine in B’s -hands. If Y has no card of re-entry B can then hold up. - - [K♠] - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | A♠ 7♠ 5♠ - | Z | - x-------x - -As Y has no other card to lead, B should refuse to part with the ace. -Z cannot make the suit without two re-entry cards. - - -TAKING OUT RE-ENTRY CARDS - -If you hold the commanding card of the adversary’s suit, endeavour -to take out your opponent’s re-entry before the suit is cleared. It -is equally important that you take out this re-entry card if you -know that your partner has the command of the adversary’s suit. In -extreme cases do not hesitate to sacrifice a king or queen in order -to accomplish this purpose. When the dealer attempts to make a card -of re-entry for an established suit, hold up a higher card in order -to frustrate his scheme of play. - - - - -THE DISCARD - - -This part of the game merits much more consideration than a cursory -knowledge of Bridge would suggest. The ordinary Bridge player is -confused by the many difficulties attendant on discarding, and his -cards are apt to be injudiciously thrown away. It would greatly -simplify the discard if you were always to throw away your lowest -card or to follow some other hard-and-fast rule; but, unfortunately, -the discard is so affected by the particular situation and by the -previous play as to preclude the possibility of establishing such a -rule. When you advise the beginner to throw away a high card instead -of a two spot, the situation appears to him hopeless; he fails to -realise that at times high cards have little value, and, to obtain -the lead, honours and even smaller cards must be properly protected. - -When opposed to the dealer, it should be your aim both to protect -your hand and to give your partner information. As the eldest hand, -your opening lead indicates strength or weakness; any subsequent -discard is simply the card that you can best spare, and is not -intended to convey any definite information. As the original -leader, it is important that you know your partner’s suit, and this -information he should convey to you by a recognised system of -discarding decided on before beginning the game. Thus the discard -from the strength or from weakness refers only to the first card -thrown away by the younger hand. - -There are three methods of discarding used by Bridge players, each -having the same object--to protect the hand and to give information. - - 1st. Strength both with a trump and at “no-trump.” - - 2d. Strength with a trump and weakness at “no-trump.” - - 3d. Weakness both with a trump and at “no-trump.” - -Some merit may be claimed for each; but there is a wide difference of -opinion regarding the relative values of these discards. In Whist, as -well as in Bridge, there has always been more or less discussion on -this point. It can, however, be stated that the foremost authorities -on Whist have uniformly agreed that with strength declared against -you, the best discard is from your strong suit. - - -THE DISCARD AGAINST A DECLARED TRUMP - -The great majority of Bridge players use the strength discard against -a trump declaration, and there is little doubt that this is sound. -It is imperative that you protect honours in the weaker suits, for -rarely will your long suit be brought in against the dealer. - -The claim made by those who use the weak discard against a trump -make is that it permits them to throw away a short suit, and thus -eventually to establish a “ruff.” When a player is discarding from -strength, this “ruff” can be obtained with equal facility by the -proper use of the reverse discard. - -Without a doubt the weak discard should be used on a spade -declaration that has been doubled either by you or your partner. In -this case, trump strength is probably with you, not against you. The -same argument cannot be used, however, on a doubled heart, diamond, -or club, whereas spades may have been declared from weakness, the -other declarations indicate trump strength. - - -THE DISCARD AT “NO-TRUMP” - -The writer has placed himself on record as being in favour of the -strength discard, and since doing so has seen nothing that would tend -to change his views on this subject. - -A theory of good play may be so unfortunately worded as to convey a -mistaken impression, and it is amusing to hear the various methods -of discarding discussed by players of little experience; not long -since, a hand was published to illustrate the loss of one trick by -discarding strength, when an ace is first lost by bad play, and the -discard so palpably wrong as to insult the partner’s intelligence. - -To those who have not taken the time to analyse hands thoroughly, -the discard of a card that may possibly make, naturally seems the -waste of a trick; but consider how seldom a suit, not led originally, -is brought in against a “no-trump” make; remember that you do not -expect to win on the adversary’s make, but only hope to minimise your -loss, and that often in trying to save all the cards of your long -suit, honours in the weaker suits are unguarded which, if properly -protected, would have won tricks. - -An objection that is raised to discarding from weakness at -“no-trumps” is that one discard does not positively show your -strong suit. In many hands, to be sure, your partner can obtain the -information from the cards in dummy, but at times, when one suit has -been led and another discarded, your partner is left in doubt as to -the suit to lead, and a wrong guess may result in serious loss. - -Again, the discard from weakness may betray your partner’s hand, -by giving information that will enable the dealer to finesse -successfully. The dealer is more likely to have strength in your -weak, than in your strong suit. - -The discard from weakness is of no material help to your partner in -discarding, as you may hold a high honour in your weak suit, while -with the strength discard, your partner, when he is forced to protect -his hand, does not fear to unguard honours in your suit. - -If you were to play a hundred deals of “no-trump” hands, making the -first discard from the weak suit, and then replay the hands making -the first discard from strength, the result would be overwhelmingly -in favour of the strength discard. It is impossible to make the first -discard from weakness uniformly without unguarding honours in the -adversaries’ suits, and only the novice attempts to do so. - -To say that one should always make the discard from weakness or from -strength is wrong both in theory and in practise. No hard-and-fast -rule can be followed without loss. With confidence that an -intelligent partner will read your discards, you can allow common -sense and reason to dictate the occasions to deviate from the rule. - -You should aim first, to protect your hand; second, to give your -partner information; and, third, to keep your long suit. In the -majority of hands, it is immaterial whether you discard from strength -or from weakness, but in those which show a difference, the strength -discard does not in any hand lose more than one trick, while the -loss occasioned by the discard from weakness varies from one to four -tricks in a hand. - -If you use the strength discard and find it advisable in any -particular hand to throw away your weak suit, you can always do so by -using the reverse discard. This is also true when the weak discard -is used, but, unfortunately, in the latter case, two cards from your -strong suit must be thrown away. - -No matter what system of discarding you may use, occasionally a -trick will be lost, but after an analysis of over ten thousand deals -the writer is of the firm opinion that the discard from strength at -“no-trump” will lose less than the discard from weakness. - - -HINTS ON DISCARDING - -If three suits have been led or shown, do not attempt to discard from -strength. You question your partner’s intelligence. If your only -four-card suit contains but one honour, do not indicate strength -unless you are particularly desirous of having that suit led to you. - -When you have no suit that you are anxious to show, discard from the -suit led originally by your partner, or even, when it is obviously -established, from the adversary’s suit. This implies that you have no -strength to indicate, but you are protecting your hand. - -It is bad policy to discard all the cards of one suit, as it betrays -any strength your partner may hold. - -As the younger hand, infer from your partner’s discards what suit he -is guarding. - -When the dealer can lead through a king in your hand, try to keep it -twice guarded. - -It would be unwise to discard from an established suit if you hold a -sure re-entry card; as all you require is the lead, the best discard -is from the suit containing the re-entry card. - -If you hold a tenace or strength in a suit over the dummy hand, it -may be a better discard than your longest suit. - -When your partner has shown a four or five-card suit, don’t look to -him for much further strength. - -Protect all four-card suits even if they are but to the nine or -ten, and remember a jack or ten twice guarded will often block the -dealer’s suit. - -Watch the dealer’s discards and protect the suit that he is saving. - - -THE REVERSE DISCARD - -In discarding, the play of a high and then a lower card reverses -the original meaning of the discard. If you adopt the strength -discard, and wish to throw away your weak suit at “no-trump” do so by -discarding first a high and then a lower card. If you use the weak -discard and wish to protect your weak suits, discard first a high and -then a lower card from your strong suit. - -The reverse discard may be used when it is shown that two discards -can be made. - - -DISCARDING BY THE DEALER - -The discard offers fewer difficulties to the dealer whose two hands -reveal the suit that should be protected, and show the cards that can -be conveniently spared. - -In a “no-trump” hand it is especially necessary to guard all weak -suits; not forgetting that a four-card suit to the ten will often -block the opponent’s lead. - -The second suit that they will open is often shown by the adversary’s -discards; and this, too, will aid you to prepare a proper defence. - -When you hold trump strength discard losing cards from one hand on -winning ones in the other. - -At times it may be necessary to discard high cards to unblock a suit -and to protect honours in another suit. - -In discarding endeavour to conceal both your weakness and your -strength; you may often mislead your opponents and tempt them to lead -to your strong suit. - - - - -THE DEALER’S PLAY - - -The dealer’s play of the twenty-six cards is undoubtedly the most -interesting that Bridge offers; the skilful management and keen -perception required to combine the two hands against adversaries -ready to take advantage of the slightest error, make this part of -the game correspondingly difficult. With no partner to mislead, the -dealer can use strategy to deceive the opponents, while he gains the -same information from each adversary’s play as if he were the partner -of both. His opportunities to draw inferences are almost innumerable, -and give him occasional openings to prepare clever pitfalls for the -unwary adversary. - -The opening lead--Is it from a long suit or a short suit? What -honours are held by the original leader? What cards are placed by -the third hand play? These are all questions that must be premised -by a thorough knowledge of the correct leads and third hand play. -In addition, the dealer must be familiar with the most advantageous -play of the various combinations or cards, must locate honours by -his adversaries’ discards and arrange the lead accordingly; must -know how to unblock as well as how and where to make entry cards. A -knowledge of trump management--to know when to lead and when not to -lead trumps--is no small part of the dealer’s requirements. - -A hand that is well and quietly played merits commendation, which -partner and opponents seldom hesitate to bestow. - - -COMBINING THE HANDS OF DEALER AND DUMMY - -As dealer, whether you are playing a trump or a “no-trump” -declaration, take a mental stock of the cards you hold early in the -hand, and decide from which hand each combination should be led. - -Although at times it may be impossible to arrange the lead, it may be -stated here that the advantages that accrue from the correct play of -most combinations of cards, are obtained by invariably leading a suit -from the weak to the strong hand; in most cases the high card from -the weak. - -The four most important combinations and those that are held most -frequently are: - - A Q J - A K J - A J 10 - K J 10 - - -ACE, QUEEN, JACK COMBINATION - -Perhaps with no one of these combinations can you so often gain -tricks as by the correct play of ace queen jack. - -These cards may be held in four different ways. - - +------------------+-------------------+ - | _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ | - +------------------+-------------------+ - | A Q J | x x x | - | A Q x | J x x | - | A J x | Q x x | - | A x x | Q J x | - +------------------+-------------------+ - -With this combination either in a trump or in a “no-trump” hand -endeavour to catch the adversary’s king by leading the highest card -from your weak hand toward the ace; if the king is not played second -in hand you can lose nothing by taking the finesse; for when it is -guarded in the fourth hand the king will win no matter how the cards -are played. The advantage of leading the high card is that, if you -retain the lead, you can again lead from the weak hand. - -Better results will, of course, be obtained if you hold ace queen -jack ten, or even ace queen jack nine in the two hands; otherwise the -adversary, by covering the honour led, may eventually establish a ten -or nine against you. - -If you hold ace, queen, and two or three small cards in one hand and -jack and small cards in the other, the best play of the combination -is to lead a low card up to the ace queen; if the finesse is -successful, the lead of the ace may capture a once-guarded king -without establishing a ten or nine for the adversaries. But if pitted -against weak players, on account of their well-known dislike of -sacrificing a high card, the lead of the jack toward the ace queen is -advisable. - -The number of cards in the suit will often influence you in taking or -not taking the finesse. With eight cards or fewer in the two hands, -the finesse is practically obligatory. With nine cards in the two -hands, the finesse should usually be taken. With ten cards in the two -hands, it is largely a matter of luck. With ace queen and jack in one -hand and small cards in the other there is a slight percentage in -favour of the finesse. Otherwise try to gain information by leading -the highest card toward the ace, and if it is not covered, play the -ace on the chance of finding the king alone. - -If you do not hold the jack it is a losing play to lead a queen -toward the ace. This is a common mistake and should be carefully -avoided. - -With ace, queen, ten and nine in the two hands, it cannot be -considered altogether bad play to lead the queen toward the ace; but -if this is done it may be necessary to take a finesse on the second -round. The adversaries’ discards, however, will often show you how -this combination should be played. - - -ACE, KING, JACK COMBINATION - -This combination can be held in four different ways: - - +-----------------+-----------------+ - | _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ | - +-----------------+-----------------+ - | A K J | x x x | - | A K x | J x x | - | A J x | K x x | - | K J x | A x x | - +-----------------+-----------------+ - -With the first arrangement of this combination the lead should come -from the weak hand and the jack should be played. In the second the -jack may be led from the weak hand toward the ace king; although -unless you also hold the ten, little can be gained by this play, for -if the adversary covers the jack with the queen, as he should, the -ten will be established against you. In the two remaining cases a low -card should be led up to the jack. - -With each of these combinations, unless you hold nine cards or more -in the combined hands, the finesse should be taken. - -With ace jack in one hand and the king in the other, or with king -jack in one hand and ace in the other, unless you also hold the -ten of the suit, do not lead the jack toward the ace; for if the -adversary covers the jack with the queen, the ten is established -against you. - -If you hold nine cards in the two hands it is not sound play to -finesse; with but four cards against you the queen will probably fall -in two rounds of the suit. - - -ACE, JACK, TEN COMBINATION - -These cards may be held in four different ways: - - +------------------+------------------+ - | _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ | - +------------------+------------------+ - | A J 10 | x x x | - | A J x | 10 x x | - | A 10 x | J x x | - | A x x | J 10 x | - +------------------+------------------+ - -As there are two high cards against this combination, you must take -a double finesse. The play is similar to that given for the previous -combinations. Lead the high card from the weak hand, and, unless it -is covered, pass the trick; then wait until the suit can again be led -from the weak hand, and take a second finesse. - - -KING, JACK, TEN COMBINATION - -There are three ways in which these cards may be held: - - +------------------+-----------------+ - | _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ | - +------------------+-----------------+ - | K J 10 | x x x | - | K J x | 10 x x | - | K x x | J 10 x | - +------------------+-----------------+ - -In each of these cases the play is practically the same; lead the -highest card from the weak hand and finesse. If by the finesse you -succeed in forcing the ace, wait until the suit can be led through -the queen. - -If you hold this combination with nine or more cards of the suit, it -is often difficult to determine whether a finesse should or should -not be taken; if you play the king and it wins the first trick, you -may drop both ace and queen on the next lead. - - -MISCELLANEOUS COMBINATIONS - -If you hold a sequence of three high cards in the combined hands, -while, of course, it is better form to lead from the weak hand, -it makes but little difference from which hand the suit is led. -Therefore, if you cannot conveniently place the lead, do not hesitate -to lead from the strong hand. Should you, however, hold a sequence -of two high cards in one hand with small cards in the other, for -instance: - - +------------------+-------------------+ - | _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ | - +------------------+-------------------+ - | K Q x | x x x | - | Q J x | x x x | - +------------------+-------------------+ - -it is always advisable to lead from the weak hand. Should the queen -win in the first combination, wait until you can again lead the suit -from the weak hand. - - -COMBINATIONS TO BE AVOIDED. - - +------------------+-----------------+ - | _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ | - +------------------+-----------------+ - | Q x x | A x x | - | J x x | A x x | - | Q x x | K x x | - | J x x | K x x | - | J x x | Q x x | - | K x x | x x x | - +------------------+-----------------+ - -A suit containing a single honour or one with a single honour in -each hand should be avoided. There is a difference of one or two -tricks in each of these combinations dependent on whether you or the -adversaries open the suit. When it is an advantage to have a suit -led by the opponents, endeavour, by throwing the lead, to force your -adversaries to lead the suit to you. - - -ARRANGING THE LEAD - -Assuming that you understand how to play the various combinations of -cards, it becomes necessary, as soon as the opening lead has been -made, to plan a well-defined scheme of play. - -Do not hesitate to pause a few moments to study thoroughly the two -hands, so that you can play quickly and intelligently. Be assured -that when you play a hand with a vague, uncertain feeling, you are -playing it badly. Many a hand is ruined by careless and hasty play to -the first trick. - -In a “no-trump hand” this first trick is often of great importance. -Before you touch a card in the dummy decide for which suit you wish -to play, from which hand it should be led, and in which hand you need -an entry card. - -In mapping out your play of a trump hand, try first to infer whether -the lead is from a long or a short suit; then decide whether or not -you should lead trumps, and if so, from which hand you should lead -them; and looking ahead still further, place an advantageous lead for -your long suit. - - -FINESSING - -It has already been stated that with certain combinations in the -two hands, you should finesse, and that you can do so, unless you -hold great length in the suit with but small chance of loss. When a -finesse goes against you, it is