Class < ^/^/^^/ - 
 Book 'Jff - 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
BRIDGE 
 
 *' It is a pretty game, and 
 
 on certain terms 
 
 I like it.'' 
 
 " It is brain stimulus, pastime, variety 
 and charm." 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONCISE STATEMENT OF THE MAXIMS, RULES 
 AND PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE GAME OF BRIDGE 
 
 BY 
 
 ANNIE BLANCHE SHELBY 
 
 AUTHOR OF "STANDARD WHIST " 
 ALSO 
 
 THE REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 AS ADOPTED BY THE NEW YORK WHIST CLUB 
 AND 
 
 THE ETIQUETTE OF THE GAME 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 DUFFIELD & COMPANY 
 
 1906 
 
OCT 6 1906 
 ©LASS Ay XXc. m 
 
 G< 
 
 
 %\ 
 
 Copyright, 1905 
 
 BY 
 
 ANNIE BLANCHE SHELBY 
 Copyright, 1906 
 
 BY 
 
 DUFFIELD & COMPANY 
 
 Published September, 1906 
 
PREFACE 
 
 This little work (written by request) is de- 
 signed chiefly for such as would like as compre- 
 hensive a knowledge as possible of Bridge play 
 and the principles governing it, at a minimuro. 
 expenditure of time and effort. 
 
 The various subjects have been treated in as 
 concise a manner as practicable consistent with 
 thoroughness. Special reference has been made 
 in many instances to points of similarity between 
 Bridge and Whist in the belief that this would be 
 helpful to the Whist player essaying Bridge, and 
 in no wise a deterrent to the advancement of the 
 non-Whister. 
 
 The player who attempts Bridge without some 
 previous knowledge of Whist will of necessity 
 find his progress slow and perhaps discouraging. 
 The facile Whist player, however, should have 
 little difficulty in adapting himself to the many 
 
 vii 
 
PREFACE 
 
 similar and yet many dissimilar conditions of 
 Bridge. 
 
 Bridge is as yet in its infancy and some of 
 the plays at the present time in vogue may 
 undergo more or less modification as the result 
 of further experience. As must be expected, 
 more or less difference of opinion prevails as 
 regards certain minor tactics of the game. On 
 the salient features, however, the writers are in 
 the main agreed, and this work will be found 
 a correct and complete treatise of the game of 
 Bridge as at the present time played by the 
 majority of the best and most successful players. 
 
 With cordial thanks for the gratifying recep- 
 tion accorded my previous work, " Standard 
 Whist," and in the hope that a similarly warm 
 reception may be extended this, I respectfully 
 subscribe myself The Author. 
 
 Yin 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 Preface vii 
 
 I. Bridge — What is it? i 
 
 II. Formation of the Table, Cutting, etc. . . 6 
 
 III. Declaring the Trump, Doubling, etc. . . 8 
 
 IV. Scoring 13 
 
 Table of Points 18 
 
 Specimen of Score Sheet Containing Ex- 
 ample Rubber 19 
 
 V. Maxims for Beginners 20 
 
 VI. The Declaration by the Dealer .... 35 
 
 " No-Trump " Makes 42 
 
 "No-Trumps" to the Score 46 
 
 Heart Makes 47 
 
 Diamond Makes 50 
 
 Black Suit Makes 53 
 
 VII. The Declaration by Dummy 57 
 
 VIII. Doubling 62 
 
 Re-doubling 67 
 
 IX. The Lead at a Declared Trump .... 69 
 
 X. The Secondary Lead 84 
 
 XI. The Lead at " No-Trump " 90 
 
 XII. Second Hand Play 96 
 
 ix 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 XIII. Third Hand Play 102 
 
 XIV. Return Lead 113 
 
 XV. The Discard 123 
 
 XVI. The Dealer's Play 131 
 
 XVII. Trump Management, Finesse, and Criti- 
 cal Endings, General Remarks . 149 
 
 XVIII. Bridge for Three Players 160 
 
 The Revised Laws of Bridge 162 
 
 Etiquette of Bridge 189 
 
 Decisions by the Card Committee . . . 192 
 
 Illustrated Hands 195 
 
 Index 229 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 CHAPTER ONE 
 
 BRIDGE — WHAT IS IT? 
 
 Bridge Whist is an offshoot or variant of 
 Whist; it is Whist with certain important differ- 
 ences or modifications. 
 
 One of the essential points of difference lies 
 in the fact that the last card of the pack instead 
 of being turned face upwards on the table and 
 serving as an indicator of the trump suit, is dealt 
 face downwards as the other cards, and the 
 trump, or " no-trumps," as the case may be, is 
 declared by the dealer or his partner, as in the 
 dealer's judgment seems best. 
 
 Another important difference is that the hand 
 of the dealer's partner is exposed upon the table 
 and played by the dealer in conjunction with his 
 own, no comment or suggestion whatever bear- 
 ing upon the play being permitted from the part- 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ner. In this respect the game is closely allied to 
 Dummy Whist. 
 
 A radical difference exists in the system of 
 scoring in the two games. Honors, as in Whist 
 as originally played, are an important factor. 
 Two scores, in fact, are competed for, trick 
 scores and honor scores, and, by the peculiar 
 conditions of the game, a side may win the 
 rubber and be ahead on trick points, and yet, 
 because of the high honor score accruing 
 to the opposing side, in the finals come out 
 losers. 
 
 Bridge, like Whist, is essentially a partner- 
 ship game. Each side plays 26 cards as against 
 26, and, as in Whist, the controlling motive of 
 the play of each side is to win tricks, or points 
 in excess of the opposing side. 
 
 Many of the underlying principles of Whist, 
 as trump management, with the various forms of 
 strategy therein involved, establishment tactics, 
 unblocking, finesse, and not a few of the finer 
 and more delicate points of Whist, obtain in 
 Bridge. 
 
 The dealer, as has been explained, plays his 
 
BRIDGE— WHAT IS IT? 
 
 partner's hand in conjunction with his own. To 
 imagine that this calls for no skill is rank fallacy 
 as, to his mortification, the tyro usually discovers, 
 especially if pitted against wide-awake adver- 
 saries. The dealer's play involves in fact some 
 of the subtlest strategies of the game. So to play 
 the two hands as to make the most there is in 
 them, and at the same time mislead the adver- 
 saries as to the true essentials of one's own hold- 
 ing, calls for diplomacy, tact and skill of no mean 
 order. 
 
 The position of the dealer's partner, who 
 rejoices in the sobriquet of " dummy," is some- 
 what unique in the history of card games. 
 Though he see his hand (and himself as well) 
 led into the ways which mean disaster and defeat, 
 not a sign may he give, not a protest may he ut- 
 ter. He must in truth be literally what his name 
 indicates. Having organs of speech, he must 
 nevertheless be dumb. Having hands, he must 
 handle not; having eyes, he must see not, and 
 having ears, he must hear not. Stolid and im- 
 passive must be his countenance, and reticent 
 and sans reproche his entire demeanor. Once 
 3 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 in every four deals this somewhat anomalous 
 position is occupied by each player in turn. 
 
 The origin and early history of Bridge, like 
 many other card games, is involved in obscurity. 
 A game resembling in many respects the modern 
 game of Bridge was played in Smyrna some 
 twenty or more years ago, but whether it was 
 of comparatively recent origin, or had been in 
 existence an indefinite number of years pre- 
 viously, is quite unknown. Later it found its 
 way-' into southeastern Europe, thence into 
 France and, by easy transitions, into England 
 and America. 
 
 The rapidity with which the game has spread 
 and the enthusiasm it has aroused are tangible 
 proofs, surely, of its inherent worth and exceed- 
 ing fascination. 
 
 It is truly unfortunate that a game so intrin- 
 sically scientific and well calculated to occupy a 
 place on the same high intellectual plane as that 
 enjoyed by the parent game. Whist, should have 
 been played so extensively for stakes, and thus 
 received an opprobrium which in itself it little 
 deserves. 
 
BRIDGE— WHAT IS IT? 
 
 More and more, however, are its infinite pos- 
 sibilities in an intellectual line being recognized 
 and appreciated. More and more is it becoming 
 known as a game of science and skill rather than 
 of chance. More and more are the ranks thin- 
 ning of those whose predilections for card games 
 is bounded by their monetary value, and their 
 places being taken by a class who, recognizing 
 the high intellectual worth of the game, respect 
 and appreciate it accordingly. 
 
 The assertion made by some that Bridge will 
 supplant Whist is not only displeasing to the 
 lover of Whist, but entirely unwarrantable. The 
 two games, though closely allied, are neverthe- 
 less separate and distinct. Each has its own 
 interest and charm. Each involves in its play 
 the highest faculties of a trained mind. Both 
 are eminently qualified to serve as the diversion 
 and instructor of youth, and the delight and 
 solace of old age. 
 