due to an unfortunate distribution -of the cards and not, as one is apt to feel, to your own bad play. -However, the subject of finessing, in common with all other parts of -Bridge, requires a knowledge of the particular situation, and there -are many occasions when it is unwise to finesse. - -It would be bad play to finesse deeply in trumps when it is evident -that your adversaries can “ruff” a suit, or that a “cross-ruff” is -imminent. It may be important that you have two, or even three -rounds of trumps. The finesse may gain one trick, whereas if it goes -against you, and the adversaries “ruff” your good cards, you may lose -several tricks. - -In a “no-trumper,” if your opponent has an established suit, be -careful not to take a finesse, which, if it loses, will afford the -adversary an opportunity to make his established suit. It is much -better play to finesse against this player, especially if you know -that the other adversary has no card of his partner’s suit. - -As dealer, you should be careful about taking a finesse, which, if -it loses, will block your suit, and allow your adversary to take out -your card of re-entry. - -If you hold a guarded honour in the suit originally led by the -adversary, do not take a finesse, which, if it loses, will allow your -right-hand adversary to lead through this honour. The entire suit may -be made against you. - -If you hold the king of a suit once or twice guarded in one hand, and -only small cards of that suit in the other, do not take a finesse, -which may allow the adversary to lead through this king. - -If you have a strong hand and a weak dummy you would, of course, -prefer that the lead come up to you. Therefore, take your finesse, so -that if it loses, you will have, at least, this advantage. - -With ace, king, and jack in one suit, and especially if these cards -are all in one hand, it is often good play to take one round of the -suit before attempting a finesse. The fall of the cards may help you -to locate the queen. - -When you hold eight cards to the ace, king, and jack in the two -hands, the adversary’s queen is frequently unguarded. Finessing -then becomes a question of the score and of the possible loss that -an unsuccessful finesse would entail. You should risk the loss of a -trick in order to win the game, provided the loss of a trick does not -lose the game. If the game cannot be won, and it is merely a question -of winning or not winning the odd trick, do not finesse. That one -trick may prevent the adversaries from winning the game on the next -deal. - - -THE FINESSE OBLIGATORY - -This is an arbitrary finesse, which is often forced upon you, when, -unless the cards of a suit are in a certain position, there is no -possibility of winning. Perhaps the best way of defining the finesse -obligatory is to give an example showing the position as it most -frequently occurs: - - K♠ 7♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - Q♠ 9♠ 8♠ 6♠ 5♠ - -“Z” is the dealer, and leads a low card to the king in dummy, which -wins the first trick. The suit is returned, the ace being marked with -“A.” If “A” holds both ace and knave, no matter how the dealer plays, -“A” must win two tricks. Unless the knave is in “B’s” hand, and “A” -holds the singleton ace, the adversary must win two tricks. The -dealer should, therefore, play his lowest card, not the queen. - - -WATCHING THE DISCARDS IN ORDER TO LOCATE FINESSES - -The amount of information to be gained from the adversary’s discards -is apt to be underestimated. Careful notice of the discards, -particularly in a “no-trump” hand, will often help you to locate -honours and to determine where a finesse should be taken; moreover, -it will simplify the end play, show you chances to throw the lead, -and give you opportunities to force the opponents to lead up to your -hand. - -If the king of your long suit is against you and on the wrong side, -it will probably make, but this is not true of the queen. If you hold -in the two hands ace king, jack or ace king jack, ten of a suit, -unless you can place the queen, you are compelled to guess where to -take the finesse. If, however, you can advantageously lead another -suit try to force the adversaries to discard, one will undoubtedly -protect the queen of your suit, and the other, not knowing perhaps -that you are trying to gain information, will probably discard from -his weak suit; the discard thus enabling you to finesse successfully. - -This information can often be similarly obtained in a trump hand by -leading an extra round of trumps. If, however, you are forced to lead -the suit without any knowledge of the situation, lead a card which -will tempt your adversary to cover; for instance, holding ace x x in -dummy with king jack ten in your own hand, lead the jack. If the jack -is not covered, it is often good play to take the first trick with -the ace, and, on returning the lead, to play the ten. As the jack was -not covered you infer that the queen is held by the other adversary. - -If you have no finesse in your suit, it often pays to give the -adversaries a chance to make a finesse possible for you. For -instance, with A x x in dummy and K 10 9 in your own hand, unless -both queen and jack are unguarded, or unless you can tempt them to -play badly, the adversaries must make one trick in the suit. The play -is to lead the ten, for if it is covered, either with jack or queen, -you have the advantage of a finesse on your return of the suit. - - -SECOND HAND PLAYS - -Showing the play of the different combinations between dealer and -dummy. In each case a small card is led and the second hand is the -hand that is led through: - - +--------------+---------------+------------------------+ - | _2d Hand._ | _4th Hand._ | _Play._ | - +--------------+---------------+------------------------+ - | A K x | J x x | K, or Low | - | A K x | 10 x x | K (T) Low (NT) | - | A Q x | J x x | Low | - | A Q x | 10 x x | Low | - | A Q x | x x x | Queen (T) Low (NT) | - | A J x | Q x x | Low | - | A 10 x | J x x | Low | - | A x x | Q x x | Low | - | K Q x | x x x | Queen | - | K J x | x x x | Low | - | K J | x x x | Jack (T) King (NT) | - | K J | A x x | Jack | - | K J x | 10 x x | Low | - | K 10 x | J x x | Low | - | K x x | Q x | Low | - | K x | x x | Low (T) King (NT) | - | K x | J x x | Low | - | K x | Q x x | Low (T) King (NT) | - | K x | Q 10 x | Low | - | K x | A 10 x | Low | - | K x | A J x | Low | - | Q J x | x x x | Jack | - | Q J x | A x x | Jack | - | Q 10 x | A x x | Low | - | Q x x | K x x | Low | - | Q x x | x x x | Low | - | Q x | A x x | Queen | - | Q x | A 10 x | Low | - | Q x | A J x | Low | - | Q x | K x x | Low (T) Queen (NT) | - +--------------+---------------+------------------------+ - - (T) with a declared trump. - (NT) at no trump. - - +--------------+---------------+------------------------+ - | _2d Hand._ | _4th Hand._ | _Play._ | - +--------------+---------------+------------------------+ - | A K x | J x x | K, or Low | - | Q x | J x x | Low | - | Q x | x x x | Queen | - | J 10 x | A K x | Ten | - | J 10 x | A x x | Ten | - | J x | A K x | Jack | - | J x | A Q x | Low | - | 10 x | A K x | Ten | - | 10 x | A Q x | Ten | - | 10 x | A J x | Low | - +--------------+---------------+------------------------+ - - - - -MANAGEMENT OF TRUMPS BY THE DEALER - - -The surest test of a player’s skill is the ability he displays in -handling trumps. Habits that are wrong in theory are frequently -formed, and errors in judgment are common in the trump management. -The difficulties are as numerous as the combinations are varied. Only -general rules can be given, and the constantly changing situations -must be met by the skill and originality of the player. - - -WHEN TO LEAD TRUMPS - -One of the first points for the dealer’s consideration is the -advisability of the trump lead. As he usually holds the balance of -trump strength in the combined hands, generally speaking the dealer -should lead trumps. - -A common excuse for avoiding the trump lead is that the hands contain -no long suit; if this is true, why not try to establish your trump -suit? If you hold five trumps in one hand, the chances are that -three rounds will leave you with two long trumps and the adversaries -powerless to “ruff” any high card you may hold; by refusing to lead -trumps you may enable the opponents to “overruff” your strong -hand and make their trumps separately. It may be to your advantage to -have the other suits led by the adversaries and your trump lead will -often force them to do this. - -At times you will have the choice of two ways of playing the hand. -One, to trump losing cards in your weak hand; the other to exhaust -trumps and discard your losing cards on the commanding cards of a -long suit. If your trumps are strong and your long suit established, -the trump lead is preferable. With an established suit and high -trumps against you, postpone the trump lead until you have allowed -your weak hand to “ruff” the losing cards. - -However, with five trumps in the strong and four in the weak hand, -as you will probably exhaust trumps in two rounds, it is safer to -lead the trumps first. You can then “ruff” in your weak hand without -danger of being “overruffed.” - -If you hold seven or more trumps in the combined hands, do not make -the fact that your strong hand has been forced an excuse for not -leading trumps. If you are protected in the adversaries’ suit and -can lead the trumps advantageously from the weak to the strong hand, -always lead them. - -To lead trumps with this number is the rule, not the exception, but -occasionally when they cannot be led from the weak hand it is better -to make as many trumps as possible by “ruffing.” - - -WHEN NOT TO LEAD TRUMPS - -Perhaps the simplest rule that can be given is, do not lead trumps -when there is a short side suit in the weak trump hand. You will -obviously gain by trumping losing cards in the weak hand. - -As it often requires two rounds to exhaust the short suit in the weak -hand, try not to show your intention too clearly, or the adversaries -will circumvent your scheme of “ruffing” by a trump lead. Remember, -also, that you cannot obtain the “ruff” unless you hold, or can make, -an entry card in your strong hand. - -When your combined hands contain fewer than seven trumps, the balance -of strength is with the adversaries, and, in this case, unless your -trumps or side suits are exceptionally strong, avoid the trump lead. - -With but six trumps and an established suit against you, it would -be dangerous to lead trumps. One adversary must hold at least four -trumps, and it may be that all the remaining trumps are in one hand. -The trump lead would only help the adversaries to make their suit. - -When the commanding trump is against you, endeavour to discard your -losing suit cards from one hand on winning ones in the other before -you give up the lead. - - -UNBLOCKING THE TRUMP SUIT - -As dealer, be careful to lead your trumps in such a manner that you -will not find it impossible to continue the lead. The simplest method -of unblocking the trump suit is to lead or play the high trumps from -the shorter hand. - -Occasionally to avoid blocking the suit, it will be necessary to -“ruff” with a high instead of a lower trump. For instance, with ace -and ten of trumps in dummy and king, queen, jack, nine and eight in -your own hand, if you “ruff” with dummy’s ten, you will block the -trump suit; even a temporary discontinuance of the trump lead may -result in loss. - -When you lead the queen toward the ace, holding the ace, jack, ten, -nine, seven in one hand and queen, eight, four in the other, you must -provide for the possible necessity for leading three times through -the king by playing the nine of trumps on the queen lead. A careless -play of the seven may make it impossible to capture the adversary’s -king. - - -NOT FORCING YOUR STRONG TRUMP HAND - -The greatest weakness and the most expensive fault in the beginner’s -game is his predilection for trumping in the strong trump hand. When -trumps are hopelessly against you, it may be necessary to make what -you can by ruffing, but with the advantage of the make, you are -seldom compelled to play a defensive game. When you needlessly force -your strong hand to trump, you reduce your power to exhaust the -adversaries’ trumps, to establish your suit, and to be left with the -last trump--which is, par excellence, the dealer’s game. - -To trump in the weak hand is always advisable, nor can any objection -be raised to a “cross-ruff,” but force your strong hand only as a -last resource. - -If you hold the losing one of two remaining trumps, try to force -the winning trump from the adversary’s hand; to force your own hand -instead will materially prejudice your chance of making a suit. - - -LEADING TRUMPS TO PREVENT A RUFF - -When it is apparent that one adversary can “ruff” a suit, or when a -“cross-ruff” is imminent, it is important that you guard against such -a contingency by at least two rounds of trumps. Of course, if you -hold the commanding trump, this presents no difficulties; but, when -the winning trump is with the adversary, you should try to tempt him -to hold it up second in hand by refraining from a high card lead. For -instance, with queen and seven of trumps in one hand and king jack -ten nine eight in the other, lead the seven instead of the queen. - -If your trumps are in sequence you can often obtain two rounds by -leading the lowest of your sequence rather than the highest card. - - -WHEN TO DRAW THE REMAINING TRUMPS - -When you are left with but one remaining trump, and that the -commanding one, usually lead it to draw the losing trumps. - -When there are but two other remaining trumps, trust that your trump -lead will find them divided. If you have reason to know that both are -in one hand, one must of course make; but lead the commanding trump, -so that _but_ one _can_ make. - -With the best trump in your hand and one against you, it is only in -critical situations that you should refrain from drawing the losing -trump. For instance, when the adversaries hold an established suit -and the commanding card of your suit, it is a better play to clear -your suit and then refuse a force until the adversary who holds the -remaining trump cannot lead his partner’s suit. Take care, however, -to accept the force at the right time, for a delay in trumping may -allow the adversary to discard a losing card of your suit. - - -DISCONTINUING THE LEAD OF TRUMPS - -There are many positions difficult to define when it is advisable to -discontinue the trump lead. An obvious case is when the commanding -trump is against you and the lead would entail your loss of two -trumps for one card, which the adversary must make in any case. The -best play is to force the adversary to “ruff” with the high trump, -for then your trumps may make separately. - -When you hold but two trumps with two against you, be careful about -taking the third round of trumps when your adversaries hold an -established suit; if the trumps are divided no doubt the lead will -save a trick; but you risk finding both trumps in one hand, in which -case the adversary will draw or force your remaining trump and make -his suit. The trump lead cannot win more than one trick and it may -lose several. - -With three remaining trumps, if your suit is established, the third -round should always be taken. Should you find after one or two rounds -that the trumps are banked in one hand against you, it is, as a rule, -better to force the opponent’s hand than to continue the trump lead. -This gives you the long trump, which is no inconsiderable advantage. - -The adversaries’ high trumps are sometimes placed after one round, so -that it may be advisable to discontinue the trump lead temporarily -until you can lead to better advantage from the weaker hand. - -When you hold the commanding card of each side suit and do not wish -the lead of your long suit to be interrupted, it is good play to -lead the losing trump. If, however, you are not in a position to -win any card the adversary may lead, it is better play to force the -commanding trump. - - -WHEN TO TRUMP - -If the adversary attempts to force your strong hand, it is usually -advisable to accept the force. Only in rare cases does it pay to -allow the opponent to continue the lead of his established suit. - -At times you can afford to give the adversary one trick, knowing -that, on the next lead, your weak hand can take the “ruff.” - -With two trumps against you it is often good play to discard rather -than to “ruff” with the commanding trump. But to gain by your play, -you should hold a certain entry card in the suit that the adversary -must lead. - -With one trump against you, do not use your one remaining trump until -the leader’s partner is exhausted in the leader’s suit. - -If the adversary leads a suit which you can trump in either hand, the -“ruff” should invariably be taken in the weak hand, and a discard -made in the strong one. - -You are sometimes in a position to know that if you trump, your -adversary will overtrump. When the best card is led, it is usually -good play to trump immediately and if possible with a card which will -not unguard an honour in your own hand, but will force a high card -from the opponent. If a suit is led, of which you hold the commanding -card in the opposite hand, your best defence is to take a discard, -which will prevent the adversary from making a high card later in -the hand. If you can make no advantageous discard, your best play -is to trump, especially if the trumps in your combined hands are in -sequence, for, if the adversary wins the trick, his high trump will -probably make in any case. - - -OVERTRUMPING - -It is only the experienced player who can resist the temptation to -overtrump. The beginner jumps at every trick without realising that -he can often gain by waiting. Overtrump when your hand is weak and -your trumps low; but, if overtrumping takes out your only high card -in the trump suit, especially if it is the commanding trump, it is -nearly always better to discard. Your winning trump is bound to make, -and it is better play to throw away a suit that you can ruff later -with one of your small trumps. - -Frequently by overtrumping you make it easy for the adversary to -draw your remaining trumps, which, had you not weakened your hand, -he would be powerless to do. For instance, where you hold the best -and the fourth best trump, with the second and third best in your -adversary’s hand, should you overtrump, your adversary will, of -course, be in a position to catch your smaller trump, while by -refusing the trick you retain the extra trump and are enabled to draw -the adversary’s last trump. - - -RE-ENTRY CARDS - -It is of little use to establish a suit unless it is possible to get -the lead in the hand that contains it; therefore, the reservation -of a re-entry card in the hand that has the long suit is of great -importance. A preferable re-entry is, of course, the last trump or -trumps. - -Arranging the trump lead so that the last round will be taken in the -desired hand is often a necessary precaution. - -After the adversaries’ trumps are exhausted, you may be compelled to -place the lead in the opposite hand by an extra round of trumps, and -often it is necessary to trump with a high card, saving the low trump -to lead to the opposite hand. - -It not infrequently happens that in order to get the lead in the -opposite hand, you are forced to trump your own commanding card. - - -FORCING DISCARDS - -Should you find as dealer that you have a losing card and a number -of winning trumps, always lead the trumps to give the adversaries a -chance to make an error in discarding. - -If the adversary holds the ace, dummy the king, and you a singleton -of a suit, your hand otherwise consisting of long trumps and -established cards, by first leading the singleton you may tempt the -second hand adversary to hold up the ace; while if you lead the -established cards, the adversaries can count your hand and will make -no such mistake. - -Whenever you hold but six or seven cards of a suit in the combined -hands, endeavour to make your adversaries discard before you indicate -any strength. You will find that many times the discards will -necessarily benefit your hand. - -With two or three remaining trumps in your hand, you should lead at -least two rounds of trumps before opening the suit of which you have -but six cards. An example of the situation is given below: - - K♣ 8♣ 6♦ - 6♠ 5♠ 4♦ - x-------x - | Y | - | | - | Z | - x-------x - A♣ Q♣ 5♣ 3♣ - 9♥ 7♥ - -In this case hearts are trumps. The dealer is left with the two -remaining trumps, and holds in his combined hands but six clubs. -Should the clubs be led before the trump suit, the adversaries would -be left with the commanding club. The dealer should play his two -trumps to force discards from his opponents’ hands before he opens -the club suit. - -With four or five long trumps, when but one other suit has been -opened, you will almost invariably