CHAPTER TWO 
 
 FORMATION OF THE TABLE^ CUTTING^ ETC. 
 
 Bridge may be played by three players, though 
 it is usually played by four. If the candidates 
 exceed four, the question of priority is decided 
 by cutting. 
 
 In cutting, the pack of 52 cards is used and 
 the players cut from the closed pack or draw 
 from the outspread pack. Players again cut to 
 decide who shall be partners, the two cutting 
 lowest playing against the other two. The ace 
 is low in cutting. The player cutting lowest of 
 all secures the deal and has choice of table, seats 
 and cards. 
 
 At the end of a rubber the players again cut 
 for partners. This is a wise precaution and by 
 most players highly commended. It not only 
 adds variety but, what is often of great impor- 
 tance, offers the chance of speedy release from 
 6 
 
FORMATION OF TABLE 
 
 a trying partner. The most exacting of players 
 can accept with philosophy a poor partner for 
 one rubber; for a succession of rubbers, this 
 would be difficult. 
 
 As in straight Whist, it is customary to use 
 two packs of cards, the dealer's partner shuffling 
 for his right hand adversary, the next dealer. 
 
 The cards are dealt one at a time, as in Whist, 
 from left to right. Players should not touch 
 their cards during the progress of the deal. The 
 last card is not turned by the dealer face up- 
 wards on the table as in Whist, but is dealt in 
 the same manner as the others, face downwards. 
 No penalty attaches to a misdeal. 
 
 At the completion of the deal players should 
 count and carefully sort their cards according to 
 their respective value, and, finally, as an addi- 
 tional precaution against revoke, alternate the 
 colors. A strict observance of this practice not 
 only exposes at once any irregularity in the deal, 
 but tends to systematic habits, and systematic 
 habits both at Bridge and Whist cannot be too 
 strongly recommended. 
 
CHAPTER THREE 
 
 DECLARING THE TRUMP^ DOUBLING, ETC. 
 
 As has been explained, the dealer either 
 declares the trump or requests his partner 
 (dummy) to do so. Dummy, when requested, 
 mttst declare. A declaration once made cannot 
 be changed, though, as will be presently shown, 
 its value may be variously increased. 
 
 Immediately following the declaration, the 
 non-dealers, each in turn, express themselves as 
 satisfied, when the game begins, or as wishing to 
 double, i. e., increase by its original value the 
 particular value of the declaration. The first 
 right to double belongs to the player at the deal- 
 er's left, otherwise elder. 
 
 In the event of doubling, the dealer or his 
 
 partner, the one making the declaration having 
 
 the first right, may re-double; i. e., quadruple, or 
 
 increase by four times its original value the par- 
 
 8 
 
DECLARING THE TRUMP 
 
 ticular value of the declaration. The non-deal- 
 ers again may go over, the original doubler 
 having the first right, and again the dealer or 
 dummy, etc., etc. The process in fact may be 
 continued first by one side and then by the other 
 (the player last doubling on his side having 
 always the first right for the side) until the value 
 of the trick point reaches loo. There, however, 
 it is customary to cease; there it must cease, in 
 fact, if any of the players protest against its 
 further continuance. The cases are rare, and 
 to the credit of Bridge players, be it said, where 
 the practice is carried to such an extreme as 
 this. 
 
 As an exemplification of doubling, re-doub- 
 ling, etc., a spade trick, the original affixed value 
 of which is 2 points, by doubling becomes 4 ; by 
 re-doubling, 8; by re-doubling again, 16; and 
 again, 32; still again, 64, etc., etc. 
 
 It can thus readily be seen how beyond all 
 reason the value of a trick point might easily 
 be carried, especially in the case of " no-trumps," 
 did not " The Laws " wisely prescribe a limit. 
 
 For greater convenience, the several players 
 9 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 are designated respectively as dealer^ leader or 
 elder, dummy and pone or younger. 
 
 Players indicate their declaration or their de- 
 sire to double, or the reverse, by the use of a cer- 
 tain brief formula, as, in the case of the dealer: 
 —"No-trumps" or "Without"; "hearts," or 
 " I make it hearts " ; or, when not wishing to 
 declare, " Make it, partner." 
 
 The dealer's partner, otherwise dummy : — " I 
 make it * no-trumps ' " ; " Spades " or " I make 
 it spades." 
 
 The elder : — " I double ; " or, to his partner, 
 " May I play? " This query has a twofold signif- 
 icance, indicating that the elder himself does not 
 wish to double, but that it is in order for the 
 younger to do so, if he so desires. 
 
 The younger, otherwise pone : — " No, I 
 double," or " Play, please," in which latter case 
 the game proceeds. 
 
 If either adversary doubles, the player naming 
 the trump, whether dealer or dummy, must either 
 say " I am satisfied," or " I re-double." If the 
 former, his partner as well must give expression 
 to one or the other of these statements. If the 
 
 10 
 
DECLARING THE TRUMP 
 
 latter, or if, the declarant having expressed him- 
 self as satisfied, his partner re-doubles, the non- 
 dealers must express themselves as satisfied or as 
 again v^ishing to go over. In fact, not until each 
 adversary in turn expresses himself as satisfied 
 after a double or re-double on the opposite side, 
 may the game proceed. The word " enough " is 
 sometimes used in lieu of " I am satisfied." A 
 rap on the table has also the same significance. 
 
 When the process of doubling, etc., has finally 
 ceased, or in the event that there has been no 
 doubling, the elder hand makes his lead, and 
 thereby starts the game. Immediately follov^ing 
 the lead, dummy places his cards, carefully 
 sorted and systematically arranged for easy 
 reference, face upv^ards on the table, and the 
 dealer (his partner) plays the hand in conjunc- 
 tion with his own. 
 
 From this point dummy becomes simply an 
 onlooker in the game, he being neither permitted 
 to play or even touch a card save as the dealer 
 directs, or to make any remarks or suggestions 
 whatever bearing upon the game save as fol- 
 lows : — In the effort to prevent a revoke, he may 
 II 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ask the dealer, when he first renounces to a 
 trick, if he has none of the suit. He may also 
 remind the dealer that a trick is not complete, 
 correct an erroneous score, or the claim of 
 either adversary to a penalty to which the latter 
 is not entitled. 
 
 12 
 
CHAPTER FOUR 
 
 SCORING 
 
 A correct understanding of the modus oper- 
 andi of scoring, as well as of the principle in- 
 volved, is indispensable to a player's success, as 
 well as to his greater enjoyment of the game 
 of Bridge. The system, though necessarily some- 
 what involved because of the various factors 
 which are a part thereof, is nevertheless simple 
 and easy of comprehension. 
 
 Two scores are competed for, trick scores and 
 honor scores. The one is entirely independent of 
 the other, yet both are important factors in the 
 final results. 
 
 Thirty trick points constitute a game. All 
 tricks in excess of 30 add just so much to the 
 value of the score, but one game only can be 
 made in a deal. A rubber is the best of three 
 games. If two games are won consecutively by 
 13 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 one side, the rubber is completed and the third 
 game is not played. loo points are added to 
 the honor score of the side winning the rubber. 
 
 As in straight Whist, the first six tricks scored 
 by two players acting as partners constitute a 
 hook, and each trick taken by them in excess 
 thereof scores to their mutual credit. In Whist, 
 each trick in excess of six scores one point only. 
 In Bridge, and herein lies one of the essential 
 points of difference between the two games, each 
 trick in excess of six scores two or more points 
 according to the special value of the declaration. 
 
 Each declaration, in other words, has a cer- 
 tain affixed value, spades ranking lowest in the 
 scale, clubs next, diamonds next, hearts next, 
 and " no-trumps " the highest. 
 
 In spades each trick in excess of six counts 2 ; 
 in clubs, 4 ; in diamonds, 6 ; in hearts, 8 ; in " no- 
 trump," 12. 
 
 These values may be variously increased by 
 the system known as doubling, which has been 
 explained. 
 
 The honors at a trump are the ace, king, 
 queen, jack, and ten of the suit declared. At 
 14 
 
SCORING 
 
 "no-trumps," the four aces. Honors score to 
 the side holding the majority, three or more. 
 Honor values vary as does the trick point value 
 of the suit declared trump. Honor values re- 
 main statu quo throughout; that is, they are not 
 affected by doubling. 
 
 Three honors in a declared suit count twice 
 the trick point value of the particular suit. Three 
 honors, that is, in spades count 4; in clubs, 8; 
 in diamonds, 12; in hearts, 16. 
 