gain tricks by forcing the -adversaries to discard. Any error they may make in selecting the -suit to protect may enable you to take tricks with cards that would -otherwise be valueless. - - -THROWING THE LEAD - -The disadvantage of the lead is at times most apparent, and you can -often gain by forcing your adversary to lead a suit which you cannot -well afford to open. - -When there are tricks that the adversaries must win, try to make this -necessity a benefit to your hand. - -Occasions for throwing the lead arise most frequently in the end -play; there are the nice situations where you gain the advantage of -position by leading a losing trump or suit card. - -However, situations where it is advisable to throw the lead are so -frequent and varied in occurrence throughout the _entire_ play that -the subject can only be treated in a general way. Perhaps covered by -one suggestion; when you cannot lead a suit advantageously, try to -force the adversary to lead it to you. - - - - -THE DEALER’S PLAY OF A “NO-TRUMP” DECLARATION - - -As soon as the hand has been opened, make a comprehensive examination -to determine the possibilities of your combined hands. Are you strong -enough to win the game? Can you win the odd trick? Shall you be able -to save the game? - -With no other possibility in the hand, make a determined effort to -save the game. If you are weak in one suit and hold the command -of the suit that is opened, your danger may lie in allowing the -adversaries to retain the lead. - -When you hold an established suit, you cannot but gain by forcing the -opponents to discard; they may unguard honours in their weaker suits -or give you information that will locate high cards. - -Do not forget that your strength is in your long suit, and that you -are often dependent on your other high cards to establish this suit. -To the mind of the novice, the loss of the lead is a calamity, and he -will often lead all his high cards, leaving the command of his own -suit, as well as of the others, with the adversaries. - -Remember that it requires no skill to make aces and kings, and that -your goal in a “no-trump” hand must be the establishment of the small -cards of your long suit. - -With fair possibilities in the hand, ascertain before you play a card -from dummy, first: which is your longest suit; second, how can it -be most advantageously led; and, third, in which hand there is the -greater need of an entry card. - - -CHOICE OF SUITS - -There is no rule so necessary to good play as that of retaining the -control of the shorter suits and playing to establish the longest -suit in the combined hands. Do not let the fact that your long suit -contains but a few high cards discourage you--the lead can entail but -small loss as the commanding cards would probably make in any case. - -When, as frequently happens, your combined hands contain two suits of -equal length, make a careful selection of the suit to be played for. - -When the ace of one suit and the king or the queen of the other are -against you, play for the suit of which the adversary holds the ace. -The ace must win, while the fuller information that comes later in -the hand may enable you to catch the king or queen by a finesse. -Then you can better afford to discard from a suit headed by the ace -than from a suit in which an honour must be protected. Moreover, you -deprive the adversary of a sure re-entry card. - -With two suits of equal length, be careful not to play for one in a -hand that contains no re-entry card. - -When you hold two suits of equal length, it is usually wise to play -for the suit that is exposed on the table and conceal the strength in -your own hand. In other words, don’t give the adversaries unnecessary -information. - -In choosing between two suits select the one that will gain you the -greater number of tricks. For instance, when you hold two eight-card -suits, one divided five and three and the other four and four, there -are clearly more tricks to be made in the former. - -Be cautious about playing for a suit of no more than seven cards, for -you will often find the remaining cards most unequally divided. When -you hold but six cards in the combined hands the balance of strength -is with the adversaries, one of whom must hold at least four cards. -Try to force your opponents to discard before you indicate strength -in six- or seven-card suits. - -With two entire suits against you, you cannot afford to lose the -lead. Make what tricks you need to save the game and pin your hope on -successful finesses. - -With but one suit against you, do not fear to establish your long -suit. It is not so dangerous to give up the lead when you hold a -protection in the suit led originally. The adversary, not knowing -your weakness, will probably return the original lead. - - -KEEPING THE COMMANDING CARD OF THE ADVERSARIES’ SUIT - -As a general rule, do not part with the command of the adversaries’ -suit until one adversary is exhausted in the suit, and therefore -unable to return his partner’s lead; unless the original leader has -a sure card of entry you may be able to prevent this player from -getting into the lead. Usually do not refuse to take a trick with a -king or queen when the higher card or cards have not been played. The -adversaries may lead through and capture a single guarded honour. - -If you find that there is another entire suit against you, it pays to -take the first lead and make what tricks you can in the two remaining -suits. Even in some rare cases, the play of a well-guarded king in -dummy is the one chance to make or save the game. - -Sometimes the cards of your long suit will be so unfortunately placed -that the continued lead would establish it for the adversaries. In -this situation, keep the command of that suit, and make a bid for -better luck in establishing another. - -Unless there is no possibility of losing the game, do not hesitate to -take the first lead whenever you are assured of a sufficient number -of tricks to win the game. - -Often by taking the first trick you promote the value of another card -in your own hand or in dummy. In other words, you temporarily give up -the control, with the knowledge that you will eventually hold the -master card of the opponents’ suit. - - J♠ 8♠ 2♠ 10♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠ - x-------x x-------x - | Y | | Y | - | A B | | A B | - | Z | | Z | - x-------x x-------x - A♠ 3♠ A♠ 5♠ - - - 10♠ 9♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ J♠ - -In these cases, by taking an honour led or played, the dealer can -eventually stop the adversaries’ suit. - -At times, if you take the first trick, the suit will be protected, -provided it is not led by your right-hand adversary. - - 4♠ 3♠ 7♠ 6♠ - x-------x x-------x - | Y | | Y | - | A B | | A B | - | Z | | Z | - x-------x x-------x - A♠ 10♠ 8♠ 2♠ A♠ J♠ 5♠ - -In these two cases, if an honour is led, the first trick should be -passed. If a low card is led and an honour played, the first trick -should be taken. Otherwise the opponent may immediately lead through -your hand. - -Holding the king, queen, and a small card of the adversaries’ suit, -you are assured of at least one trick, with the possibility of two, -but remember, if you take the first trick, your hand may be led -through; it is often safer to win the third round than the first. - - Q♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠ - x-------x x-------x - | Y | | Y | - | A B | | A B | - | Z | | Z | - x-------x x-------x - K♠ 5♠ 2♠ K♠ Q♠ 3♠ - - 5♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - [6♠] | A B | Q♠ - | Z | - x-------x - K♠ J♠ 3♠ - -Should you win the first trick in any one of these cases, endeavour -to prevent your right-hand adversary from obtaining the lead. - -When the adversaries can take two tricks in your long suit, it is -better to win the first and third than the first and second tricks in -their suit. - - J♠ 6♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ Q♠ - -In this case a low card is led, and you can win the first trick with -the queen. By doing this you are forced to take the first and second -rounds. If you take the first trick with the ace, your queen will be -sacrificed to the king, but your jack controls the third round. - -Unless there is another suit against you, it is safer to win the -second and third tricks of the adversaries’ suit than the first and -third. - - K♠ 7♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ 4♠ - -Should you wait to win the second trick with the ace, there is a -chance that your right-hand adversary will be exhausted in the suit, -and unless the original leader has two cards of re-entry his suit -cannot be made. - - -RE-ENTRY CARDS - -Clear your long suit before you take out your card of re-entry is a -simple rule that is often violated. When you have made the “no-trump” -declaration, any possible re-entry in the dummy hand should be -used to bring in a suit or to lead a suit advantageously from the -weak hand. In fact, much of the success of a “no-trump” hand depends -on the dealers’ skill in saving and making re-entries in the weaker -hand. - -A re-entry may be an ace or a three. It may be the master card of -your long suit or a guarded honour in the adversaries’ suit. - -When you can win the original lead in either hand, consider well the -question of re-entries before you touch one of dummy’s cards. - -Save all possible re-entry cards, remembering that often in order to -gain any material advantage from a finesse you must be in a position -to lead twice from the weak hand. - -For instance, holding any one of the following combinations: - - Q♠ J♠ K♠ J♠ K♠ Q♠ - x-------x x-------x x-------x - | Y | | Y | | Y | - | A B | | A B | | A B | - | Z | | Z | | Z | - x-------x x-------x x-------x - A♠ K♠ 5♠ A♠ Q♠ A♠ 4♠ - -In order to make an entry card in the suit led originally, it may -occasionally be necessary to overtake a card played by the dummy. - -When your long suit is blocked, try to establish an entry card before -you make the situation clear to the opponents. Otherwise they will -not allow you to enter and make your suit. - -If you hold four cards of a suit in each hand, it may be possible to -obtain the lead twice in one hand. For instance, holding - - K♠ 7♠ 5♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ Q♠ 8♠ 2♠ - -If you lead the deuce and play the king, you have deprived dummy of -the only entry card in the suit. If, however, you lead the eight, -dummy’s seven will probably be the master card on the fourth round. -Such a re-entry is often of great assistance in opening the next suit. - -When you hold a nine-card suit divided five and four, it may be -necessary to use both the third and fourth rounds of the suits as -re-entries to lead another suit advantageously. This is a chance for -good play that is often overlooked in the pleasure of making a long -suit. - - Q♠ 7♠ 5♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - [K♠] 8♠ 4♠ - -When dummy’s re-entry is a guarded king or queen, and you have no -means of knowing the position of the ace, try to establish this -re-entry by sacrificing a high card from your own hand. - - J♠ 6♠ 3♠ J♠ 5♠ 3♠ - x-------x x-------x - | Y | | Y | - | A B | | A B | - | Z | | Z | - x-------x x-------x - A♠ Q♠ 2♠ K♠ Q♠ 2♠ - -In both of the examples given above, the dealer to make a re-entry -card for the dummy should sacrifice a high card from his hand. - - -UNBLOCKING - -There is frequent necessity in the dealer’s play for ridding one -hand of high cards in order not to interrupt the lead of smaller -cards from the other hand. It is well to look ahead and prepare for -this contingency, for often in the middle of a hand you will quite -unexpectedly find that unblocking will enable you to make small cards -that the adversaries have made good by reckless discarding. - -When you hold more cards of a suit in one hand than in the other, you -can invariably prevent blocking, if you lead or play the high cards -from the shorter hand. At times a suit may be unblocked by discarding -the winning card or cards from one hand, but the first rule covers -the majority of cases where there is necessity for unblocking. - - J♠ 9♠ 8♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ K♠ 7♠ 4♠ 3♠ - - 10♠ 8♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ K♠ 7♠ 6♠ 4♠ 3♠ - -In both of the above examples the dealer, holding nine cards of a -suit in the combined hands, hopes to catch the queen by leading the -ace and king. Blocking in these cases can be avoided by retaining the -lowest card in the dummy hand. - -When you hold but one re-entry card, be careful not to take a -finesse, which will block your suit. - - K♠ 10♠ 7♠ 5♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ J♠ - - Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 7♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ 8♠ - -In the above examples dummy is supposed to hold one re-entry card in -another suit. Should the dealer make an unsuccessful finesse, the -adversary will at once take out the re-entry card, and the suit, -being blocked, cannot be made. - - -OVERTAKING - -It not infrequently happens on the initial opening of a hand that -you have the option of winning the trick either in your own hand or -in dummy; if you find that your cards of the suit led are all of -equal value it is essential that you consider the advisability of -overtaking a trick that you have already won. - -With no re-entry in a hand, overtaking is often the only means of -making a suit. - - K♠ J♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ Q♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠ - - K♠ Q♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - A♠ J♠ 8♠ 7♠ 4♠ - -In the above examples, if the dealer holds no re-entry card, he must -overtake one of dummy’s high cards in order to make the suit. - -The adversary will often attempt to block the dealer’s lead by -holding up the winning card until one of the dealer’s hands is -exhausted in the suit. Whenever this is the apparent object of -the adversary, you can still continue and establish your suit by -overtaking the last card from the shorter hand. - - Q♠ J♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - K♠ 10♠ 9♠ 7♠ 4♠ 3♠ - - K♠ J♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - Q♠ 10♠ 9♠ 7♠ 3♠ - -In the above examples, if the dealer holds but one re-entry card he -must overtake the second lead. Otherwise, if the adversary holds up -the ace, the dealer must use his re-entry card to establish the suit, -which he can then never make. - -Overtaking is not confined to the dealer’s play, and it is much more -difficult for the adversaries to determine when to resort to this -strategy. As a rule, when the dealer is apparently holding up the -winning card, and when the cards of your suit are of equal value, -it is safer to overtake your partner’s card than to risk his being -unable to continue the lead. - - -“DUCKING” - -When a hand contains no re-entry card, the successful play of the -long suit may depend on a refusal to win the first trick; at times -both the first and second tricks in the suit must be passed. - -When you wish to make a long suit in a hand containing no re-entry -card, do not play the commanding card of the suit until you are -reasonably sure that the remainder of the cards will fall. Use care -not to exhaust the shorter of the two hands before the suit is -established. - -The situation is more clearly shown by the following examples: - - A♠ K♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ 3♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - 8♠ 4♠ - -The dealer should refuse to win the first round of the suit. With no -card of re-entry, should he lead the ace and king, the command would -be left with the adversaries and the suit would not be made. - - A♠ 9♠ 7♠ 5♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - 8♠ 4♠ 3♠ - -The dealer must allow the adversaries to win the first and second -tricks; otherwise the suit cannot be made. - - A♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - Q♠ J♠ 3♠ - -The dealer should lead the queen toward the ace, but should the -second in hand adversary cover with the king the dealer must pass the -trick; otherwise the third round will be blocked by the nine or ten. - - A♠ Q♠ 6♠ 5♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - 3♠ 2♠ - -The dealer should pass the first trick and not attempt the queen -finesse until the second round. One trick, it is true, may be lost, -but the play may win four tricks. - -One or two leads of a suit may show a distribution of the cards which -must give the adversary one trick. When this is the case, be careful -to lose that trick while you have still another card of the suit to -lead to the opposite hand. - - A♠ K♠ Q♠ 7♠ 5♠ 3♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - NONE | A B | J♠ 10♠ 6♠ 4♠ - | Z | - x-------x - 9♠ 8♠ - -The dealer finds at the first lead that the second in hand adversary -has no card of the suit. The jack is, therefore, three times -protected in the opposite hand and the dealer should pass the first -trick. - -With nine cards of a suit in the combined hands headed by ace and -king, all the remaining cards will probably fall on two leads, but -when the suit is divided, six and three, with no card of re-entry in -the long hand, it is safer to make sure of five tricks by passing the -first round. - - A♠ K♠ 9♠ 8♠ 6♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - | A B | - | Z | - x-------x - 7♠ 3♠ 2♠ - -Even when there is a re-entry card in the hand containing the long -suit, if the adversaries must make a trick in the suit it is better -play to lose the first trick. The re-entry may be an important card -to retain. - -When you hold a guarded honour in the suit led originally, or with a -once-guarded king in an unopened suit, place the lead so that these -honours will be lead up to. This can often be done by “ducking” or -passing a trick. - - -“OVERTAKING AND UNBLOCKING” - -The double necessity arises only on rare occasions. When the dummy -contains no re-entry and the adversary opens a suit in which dummy -has length, arrange the play of your own cards so as not to block the -dummy’s suit. - - A♠ 9♠ 6♠ 4♠ 2♠ - x-------x - | Y | - K♠ J♠ 7♠ [5♠] | A B | 3♠ - | Z | - x-------x - Q♠ 10♠ 8♠ - -Should the first trick be won with the eight, the dealer cannot -overtake the ten without loss. The ten should, therefore, be played -and the lead continued with the queen. If the adversary covers, the -trick must be passed. The eight should then be led through the jack. - - -“OVERTAKING AND DUCKING” - -Occasionally the initial opening will prove to be -the dummy’s long suit. To make this suit without a -card of re-entry in dummy it may be necessary for -the dealer not only to overtake dummy’s trick in -order to lead the suit through the original leader’s -hand, but also to allow the adversary to win the -second trick, if an attempt is made to force dummy’s -high card. - - A♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ - x-------x - | Y | - [5♠] | A B | 4♠ - | Z | - x-------x - K♠ 3♠ 2♠ - - A♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ - x-------x - | Y | - [4♠] | A B | 3♠ - | Z | - x-------x - Q♠ 5♠ 2♠ - -The dealer should in both cases overtake dummy’s trick in order to -continue the lead from the weaker hand. The original leader will -probably attempt, by playing a high card, to force the ace; in which -case the dealer must pass the second trick. The dummy will then hold -a tenace over the remaining honour, and the dealer can make four -tricks in the suit. - - -THE DEFENCE AGAINST OVERTAKING AND “DUCKING” - -When you open a suit and find that it is dummy’s strength do not -attempt to win the second trick if the dealer leads through your -hand, that is, unless you can mark the dealer with no other card of -the suit to lead; by taking the third round instead, you will often -save a trick or two. - - A♠ 9♠ 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ 4♠ - x-------x - | Y | - K♠ 10♠ 8♠ 2♠ | A B | NONE - | Z | - x-------x - Q♠ J♠ 3♠ - -In this case the dealer takes the first trick with the jack and leads -the queen. No attempt should be made to cover the card. In this way -the dealer is forced to win the third round and dummy’s suit is -blocked. - - - - -CARD STRATEGY - - -When players have largely grasped the fundamentals of bridge they are -frequently filled with complaisance and self-satisfaction that is -gratifyingly reassuring to them, but that does not tend to improve -their game. - -Each hand played, wherein they feel that they have committed no -blunders, brings a sense of contentment; but, unfortunately, they -overlook the tricks which they may have lost by the lack of a little -card strategy. - -These are the tricks, which won, decide rubbers. There is always -trouble for the player who is looking only for “what he deserves,” -and complacently assists the strategy of his opponents by not meeting -it with an equal display of skill in attack, or shrewdness in defense. - -Good players are