 Four honors in a declared suit count four 
 times the trick point value of the suit. That is, 
 in spades, 8; in clubs, 16; diamonds, 24; 
 hearts, 32. 
 
 Five honors in a declared suit count five times 
 the trick point value of the suit; in spades, 10; 
 clubs, 20; diamonds, 30; hearts, 40. 
 
 Four honors in one hand count eight times 
 the trick point value of the suit, or in spades, 16 ; 
 clubs, 32; diamonds, 48; hearts, 64. 
 
 Four honors with one player, the fifth with his 
 partner, count nine times the trick point value 
 of the suit; in spades, 18; clubs, 36; diamonds, 
 54; hearts, 72. 
 
 15 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 Five honors in one hand count ten times the 
 trick point value of the suit, or in spades, 20; 
 clubs, 40; diamonds, 60; hearts, 80. 
 
 At ** no-trumps," three honors (aces) count 
 30; four aces, 40; four aces in one hand, 100. 
 
 A SLAM, a term applying to the winning by 
 one side of the entire thirteen tricks, adds 40 
 points to the honor score of the side so winning. 
 
 A LITTLE SLAM, a term applying to the win- 
 ning by one side of twelve of the thirteen tricks, 
 adds 20 points to the honor score of the side so 
 winning. 
 
 That Bridge is not without a law of compen- 
 sation to the unlucky holder may be gained from 
 the following: — 
 
 Chicane, i. e., a hand without trumps, adds 
 the value of three honors to the honor score of 
 the side ; or reduces by the value of three honors 
 the honor score of the adversaries, in the event 
 of the honors scoring adversely. 
 
 Double chicane, no trumps in either part- 
 ner's hand, diminishes the adverse honor score 
 by the value of four honors. 
 
 Finals are obtained by adding the trick and 
 16 
 
SCORING 
 
 honor scores of each side separately, points for 
 rubber, slam, chicane, etc., having been pre- 
 viously included in the honor score, and deduct- 
 ing the lesser total from the greater. The dif- 
 ference represents the gain. 
 
 17 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 TABLE OF POINTS 
 
 When trumps are S C D H 
 
 Each trick above six counts 2 4 6 8 
 
 Three Honors in two partners' 
 
 hands count 4 8 12 16 
 
 Four Honors in two partners' 
 
 hands count 8 16 24 32 
 
 ^ / Five Honors in two partners' hands 
 
 o \ count ID 20 30 40 
 
 ►^ J Four Honors in one hand count. 16 32 48 64 
 Five Honors (one in partner's 
 
 hand) count 18 36 54 72 
 
 Five Honors in one hand count... 20 40 60 80 
 No trumps in one hand reduces ad- 
 versaries' honors 4 8 12 16 
 
 No trumps in one hand increases 
 
 partner's honors 4 8 12 16 
 
 Chicane counts 4 8 12 16 
 
 WHEN THERE ARE NO TRUMPS 
 
 Each trick above six counts 12 
 
 ^ I Three Aces in two partners' hands count... 30 
 
 c < Four Aces in two partners' hands count 40 
 
 ^ [^ Four Aces in one hand count 100 
 
 Grand Slam counts 40 
 
 Little Slam counts 20 
 
 18 
 
SCORING 
 
 SPECIMEN OF SCORE SHEET CONTAINING 
 EXAMPLE RUBBER 
 
 The horizontal line in the mid- 
 dle of the diagram divides the 
 honor score from the trick score. 
 Tricks score below the line and 
 from the top down. Honors, 
 above the line, and generally, for 
 greater convenience, from the bot- 
 tom up. 
 
 " A " deals and declares " no- 
 trumps," scoring three by cards 
 (36), and a 30-point honor score. 
 36 is placed in A. B.'s " trick score, 
 and 30 in their honor score. 
 
 A line is drawn under 36 in the 
 trick score to show that a game 
 is completed. 
 
 " C " next deals and passes to 
 dummy, who declares " clubs," 
 winning three by cards (12), and 
 an honor score of 16. 12 is 
 scored in the trick score, and 16 in 
 the honor score of " C. D." 
 
 " B " deals and passes to dummy, 
 who declares " spades," Not be- 
 ing doubled, and neither side hav- 
 ing a score of 20 or over, the 
 deal is not played. " A. B." 
 score 2 points in their trick score, 
 and " C. D." holding three honors, 
 4 in their honor score. 
 