frequently likely to be deceived by holding up small -cards, though as a matter of fact novices never appear to be fooled -by such tactics; play a high card like a King or a Queen, however, -and the poor player is decidedly apt to be frightened away from the -play of his own suit. - -To whomsoever it falls to play the dummy hand there is abundant -opportunity to baffle, mislead and confuse the opponents, and still -be playing strictly within the etiquette and the admitted -possibilities of bridge. In fact it is only just to one’s partner to -exercise one’s best endeavor and employ one’s brightest wits to bring -about a brilliant finish. - -A little of the combative disposition is a valuable adjunct to good -bridge play. Combine that with clever strategy and a most commendable -desire to send your adversaries on innumerable wild-goose chases, and -there will be no further playing merely for “what the hand deserves.” - -Pitfalls in the form of false leads, false carding and clever -underplay should be dug for your adversaries at every opportunity. -Whenever they can do the same thing, the adversaries will not scruple -to place them for you. - -There are hands in bridge which may be said to play themselves. One -holding all the winning cards could scarcely be expected to lose. -That, however, is purely primary. As the player himself recognizes, -it is something that could scarcely have been avoided. On the other -hand, when some well-planned ruse has found the opposition with no -sentries posted, and their camp is thrown into confusion by the -clever capture of a trick or two which they never had dreamed it -possible to lose, you may feel the elation that is a part of bridge -when the game is played to the full measure of its theory. - -Frequently a hand is picked up at the bridge table which on its face -may be read as hopeless, unless, by some means, the adversaries can be -induced to blunder. Never exercise charity in a case of that kind. -Make it a point to tempt them not only to blunder once, but again and -yet again. It is surely far more strategic for a weak hand to take a -strong hand prisoner than it is for the strong hand to capture the -weak hand. - -Subjoined are a few “ifs” that are well to be remembered, for all too -frequently the situation arises where one of them may become most -effective if you have retained its significance in your memory. - -If you find that in some suit a certain number of tricks will -go to your adversaries, and that to lead from your best suit is -disadvantageous, throw the lead and see what will happen. - -If you wish to make four tricks in a suit with but three in sight, -give the adversaries a chance to discard a card or two before you -show your strength. - -If you are anxious to know which of your adversaries holds the Queen -of the suit in which you hold the Ace, King, Jack, force a discard -and see how kind they will be to you. If no discard can be forced, -then give the adversaries the lead and let the suit come up to you. - -If you are reasonably certain of winning all the tricks but one, lead -out your remaining trumps. You cannot lose and, if your adversaries -are uncertain about their discard, the extra trick may be gained. - -If you hold the Queen and two small cards of a suit, with small cards -of the same suit in dummy and the adversary opens with the King, -keep your lowest card. The leader may be tempted to believe that his -partner is echoing, and he will establish your Queen by leading the -Ace. Do not attempt this play however if you hold length in the suit. - -If the King is led and you have length as well as strength in the -suit, play your highest card on the King, for if the adversary -continues with the Ace, the younger hand will probably ruff the third -round and you should therefore endeavor to frighten your opponents -from the suit. - -If a suit is led and the card played by the younger hand is not -higher than the ten, do not win the first trick with the Ace holding -Ace, King, Queen. The elder hand cannot have King, Queen, Jack, and -taking the first trick with the Ace would clearly show the situation. - -If you hold a singleton King lead the suit from dummy at the first -opportunity, being careful to select as a card to lead a ten or a -nine. This gives the impression that you intend to finesse. You may -tempt the adversary, with the Ace second in hand, to pass the trick, -whereas were a small card led he would probably make no such mistake. - -If you hold a small card as a singleton with King and Jack, or King -and others in dummy, do not wait until your adversary can count your -hand, but lead your singleton early in the hand and do not finesse. - -If you want high cards to fall, lead high cards. It is astounding how -difficult one finds it not to cover an honor led. With this in mind, -with a singleton Ace in your hand, and a sequence in dummy from the -Queen to the nine, the adversaries will make no mistake if a low card -is led, while the Queen is a temptress that few can resist. - -If you hold ten cards of suit in your hand and that of the dummy with -the Ace and King both against you, no doubt you will lose two tricks -in the suit; but when you do lead it lead your highest card. You may -tempt your second hand adversary to cover and the other honor may -fall. - -If you have nine or more cards in your hand and that of the dummy -headed by Ace and King, it is usually unwise to finesse; but it -is always good play to lead the Jack towards the high card in the -opposite hand as it may tempt your adversary to cover. - -If the adversary, after seeing dummy, lead through a King Jack suit -he probably has no high cards in the suit. To play the King can do -but little harm, and, if he has the Ace, you may shut it out. - -If you have Queen, ten and one small in dummy, and Ace, nine, small -in your own hand, lead the small card. If the King is not put up -second in hand, play the ten; if the Jack wins the trick the King -is probably in the same player’s hand, and you must get the lead in -dummy to come through this hand. Without the ten in either hand pass -the first trick and make no effort to win with your Queen. This may -be your only hope to get two tricks in the suit. - -If you have the Ace, King, small in your hand and Jack and two small -in dummy, the discard may show that your left hand adversary holds -the Queen protected. To steal a trick here, you must play the Ace and -underplay with the hope that this player will mark the King in his -partner’s hand and not play high. - -If at “No Trump” a high card is led against you originally, and -you have length in that suit, hold up the lowest card to make the -adversary think his partner is unblocking. - -If at a loss what suit to play for at “No-Trump” choose the one that -is shown in dummy, so that the adversaries may not discover the -weakness or strength of your own hand. - -If at “No-Trump” you are playing a poor hand with little or no hope -of winning, or even perhaps of saving the game, try leading the suit -that is all against you. Often the adversaries will hold imaginary -tenace over your cards and come “banging up” to your strong suit. The -collision will be more disastrous to them than you. - -If you must lose the lead at “No-Trump,” conceal the strength in your -own hand and do not jump around and show strength in three suits, for -then when you do lose the lead the adversaries cannot make a mistake -as to their own strong suit. - -If your adversary’s lead at “No-Trump” is a Jack and you have Ace, -King, Queen in your hand, take the first trick with the Queen. Never -win with the King. Many players lead the Jack from King, Jack, ten or -Ace, Jack, ten. - -If a Queen is led at “No-Trump” and you hold both the Ace and King, -do not win the first trick with the Ace. The Queen lead sometimes -indicates the Ace and Jack, and you may mislead an adversary by -playing the King, whereas the Ace would clearly show the situation. - -If you are playing “No-Trump” do not blank the Ace in dummy unless -you want this suit led to you. Keeping a small card with the Ace may -lead the adversaries to believe that you have a high card in your own -hand and they may hesitate to lead the suit. - -Another point that it is well to emphasize is in regard to being -forced to lead disadvantageously from a suit. Be very careful in a -case of that kind not to break a possible tenace by leading a high -card. For instance with Ace, ten and two small in your hand and Jack -and two small in dummy, you are forced to lead the suit from your -own hand. Play the small card. Often the adversary makes the mistake -of playing a high card second in hand, giving you, perhaps, a tenace -over your right hand opponent. - -Too much haste in showing ability to ruff by your weak hand -frequently brings disaster. In fact a trump lead from you will -discourage the trump attack by the adversaries, and they are only too -likely to give you the ruff without defining your purpose. - -Inference frequently will come to you from the cards held in -the combined hands as to what suit will probably be led by the -adversaries, but do not expose your weakness by discarding from this -suit. - -Last, but one of the most important facts of all, decide which of -your cards you mean to play before fingering them. Indecision may -tell your adversaries exactly what they are most eager to know. - -Bear in mind that these suggestions are advanced to try to impress -all players with the fact that there may be much more in the hand -than it seems to deserve, and that “much more” is the real test -of skillful bridge. It is a far greater source of enjoyment than -lackadaisically wading through deal after deal, stirring only the -surface of the shallow water and not venturing into those more -fascinating depths where the secrets of bridge await those who will -try for them. - - - - -LOST TRICKS - - -One development of bridge, seldom touched upon, has to do entirely -with what may be designated the “lost tricks.” - -Hands that play themselves are, to an extent, colorless and -featureless accessories of the game; but the “lost tricks” are the -“might have beens” of bridge that rankle in the memory long after the -rubber is finished. - -They are usually found in hands that require a thorough understanding -of the score, good judgment and keen perception, and are lost many -times because of a lack of understanding between partners. - -There can be nothing more trying to one’s finest nervous sense than -to play with a partner in whom one has little confidence, who makes -each situation as difficult as possible, gives no correct information -as to his own hand by the play of the cards, nor seeks to take -advantage of the information correctly given by his partner. - -There is one essential to bridge which must never be overlooked, nor -can its importance be too strongly impressed upon all players, and -that is, that to play the game well involves the closest kind of a -business partnership in which implicit confidence must exist. Evil -effects attendant upon deceit cannot be too highly overestimated, nor -can such play be too severely condemned, if your aim is to attain, as -nearly as possible, the standard of perfection. - -All players must understand that rules are but the mere convention -of the game, holding it to certain conformity, that, it is evident, -is necessary for its preservation and the perfect enjoyment of its -enthusiastic devotees. Certain rules, that govern the technicalities, -are absolute, as they are in any game of cards, but rules in general -are not the masters of bridge; rather should they be considered as -second to circumstance and the fall of the cards. Brilliant plays are -made in contravention to rules, yet we would not attempt to deduce -from that fact the theory that rules are not essential to the game. - -There are those disaffected individuals who rail at everything. To -them rules are bogey men; conventions are pitfalls. They scoff at -partners who play as such, and argue weakly for disconcerted play -in which one puts down a card, his partner another, and for all the -information that either conveys to the other a pinch of snuff would -be generous recompense. You might as well take a chance on a card of -any denomination or of any suit, as to try to adhere to a union of -forces with such a school of philosophy to guide you. - -Do not be influenced by theories somewhat wildly and illogically -advanced by players thus minded. Time and experience will assuredly -teach you that heresies fail in bridge, as they fail in other -subjects where cool, philosophical reasoning will lead to a sane and -intelligent understanding. - -Never forget that the dealer is in the possession of the strength of -twenty-six cards all the time. If you, with half that force, play -at random, and your partner, with no more numerical strength than -you possess, is also playing a fourth of the game on his individual -account, with no particular interest in what is being done with -the other three-fourths of the fifty-two cards, it is surely not -common sense to imagine that you and your partner are likely to be -superlatively blessed with success. - -United play in bridge is absolutely essential to success. This has -been demonstrated from the inception of the game, and those who are -most mindful of this fact are those who see fewer ghosts of “lost -tricks” stalking dejectedly about as they recall the hands of the -past. - -Occasions do arise however when you may deceive the dealer and not -your partner. If you wish the dealer to finesse, it will often pay to -play a high card second in hand, holding a small one. For instance, -with King, Jack, nine, four and three in dummy, the dealer leads the -Ace and then a small card. By playing the ten from the ten, five, -deuce on the second round of the suit you may lead the dealer to -believe that you hold the Queen or no other card in the suit, and -this may tempt him to finesse. - -When Ace and Queen are in dummy over your once guarded King, you will -probably be led through and your King be captured. It will pay you at -times, especially if the card next to the King is a nine or ten, to -lead the suit in the hope that the dealer will play the Ace second in -hand and that he will infer from your lead that the King is in your -partner’s hand. - -Should you and your partner hold all the remaining cards in a suit, -do not hesitate to play or discard a card of the suit so as to -mislead the dealer and make it difficult for him to count your own -and your partner’s hand. - -To enumerate the many situations wherein tricks are lost and where -partners go astray would need a keen observer and a pencil and pad at -almost every rubber that is played. - -It is usually accepted that a short suit is led for the purpose -of establishing a ruff. Very good. Yet players are often met who -complain about being forced after showing a desire to ruff. Then -avoid giving the invitation. Your partner can only read it as you -played to him and followed out your own suggestion as he felt in duty -bound to do. - -It is not invariably necessary that you open a short suit and play -for a ruff. It does seem to be a common impulse. There appears to -exist a desire on the part of most who play bridge to do something -with trumps, and players are always eager to begin their employment, -hoping to see Aces and Kings go by the board. Your short suit lead -may establish that suit for your opponent, and bring disaster through -an effort to make a small trump trick; while, on the other hand, the -lead of your long suit may force and so weaken the dealer’s trump -hand as to make it impossible for him to take out the trumps against -him. - -Tricks are lost by players not showing the correct numerical strength -of their long suit. A player who leads the deuce from a six card suit -assuredly would not have done so had he confidence in the ability of -his partner to read or count his hand. - -Frequently the under card of a sequence is led, or the highest card -of a sequence is played second or third in hand, and repeatedly that -has cost a trick or two because it conveyed misinformation. - -One who continually leads the top of long, weak suits against a -declared trump, gives misinformation and often leads his partner to -believe that he is opening a short suit, and frequently a trick or -two is lost by the dealer obtaining discards. - -The player who continually refuses to part with the best trump should -bear in mind that ruffing with the commanding trump rarely loses a -trick, and often gains one. - -Remember that the partner who doubles usually has trump strength, and -so do not strew his pathway with obstructions by forcing him when it -is most fatal to his chances. - -There is one type of partner who is particularly trying. He is that -persistent individual who, having acquired the notion of establishing -his long suit at “No-Trump” keeps at it with a bland faith that -would be amusing were it not so vexing. With little or no chance of -ever getting in, he sacrifices the only hope of saving the game by -refusing to switch off and see what his partner has got. - -Think, too, how your partner must feel when marked with a card of -your established suit, and in the lead, he witnesses a discard on -your part of one of your good suit, and is met with the feeble -apology that you had a “King or Queen to protect.” - -It is a maxim in bridge that the weaker hand should always consider -itself subordinate to the stronger, ready to sacrifice the high card -holding so that it will be a gain to the partner in the end. - -How selfishly and at what cost partners will decline to unblock -because it appears to them to mean the sacrifice of too high a card. -Too long they cling to their Queens and their Kings only to see the -great army of “lost tricks” obtain fresh recruits because they would -not, or could not, read what their partners were vainly trying to -publish before them. - -Another rather cool invitation and one bound to be fraught with -disastrous results is when you request your partner to play for a -suit in which you have neither length nor strength. It would be just -as logical to ask him to play for cards in your adversaries’ hands. - -It is always good practice in bridge not to attempt to play for -too much. To bring in two suits is, of course, a very delightful -sensation, but it is a great deal better to confine your efforts to -bring in one sure suit than to attempt two with the result of getting -neither. Bear in mind that when one is a bit greedy, “lost tricks” -are likely to foot up rapidly. - -Before the subject of “lost tricks” is abandoned it is well to call -attention to what may be sacrificed by bad makes. Players overanxious -to win will attempt declarations which they know to be unsound, being -influenced by a speculative impulse rather than by sound judgment. - -Countless rubbers are lost--not tricks, but rubbers--because players -do not know the score and, because they lack that information, are -not playing with an intelligent idea as to how many tricks are -absolutely essential to save the game. - -In conclusion bear this in mind for it is a justifiable loss of -a trick: Do not hesitate to lose when the only chance is to find -in your partner’s hand the card that will save the game; you may -be astonished to ascertain how often this will happen during the -ordinary course of play. - -Play so to perfect your whole game as to take care of the “lost -tricks.” The winning tricks, it will quickly be discovered, take care -of themselves. - - - - -“YOUR PARTNER.” - -HIS IDIOSYNCRASIES, AND SOME OF YOURS - - -All games of cards, even the simplest--those that require but little -thought or mental analysis--afford an excellent field for the study -of human nature. - -Players frequently permit little mannerisms and idiosyncrasies to -intrude, and, if not corrected at the start, the habit is likely to -grow. - -For the most part such offenses are, of themselves, but trivial -breaches, as it were, of the etiquette of the card-table; but at -times they are intensely irritating and the cause of some displeasure -that finds relief in word or action, both of which may quite -seriously disrupt bridge harmony. - -When a rubber of bridge is in contemplation and after the -preliminaries you sit down to play, it is just possible that “your -partner” may have his ideas about the game. If you have omitted to -ascertain in advance what they are, it will help neither of you in -the least if you immediately begin to differ as to leads, discards -and signals. Your game will strongly resemble a tug-of-war--both at -opposite ends of the rope, instead of at one end pulling conjointly. - -It is an invariable custom that the player who cuts the lowest card -has the choice of seats and the cards. If “your partner” objects to -moving do not advise that he would better change. Very likely his -reasons why he should not are quite as urgent as any that you can -advance to the contrary, and why interject at the start anything that -shall tend to create a slight element of discord. - -If you ask “your partner” for advice rest assured of criticism during -the remainder of play, whether it be for a rubber or for an evening. -It is one thing to consult, quite another to request. The moment that -you show subserviency you admit superiority, and there are those who -play bridge, and some with little experience or knowledge, who as -critics, in their own estimation, are _par excellence_. Better agree -with “your partner” at the start on the common principles that are -essential to be observed, and then play with an eloquent silence that -will command respect and admiration at the table. - -If you pass the make with a weak hand and your partner declares -“No-Trumps,” look as cheerful as possible, and make up your mind to -do the best that you can with the cards that have been given to you. -If you begin by abusing your partner for the make, you practically -say that your hand is weak and that the situation is hopeless. That -is most valuable information for your adversaries. - -Some times “your partner,” sitting behind the dummy hand, has a queer -way of waking up just as you are leading a thirteenth card from his -hand, and asking you whether you have a card of the suit led, thus -distracting your thoughts from the selection of a proper discard. - -The partner behind the silent hand, to hasten the play, has no right -to touch or suggest the use of a single card from those which lie -exposed before him, yet often players find the impulse to push out a -card from dummy almost irresistible. - -Haste and waste are antitypes in bridge as they are in everything. -Playing the hand as if you are in a hurry to catch a train may lend -a spectacular appearance to your disposition of the cards, but many -a rubber is lost by not stopping to give the situation the careful -thought that it demands. - -The occupant of the “high chair” usually has a monopoly of giving -advice. That kindly and courteous soul who can see it all--and who -may know it all, or imagine he does, which amounts to the same thing -in this particular case--and who sees no hand played without voicing -personal ideas as to the methods used, is a well-meaning adjunct to -the game, even if occasionally distressing. - -When a player spreads out all the cards of an abandoned spade hand, -scrutinizes each with an air of anxious concern, and conjectures -as to what might have happened had some other declaration been -attempted, it tries everybody at the table. What is done with a hand -cannot be undone. All time at bridge should be devoted earnestly to -what confronts a player, not to what is of the past. - -A penalty of some kind should be exacted from the player who makes a -practice of insisting that the dealer has led from the wrong hand. -It is very disconcerting and frequently disturbs the one criticized -to such an extent as to interrupt the train of thought for the -subsequent lead. - -Post mortems have their interest and are unmistakably convincing as a -rule. Don’t venture upon them unless you are certain what the scalpel -is going to reveal, and above all things when the corpse is buried -don’t continue to talk of the harassing details with another hand -awaiting play. - -Be careful how you criticize in all cases. It is not an invariable -rule that he who points out the first mistake had the best reason for -doing so. How about a blunder that may have been committed earlier by -the critic himself, and the possible embarrassment that may follow if -a complete analysis of all the cards played is insisted upon. - -There are personalities in bridge that can be avoided in addition to -arguments with “your partner” or public criticism of his play. The -actual time saved in “claiming all the rest” will not shorten the -game by two minutes. Better play all the cards out and save yourself -the possible mortification of having it placed in evidence that you -had not read your hand, that of “your partner” and those of your -adversaries, as intelligibly as you had imagined. - -Bridge knowledge is not acquired in a moment. Some persons are -naturally better players than others. Intuition is an aid to some, -the ability to forecast assists others, but both are powerless -without a thorough grasp of all the details that are accessory to the -game. - -In connection with this subject it may not be out of place to observe -that while the object of the game is to take tricks, the same number -can be made in a great many different ways. That you did not happen -to lose on a hand is no palliation for the very bad play of which -you may have been guilty. Always bear in mind the fact that there -is a right way and a wrong way to play, and that the acquirement of -playing by the right method should be the purpose of all who devote -their time to the game. - -Play bridge as if a genuine pleasure, whether winner or loser, and -eventually you will discover that it is far easier to win in that -spirit than it was with the critical idea predominating; and, if you -do lose, it is with the consciousness of good will toward your fellow -man, who happens, in this case, to be “your partner.” - -Endeavor to be serene under all circumstances. Keep in mind that it -is a pastime for sound mental training. Never forget that a cool head -is a most valuable essential, and try just as far as possible to sink -all peccadilloes in play, avoid all whimsicalities and correct all -personal mannerisms. - - - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HANDS - - -The following hands are illustrative of the principles discussed in -the previous chapters, and while, to the experienced players, some -of the points will appear simple, the hands all show interesting -situations which merit careful study from those who wish to improve -their Bridge play. - -All the hands have been taken from actual play and show by no means -unusual situations. The writer has endeavoured to eliminate freakish -distributions of cards and unsound play. - -Play each illustration as though but one hand were exposed, without -previous reference to the notes. - -In each case Z is the dealer and A the leader. - - +-----------------------------------------------------+ - | Transcriber's Note: | - | The square brackets indicate which card was lead. | - | For example [K]. | - +-----------------------------------------------------+ - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 1 - -Many players would be tempted to declare “no-trumps” with this hand, -but the declaration of hearts is sound. No risks should be taken with -a strong heart make when one weak suit is held. - -TRICK 1.--There are two lines of play that could be adopted -by the dealer in this hand, one to exhaust the trumps and try for -the spade suit, the other to try to establish a ruff in the weaker -hand. The former course is preferable. As Z holds but one trump, the -adversaries would probably prevent the ruff. To make the spade suit -an entry card may be necessary. Y takes the lead, in order to save -Z’s entry card. - -TRICK 8.--This position will be appreciated by all students -of the game. Z has three good spades and the commanding diamond, Y -the losing trump and the ace of clubs. Should Y now lead a diamond -and take Z’s re-entry card, the adversaries’ trump would stop the -suit. Leading the losing trump is a clever play. - -SAVING AN ENTRY CARD. LEADING THE LOSING TRUMP. - -It is the first game, score sixteen to nothing, in favor of the -dealer. Z deals and passes the make. Y declares hearts. - - ♠ 9 - ♣ A 6 5 3 No. 1 - ♦ A 4 2 - ♥ A K Q 7 5 - - x-------------x - ♠ J 6 5 | Y | ♠ K 10 8 - ♣ 7 4 2 | | ♣ K Q J 10 - ♦ Q 10 8 6 | A B | ♦ J 9 - ♥ 9 3 2 | | ♥ J 10 8 4 - | Z | - x-------------x - - ♠ A Q 7 4 3 2 - ♣ 9 8 - ♦ K 7 5 3 - ♥ 6 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+ - | 1 | 6♦ | [A♦] | 9♦ | 3♦ | - | 2 | 2♥ | [K♥] | 4♥ | 6♥ | - | 3 | 3♥ | [Q♥] | 8♥ | 5♦ | - | 4 | 9♥ | [A♥] | 10♥ | 8♣ | - | 5 | 5♠ | 9♠ | 10♠ | [Q♠] | - | 6 | 6♠ | 2♦ | 8♠ | [A♠] | - | 7 | J♠ | [5♥] | K♠ | 2♠ | - | 8 | 2♣ | 7♥ | [J♥] | 7♦ | - | 9 | 4♣ | [A♣] | K♣ | 9♣ | - | 10 | 8♦ | 4♦ | J♦ | [K♦] | - | 11 | 7♣ | 3♣ | 10♣ | [7♠] | - | 12 | 10♦ | 5♣ | J♣ | [4♠] | - | 13 | Q♦ | 6♣ | Q♣ | [3♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+--------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 2 - -TRICK 2.--This situation demands careful attention. If the -diamond is led from Y’s hand for Z to trump, the adversaries must -obtain the lead at the next trick, and would promptly lead trumps to -prevent any further ruffing. Z can estimate that he has but five sure -tricks in the two hands, three trump tricks, the diamond trick, the -ruff, and the possibility of making a trick with the king of clubs. -This, however, would give the adversaries the game and the rubber. To -win the game, two ruffs must be obtained and Z cannot afford to make -the situation clear to his opponents. He leads the seven of clubs -from Y’s hand in order to establish the cross-ruff. - -It is this form of strategy that wins games and rubbers for the -clever player. Z takes the one chance to win the game. - -TRICK 3.--B’s best play is unquestionably the trump. He has -both the spade and the club suit protected, his partner is marked -with strength in diamonds, and he can lead trumps with safety, but -not knowing that the weak hand can ruff, he returns his partner’s -original lead. - -TRICK 7.--A can stop the cross-ruff by trumping with the -king of hearts, but this play would not afford him any advantage, as -Y would discard a losing spade, and Z may not have another trump. - -TRICK 8.--There is no reason for B to trump. To discard is -his best play. - -NOT SHOWING ADVERSARIES THAT THE WEAK HAND CAN “RUFF.” - -It is the rubber game, score twenty-four all. Z deals and passes the -make. Y declares hearts. - - ♠ 9 6 5 - ♣ 7 No. 2 - ♦ A 5 3 2 - ♥ Q J 10 5 4 - +-------------+ - | Y | - ♠ K Q | | ♠ A 10 8 7 - ♣ 10 8 6 | A B | ♣ A Q 5 2 - ♦ K Q J 9 6 | | ♦ 10 8 7 - ♥ A K 3 | Z | ♥ 7 2 - +-------------+ - ♠ J 4 3 2 - ♣ K J 9 4 3 - ♦ 4 - ♥ 9 8 6 - - +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ - | 1 | K♦ | [A♦] | 7♦ | 4♦ | - | 2 | 6♣ | 7♣ | [A♣] | 3♣ | - | 3 | 6♦ | 2♦ | 10♦ | [6♥] | - | 4 | 8♣ | 5♠ | 2♣ | [K♣] | - | 5 | 10♣ | [4♥] | 5♣ | 4♣ | - | 6 | 9♦ | 3♦ | 8♦ | [9♥] | - | 7 | Q♦ | [5♥] | Q♣ | 9♣ | - | 8 | J♦ | 5♦ | 7♠ | [8♥] | - | 9 | Q♠ | 6♠ | [2♥] | J♣ | - | 10 | [K♥] | 10♥ | 7♥ | 2♠ | - | 11 | [K♠] | 9♠ | 8♠ | 3♠ | - | 12 | [A♥] | J♥ | 10♠ | 4♠ | - | 13 | 3♥ | [Q♥] | A♠ | J♠ | - +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ - The dealer wins two odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 3 - -TRICK 4.--When the commanding trump is against you, the -best play is usually to force your adversary to “ruff” with it, but -if you hold an established suit in one hand, it often pays to take -out the winning trump. Your long suit can then be continued without -interruption. - -LEADING THE LOSING TRUMP - -It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and makes it hearts. - - ♠ 5 4 2 - ♣ A Q J 8 6 3 No. 3 - ♦ 7 5 - ♥ 9 5 - +-------------+ - | Y | - ♠ A K Q 8 7 6 3 | | ♠ J 10 9 - ♣ 10 5 4 | A B | ♣ 9 7 - ♦ K | | ♦ Q J 10 9 8 - ♥ J 3 | Z | ♥ Q 8 2 - +-------------+ - ♠ ---- - ♣ K 2 - ♦ A 6 4 3 2 - ♥ A K 10 7 6 4 - - +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ - | 1 | K♠ | 2♠ | 9♠ | [4♥] | - | 2 | 3♥ | 5♥ | 2♥ | [A♥] | - | 3 | J♥ | 9♥ | 8♥ | [K♥] | - | 4 | 3♠ | 4♠ | [Q♥] | 6♥ | - | 5 | K♦ | 5♦ | Q♦ | [A♦] | - | 6 | 4♣ | 3♣ | 7♣ | [K♣] | - | 7 | 5♣ | [A♣] | 9♣ | 2♣ | - | 8 | 10♣ | [Q♣] | 10♠ | 2♦ | - | 9 | 6♠ | [J♣] | J♠ | 3♦ | - | 10 | 7♠ | [8♣] | 8♦ | 4♦ | - | 11 | 8♠ | [6♣] | 9♦ | 6♦ | - | 12 | Q♠ | 7♦ | 10♦ | [7♥] | - | 13 | A♠ | 5♠ | J♦ | [10♥] | - +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 4 - -TRICK 1.--To win the game the king of hearts must be in B’s -hand and the lead must be arranged so that Y can lead the jack of -hearts toward the ace queen. To make an entry card in Y’s hand, Z -throws his king of diamonds on the ace. - -TRICK 2.--A would like to change the suit, but, undoubtedly, -the diamond is his best lead. - -ARRANGING THE LEAD - -It is the rubber game, score eight to twenty-four against the -dealer. Z, the dealer, declares Hearts. - ♠ 9 8 6 4 - ♣ 9 8 6 4 No. 4 - ♦ Q 4 - ♥ J 5 4 - +------------+ - | Y | - ♠ K 5 | | ♠ A Q J 10 7 - ♣ 10 3 2 | A B | ♣ A 7 - ♦ A 9 8 7 6 3| | ♦ J 10 5 - ♥ 8 6 | Z | ♥ K 9 2 - +------------+ - ♠ 3 2 - ♣ K Q J 5 - ♦ K 2 - ♥ A Q 10 7 3 - - +-------+------+------+------+------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+------+------+------+------+ - | 1 | [A♦] | 4♦ | 5♦ | K♦ | - | 2 | 3♦ | [Q♦] | 10♦ | 2♦ | - | 3 | 6♥ | [J♥] | 2♥ | 3♥ | - | 4 | 8♥ | 5♥ | 9♥ |[10♥] | - | 5 | 6♦ | 4♥ | K♥ | [A♥] | - | 6 | 2♣ | 4♣ | [A♣] | K♣ | - | 7 | 7♦ | 4♠ | J♦ | [7♥] | - | 8 | 8♦ | 6♠ | 7♠ | [Q♥] | - | 9 | 3♣ | 6♣ | 7♣ | [Q♣] | - | 10 | 10♣ | 8♣ | 10♠ | [J♣] | - | 11 | 9♦ | [9♣] | J♠ | 5♣ | - | 12 | 5♠ | 9♠ | [A♠] | 2♠ | - | 13 | [K♠] | 8♠ | Q♠ | 3♠ | - +-------+------+------+------+------+ - The dealer wins three odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 5 - -TRICK 2.--To many players a trump lead at this trick would -seem imperative, but if trumps are led, the adversaries obtain the -lead and must make three tricks in the club suit. The clubs must be -discarded before the adversaries obtain the lead. The king of spades -should be led, otherwise the spade suit would be blocked. - -TRICK 4.--It seems like tempting fate for Z to lead his high -cards, but nothing can possibly be lost. The discards which Y takes -on these high cards offset any trump that the adversary might make. -There is everything to gain and nothing to lose. - -NOT LEADING TRUMPS UNTIL LOSING CARDS HAVE BEEN DISCARDED - -It is the rubber game, score eighteen to nothing in favour of the -dealer. Z deals and passes the make. Y declares hearts. - - ♠ K 3 - ♣ 9 8 7 No. 5 - ♦ A - ♥ K Q J 9 6 4 2 - +-------------+ - ♠ 5 4 2 | Y | ♠ J 10 9 7 - ♣ 6 3 2 | | ♣ A K Q J - ♦ J 9 7 5 2 | A B | ♦ 10 8 4 - ♥ 5 3 | | ♥ A 10 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A Q 8 6 - ♣ 10 5 4 - ♦ K Q 6 3 - ♥ 8 7 - - +-------+-------+-------+------+------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+------+------+ - | 1 | 5♦ | [A♦] | 4♦ | 3♦ | - | 2 | 2♠ | [K♠] | 7♠ | 6♠ | - | 3 | 4♠ | 3♠ | 9♠ | [A♠] | - | 4 | 2♦ | 7♣ | 8♦ | [K♦] | - | 5 | 7♦ | 8♣ | 10♦ | [Q♦] | - | 6 | 5♠ | 9♣ | 10♠ | [Q♠] | - | 7 | 3♥ | J♥ | [A♥] | 8♥ | - | 8 | 2♣ | [2♥] | K♣ | 4♣ | - | 9 | 5♥ | [K♥] | 10♥ | 7♥ | - | 10 | 3♣ | [Q♥] | J♠ | 5♣ | - | 11 | 6♣ | [9♥] | J♣ | 10♣ | - | 12 | 9♦ | [6♥] | Q♣ | 6♦ | - | 13 | J♦ | [4♥] | A♣ | 8♠ | - +-------+-------+-------+------+------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 6 - -TRICK 2.--Should B lead another round of hearts the weak -hand would “ruff” and the strong hand would discard. - -TRICK 4.--The dealer requires every trick to win the game. -To accomplish this both finesses must be successful. The trumps held -in the two hands are in sequence from the six to the queen, and -should B have the king of trumps three times protected, the lead must -be kept in Y’s hand. Many a hand has been ruined by the incorrect -play of this position. - -TRICK 10.--Z has the opportunity to make a brilliant coup. -To catch the ten of spades he must lead through A’s hand, and, -therefore, trumps Y’s winning club in order to obtain the lead. - -LEADING THROUGH - -It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and makes it diamonds. - - ♠ A J 9 7 5 - ♣ K Q J 7 No. 6 - ♦ Q 8 6 - ♥ J - +-------------+ - ♠ K 10 6 4 | Y | ♠ ---- - ♣ 8 6 4 2 | | ♣ A 5 - ♦ 3 | A B | ♦ K 5 4 2 - ♥ K 10 9 7 | | ♥ A 8 6 5 4 3 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ Q 8 3 2 - ♣ 10 9 3 - ♦ A J 10 9 7 - ♥ Q - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♥ | J♥ | [A♥] | Q♥ | - | 2 | 2♣ | 7♣ | [A♣] | 3♣ | - | 3 | 4♣ | [J♣] | 5♣ | 9♣ | - | 4 | 3♦ | [Q♦] | 2♦ | 9♦ | - | 5 | 6♣ | [8♦] | 4♦ | 7♦ | - | 6 | 8♣ | 6♦ | 5♦ | [10♦] | - | 7 | 9♥ | 5♠ | K♦ | [A♦] | - | 8 | K♠ | [A♠] | 2♥ | Q♠ | - | 9 | 10♥ | [K♣] | 3♥ | 10♣ | - | 10 | K♥ | Q♣ | 4♥ | [J♦] | - | 11 | 4♠ | 7♠ | 5♥ | [8♠] | - | 12 | 6♠ | [9♠] | 6♥ | 3♠ | - | 13 | 10♠ | [J♠] | 8♥ | 2♠ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins five odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 7 - -TRICK 1.--As there are but six trumps in the two hands, Z -knows that one adversary must hold at least four trumps, and should -the force be taken and the trumps led, the adversaries would make -the entire suit of diamonds. Z must wait until Y is able to take the -ruff, in this way keeping his own trump strength intact. - -TRICK 3.--A is placed in a difficult position. - -TRICK 7.--With the best trump against him, Z must force the -commanding trump, for, no matter how the adversaries play, the spade -suit must be brought in. - -REFUSING TO ACCEPT A FORCE - -It is the first game, score eight all. Z deals and makes it hearts. - - ♠ Q 4 3 - ♣ A 10 9 8 7 5 No. 7 - ♦ 7 5 - ♥ 9 3 - +-------------+ - ♠ 6 2 | Y | ♠ 10 7 - ♣ K | | ♣ Q J 6 - ♦ A K Q 8 3 2 | A B | ♦ J 10 9 6 4 - ♥ J 10 8 2 | | ♥ 7 5 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - - ♠ A K J 9 8 5 - ♣ 4 3 2 - ♦ ---- - ♥ A K Q 6 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♦] | 5♦ | 6♦ | 2♣ | - | 2 | [Q♦] | 7♦ | 9♦ | 3♣ | - | 3 | K♣ | [A♣] | 6♣ | 4♣ | - | 4 | 2♥ | 3♥ | 4♥ | [A♥] | - | 5 | 8♥ | 9♥ | 5♥ | [K♥] | - | 6 | 10♥ | 5♣ | 7♥ | [Q♥] | - | 7 | 2♠ | [Q♠] | 7♠ | 5♠ | - | 8 | 6♠ | 3♠ | 10♠ | [A♠] | - | 9 | [J♥] | 4♠ | 10♦ | K♠ | - | 10 | A♦ | 7♣ | J♦ | [6♥] | - | 11 | 2♦ | 8♣ | 4♦ | [J♠] | - | 12 | 3♦ | 9♣ | J♣ | [9♠] | - | 13 | 8♦ | 10♣ | Q♣ | [8♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 8 - -Many players might criticise the make of this hand without realising -its tremendous possibilities. A hand with five trumps and an -established suit is a difficult one for the adversaries to defeat. -As Z is short in two suits, there are not many tricks for the -adversaries outside of the trump suit. Z hopes to find an honour in -trumps with his partner which would enable him to exhaust the trumps -and make his suit. - -TRICK 2.--Many players would find it difficult to resist the -temptation of leading trumps up to the ace and queen in Y’s hand, but -the danger lies in having the finesse go wrong, for this would enable -the adversary to force the strong trump hand and the trump suit would -be blocked. To get the lead the dealer would again have to force his -own trump hand. If either adversary held four trumps this would be -ruinous. - -NOT TAKING A FINESSE, WHICH IF UNSUCCESSFUL, -WOULD BLOCK THE TRUMP SUIT - -It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and makes it hearts. - - ♠ 6 - ♣ 8 7 6 3 2 No. 8 - ♦ A 5 4 3 2 - ♥ A Q - x-------------x - ♠ 9 8 5 2 | Y | ♠ 10 - ♣ K 10 4 | | ♣ A Q J 9 5 - ♦ K Q J 9 | A B | ♦ 10 8 7 - ♥ 7 2 | | ♥ K 8 6 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A K Q J 7 4 3 - ♣ ---- - ♦ 6 - ♥ J 10 9 5 3 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | K♦ | [A♦] | 7♦ | 6♦ | - | 2 | 2♥ | [A♥] | 4♥ | 3♥ | - | 3 | 7♥ | Q♥ | [K♥] | 5♥ | - | 4 | 9♦ | 2♦ | 10♦ | [9♥] | - | 5 | J♦ | 6♠ | 6♥ | [J♥] | - | 6 | 4♣ | 3♦ | 8♥ | [10♥] | - | 7 | 2♠ | 4♦ | 10♠ | [A♠] | - | 8 | 5♠ | 5♦ | 5♣ | [K♠] | - | 9 | 8♠ | 2♣ | 9♣ | [Q♠] | - | 10 | 9♠ | 3♣ | J♣ | [J♠] | - | 11 | Q♦ | 6♣ | 8♦ | [7♠] | - | 12 | 10♣ | 7♣ | Q♣ | [4♠] | - | 13 | K♣ | 8♣ | A♣ | [3♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 9 - -TRICK 1.--Z must save an entry card for the spade suit. - -TRICK 2.--A refuses to part with the control of the -adversary’s suit. - -TRICK 3.--Should Z not overtake the jack of spades, A would -again refuse to part with the control, and hence this entire suit -would be blocked. This situation frequently occurs and is often -misplayed. When your cards are in sequence and should you know that -the adversary is holding up, always overtake to obtain the lead so -that you can continue to establish your suit. - -TRICK 4.--A cannot afford to lead any other suit and -continues with the diamonds. - -SAVING AN ENTRY CARD. OVERTAKING - -It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and passes the make. Y -makes it “no-trump.” - - ♠ Q J - ♣ A Q J 2 No. 9 - ♦ A 5 3 - ♥ A 8 7 4 - x-------------x - ♠ A 6 3 | Y | ♠ 5 2 - ♣ K 8 7 | | ♣ 9 5 4 - ♦ Q J 7 6 2 | A B | ♦ 10 9 8 - ♥ K 10 | | ♥ Q J 9 6 5 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ K 10 9 8 7 4 - ♣ 10 6 3 - ♦ K 4 - ♥ 3 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 6♦ | [A♦] | 8♦ | 4♦ | - | 2 | 8♠ | [Q♠] | 2♠ | 4♠ | - | 3 | [A♠] | J♠ | 5♠ | K♠ | - | 4 | Q♦ | 3♦ | 9♦ | [K♦] | - | 5 | 6♠ | 4♥ | 5♥ | [10♠] | - | 6 | 2♦ | 7♥ | 6♥ | [9♠] | - | 7 | 7♦ | 8♥ | 4♣ | [8♠] | - | 8 | 10♥ | 5♦ | 5♣ | [7♠] | - | 9 | 7♣ | 2♣ | 9♣ | [10♣] | - | 10 | 8♣ | [J♣] | 10♦ | 6♣ | - | 11 | K♣ | [A♣] | 9♥ | 3♣ | - | 12 | K♥ | [Q♣] | J♥ | 2♥ | - | 13 | J♦ | [A♥] | Q♥ | 3♥ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 10 - -TRICK 1.--Z false cards the king of spades in order to -deceive his adversaries. - -TRICK 2.