 " D." deals and calls " hearts," 
 scoring six by cards (48), and an 
 honor score of 32. *' C. D." also 
 add 20 points to their honor score 
 because of a little slam (twelve 
 out of the thirteen tricks). " C. 
 D.," having won game, a line is 
 again drawn in the trick score. 
 
 " A." deals and declares 
 " hearts," winning five by cards 
 an honor score of 32. 
 
 ," having won the rubber (two games out of three), 
 and honor scores of each side are now added, and 
 sum deducted from the greater, 
 's " score equals 140 points. To this 100 points are 
 
 the rubber, making a total of 240. 
 's " score equals 132. 132 deducted from 240 leaves 
 , therefore, represents " A. B.'s " gain. 
 
 19 
 
 NAME. 
 
 A.B. V 
 
 HAME. 
 
 9. C. D. 
 
 32 
 30 
 
 
 20 
 
 32 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 
 36 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 12 
 
 48 
 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 
 140 
 100 
 
 
 132 
 
 
 240 
 132 
 
 108 
 
 (40), and 
 "A. B. 
 
 the trick 
 
 the lesser 
 "A. B. 
 
 added for 
 "C. D. 
 
 108. 108 
 
CHAPTER FIVE 
 
 MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 Be not too ambitious but satisfied rather with 
 small beginnings. With study and practice only 
 may you reasonably expect to become a sound 
 and good player. 
 
 Practice as far as possible with good players. 
 Observe their methods, and endeavor to profit by 
 their experience and example. 
 
 Give no indication by word, sign or expres- 
 sion as to the make-up of your hand ; its relative 
 strength or weakness. 
 
 As dummy be especially guarded in your man- 
 ner. It is so easy by a stray word or look to 
 convey to the dealer (your partner) whether you 
 wish him to pass or otherwise. 
 
 Do not parley with your make. A player who 
 unduly hesitates and then passes gives impor- 
 tant (though unfair) inferences to his partner, 
 
 20 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 often guiding him as to a declaration he would 
 not otherwise make. 
 
 As leader decide quickly whether or not you 
 wish to double. Hesitation which implies that 
 you almost think your hand is worth a double 
 often encourages your partner to double. 
 
 Play deliberately but not hesitatingly. Hesi- 
 tation often guides the adversary as to a finesse. 
 
 Be neither exultant over victory, nor downcast 
 in defeat. A uniformly quiet manner inspires 
 confidence and wins respect. 
 
 Do not detract from your opponents* victory 
 by affirming it is due to your own bad play. 
 Such often is the case, but it is neither generous 
 nor courteous to assert it. 
 
 Do not find fault with your partner. Accept 
 him as he is, good, bad or indifferent. Fault- 
 finding accomplishes no good and often results 
 in harm. 
 
 Gather your tricks quietly and unostenta- 
 tiously. Keep the cards of the trick well to- 
 gether and the several tricks distinctly divided, 
 so that " he who runs may read." It is often 
 important that one be able to detect at a glance 
 
 21 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 the number of tricks his side must still take to 
 reach a certain goal. If the tricks are kept in 
 an uneven, slovenly manner, this is difficult. 
 
 Cheerfully concede any penalty to which you 
 may have laid yourself liable. 
 
 The ability to count thirteen and do simple 
 sums, as required, in addition and subtraction, 
 is one of the first requisites to the successful 
 Bridge player. Bear this in mind. ^ 
 
 Familiarize yourself at once with the respec- 
 tive value of the declarations. The knowledge 
 is indispensable in naming the trump. 
 
 Know that points may be scored through hon- 
 ors as well as through tricks, and govern your 
 choice of declaration accordingly. 
 
 Know that at a trump the honors are the ace, 
 king, queen, jack and lo of the suit declared; at 
 " no-trumps," the four aces. 
 
 Know that 30 trick points constitute a game. 
 
 Make game, if possible, on your deal; if you 
 fail and the adversaries make game on their deal, 
 they will need but one more game to win the 
 rubber, while you will need two. 
 
 Do not expect your partner to take more tricks 
 22 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 than yourself. Credit him with an average hand, 
 nothing more and nothing less. An average hand 
 is good for three tricks and a possible fourth. 
 To be sure, if your hand be considerably above 
 the average, your partner's may be considerably 
 below, and vice versa. 
 