--The lead of the club suit must come from Y, but if -a low heart is led, it will take out Y’s only card of entry. With the -purpose of making two cards of entry, Z leads the high cards from his -own hand. - -TRICK 4.--As all the hearts have fallen, Z can safely -overtake the jack, to lead the queen of clubs toward the ace. Should -Z continue with another round of hearts, Y would have no way of -obtaining the lead after the club suit was established. The low heart -must be saved as a card of entry. - -DOUBLE ENTRY - -It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and makes it “no-trump.” - - ♠ 4 2 - ♣ Q J 10 6 3 No. 10 - ♦ 4 3 - ♥ K 5 4 3 - x-------------x - ♠ A 9 8 7 6 | Y | ♠ J 5 3 - ♣ 8 5 | | ♣ K 7 4 - ♦ K 8 5 | A B | ♦ Q J 10 9 6 - ♥ 10 7 6 | | ♥ 9 8 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ K Q 10 - ♣ A 9 2 - ♦ A 7 2 - ♥ A Q J 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♠ | 2♠ | J♠ | [K♠] | - | 2 | 6♥ | 3♥ | 8♥ | [A♥] | - | 3 | 7♥ | 4♥ | 9♥ | [Q♥] | - | 4 | 10♥ | [K♥] | 6♦ | J♥ | - | 5 | 5♣ | [Q♣] | 4♣ | 2♣ | - | 6 | 8♣ | 3♣ | 7♣ | [9♣] | - | 7 | 5♦ | 6♣ | K♣ | [A♣] | - | 8 | 6♠ | [5♥] | 3♠ | 2♥ | - | 9 | 8♠ | [J♣] | 5♠ | 2♦ | - | 10 | 9♠ | [10♣] | 9♦ | 7♦ | - | 11 | [A♠] | 4♠ | 10♦ | Q♠ | - | 12 | K♦ | 3♦ | J♦ | [A♦] | - | 13 | 8♦ | 4♦ | Q♦ | [10♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 11 - -TRICK 1.--As the club suit is blocked, Y needs two entry -cards, one to establish the suit and the other to obtain the lead and -make it. Z, therefore, overtakes the jack of spades with the ace, to -make it possible for Y to have two entry cards. - -TRICK 5.--Without reference to the position of the cards, -A’s lead of the five of spades is bad. The game is lost unless B -holds the diamond suit, and his best play is undoubtedly the ace and -the jack of diamonds. As the cards are placed, however, this would -give the dealer an additional trick. - -MAKING AN ENTRY CARD - -It is the rubber game, score twenty-four to nothing against -the dealer. Z deals and makes it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ Q J - ♣ Q J 10 9 7 3 2 No. 11 - ♦ 8 6 - ♥ A 2 - x-------------x - ♠ 10 7 5 4 2 | Y | ♠ 9 8 6 - ♣ K 6 4 | | ♣ 8 5 - ♦ A J | A B | ♦ Q 10 9 5 - ♥ K J 10 | | ♥ 9 8 7 3 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A K 3 - ♣ A - ♦ K 7 4 3 2 - ♥ Q 6 5 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 4♠ | J♠ | 6♠ | [A♠] | - | 2 | 4♣ | 2♣ | 5♣ | [A♣] | - | 3 | 2♠ | [Q♠] | 8♠ | 3♠ | - | 4 | [K♣] | Q♣ | 8♣ | 2♦ | - | 5 | 5♠ | 6♦ | 9♠ | [K♠] | - | 6 | 10♥ | [A♥] | 3♥ | 4♥ | - | 7 | 6♣ | [J♣] | 5♦ | 3♦ | - | 8 | J♦ | [10♣] | 7♥ | 4♦ | - | 9 | J♥ | [9♣] | 8♥ | 5♥ | - | 10 | 7♠ | [7♣] | 9♥ | 6♥ | - | 11 | 10♠ | [3♣] | 9♦ | Q♥ | - | 12 | [A♦] | 8♦ | 10♦ | K♦ | - | 13 | [K♥] | 2♥ | Q♦ | 7♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 12 - -TRICK 5.--Z finds that the seven of diamonds is a card of -re-entry and plays to establish the club suit. - -TRICK 12.--Z can well afford to chance the making of a small -slam. - -A CARD OF RE-ENTRY - -It is the first game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes it -“no-trumps.” - - - ♠ 8 4 2 - ♣ 8 7 5 4 3 No. 12 - ♦ 7 4 3 2 - ♥ A - x-------------x - ♠ 10 9 7 3 | Y | ♠ K J 5 - ♣ 9 6 | | ♣ Q J 10 - ♦ 10 5 | A B | ♦ J 9 8 - ♥ Q J 7 6 4 | | ♥ 10 9 8 5 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A Q 6 - ♣ A K 2 - ♦ A K Q 6 - ♥ K 3 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 6♥ | [A♥] | 8♥ | 2♥ | - | 2 | 5♦ | 2♦ | 8♦ | [A♦] | - | 3 | 10♦ | 3♦ | 9♦ | [K♦] | - | 4 | 6♣ | 4♦ | J♦ | [Q♦] | - | 5 | 9♣ | 3♣ | 10♣ | [A♣] | - | 6 | 3♠ | 4♣ | J♣ | [K♣] | - | 7 | 7♠ | 5♣ | [Q♣] | 2♣ | - | 8 | 4♥ | 2♠ | 10♥ | [K♥] | - | 9 | 9♠ | [7♦] | 5♥ | 6♦ | - | 10 | 7♥ | [8♣] | 9♥ | 6♠ | - | 11 | J♥ | [7♣] | 5♠ | 3♥ | - | 12 | 10♠ | 8♠ | J♠ | [Q♠] | - | 13 | Q♥ | 4♠ | K♠ | [A♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 13 - -TRICK 1.--Z cannot afford to hold up the ace of spades, as -the entire diamond suit is against him. The game can neither be saved -nor won unless the king of clubs is in B’s hand. Should this be the -case, it may be necessary to lead twice from Y’s hand. - -Z proceeds to make these entry cards by leading the high hearts from -his own hand. The situation is one that is not only interesting but -instructive. - -DOUBLE ENTRY - -It is the rubber game, score twenty-four to nothing against -the dealer. Z deals and makes it “no-trump.” - - ♠ 7 5 - ♣ 9 8 6 No. 13 - ♦ 7 6 5 4 - ♥ K 5 4 3 - x-------------x - ♠ K J 10 8 6 4 3 | Y | ♠ Q 2 - ♣ 7 4 | | ♣ K 10 3 - ♦ J | A B | ♦ A K Q 10 3 2 - ♥ J 9 7 | | ♥ 10 8 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 9 - ♣ A Q J 5 2 - ♦ 9 8 - ♥ A Q 6 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 10♠ | 5♠ | 2♠ | [A♠] | - | 2 | 7♥ | 3♥ | 8♥ | [A♥] | - | 3 | 9♥ | 4♥ | 10♥ | [Q♥] | - | 4 | J♥ | [K♥] | 2♦ | 6♥ | - | 5 | 4♣ | 9♣ | 10♣ | [J♣] | - | 6 | 3♠ | [5♥] | 3♦ | 2♥ | - | 7 | 7♣ | [8♣] | 3♣ | 2♣ | - | 8 | 4♠ | 6♣ | K♣ | [A♣] | - | 9 | 6♠ | 7♠ | Q♠ | [Q♣] | - | 10 | 8♠ | 4♦ | 10♦ | [5♣] | - | 11 | J♦ | 5♦ | [Q♦] | 8♦ | - | 12 | J♠ | 6♦ | [K♦] | 9♦ | - | 13 | K♠ | 7♦ | [A♦] | 9♠ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 14 - -TRICK 1.--Z’s only hope to win the game is to establish and -make the diamond suit in Y’s hand. To do this it may be necessary to -have an entry card. - -TRICK 2.--B very properly refuses to part with the -commanding diamond and waits until the last diamond has been played -from the dealer’s hand. - -TRICK 5.--There is little excuse for the dealer’s play of -the ace of clubs at this point. He cannot lose by playing a low card. - -OVERTAKING TO MAKE AN ENTRY CARD - -It is the first game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes it -“no-trump.” - - ♠ 9 8 3 - ♣ J 7 No. 14 - ♦ K J 7 6 3 2 - ♥ K Q - x-------------x - ♠ K Q 5 | Y | ♠ J 10 7 - ♠ K Q 5 | | ♣ Q 10 9 5 - ♦ 10 | A B | ♦ A 9 5 - ♥ J 9 6 5 3 2 | | ♥ 10 8 7 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 6 4 2 - ♣ A 4 3 2 - ♦ Q 8 4 - ♥ A 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 5♥ | Q♥ | 7♥ | [A♥] | - | 2 | 10♦ | 2♦ | 5♦ | [Q♦] | - | 3 | 2♥ | [J♦] | 9♦ | 8♦ | - | 4 | 3♥ | 3♦ | [A♦] | 4♦ | - | 5 | 6♣ | 7♣ | 5♣ | [A♣] | - | 6 | 6♥ | [K♥] | 8♥ | 4♥ | - | 7 | 5♠ | [K♦] | 10♥ | 2♣ | - | 8 | 8♣ | [7♦] | 9♣ | 3♣ | - | 9 | 9♥ | [6♦] | 7♠ | 4♣ | - | 10 | Q♠ | 9♠ | 10♠ | [A♠] | - | 11 | [K♠] | 3♠ | J♠ | 2♠ | - | 12 | [J♥] | J♣ | 10♣ | 4♠ | - | 13 | [K♣] | 8♠ | Q♣ | 6♠ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins three odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 15 - -TRICK 1.--It is wrong to hold up an ace when one entire suit -is against you. You must take the lead and make all that is possible -in the other suits. - -TRICK 2.--The spade suit looks tempting, but the club -suit is longer and the dealer cannot afford to run the risk of the -adversaries’ obtaining the lead. Hasty and careless play to the first -lead of clubs would ruin the hand. Y must begin to unblock. - -TRICK 8.--The game is saved and cannot be won unless the -finesse in the spade suit is successful. - -NOT HOLDING UP AN ACE. UNBLOCKING - -It is the rubber game, score twenty-four to nothing against the -dealer. Z, the dealer, makes it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ A 10 9 6 5 - ♣ 10 9 4 No. 15 - ♦ 5 4 2 - ♥ 7 4 - x-------------x - ♠ K 8 2 | Y | ♠ 4 3 - ♣ Q 5 | | ♣ J 6 - ♦ J 10 3 | A B | ♦ A K Q 9 7 6 - ♥ Q 10 9 8 3 | | ♥ K J 5 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ Q J 7 - ♣ A K 8 7 3 2 - ♦ 8 - ♥ A 6 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 8♥ | 4♥ | K♥ | [A♥] | - | 2 | 5♣ | 9♣ | 6♣ | [A♣] | - | 3 | Q♣ | 10♣ | J♣ | [K♣] | - | 4 | 3♦ | 4♣ | 6♦ | [8♣] | - | 5 | 10♦ | 7♥ | 3♠ | [7♣] | - | 6 | 3♥ | 2♦ | 4♠ | [3♣] | - | 7 | J♦ | 4♦ | 7♦ | [2♣] | - | 8 | 2♠ | 5♠ | 9♦ | [Q♠] | - | 9 | 8♠ | 6♠ | Q♦ | [J♠] | - | 10 | K♠ | [A♠] | 5♥ | 7♠ | - | 11 | 9♥ | [10♠] | J♥ | 2♥ | - | 12 | 10♥ | [9♠] | K♦ | 6♥ | - | 13 | Q♥ | 5♦ | [A♦] | 8♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 16 - -TRICKS 1 AND 2.--Z refuses to part with the ace of hearts, -and waits until B’s last heart has been played. - -TRICK 4.--B cannot afford to win the queen of clubs with the -king. The dealer may have another club to lead. As the dummy holds no -card of entry, B hopes to block this suit by waiting until the last -club has been played from the dealer’s hand. - -TRICK 5.--The dealer can, without doubt, make an extra trick -by playing the ace of clubs, but he imagines that the king of clubs -is with A. - -HOLDING UP A KING - -It is the first game. Score 8-0 against the dealer. Z, the dealer, -declares “no-trumps.” A leads for the first trick. - - ♠ 5 4 2 - ♣ A J 10 8 7 3 No. 16 - ♦ 8 6 - ♥ 4 2 - x-------------x - ♠ J 8 6 | Y | ♠ A 10 3 - ♣ 9 4 | | ♣ K 6 2 - ♦ 10 9 5 | A B | ♦ K J 4 2 - ♥ K Q J 5 3 | | ♥ 10 8 6 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ K Q 9 7 - ♣ Q 5 - ♦ A Q 7 3 - ♥ A 9 7 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♥] | 2♥ | 6♥ | 7♥ | - | 2 | [Q♥] | 4♥ | 8♥ | 9♥ | - | 3 | 3♥ | 2♠ | 10♥ | [A♥] | - | 4 | 4♣ | 3♣ | 2♣ | [Q♣] | - | 5 | 9♣ | 10♣ | [K♣] | 5♣ | - | 6 | 5♦ | 6♦ | 2♦ | [Q♦] | - | 7 | 6♠ | 4♠ | [A♠] | K♠ | - | 8 | 9♦ | 8♦ | K♦ | [A♦] | - | 9 | 8♠ | 5♠ | 3♠ | [Q♠] | - | 10 | [J♠] | 7♣ | 10♠ | 7♠ | - | 11 | [J♥] | 8♣ | 6♣ | 9♠ | - | 12 | [5♥] | J♣ | 4♦ | 3♦ | - | 13 | 10♦ | A♣ | [J♦] | 7♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses two odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 17 - -TRICK 1.--To win the game Z must establish and make the club -suit; as A holds both queen and jack of clubs, he must make one trick. - -TRICK 2.--A plays very badly in attempting to win this -trick. This mistake, however, is often made. Should A refuse to win -this trick it would be impossible for the clubs in Y’s hand to make. - -TRICK 9.--B’s only hope is to find his partner strong in -spades. - -OVERTAKING, LOSING A TRICK, IN ORDER TO MAKE A SUIT - -It is the rubber game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes -it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ 8 6 4 - ♣ K 10 9 8 6 5 No. 17 - ♦ 10 6 - ♥ 5 4 - +-------------+ - ♠ K 10 5 | Y | ♠ Q J 3 - ♣ Q J 7 2 | | ♣ ---- - ♦ 5 4 2 | A B | ♦ A J 9 7 3 - ♥ 9 8 3 | | ♥ K J 10 6 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 9 7 2 - ♣ A 4 3 - ♦ K Q 8 - ♥ A Q 7 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 2♣ | 5♣ | 2♥ | [A♣] | - | 2 | [J♣] | 6♣ | 3♦ | 4♣ | - | 3 | 9♥ | 4♥ | 6♥ | [Q♥] | - | 4 | 7♣ | [8♣] | 7♦ | 3♣ | - | 5 | Q♣ | [K♣] | 9♦ | 2♠ | - | 6 | 2♦ | [10♣] | 10♥ | 7♠ | - | 7 | 4♦ | [9♣] | J♦ | 9♠ | - | 8 | 5♦ | 10♦ | [A♦] | 8♦ | - | 9 | 5♠ | 4♠ | Q♠ | [A♠] | - | 10 | 3♥ | 6♦ | 3♠ | [K♦] | - | 11 | 8♥ | 5♥ | J♠ | [Q♦] | - | 12 | 10♠ | 6♠ | J♥ | [A♥] | - | 13 | K♠ | 8♠ | [K♥] | 7♥ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 18 - -TRICK 2.--Should Z finesse and lose, Y’s suit would be -blocked and the adversary would undoubtedly take out Y’s only -re-entry card. The suit must be cleared before this re-entry card is -gone and many games and rubbers are lost by hasty play in positions -of this kind. - -NOT TAKING A FINESSE - -The score is eighteen to nothing against the dealer. Z deals and makes -it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ 8 7 - ♣ J 10 9 6 5 4 No. 18 - ♦ 7 3 2 - ♥ A K - x-------------x - ♠ Q 4 | Y | ♠ K J 10 9 - ♣ K 8 | | ♣ 7 3 2 - ♦ Q 9 6 | A B | ♦ 10 8 5 - ♥ Q J 8 7 6 2 | | ♥ 10 9 5 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 6 5 3 2 - ♣ A Q - ♦ A K J 4 - ♥ 4 3 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♥ | [K♥] | 5♥ | 3♥ | - | 2 | 8♣ | 4♣ | 2♣ | [A♣] | - | 3 | [K♣] | 5♣ | 3♣ | Q♣ | - | 4 | 2♥ | [A♥] | 9♥ | 4♥ | - | 5 | 6♥ | [J♣] | 7♣ | 2♠ | - | 6 | 4♠ | [10♣] | 8♦ | 3♠ | - | 7 | 8♥ | [9♣] | 5♦ | 5♠ | - | 8 | J♥ | [6♣] | 9♠ | 6♠ | - | 9 | 6♦ | 2♦ | 10♦ | [K♦] | - | 10 | 9♦ | 3♦ | 10♠ | [A♦] | - | 11 | Q♠ | 7♠ | J♠ | [A♠] | - | 12 | [Q♦] | 7♦ | 10♥ | 4♦ | - | 13 | [Q♥] | 8♠ | K♠ | J♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 19 - -TRICK 1.--Should Z refuse to win the first round of spades -with the king, his hand may be led through and the king captured. He -cannot gain by holding up this high card unless the original leader -holds a six-card spade suit as well as the ace of hearts. In other -words, he will lose if A has a four-or a five-card suit, and can -only win if A holds a six-card suit and the ace of hearts. In the -play of any hand, the usual, not the unusual distribution of the -cards should be considered. - -TRICK 2.--Z must play the hand with a certain goal in -view--eight tricks. If he leads the diamonds, he is compelled to -guess, and a wrong guess would be disastrous. As the ace of hearts -must win, Z hopes, by allowing the spades to make, to obtain -information which will guide him to a successful finesse. - -TRICKS 4, 5, AND 6.--Why does B protect both clubs and -diamonds? - -TRICK 9.--A’s discard of the two of diamonds is informative -and as B is protecting the diamond suit the dealer can safely infer -the location of the queen. - -FORCING DISCARDS TO LOCATE A FINESSE - -It is the rubber game, score twelve to twenty-four against the -dealer. Z passes the make. Y declares “no-trumps.” - - ♠ 9 5 - ♣ A 8 7 3 No. 19 - ♦ A 10 8 6 - ♥ K Q 3 - x-------------x - ♠ A J 10 7 6 | Y | ♠ Q 4 - ♣ K 10 6 | | ♣ Q 5 4 - ♦ 9 4 2 | A B | ♦ Q 5 3 - ♥ 8 2 | | ♥ A 9 6 5 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ K 8 3 2 - ♣ J 9 2 - ♦ K J 7 - ♥ J 10 7 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♠ | 5♠ | Q♠ | [K♠] | - | 2 | 2♥ | Q♥ | [A♥] | 7♥ | - | 3 | [10♠] | 9♠ | 4♠ | 2♠ | - | 4 | [A♠] | 3♣ | 4♥ | 3♠ | - | 5 | [J♠] | 7♣ | 5♥ | 8♠ | - | 6 | [6♠] | 8♣ | 6♥ | 2♣ | - | 7 | 6♣ | [A♣] | 4♣ | 9♣ | - | 8 | 8♥ | 3♥ | 9♥ | [J♥] | - | 9 | 2♦ | [K♥] | 5♣ | 10♥ | - | 10 | 4♦ | 6♦ | 3♦ | [J♦] | - | 11 | 9♦ | 8♦ | 5♦ | [K♦] | - | 12 | 10♣ | [A♦] | Q♦ | 7♦ | - | 13 | K♣ | [10♦] | Q♣ | J♣ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins two odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 20 - -TRICK 2.--Z cannot afford to lead diamonds from Y’s hand, as -this would take out the only entry card. - -TRICK 3.--B waits until Z’s last diamond has been played. - -TRICK 6.--Z endeavours to establish an entry card for Y by -sacrificing a high card from his own hand. B again tries to block the -dealer’s game. - -TRICK 7.--The ace of hearts is now marked with B, and the -Finesse Obligatory must be taken. Unless the jack of hearts lies with -A, Y can never make the diamond suit. - -TRICK 11.--It is very difficult for A to mark the two of -clubs. - -DESCHAPELLES COUP. FINESSE OBLIGATORY - -It is the rubber game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes it -“no-trumps.” - - ♠ 9 8 5 4 - ♣ 8 No. 20 - ♦ J 9 7 5 4 - ♥ Q 10 6 - x-------------x - ♠ K 10 6 | Y | ♠ Q J 7 - ♣ 10 7 6 5 3 | | ♣ J 9 4 - ♦ 10 6 | A B | ♦ K 8 3 - ♥ J 3 2 | | ♥ A 9 5 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 3 2 - ♣ A K Q 2 - ♦ A Q 2 - ♥ K 8 7 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 5♣ | 8♣ | J♣ | [A♣] | - | 2 | 6♦ | 4♦ | 3♦ | [A♦] | - | 3 | 10♦ | 5♦ | 8♦ | [Q♦] | - | 4 | 6♠ | 7♦ | [K♦] | 2♦ | - | 5 | 3♣ | 4♠ | 9♣ | [K♣] | - | 6 | 2♥ | 6♥ | 4♥ | [K♥] | - | 7 | 3♥ | 10♥ | [A♥] | 8♥ | - | 8 | 6♣ | 5♠ | 4♣ | [Q♣] | - | 9 | J♥ | [Q♥] | 5♥ | 7♥ | - | 10 | 7♣ | [J♦] | 9♥ | 2♠ | - | 11 | 10♠ | [9♦] | 7♠ | 3♠ | - | 12 | K♠ | 9♠ | J♠ | [A♠] | - | 13 | [10♣] | 8♠ | Q♠ | 2♣ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 21 - -TRICK 2.--Z infers that the adversaries will not continue with -the spade suit as Y holds a tenace over A’s cards. Every suit is -protected, but it would be dangerous to have clubs led through, for, -should A obtain the lead, this entire suit might be brought in. In -all probability the adversaries will make a trick in diamonds and Z -prefers that the first be taken by B. - -TRICK 3.--B leads an irregular card in hearts so that A can mark his -suit. Z cannot afford to have A lead and so takes this trick. - -NOT ALLOWING ADVERSARY TO LEAD THROUGH A ONCE GUARDED KING - -It is the rubber game, score eight to twenty against the dealer. -Z deals and makes it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ K J 7 - ♣ K 7 No. 21 - ♦ K 8 3 - ♥ 10 8 5 4 3 - x-------------x - ♠ Q 10 9 6 3 | Y | ♠ 8 2 - ♣ 10 8 4 | | ♣ A Q J 9 5 3 - ♦ Q 7 2 | A B | ♦ J 9 - ♥ K J | | ♥ Q 9 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 5 4 - ♣ 6 2 - ♦ A 10 6 5 4 - ♥ A 7 6 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 6♠ | 7♠ | 8♠ | [A♠] | - | 2 | 2♦ | 8♦ | [J♦] | 4♦ | - | 3 | J♥ | 3♥ | 9♥ | [A♥] | - | 4 | 7♦ | [K♦] | 9♦ | 5♦ | - | 5 | Q♦ | 3♦ | 2♠ | [A♦] | - | 6 | 4♣ | 4♥ | 3♣ | [10♦] | - | 7 | 8♣ | 5♥ | 5♣ | [6♦] | - | 8 | 3♠ | [J♠] | 9♣ | 5♠ | - | 9 | 9♠ | [K♠] | J♣ | 4♠ | - | 10 | [K♥] | 10♥ | 2♥ | 6♥ | - | 11 | [Q♠] | 8♥ | Q♣ | 7♥ | - | 12 | [10♠] | 7♣ | Q♥ | 2♣ | - | 13 | 10♣ | K♣ | [A♣] | 6♣ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins two odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 22 - -TRICK 1.--Z hopes to exhaust the hearts in B’s hand. - -TRICK 4.--To make two odd tricks is simple. To win the game A must -not get the lead. With an established suit against you, you -should not take a finesse, which would allow the adversary with the -established suit to obtain the lead. To lead the queen of clubs from -Y’s hands would be dangerous. The possibilities lie in the diamond -suit. Z, therefore, leads a diamond and allows B to win the trick. -The dealer must play the ace of clubs, for, should the diamonds fall, -the game is assured. - -NOT ALLOWING AN ESTABLISHED SUIT TO MAKE - -It is the rubber game, score twenty-four to nothing against the -dealer. Z deals and makes it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ Q J 3 - ♣ Q 9 No. 22 - ♦ A K 8 6 5 2 - ♥ 7 6 - x-------------x - ♠ 9 7 5 | Y | ♠ 8 6 2 - ♣ K 8 | | ♣ 6 4 3 2 - ♦ Q 4 3 | A B | ♦ J 10 9 - ♥ K Q J 10 5 | | ♥ 9 4 2 - | Z | - x-------------x - ♠ A K 10 4 - ♣ A J 10 7 5 - ♦ 7 - ♥ A 8 3 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♥] | 6♥ | 2♥ | 3♥ | - | 2 | [10♥] | 7♥ | 4♥ | 8♥ | - | 3 | J♥ | 3♠ | 9♥ | [A♥] | - | 4 | 3♦ | 2♦ | [9♦] | 7♦ | - | 5 | 8♣ | 9♣ | 2♣ | [A♣] | - | 6 | 5♠ | [J♠] | 2♠ | 4♠ | - | 7 | 4♦ | [A♦] | 10♦ | 5♣ | - | 8 | Q♦ | [K♦] | J♦ | 7♣ | - | 9 | 7♠ | [8♦] | 6♠ | 10♣ | - | 10 | 9♠ | [6♦] | 8♠ | J♣ | - | 11 | 5♥ | [5♦] | 3♣ | 10♠ | - | 12 | Q♥ | Q♠ | 4♣ | [K♠] | - | 13 | K♣ | Q♣ | 6♣ | [A♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 23 - -TRICK 3.--With four spades in B’s hand, to make this suit Z -must allow B to win the first trick. - -TRICK 10.--Z hopes to make the king of diamonds by leading -from the weak hand. - -“DUCKING” - -It is the first game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes it -“no-trumps.” - - ♠ A K Q 10 7 5 4 - ♣ 9 6 4 No. 23 - ♦ 10 7 - ♥ 3 - x-------------x - ♠ ---- | Y | ♠ J 9 3 2 - ♣ Q 10 8 5 | | ♣ K J - ♦ Q 6 3 2 | A B | ♦ A J 9 4 - ♥ Q 10 7 6 4 | | ♥ 9 8 5 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ 8 6 - ♣ A 7 3 2 - ♦ K 8 5 - ♥ A K J 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 6♥ | 3♥ | 8♥ | [J♥] | - | 2 | 2♦ | 4♠ | [9♠] | 8♠ | - | 3 | 4♥ | 4♣ | 9♥ | [A♥] | - | 4 | 5♣ | [Q♠] | 2♠ | 6♠ | - | 5 | 7♥ | [A♠] | 3♠ | 2♣ | - | 6 | 8♣ | [K♠] | J♠ | 3♣ | - | 7 | 10♣ | [10♠] | 4♦ | 7♣ | - | 8 | Q♣ | [7♠] | 9♦ | 5♦ | - | 9 | 10♥ | [5♠] | J♦ | 2♥ | - | 10 | 3♦ | 7♦ | [A♦] | 8♦ | - | 11 | Q♥ | 10♦ | 5♥ | [K♥] | - | 12 | 6♦ | 6♣ | J♣ | [K♦] | - | 13 | Q♦ | 9♣ | K♣ | [A♣] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins five odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 24 - -Holding the ace, king, and jack of a suit, provided the queen is not -in dummy, it is often advisable to wait until your partner can lead -through the dealer’s hand. To lead through a king in dummy is sound -play, especially when you hold a sequence. Z cannot gain by covering -the honour led. He hopes that the ace will fall to the first or -second lead. - -TRICK 5.--B indicates his suit before returning his partner’s original -lead. - -LEADING THROUGH DUMMY’S STRENGTH - -It is the first game, score eight to nothing against the dealer. -Z, the dealer, passes the make. Y declares hearts. - - ♠ J 2 - ♣ K 9 8 No. 24 - ♦ 6 4 3 - ♥ A Q J 7 5 - x-------------x - ♠ 10 7 5 | Y | ♠ A K 6 4 - ♣ Q J 10 | | ♣ A 6 5 4 - ♦ A K J 5 | A B | ♦ 9 8 2 - ♥ K 6 3 | | ♥ 8 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ Q 9 8 3 - ♣ 7 3 2 - ♦ Q 10 7 - ♥ 10 9 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♦] | 3♦ | 2♦ | 7♦ | - | 2 | [Q♣] | 8♣ | 4♣ | 2♣ | - | 3 | [J♣] | 9♣ | 5♣ | 3♣ | - | 4 | 10♣ | K♣ | [A♣] | 7♣ | - | 5 | 5♠ | 2♠ | [K♠] | 3♠ | - | 6 | [J♦] | 4♦ | 9♦ | 10♦ | - | 7 | [A♦] | 6♦ | 8♦ | Q♦ | - | 8 | 7♠ | J♠ | [A♠] | 8♠ | - | 9 | 10♠ | [5♥] | 4♠ | 9♠ | - | 10 | 3♥ | [A♥] | 2♥ | 4♥ | - | 11 | [K♥] | 7♥ | 8♥ | 9♥ | - | 12 | 5♦ | [J♥] | 6♣ | Q♠ | - | 13 | 6♥ | [Q♥] | 6♠ | 10♥ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses three odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 25 - -TRICK 1.--Many players would be tempted to lead the supporting -diamond rather than to open the four-card suit. - -TRICK 2.--Should B lead the ace of spades the ruff would be -established in the weak hand. As B holds protection in all of the -suits, his best play is to lead trumps through the strong hand. - -TRICK 3.--It would be bad play for A to return his partner’s lead of -trumps. He holds the king of trumps protected and must wait until his -partner can again lead through the dealer’s hand. It would be wrong -to continue his original lead of spades, as the dealer could then -stop the lead of trumps and give dummy the ruff. A infers from his -partner’s lead of trumps that he holds strength in the other suits, -and the ten of diamonds is undoubtedly his best play. - -TRICK 4.--B again leads through the strong trump hand, A makes his -king and leads his losing trump to draw two for one. No matter how -the dealer may play he cannot prevent his adversaries from making the -remaining tricks in spades or in diamonds, it being impossible to -obtain the lead in dummy. - -PREVENTING THE WEAK HAND FROM RUFFING - -It is the rubber game, score sixteen to eight in favour of the -dealer. Z, the dealer, makes it hearts and A leads for the first -trick. - - ♠ 5 4 - ♣ K Q 6 5 2 No. 25 - ♦ K J 4 - ♥ 7 6 4 - +-------------+ - ♠ Q 10 9 2 | Y | ♠ A K 6 - ♣ 9 7 4 | | ♣ J 10 8 3 - ♦ 10 9 5 | A B | ♦ A Q 8 2 - ♥ K J 2 | | ♥ 5 3 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ J 8 7 3 - ♣ A - ♦ 7 6 3 - ♥ A Q 10 9 8 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 2♠ | 4♠ | [K♠] | 3♠ | - | 2 | [J♥] | 4♥ | 5♥ | 8♥ | - | 3 | 10♦ | J♦ | [Q♦] | 3♦ | - | 4 | [K♥] | 6♥ | 3♥ | 9♥ | - | 5 | 2♥ | 7♥ | 2♦ | [10♥] | - | 6 | 4♣ | 2♣ | 3♣ | [A♣] | - | 7 | 5♦ | K♦ | [A♦] | 6♦ | - | 8 | 9♠ | 5♠ | [A♠] | 7♠ | - | 9 | [10♠] | 4♦ | 6♠ | 8♠ | - | 10 | [Q♠] | 5♣ | 8♦ | J♠ | - | 11 | [9♦] | 6♣ | 8♣ | 7♦ | - | 12 | 7♣ | Q♣ | 10♣ | [Q♥] | - | 13 | 9♣ | K♣ | J♣ | [A♥] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses three odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 26 - -TRICK 1.--A is almost strong enough to lead the trump originally, but -holding the ace and king of a suit his best play is to take a view of -the dummy hand. - -TRICK 2.--The queen of spades falling in the dealer’s hand indicates -that the weak hand will ruff. A leads trumps through the strong hand. - -TRICK 3.--B has no reason to wait for the trumps to be led through -again, as he does not hold a tenace over dummy. He, therefore, leads -the ace and then a low trump in order to exhaust trumps from the weak -hand. - -PREVENTING THE WEAK HAND FROM RUFFING - -It is the first game, score love all. Z, the dealer, passes the -make. Y declares hearts. A leads for the first trick. - - ♠ 9 4 3 2 - ♣ A K 6 No. 26 - ♦ 7 - ♥ K J 9 5 3 - x-------------x - ♠ A K J 10 | Y | ♠ 8 7 6 5 - ♣ Q J 8 3 | | ♣ 10 2 - ♦ A Q 2 | A B | ♦ K J 8 4 - ♥ 7 6 | | ♥ A Q 8 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ Q - ♣ 9 7 5 4 - ♦ 10 9 6 5 3 - ♥ 10 4 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♠] | 2♠ | 5♠ | Q♠ | - | 2 | 7♥ | 3♥ | [Q♥] | 2♥ | - | 3 | 6♥ | 5♥ | [A♥] | 4♥ | - | 4 | 2♦ | 9♥ | 8♥ | [10♥] | - | 5 | 3♣ | [K♣] | 2♣ | 4♣ | - | 6 | 8♣ | [A♣] | 10♣ | 5♣ | - | 7 | [J♣] | 6♣ | 6♠ | 7♣ | - | 8 | [A♠] | 3♠ | 7♠ | 9♣ | - | 9 | [J♠] | 4♠ | 8♠ | 3♦ | - | 10 | [10♠] | 9♠ | 4♦ | 5♦ | - | 11 | [A♦] | 7♦ | 8♦ | 6♦ | - | 12 | Q♣ | [J♥] | J♦ | 9♦ | - | 13 | Q♦ | [K♥] | K♦ | 10♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses two odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 27 - -TRICK 2.--The dealer after taking the force leads trumps in order to -bring in the established spade suit. - -TRICK 4.--This is the critical point in the hand. A can continue to -force the strong trump hand, but as the trumps are evidently all -established in the dealer’s hand, it would enable the dealer to take -out the remaining trumps and make the spades. - -This situation is interesting and deserves careful study. It is too -late to force when the adversary holds an established suit against -you. You must make what you can in the other suits before giving up -the lead. - -TRICK 5.--A overtakes the queen of clubs in order to continue the -lead. - -TRICK 7.--B discards his only spade. - -TRICK 8.--A gives B the opportunity to make his losing trump. - -NOT FORCING - -It is the first game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes it -hearts. - - ♠ A K Q J 8 7 6 - ♣ 10 8 No. 27 - ♦ 10 8 - ♥ J 9 - +-------------+ - ♠ 10 2 | Y | ♠ 9 - ♣ K J 9 2 | | ♣ A Q 6 - ♦ A K Q J 7 | A B | ♦ 9 6 5 4 3 2 - ♥ A 5 | | ♥ 7 4 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ 5 4 3 - ♣ 7 5 4 3 - ♦ ---- - ♥ K Q 10 8 6 3 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | K♦ | 8♦ | 2♦ | [3♥] | - | 2 | 5♥ | [J♥] | 2♥ | 6♥ | - | 3 | [A♥] | 9♥ | 4♥ | K♥ | - | 4 | 2♣ | 8♣ | [A♣] | 3♣ | - | 5 | [K♣] | 10♣ | Q♣ | 4♣ | - | 6 | [J♣] | 10♦ | 6♣ | 5♣ | - | 7 | [9♣] | 6♠ | 9♠ | 7♣ | - | 8 | 10♠ | J♠ | [7♥] | 3♠ | - | 9 | 7♦ | 7♠ | 3♦ | [8♥] | - | 10 | 2♠ | [8♠] | 4♦ | 4♠ | - | 11 | J♦ | [Q♠] | 5♦ | 5♠ | - | 12 | Q♦ | K♠ | 6♦ | [10♥] | - | 13 | A♦ | A♠ | 9♦ | [Q♥] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins the odd trick. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 28 - -TRICK 1.--Z false cards the ace of hearts to tempt A to again lead -the suit. - -TRICK 3.--The correct play of third hand is high unless two or more -honours are held in sequence, in which case the lower honour is -played. B’s play of the jack denies the ten and the king. It would, -therefore, be bad play for A to continue his suit. He must wait until -his partner can lead through the dealer’s hand. - -A’s best lead is through the strength of the dummy hand, and he leads -the highest card of his sequence. - -TRICK 4.--B must wait until his partner can again lead through the -king of diamonds, and so returns his partner’s original lead. - -INFERENCE - -It is the rubber game, score twenty-four to nothing against -the dealer. Z, the dealer, makes it “no trumps.” - - ♠ 10 5 3 2 - ♣ 9 7 4 No. 28 - ♦ K J 3 2 - ♥ 8 2 - +-------------+ - ♠ 7 6 4 | Y | ♠ Q J 9 8 - ♣ A K | | ♣ 6 2 - ♦ 10 9 5 | A B | ♦ A Q 8 4 - ♥ Q 9 7 6 3 | | ♥ J 5 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A K - ♣ Q J 10 8 5 3 - ♦ 7 6 - ♥ A K 10 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 6♥ | 2♥ | J♥ | [A♥] | - | 2 | [K♣] | 4♣ | 2♣ | Q♣ | - | 3 | 10♦ | J♦ | [Q♦] | 6♦ | - | 4 | [Q♥] | 8♥ | 5♥ | 10♥ | - | 5 | 9♥ | 2♠ | 4♥ | [K♥] | - | 6 | [A♣] | 7♣ | 6♣ | J♣ | - | 7 | [7♥] | 3♠ | 8♠ | 7♦ | - | 8 | [3♥] | 5♠ | 9♠ | 3♣ | - | 9 | [9♦] | 2♦ | 4♦ | 5♣ | - | 10 | 5♦ | 3♦ | [8♦] | 8♣ | - | 11 | 4♠ | K♦ | [A♦] | K♠ | - | 12 | 6♠ | 10♠ | Q♠ | [A♠] | - | 13 | 7♠ | 9♣ | J♠ | [10♣] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses three odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 29 - -TRICK 1.--With three cards of re-entry in his hand A can afford to -lead one of them in order to gain information as to the position of -the cards in his long suit. Winning the first trick, A can clearly -see the situation. The play of the two of hearts by B indicates -that he cannot hold four cards in the heart suit. Should A continue -leading hearts he must establish one or more cards in the dealer’s -hand. - -TRICK 3.--A cannot afford to lead spades, as Y holds a double major -tenace over his hand. As Z, the dealer, has passed the make, A can -mark strength in the diamond suit with B. He, therefore, abandons his -own suit and endeavours to help his partner by leading the singleton -diamond. B overtakes the jack of diamonds and continues with the suit. - -INFERENCE - -It is the rubber game, score twenty to nothing against the dealer. -Z, the dealer, passes the make. Y declares “no-trump.” - - ♠ A Q 10 - ♣ A Q J 8 4 2 No. 29 - ♦ A 2 - ♥ 8 5 - +-------------+ - ♠ K J 8 5 4 3 | Y | ♠ 7 - ♣ 9 7 | | ♣ K 6 - ♦ J | A B | ♦ K Q 10 9 8 7 6 - ♥ A K Q 3 | | ♥ 7 6 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ 9 6 2 - ♣ 10 5 3 - ♦ 5 4 3 - ♥ J 10 9 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♥] | 5♥ | 2♥ | 4♥ | - | 2 | [Q♥] | 8♥ | 6♥ | J♥ | - | 3 | J♦ | 2♦ | [Q♦] | 3♦ | - | 4 | 3♠ | [A♦] | 6♦ | 4♦ | - | 5 | 7♣ | [A♣] | 6♣ | 3♣ | - | 6 | 9♣ | Q♣ | [K♣] | 5♣ | - | 7 | 4♠ | 10♠ | [K♦] | 5♦ | - | 8 | 5♠ | Q♠ | [10♦] | 2♠ | - | 9 | 8♠ | 2♣ | [9♦] | 6♠ | - | 10 | J♠ | 4♣ | [8♦] | 9♠ | - | 11 | K♠ | 8♣ | [7♦] | 10♣ | - | 12 | [A♥] | J♣ | 7♥ | 10♥ | - | 13 | 3♥ | A♠ | 7♠ | [9♥] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 30 - -TRICK 1.--B’s play of the queen denies the jack, which A marks with -the dealer. - -TRICK 2.--The dealer can lead his high spades, but this lead might -establish a trick in the suit for his adversaries. His best play is -to conceal the strength in this suit, and to establish the club suit. - -TRICK 3.--A is placed in a difficult position; if he continues with -his diamonds the jack will make. He must place the lead with B so -that the dealer’s hand may be led through. The heart suit is better -than the spade suit, as dummy holds an honour to lead through. - -TRICK 4.--B must wait until his partner can again lead through the -king of hearts, and so returns A’s original lead. - -Should A continue with the lead of diamonds at trick two the dealer -would win four odd tricks instead of losing that number. - -INFERENCE - -It is the rubber game, score sixteen to nothing against the dealer. -Z, the dealer, makes it “no-trump.” - - ♠ 9 8 7 5 - ♣ 8 6 5 4 No. 30 - ♦ 8 3 - ♥ K 8 7 - +-------------+ - ♠ 4 3 2 | Y | ♠ J 10 6 - ♣ A 3 | | ♣ 10 2 - ♦ K 10 9 7 2 | A B | ♦ Q 6 5 - ♥ 6 5 2 | | ♥ A Q J 9 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A K Q - ♣ K Q J 9 7 - ♦ A J 4 - ♥ 10 3 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♦ | 3♦ | Q♦ | [A♦] | - | 2 | [A♣] | 4♣ | 2♣ | K♣ | - | 3 | 6♥ | 7♥ | [J♥] | 3♥ | - | 4 | [9♦] | 8♦ | 6♦ | 4♦ | - | 5 | [K♦] | 5♣ | 5♦ | J♦ | - | 6 | [10♦] | 6♣ | 10♣ | 10♥ | - | 7 | [2♦] | 8♣ | 6♠ | 7♣ | - | 8 | 5♥ | 8♥ | [Q♥] | 9♣ | - | 9 | 2♥ | K♥ | [A♥] | J♣ | - | 10 | 3♣ | 5♠ | [9♥] | Q♠ | - | 11 | 2♠ | 7♠ | [4♥] | K♠ | - | 12 | 3♠ | 8♠ | 10♠ | [A♠] | - | 13 | 4♠ | 9♠ | J♠ | [Q♣] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses four odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 31 - -TRICK 2.--B’s return of the three of hearts shows the situation to -A. It is the rule at “no-trump” to return partner’s suit with your -highest card. A can mark Z with two cards in the suit higher than the -three. - -TRICK 3.--It would be bad play for A to lead his king of hearts, as -this would establish the queen for Z. A opens the low diamond, hoping -that B can obtain the lead. - -LEADING THROUGH - -It is the rubber game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes -it “no-trump.” - - ♠ K Q J 4 3 - ♣ K Q J 7 No. 31 - ♦ J 5 2 - ♥ 10 - x-------------x - ♠ 6 5 | Y | ♠ 8 7 2 - ♣ 9 3 | | ♣ 10 6 5 4 - ♦ Q 10 6 4 | A B | ♦ A 7 3 - ♥ K J 8 7 6 | | ♥ A 3 2 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 10 9 - ♣ A 8 2 - ♦ K 9 8 - ♥ Q 9 5 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♥ | 10♥ | [A♥] | 4♥ | - | 2 | [J♥] | 2♦ | 3♥ | 9♥ | - | 3 | 4♦ | 5♦ | [A♦] | 8♦ | - | 4 | [6♥] | J♦ | 2♥ | 5♥ | - | 5 | [K♥] | 7♣ | 3♦ | Q♥ | - | 6 | [8♥] | 3♠ | 7♦ | 9♦ | - | 7 | Q♦ | 4♠ | 2♠ | [K♦] | - | 8 | 5♠ | J♠ | 7♠ | [A♠] | - | 9 | 6♠ | [Q♠] | 8♠ | 10♠ | - | 10 | 3♣ | [K♠] | 4♣ | 9♠ | - | 11 | 9♣ | [K♣] | 5♣ | 2♣ | - | 12 | 6♦ | [Q♣] | 6♣ | 8♣ | - | 13 | 10♦ | [J♣] | 10♣ | A♣ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins the odd trick. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 32 - -TRICK 1.--B’s play of the jack denies the ace, which must be with the -dealer. - -TRICK 2.--Should A allow the queen of hearts to win this trick, his -re-entry card would be taken out before his suit is cleared. He must -overtake his partner’s card in order to establish the suit. - -TRICK 4.--The dealer hopes that the ace of clubs is with B, as this -would shut out A’s heart suit. - -OVERTAKING BY THE ADVERSARY - -It is the second game, score twenty-four to nothing against -the dealer. Z, the dealer, makes it “no-trump.” - - ♠ Q 4 2 - ♣ 10 9 6 No. 32 - ♦ A J 10 5 4 - ♥ 5 3 - x-------------x - ♠ 9 8 3 | Y | ♠ J 10 6 5 - ♣ A 7 | | ♣ 5 4 3 - ♦ 8 3 | A B | ♦ Q 9 7 2 - ♥ K 10 9 8 6 4 | | ♥ Q J - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A K 7 - ♣ K Q J 8 2 - ♦ K 6 - ♥ A 7 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 8♥ | 3♥ | [J♥] | 2♥ | - | 2 | [K♥] | 5♥ | Q♥ | 7♥ | - | 3 | 4♥ | 2♠ | 4♣ | [A♥] | - | 4 | [A♣] | 6♣ | 3♣ | K♣ | - | 5 | [10♥] | 4♦ | 5♣ | 7♠ | - | 6 | [9♥] | 5♦ | 2♦ | 2♣ | - | 7 | [6♥] | 10♦ | 5♠ | 8♣ | - | 8 | 8♦ | J♦ | Q♦ | [K♦] | - | 9 | 7♣ | 9♣ | 6♠ | [Q♣] | - | 10 | 3♦ | 10♣ | 10♠ | [J♣] | - | 11 | 3♠ | 4♠ | J♠ | [A♠] | - | 12 | 8♠ | Q♠ | 7♦ | [K♠] | - | 13 | 9♠ | [A♦] | 9♦ | 6♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins the odd trick. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 33 - -TRICK 2.--As A holds no card of re-entry except the ace of diamonds, -he cannot afford to win this trick. He must trust B for a card of -re-entry and a diamond to lead. The play can only lose one trick, and -it may save the game. - -TRICK 3.--Z must establish the spade suit. - -REFUSING TO PLAY THE HIGH CARD OF A LONG SUIT - -It is the rubber game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes -it “no-trumps.” - - ♠ 9 8 7 - ♣ J 10 7 5 No. 33 - ♦ K 4 2 - ♥ K Q 5 - x-------------x - ♠ 6 2 | Y | ♠ A 5 3 - ♣ 9 6 2 | | ♣ K 8 3 - ♦ A 10 7 6 5 | A B | ♦ Q 9 3 - ♥ 6 4 3 | | ♥ 10 9 8 7 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ K Q J 10 4 - ♣ A Q 4 - ♦ J 8 - ♥ A J 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 6♦ | 2♦ | [Q♦] | 8♦ | - | 2 | 5♦ | 4♦ | 9♦ | [J♦] | - | 3 | 2♠ | 7♠ | [A♠] | 4♠ | - | 4 | [A♦] | K♦ | 3♦ | 4♣ | - | 5 | [10♦] | 8♠ | 3♠ | Q♣ | - | 6 | [7♦] | 9♠ | 5♠ | 2♥ | - | 7 | 9♣ | 5♣ | 3♣ | [A♣] | - | 8 | 6♠ | 7♣ | 8♣ | [K♠] | - | 9 | 2♣ | 10♣ | 7♥ | [Q♠] | - | 10 | 6♣ | J♣ | 8♥ | [J♠] | - | 11 | 3♥ | 5♥ | 9♥ | [10♠] | - | 12 | 4♥ | Q♥ | 10♥ | [A♥] | - | 13 | 6♥ | [K♥] | K♣ | J♥ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins two by cards. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 34 - -TRICK 1.--B wins the first trick with his lower honour in sequence. - -TRICK 2.--The usual rule at “no-trump” is to return partner’s lead -with your highest card. This is done to prevent blocking and in order -not to mislead. To arrange the lead, B returns the low spade, knowing -that he can neither deceive nor block his partner’s suit. He arranges -the lead so that hearts may be led through the dealer’s hand. - -ARRANGING THE LEAD - -It is the first game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes it -“no-trump.” - - ♠ 2 - ♣ J 6 4 3 No. 34 - ♦ 9 8 7 6 2 - ♥ 5 3 2 - x-------------x - ♠ A J 9 7 6 | Y | ♠ K Q 5 4 3 - ♣ 8 7 2 | | ♣ 10 9 - ♦ 5 4 | A B | ♦ J 10 - ♥ A 8 4 | | ♥ Q J 10 7 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ 10 8 - ♣ A K Q 5 - ♦ A K Q 3 - ♥ K 9 6 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♠ | 2♠ | [Q♠] | 8♠ | - | 2 | [J♠] | 2♥ | 3♠ | 10♠ | - | 3 | [A♠] | 3♥ | 4♠ | 3♦ | - | 4 | [9♠] | 5♥ | 5♠ | Q♣ | - | 5 | 6♠ | 3♣ | [K♠] | K♣ | - | 6 | 4♥ | 4♣ | [Q♥] | 6♥ | - | 7 | 8♥ | 2♦ | [J♥] | 9♥ | - | 8 | [A♥] | 6♦ | 7♥ | K♥ | - | 9 | 8♣ | 6♣ | 9♣ | [A♣] | - | 10 | 4♦ | 7♦ | 10♦ | [A♦] | - | 11 | 5♦ | 8♦ | J♦ | [K♦] | - | 12 | 2♣ | 9♦ | 10♥ | [Q♦] | - | 13 | 7♣ | [J♣] | 10♣ | 5♣ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses two odd tricks. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 35 - -TRICK 1.--With the ace and a small card, to your partner’s high -card lead at “no-trumps,” the ace should usually be played, but B -cannot afford to overtake his partner’s king, as it would eventually -establish the ten of spades for Y. - -TRICK 3.--Unless A holds the king of hearts, the game is lost, -no matter what B may lead. To make a possible re-entry for A, B -sacrifices his queen of hearts. Z hopes that B has but two hearts and -so refuses to win this trick. - -It makes but little difference what Y now leads. A’s spades must make. - -NOT UNBLOCKING. DESCHAPELLES COUP - -It is the rubber game, score eighteen to twenty-four against the -dealer. Z, the dealer, passes the make. Y declares “no-trump.” - - ♠ 10 9 8 4 - ♣ A K J No. 35 - ♦ A Q J 9 - ♥ A J - x-------------x - ♠ K Q J 6 5 3 | Y | ♠ A 7 - ♣ 8 3 | | ♣ Q 5 4 2 - ♦ 6 5 | A B | ♦ K 4 3 2 - ♥ K 8 6 | | ♥ Q 5 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ 2 - ♣ 10 9 7 6 - ♦ 10 8 7 - ♥ 10 9 7 3 2 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♠] | 4♠ | 7♠ | 2♠ | - | 2 | 3♠ | 8♠ | [A♠] | 2♥ | - | 3 | 6♥ | J♥ | [Q♥] | 3♥ | - | 4 | 8♥ | [A♥] | 5♥ | 7♥ | - | 5 | 5♦ | [A♦] | 2♦ | 7♦ | - | 6 | 6♦ | Q♦ | [K♦] | 8♦ | - | 7 | [K♥] | J♣ | 4♥ | 9♥ | - | 8 | [Q♠] | 9♠ | 3♦ | 6♣ | - | 9 | [J♠] | 10♠ | 4♦ | 7♣ | - | 10 | [6♠] | 9♦ | 2♣ | 9♣ | - | 11 | [5♠] | K♣ | 4♣ | 10♣ | - | 12 | 8♣ | [A♣] | 5♣ | 10♥ | - | 13 | 3♣ | [J♦] | Q♣ | 10♦ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 36 - -TRICK 2.--The dealer’s best play is undoubtedly to establish the club -suit. A has little reason to pass this trick; taking the king with -the ace may establish the jack in B’s hand. - -TRICK 3.--Players will so often play for their own suit, with little -or no regard for their partner’s hand. If the high cards in your suit -are against you, and your card of entry has been taken out, abandon -the suit and endeavour to help your partner. A infers that his -partner’s suit is diamonds and leads the supporting jack through the -king. - -ABANDONING A SUIT - -It is the rubber game, score eighteen to nothing against the dealer. -Z, the dealer, declares “no-trump.” - - ♠ J 9 8 7 5 - ♣ 5 4 No. 36 - ♦ K 3 2 - ♥ K 8 7 - x-------------x - ♠ 6 4 2 | Y | ♠ K 10 - ♣ A 9 2 | | ♣ 10 7 3 - ♦ J 4 | A B | ♦ A Q 10 9 7 5 - ♥ J 6 4 3 2 | | ♥ 9 5 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A Q 3 - ♣ K Q J 8 6 - ♦ 8 6 - ♥ A Q 10 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 3♥ | 7♥ | 9♥ | [10♥] | - | 2 | [A♣] | 4♣ | 3♣ | K♣ | - | 3 | [J♦] | 2♦ | 5♦ | 6♦ | - | 4 | 4♦ | 3♦ | [9♦] | 8♦ | - | 5 | 2♠ | K♦ | [A♦] | 3♠ | - | 6 | 4♠ | 5♠ | [Q♦] | Q♠ | - | 7 | 2♥ | 7♠ | [10♦] | 6♣ | - | 8 | 2♣ | 8♠ | [7♦] | 8♣ | - | 9 | J♥ | [K♥] | 5♥ | Q♥ | - | 10 | 9♣ | 5♣ | 7♣ | [Q♣] | - | 11 | 6♠ | 9♠ | 10♣ | [J♣] | - | 12 | 4♥ | J♠ | 10♠ | [A♠] | - | 13 | 6♥ | 8♥ | K♠ | [A♥] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses the odd trick. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 37 - -TRICK 1.--The dealer’s first object should be to win the game. By -playing the ace of spades, Z is assured of ten tricks--four in clubs, -four in diamonds, one in spades, and one in hearts--whereas the play -of a low spade or the queen might enable B to win the trick and -establish the heart suit against the dealer; in this case, should A -hold the king of clubs the game could not be won. - -TRICK 2.--In order to unblock the diamond suit the ace and king in -Y’s hand must be led. - -TRICK 3.--Whether or not B covers is of minor importance, for the -play of a low card does not alter the result of the hand. - -TRICK 5.--Z finds that his club suit is blocked by the two commanding -cards in the dummy. The only possible way to make the balance of -this suit is to discard the jack and ten of clubs on the two winning -diamonds. - -TRICK 11.--Z takes out A’s king of spades, retaining the ace of -hearts for re-entry. - -“DISCARDING COMMANDING CARDS” - -It is the first game, score love all. Z deals and passes the -make. Y declares “no-trump.” - - ♠ A Q 5 3 2 - ♣ Q J 10 No. 37 - ♦ A K - ♥ A 3 2 - +-------------+ - ♠ K J 9 7 | Y | ♠ 10 8 - ♣ 4 3 2 | | ♣ K 5 - ♦ 5 4 2 | A B | ♦ 10 9 8 6 - ♥ K 8 4 | | ♥ Q J 10 9 6 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ 6 4 - ♣ A 9 8 7 6 - ♦ Q J 7 3 - ♥ 7 5 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 7♠ | [A♠] | 8♠ | 4♠ | - | 2 | 2♦ | [A♦] | 6♦ | 3♦ | - | 3 | 4♦ | [K♦] | 8♦ | 7♦ | - | 4 | 2♣ | Q♣ | K♣ | [A♣] | - | 5 | 5♦ | 10♣ | 9♦ | [Q♦] | - | 6 | 3♣ | J♣ | 10♦ | [J♦] | - | 7 | 4♣ | 2♥ | 5♣ | [9♣] | - | 8 | 4♥ | 2♠ | 6♥ | [8♣] | - | 9 | 9♠ | 3♠ | 9♥ | [7♣] | - | 10 | J♠ | 3♥ | 10♠ | [6♣] | - | 11 | [K♠] | 5♠ | 10♥ | 6♠ | - | 12 | 8♥ | [A♥] | J♥ | 5♥ | - | 13 | K♥ | [Q♠] | Q♥ | 7♥ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 38 - -TRICK 1.--The jack of clubs must be played to the first trick, for -otherwise the club suit would be blocked, and it is useless to lead -through A’s hand. B’s best discard is a spade. As A’s lead indicates -a four-card suit, B can count Z with six clubs. - -TRICK 2.--A cannot afford to win this trick, for if Z has an entry -card the clubs will be made. B should not shorten his diamonds or -hearts as Y has four cards of each. He cannot lose by discarding an -honour in spades. The queen gives A information, and if necessary -enables B to unblock. - -TRICK 4.--A’s lead may be from four spades; B must keep the low spade. - -TRICK 6.--B can now count all the cards in both A’s and Z’s hands. A -has shown four spades, four clubs, and is marked with the queen of -diamonds alone; he must, therefore, have three hearts. Z has three -remaining clubs, two diamonds, one spade, and two hearts. B unblocks -the spade suit. - -TRICK 8.