 Never lose sight of the score. Name the 
 trump to the score, and play to the score. That 
 is, so name the trump and regulate your play 
 as will be most likely to insure the needful tricks 
 to make, or, failing this, to save game. You save 
 game when you prevent the adversaries from 
 making game. 
 
 Have fixed standards for your declarations. 
 Your partner if knowing this will be enabled the 
 more readily to infer as to your holding when 
 you pass. The inference may guide him as to 
 his declaration. 
 
 Know that at love score game would be im- 
 possible with a black declaration. At this score 
 pass the make unless you can declare " no- 
 trumps," hearts, or, possibly, diamonds. 
 
 Declare " no-trumps " when you hold four 
 aces, or three aces, or two aces with guarded 
 
 2a 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 king or queen (king is better) in the two re- 
 maining suits. Generally declare " no-trumps " 
 when holding a black suit of six or more cards 
 headed by ace, king and queen, and still another 
 ace. 
 
 As you advance in the game, you will learn 
 that when you make to the score, that is, when 
 you need expensive points to carry you out, you 
 will occasionally declare " no-trumps " on some- 
 what less strength than the above. 
 
 Love score is when you have no score. Love 
 all, when neither side has a score. 
 
 Declare hearts when you hold seven, or six 
 with at least one honor, five with two, or four 
 with three, if, especially in the two cases last 
 named, you hold more or less outside protection, 
 guarded kings or queens, or another fairly good 
 suit. The stronger the trump suit, the less out- 
 side strength needed, and vice versa. A king is 
 guarded if accompanied by one smaller card; a 
 queen if accompanied by two. One must con- 
 sider always, however, the chance of being led 
 through in a single honor suit and the honor 
 not making at all. It is better if the honors 
 
 24 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 are securely guarded, as when king is accom- 
 panied by two others, one an honor; queen, by 
 jack and one other; jack, by lo and two 
 others. 
 
 Declare hearts when you hold four honors in 
 the suit regardless of other protection. (This 
 for the honor score.) 
 
 Declare diamonds on practically the same 
 strength given for hearts. Think twice before 
 naming diamonds at love score on the first or 
 rubber game. 
 
 As dealer declare clubs or spades only when 
 the make is to the score; that is, when few 
 points only are needed for game, and you hold 
 exceptional strength in the particular suit. To 
 declare clubs your score should be not less than 
 i8; to declare spades, not less than 24. 
 
 Do not be so carried away with the allure- 
 ments of an expensive make that you will de- 
 clare a doubtful " no-trump," hearts or diamonds 
 when clubs or spades would apparently win 
 game. 
 
 As DUMMY study your hand first to see if you 
 may call "no-trumps." Next consider it with 
 25 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 reference to hearts, then diamonds, then clubs 
 and lastly spades. Try to infer as to your part- 
 ner's holding. The inference may help you in 
 your declaration. 
 
 To declare " no-trumps," hearts or diamonds, 
 observe practically the rules given for these dec- 
 larations by the dealer. If you err at all, let it 
 be on the side of added strength. Remember, 
 your hand is to be exposed. 
 
 Clubs, though, so to speak, a defensive make, 
 should not be declared without club strength. 
 A weak club is liable to be doubled. 
 
 When your hand shuts out any other declara- 
 tion, declare spades. If you have strength in 
 spades, so much the better. Spades more often 
 than not, however, are the outcome of a weak 
 hand, and declared, not with the hope of win- 
 ningj but of losing as little as possible. 
 
 As ELDER at a declared trump generally try to 
 hold the lead until you have seen dummy. The 
 lead of ace or king from an ace, king suit will 
 effect this object, and usually is the best lead you 
 can make. 
 
 Until you have made quite an advance in the 
 26 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 game, have nothing to do with doubling. The 
 practice at best is fraught with danger. 
 
 Carefully study dummy's hand and see what 
 it suggests. When you have led from an ace, 
 king suit, you will often find it well to follow 
 with commanding card remaining. But see 
 page 73. 
 
 If the trumps are heavily against you, lead 
 your commanding or high cards early. Try to 
 make every trick possible before the dealer gets 
 in the lead. Your time usually is short and it 
 behooves you to use it to the utmost. 
 
 Often a good secondary lead is the lead 
 of a suit in which dummy is strong. See 
 page 85. 
 