--A can now count both B’s and Z’s hands; B must have four -hearts and the ace of diamonds alone; Z has the remaining clubs, a -diamond and two hearts. - -TRICK 9.--It is immaterial what Z now discards; if he discards a -diamond, A leads the heart; if he discards a heart, A leads the ace -of clubs, and forces Z to lead a diamond to B. - -“COUNTING” - -It is the rubber game, score eight to nothing against the dealer. -Z passes the make. Y declares “no-trump.” - - ♠ A K - ♣ K J 5 No. 38 - ♦ K 7 5 3 - ♥ K 7 5 2 - x------------x - ♠ 7 5 3 2 | Y | ♠ Q J 10 6 4 - ♣ A Q 3 2 | | ♣ ---- - ♦ Q J | A B | ♦ A 10 9 8 - ♥ J 6 4 | | ♥ Q 10 9 8 - | Z | - +------------+ - ♠ 9 8 - ♣ 10 9 8 7 6 4 - ♦ 6 4 2 - ♥ A 3 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | 2♣ | [J♣] | 4♠ | 4♣ | - | 2 | 3♣ | [K♣] | Q♠ | 6♣ | - | 3 | [Q♣] | 5♣ | 8♦ | 7♣ | - | 4 | 2♠ | [K♠] | 10♠ | 8♠ | - | 5 | [J♦] | 3♦ | 9♦ | 2♦ | - | 6 | 3♠ | [A♠] | J♠ | 9♠ | - | 7 | [Q♦] | 5♦ | 10♦ | 4♦ | - | 8 | [7♠] | 2♥ | 6♠ | 8♣ | - | 9 | [5♠] | 5♥ | 8♥ | 6♦ | - | 10 | 4♥ | 7♥ | Q♥ | [A♥] | - | 11 | 6♥ | [K♥] | 9♥ | 3♥ | - | 12 | A♣ | 7♦ | [A♦] | 9♣ | - | 13 | [J♥] | K♦ | 10♥ | 10♣ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer loses the odd trick. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 39 - -TRICK 2.--A should not continue the lead of diamonds; the weak hand -would “ruff.” - -TRICK 3.--Z can exhaust the trumps and make the club suit, but will -then be left with two losing diamonds. Before attempting to get the -trumps out, he must allow Y to trump these losing cards. - -TRICK 5.--Hasty play by the dealer at this point would incur a loss -of four or five tricks. If Y trumps with the eight of hearts, the -trump suit is blocked and Z has no way of obtaining the lead. Ruffing -with the ace enables the dealer to unblock the trump suit and make -the clubs. - -ALLOWING THE WEAKER HAND TO “RUFF” - -It is the first game, score sixteen to nothing against the dealer. -Z deals and makes it hearts. - - ♠ 10 7 6 4 - ♣ K Q J 8 3 No. 39 - ♦ 6 - ♥ A 8 6 - x-------------x - ♠ Q J 9 8 5 | Y | ♠ K - ♣ 9 | | ♣ 10 7 6 2 - ♦ A K Q 10 8 | A B | ♦ J 9 4 2 - ♥ 3 2 | | ♥ 9 7 5 4 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ A 3 2 - ♣ A 5 4 - ♦ 7 5 3 - ♥ K Q J 10 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | [K♦] | 6♦ | 2♦ | 3♦ | - | 2 | 9♣ | 3♣ | 2♣ | [A♣] | - | 3 | 8♦ | [6♥] | 4♦ | 5♦ | - | 4 | 5♠ | 4♠ | K♠ | [A♠] | - | 5 | 10♦ | [A♥] | 9♦ | 7♦ | - | 6 | 2♥ | 8♥ | 4♥ | [K♥] | - | 7 | 3♥ | 6♠ | 5♥ | [Q♥] | - | 8 | 8♠ | 7♠ | 7♥ | [J♥] | - | 9 | 9♠ | 10♠ | 9♥ | [10♥] | - | 10 | Q♦ | [K♣] | 6♣ | 5♣ | - | 11 | J♠ | [Q♣] | 7♣ | 4♣ | - | 12 | A♦ | [J♣] | 10♣ | 2♠ | - | 13 | Q♠ | [8♣] | J♦ | 3♠ | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer makes a small slam. - - -ILLUSTRATIVE HAND NO. 40 - -TRICK 1.--It would be bad play to hold up the ace of hearts. - -The adversary can only make the queen and jack, the nine being three -times guarded in Z’s hand. The spade suit must be established at once. - -TRICK 5.--As A holds a possible card of re-entry in diamonds, he -continues his own suit. - -TRICKS 7 AND 8.--Clever play to unblock the club suit and to obtain -the lead with the eight of spades. Z discards his losing diamonds. - -NOT HOLDING UP AN ACE - -It is the rubber game, score love all. Z, the dealer, makes -it “no-trump.” - - ♠ 8 6 5 - ♣ K Q 4 No. 40 - ♦ 7 6 5 4 2 - ♥ A 10 - x-------------x - ♠ A 10 | Y | ♠ 4 3 2 - ♣ 8 3 2 | | ♣ J 10 9 7 6 5 - ♦ K 8 | A B | ♦ J 10 9 - ♥ K Q J 5 3 2 | | ♥ 7 - | Z | - +-------------+ - ♠ K Q J 9 7 - ♣ A - ♦ A Q 3 - ♥ 9 8 6 4 - - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | TRICK | A | Y | B | Z | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - | 1 | K♥ | [A♥] | 7♥ | 4♥ | - | 2 | [A♠] | 5♠ | 2♠ | K♠ | - | 3 | [Q♥] | 10♥ | 5♣ | 6♥ | - | 4 | [J♥] | 2♦ | 3♠ | 8♥ | - | 5 | 2♥ | 4♦ | 4♠ | [9♥] | - | 6 | 10♠ | 6♠ | 6♣ | [Q♠] | - | 7 | 2♣ | 4♣ | 7♣ | [A♣] | - | 8 | 3♣ | [8♠] | 9♣ | 7♠ | - | 9 | 8♣ | [K♣] | 10♣ | 3♦ | - | 10 | 3♥ | [Q♣] | J♣ | Q♦ | - | 11 | 8♦ | 5♦ | 9♦ | [A♦] | - | 12 | 5♥ | 6♦ | 10♦ | [J♠] | - | 13 | K♦ | 7♦ | J♦ | [9♠] | - +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ - The dealer wins four odd tricks. - - - - -END PLAY - - -End play must be premised by correct inferences drawn throughout -the previous play of the hand. The last three or four tricks often -present opportunities for brilliant play; opportunities which must be -lost without a clear understanding of the position of the cards. - -It is in the end play that the novice is most deficient. He plays -the last few cards carelessly, without the least thought of the -possibilities they offer. - -In striving to gain by clever end play, do not lose sight of the fact -that the game should be made before you incur unnecessary risks. With -the game once won, you are justified in resorting to any strategy -that may gain extra tricks. - -The best play of the last cards of a hand is most often obtained by -throwing the lead. The following are examples of this, as well as -other methods of gaining tricks. - - -REFUSING TO DRAW THE LOSING TRUMP - - No. 1 - 8♣ 7♣ 5♣ 4♣ - 6♦ - x-------------x - | Y | - 9♣ 2♣ | | A♣ 6♣ 3♣ - K♦ 7♦ 3♦ | A B | 8♦ 5♥ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - K♣ Q♣ J♣ - K♥ 10♣ - - Hearts are trumps. Z should lead ♣ king. - - -LEADING THE LOSING TRUMP - - No. 2 - - K♣ 9♣ 4♣ - 4♦ 2♦ - x-------------x - | Y | - 7♣ 3♣ | | K♦ Q♦ J♦ - 10♦ 9♦ 7♦ | A B | K♥ 3♦ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - 6♣ 5♥ - A♦ 6♦ 5♦ - - Hearts are trumps. Z should lead ♥ 5. - - -THROWING THE LEAD - - No. 3 - - 6♣ 5♣ - J♦ - x-------------x - | Y | - ♣xx | | - Q♥ | A B | - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - A♣ Q♣ - 7♥ - -Hearts are trumps. Clubs have not been led. Spades have all been -played. Y has the best diamond. Z leads ♥ 7. - - -LEADING A SINGLETON - - No. 4 - - 4♦ 7♣ - K♣ J♣ - x-------------x - | Y | - | | - | A B | - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - 10♦ 8♦ - 5♥ 3♣ - -Hearts are trumps. Z holds the two commanding diamonds and the -thirteenth trump. Clubs have not been led. Z leads ♣ 3 in the hope -that A may hold the ace and not play it. - - -SAVING A LOW TRUMP TO LEAD - - No. 5 - - Q♠ 6♥ - 5♣ 7♦ - x-------------x - | Y | - K♦ 10♦ | | 9♦ 5♦ - 7♠ 3♠ | A B | 10♠ 7♣ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - Q♥ J♥ 3♥ - 4♣ - -Hearts are trumps. A leads ♦ king. Z trumps with ♥ jack -and leads ♥ 3. - - -REFUSING TO OVERTRUMP - - No. 6 - - 5♣ - K♦ 7♦ - x-------------x - | Y | - J♣ | | A♣ - J♦ 4♦ | A B | K♥ 10♥ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - 4♣ - A♥ 9♥ - -Hearts are trumps. Y leads king ♦. B ruffs with ♥ 10. -Z should discard. - - -THE EXTRA TRUMP - - No. 7 - - 7♠ 5♠ - K♣ 7♣ - x-------------x - | Y | - A♥ 10♠ | | A♠ 4♣ - 10♥ 9♥ | A B | J♣ 6♣ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - 6♠ 8♦ - Q♥ 8♥ - -Hearts are trumps. Z should lead ♠6, not ♦8. - - -UNBLOCKING - - No. 8 - Q♥ 4♠ 3♠ - x-------------x - | Y | - | | - K♣ Q♣ J♣ | A B | J♠ 10♠ 7♣ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - A♣ 8♥ 6♥ - -“No-trumps.” A leads ♣ king. Y should discard ♥ queen. - - -MAKING A TENACE - - No. 9 - - Q♦ 8♦ 5♣ - x-------------x - | Y | - | | - K♥ 8♥ 4♥ | A B | K♦ 10♦ 4♣ - | | - | Z | - x-------------x - A♥ J♥ 5♥ - -Hearts are trumps. The remaining trumps are all with A and Z. -Z should lead ♥ five. - - - - -GLOSSARY - - -=Book.=--The first six tricks won by the same partners. - -=Bring-in.=--To make the cards of a suit. - -=By Cards.=--The number of tricks won, more than six, or over -the “Book,” is the number by cards. For instance, eight tricks are -equal to two by cards. - -=Cards of Re-entry.=--A winning card which will bring into play -another suit. Sometimes the re-entry is in the suit itself, but when -a suit with a re-entry is spoken of, it means that the re-entry is in -another suit. - -=Chicane.=--A hand dealt without a trump. - -=Command.=--The best card or cards of a suit. The ability to -stop the suit at any time. - -=Coup.=--A brilliant play resulting in gain. - -=Covering.=--Putting a higher card on the trick when not the -last player. - -=Cross-ruff.=--When two suits are being trumped by opposite -hands. - -=Des Chapelles Coup.=--Sacrificing a high card, by leading it to -make an entry card for your partner’s hand. - -=Discarding.=--When unable to follow suit, throwing away a -card of a suit which is not trumps. - -=Doubling.=--Increasing the value of the trick points. - -=Doubtful Cards=.--Cards which may or may not win tricks. - -=Ducking.=--Refusing to play the master card of a suit, with the -object of making the smaller cards in the suit. - -=Dummy.=--The player whose cards are exposed on the table. - -=Duplicate.=--A modification in which each hand is played more -than once. - -=Echo.=--Playing a higher card before a lower, to your partner’s -high card lead. - -=Eldest Hand.=--The player on the dealer’s left. - -=Entry Card.=--A card, with which you can obtain the lead. - -=Established Suit.=--A suit in which the partners can win every -trick. - -=Exposed Card.=--Any card which is shown, but is not played to -the trick, such as one or two cards inadvertently played at once. - -=Fall.=--The cards as they are played. - -=False Cards.=--Playing the ace, holding the king, or any -similar attempt to conceal the cards held. - -=Finesse.=--Any attempt to win a trick with a card which is not -the best in the hand, nor in sequence with it. - -=Follow.=--The cards played of the suit led. - -=Forcing.=--Making a player trump to win the trick. - -=Fourchette.=--The card next higher and next lower than the one -led. Holding jack, nine, ten led--you hold a fourchette. - -=Fourth Best.=--Counting from the highest card in the suit. - -=Going Over.=--Doubling the value of the trick points. - -=Guarded Suits.=--A high card so protected by smaller cards that -it cannot be caught by the adversaries’ lead of higher cards. - -=Holding Up.=--Refusing to play the best, and sometimes the -second best card, of a suit. - -=Honours.=--In trumps the A K Q J 10 of the suit. At “no-trumps,” -the four aces. - -=Leader.=--The first player to any trick. - -=Leading Through.=--Leading suit with a view to what the -second hand holds in it. - -=Leading Up To.=--Playing a suit with a view to what the fourth -hand holds in it. - -=Little Slam.=--Twelve tricks won out of thirteen. - -=Long Suit.=--A suit of more than three cards. - -=Long Trump.=--The last trump in play. - -=Losing Cards.=--Cards which cannot possibly take tricks. - -=Love-all.=--The state of the score before either side has made -a point. - -=Master Cards.=--Any card of a suit the best in play. - -=Odd Trick.=--The first trick over the book of six. - -=Opening.=--You “open” a suit when you are the first to lead a -card from the suit. The original leader is said to make the opening -lead. - -=Original Lead.=--The opening of the hand. - -=Pass.=--When no effort is made to take a trick. - -=Revoke.=--Renouncing while still holding cards of the suit led. - -=Round.=--The cards that compose the trick. - -=Rubber.=--Two out of three games. - -=Ruffing.=--Trumping a trick. - -=Sequence.=--Two or more cards of equal value. - -=Short Suit.=--Any suit of less than four cards. - -=Singleton.=--A suit of which you hold originally but one card. - -=Slam.=--Winning all thirteen tricks. - -=Tenace.=--The best and third best of a suit. Ace and queen are -tenace over the king, jack. - -=Third Hand.=--The leader’s partner. - -=Throwing the Lead.=--Purposely playing a losing card that you -may not retain the lead. - -=Unblocking.=--Getting rid of a card that may stop the run of a -long suit. - -=Underplay.=--Playing a low card with a higher card in hand. - -=Weak Suits.=--Those in which tricks are impossible, or very -improbable. - -=Weakness.=--Inability to stop a suit. - -=Younger Hand.=--The partner of the original leader. - - - - -INDEX. - - -Ace, king, jack combination, 127 -Ace, queen, jack combination, 125 -Ace, jack, ten combination, 129 -Ace and king, lead from, 60 -Ace, lead of, 64 -Ace denies king, 64 -Accepting force, 143 -Advantages of discarding strength, 120 -Arranging the lead, 131 -Avoid leading trumps, 141 -Avoid weak red makes, 33 -Avoid opening trumps, 70 -Avoid leading from short trumps, 72 -Avoid leading from suit with one honour, 72 -Abandoning spade hands, 49 - -Bridge for three players, 24 -Bridge, laws of, 1 -Bystanders, 20 - -Cards exposed before play, 13 -Cards exposed during play, 14 -Cards played in error, 16 -Changing suits, 74 -Choice of suits to lead through, 79 -Choice of suits to play for, 151 -Chicane, 4 -Clubs, 46 -Convention, heart, 57 -Convention, weak suit, 57 -Covering honour with honour, 93 -Combining hands of dealer and dummy, 125 -Combinations to be avoided, 131 -Cutting, 3 -Cutting out, 4 - -Dealer’s play of “no-trump” declaration, 151 -Dealer’s play, 124 -Defensive play against red makes, 59 -Dealing out of turn, 13 -Declaration, the, 31 -Declaring to the score, 27 -Declaring trumps, 8 -Deal, a new, 7 -Deal, the, 6 -Defence against overtaking and ducking, 172 -Desire to ruff, 75 -Diagrams of good combinations to lead from, 62 -Diagrams of bad combinations to lead from, 61 -Diamonds, 43 -Diamonds, original, 43 -Diamond make for safety, 45 -Diamond make, rule for, 45 -Discard, the, 116 -Discarding strength, advantages of, 117 -Discard against declared trump, 117 -Discard from weakness, 119 -Discard from strength, 118 -Discard at “no trump,” 118 -Discarding, hints on, 121 -Discarding partner’s suit, 121 -Discarding by the dealer, 122 -Discontinuing lead of trumps, 144 -Discards, forcing, 148 -Doubling, 51 -Doubling gives information to partner, 53 -Doubling to the score, 53 -Doubling on the rubber game, 52 -Doubling spades, 52 -Doubling no-trump, 53 -Doubling, redoubling, etc., 9 -Doubling to prevent loss, 53 -Ducking, 166 -Dummy, 11 - -Echo, the, 88 -Eleven, rule of, 67 -Estimating the value of a hand, 54 -Establishing adversaries’ suit, 81 -Establishing small cards, 151 -Etiquette, 21 -Examples of fourth-best leads, 62 -Examples of bad openings against declared trump, 61 -Examples of hands that should not be passed, 42 -Examples of opening leads, 63 -Examples of inference from opening leads, 68 -Examples of leading trumps to the maker, 71 -Examples of leading trumps through dummy, 71 -Examples of no-trump makes, 38 -Examples of short suit openings, 77 -Examples of second hand plays, 137 -Examples of unblocking, 109 -Examples of original leads at no trump, 106 -Exhausting trumps, 144 -Exposed card before play, 13 -Exposed card during play, 13 - -False-carding, 122 -Finesse obligatory, 134 -Finessing, 132 -Finessing by dealer, 132 -Finesses, locating, 135 -Finessing against partner, 81 -Five hearts including three honours, 40 -Five hearts including two honours, 41 -Five hearts with one honour, 41 -Forming tables, 3 -Forcing discards, 148 -Forcing strong hands, 89 -Forcing, 89 -Fourchette, 94 -Four hearts with three honours, 41 -Fourth best leads, examples of, 62 -Fourth best lead, 96 - -General inferences, 99 -General rules, 19 -Giving correct information to partner, 60 -Giving partner ruff, 75 - -Holding up by non-dealers, 111 -Holding up, examples of, 112 -Hearts, 38 -Hearts in preference to “no trump,” 42 -Heart combination, 39 -Heart convention, the, 57 -Hearts, not “no-trumps,” 43 -Hesitating in play, 93 -Hints on discarding, 121 -Holding the lead, 63 -Honours, value of, 4 -How to draw inferences, 97 -How to play to partner’s trump opening, 73 - -Illustrations of inferences from third hand plays, 82 -Information, give to partner, 61 -Inferences from opening leads, examples of, 68 -Inferences from third hand play, 82 -Information, value of, 96 -Information, giving partner, 96 -Inferences, how to draw, 97 -Inferences, general, 99 -Inferences, 95 -Inferences regarding the make, 98 -Information given by doubling, 52 -Inferences from low card leads, 67 -Inferences from high card leads, 64 - -Keeping command of adversary’s suit, 153 -Keeping the lead, 151 -King, jack, ten combination, 129 - -Laws of Bridge, 1 -Locating trumps, 104 -Locating finesses, 135 -Long suits, leading from, 60 -Long suit, value of, 42 -Low card leads, inferences from, 68 -Leading trumps, examples of, 71 -Leading up to dummy, 87 -Leading to force, 89 -Letting partner ruff, 90 -Leading fourth best, 96 -Leading red suit to dealer, 105 -Leading weak suit at no-trump, 105 -Leading from weak hand, 130 -Leading trumps to prevent a ruff, 74 -Leads out of turn, 15 -Leading through strength, 77 -Leading through king in dummy, 79 -Leading long with four trumps, 76 -Leading short with six trumps, 76 -Leading red suit on passed make, 75 -Leading highest of short suit, 76 -Lead when spades are trumps, 72 -Leading trumps to throw the lead, 71 -Leading trumps from sequence, 70 -Leading trumps to prevent a ruff, 143 -Leading up to strength, 70 -Leading from long suit, 62 -Lead of the ace, 64 -Lead of ace and king, 65 -Lead of the king, 65 -Lead of the queen, 65 -Lead of the jack, 66 -Leading jack from king, jack, ten, 66 -Lead of the ten, 66 -Lead of the nine, 67 -Leading to save slam, 60 -Leading from sequence, 61 -Leading from ace and king, 65 -Leading trumps in doubled spades, 56 -Leading from weak trumps, 74 -Leading through weakness, 78 -Lead when partner has doubled, 55 -Leading short suits, 68 - -Making high cards, 60 -Making to score, 31 -Management of trumps by dealer, 139 -Miscellaneous combinations, 130 -Misdeal, 10 - -New deal, 7 -New cards, 20 -Non-dealer’s play against a “no-trump” hand, 102 -Non-dealer’s play to the score, 29 -Non-dealer’s play against a declared trump, 59 -“No-trump” declaration by the dealer, 32 -“No-trump” with three aces, 35 -“No-trump” with two aces and one other guarded suit, 35 -“No-trump” with two aces, 36 -“No-trump” with one ace, 37 -“No-trump” without an ace, 37 -Not returning lead of trumps, 73 -Not leading from single honour suits, 72 -Not leading from tenace suits, 72 -Not forcing strong trump hand, 142 - -Obtaining a ruff, 141 -Opening leads, examples, 63 -Opening a short suit against a “no-trump” declaration, 107 -Original lead at “no-trump,” examples of, 106 -Original lead at “no-trump,” 103 -Opening short with strong hand, 74 -Opening lead, the, 60 -Opening lead against trump declaration, 60 -Original lead, the, 103 -Original lead at “no-trump,” 106 -Original trump openings, 70 -Original trump openings from strength, 72 -Overtaking and ducking, 171 -Overtaking and unblocking, 170 -Overtaking, 163 -Overtrumping, 147 - -Passed makes, 47 -Passed red makes, 49 -Passed black makes, 48 -Placing high cards, 81 -Placing partner in lead, 75 -Playing before dummy, 92 -Playing ace second in hand, 94 -Playing through strength, 77 -Playing to the score, 28 -Playing before dealer, 94 -Preventing ruff, 74 -Preventing ruff, leading trumps to, 143 - -Redoubling, 10, 54 -Returning partner’s lead, 91, 109 -Re-entries, saving, 157 -Red makes defensive, 39 -Re-entry cards, 148 -Reverse discard, 122 -Revoke, the, 17 -Rights of entry, 5 -Rubber, the, 1 -Ruff, obtaining a, 140 -Ruff, preventing a, 74 -Ruff, desire to, 75, 88 -Ruff, giving partner, 78 -Ruff, letting partner, 88 -Rule of eleven, 67 -Rules for “no-trump” declaration by the dealer, 34 -Rules for the heart make, 40 - -Saving game, 151 -Saving re-entries, 157 -Score, the, 27 -Scoring, 1 -Seeing dummy hand, 59 -Second hand plays, 136 -Second hand plays, examples of, 137 -Short suit openings, examples of, 77 -Short suit openings, 74 -Second hand play, 91 -Shuffling, 6 -Slam, 4 -Short suit, leading from, 74 -Spades, 47 -Spades, original, 47 -Strength indicated by trump opening, 70 -Strength indicated by doubling, 51 -Suggestions for third hand play, 80 - -Taking out re-entry cards, 115 -Trumps, leading in doubled spades, 73 -Trumps, avoid leading, 72 -Trump, original openings, 70 -Trumps, leading up to strength, 70 -Trump, opening from strength, 72 -Trump lead, not returning, 73 -Trusting partner, 99 -Trumping losing cards, 141 -Trump opening indicates strength, 72 -Trump lead when weak hand can ruff, 74 -Trump lead against a spade make, 72 -Trump opening from strength, 72 -Tenace, not leading from, 62 -Third hand play, 80 -Throwing the lead, 150 - -Unblocking, 161, 170 -Unblocking trump suit, 142 -Unblocking, 108 -Unblocking, examples of, 109 - -Value of long suit, 42 -Value of tricks, 4 -Value of information, 96 - -Watching dealer’s discards, 135 -Watching fall of cards, 98 -Watching partner’s play, 98 -Watching adversaries’ play, 98 -Weakness, leading through, 71 -Weak trumps, leading from, 71 -Weak suit convention, the, 57 -When to lead through strength, 78 -When to lead trumps, 139 -When not to lead trumps, 141 -When to draw the remaining trumps, 144 -When to trump, 146 -When you play before the dummy, 92 -When you play before the dealer, 94 -Win the first trick, 59 - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Advanced Bridge, by -J.B. 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