 A short suit headed by two or more high cards 
 in sequence is often a good suit to lead, especially 
 if a higher card of the suit (not the ace) be with 
 dummy. Two or more cards of consecutive 
 value constitute a sequence, as ace, king; king, 
 queen; queen, jack, 10, etc. 
 
 Lead highest card from a short suit headed 
 by high cards in sequence; also the highest 
 from a short suit headed by jack or lower 
 27 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 card. A short suit is a suit of three or less 
 cards; a long suit, one of four or more. 
 
 If weak in trumps, holding three or less, a 
 singleton lead is often a good lead. If your 
 partner wins the trick and returns the lead, you 
 may ruff the suit; that is, play a small trump and 
 thus secure the trick. A singleton is a lone card 
 of a suit. 
 
 On a passed make avoid the lead of a short 
 black suit. The dealer is evidently stronger in 
 black suits than red, and, ostensibly, you v/ould 
 be leading up to strength. 
 
 On a passed make, lead from a short heart 
 suit in preference to a short diamond. 
 
 When at a trump declaration you lead from 
 your long suit, lead according to rules given on 
 page 71, which see. 
 
 At ** no-trumps " lead from your long suit and 
 try to establish it. You may succeed in bringing 
 it in. A suit is established when you hold the 
 full control; that is, when no one else can take 
 a trick in the suit. You bring in a suit when you 
 make tricks with all the remaining cards of the 
 suit, 
 
 28 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 At " no-trumps " unless your suit is excep- 
 tionally strong, containing seven or more cards, 
 or three honors, lead fourth best card rather 
 than high. You thus insure the best means of 
 remaining with the ultimate full control. See 
 page 93. 
 
 As SECOND PLAYER generally play low on low 
 card led if dummy's cards are low. However, 
 see pages 98 and 99. 
 
 As THIRD PLAYER, to your partner's lead of a 
 small card, play the highest card you hold of the 
 suit, unless dummy has played a card higher than 
 you hold, when you play your lowest, or unless 
 the cards heading the suit in your hand are in 
 sequence, when you play lowest of sequence. 
 
 Always play lowest of cards in sequence ex- 
 cept when you are the dealer. The dealer alone 
 can afford to deceive. 
 
 Include as cards in sequence any in dummy's 
 hand which are in sequence with your own. If 
 you hold queen, 10, etc., and dummy jack of the 
 suit of which your partner leads small, dummy's 
 jack and your queen and 10 are in sequence, and 
 you play 10, lowest of the sequence. 
 29 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 Make no finesse in your partner's suit except 
 as it bears upon a high card of the suit held by 
 dummy. See page 105. Finesse is the effort to 
 win a trick with a card lower than your highest 
 of the suit led and not in sequence with it. 
 
 On your partner's lead of a high card at " no- 
 trump," under certain conditions prepare to un- 
 block; that is, play so as to leave your partner 
 rather than you with final command. See pages 
 108 and 109. 
 
 At a declared trump, if your partner, leads 
 king of a suit of which you hold two cards only 
 (one not being an honor) or queen and two 
 small, play first the higher and then the lower 
 card. Such play is known as an echo and shows 
 that you can ruff third round of the suit or hold 
 command. 
 
 At " no-trumps " return your partner's suit at 
 once unless you have an established suit of your 
 own. Then lead your suit. 
 
 Return the higher of two, or the lowest of 
 three or more save when you hold the command 
 or both second and third best. 
 
 At a declared trump the return of your part- 
 30 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 ner's suit is not obligatory. Generally return the 
 suit, however, if you suspect that your partner 
 holds the command, or that he has led short for 
 a ruff, or if you yourself hold the command, or 
 may ruff the third round. 
 
 Study dummy's hand and profit by it to the 
 utmost. It often suggests something better than 
 the return of your partner's suit. 
 
 The lead of a suit in which dummy is weak 
 is usually a good lead, especially so if dummy 
 holds no honor in the suit and you may lead a 
 card higher than his highest. 
 
 No stronger principles obtain in Bridge than 
 those of leading through the strong and, con- 
 versely, up to the weak. Leading through the 
 strong is to lead such suit as will make the player 
 who is strong in the suit become second player 
 to the trick. Leading up to the weak is to lead 
 such suit as will make the player who is weak in 
 the suit he fourth player to the trick. In both 
 cases third player (your partner) has the ad- 
 vantage of position. 
 
 As younger, if you are weak in trumps, adopt 
 the line of play suggested under similar condi- 
 31 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 tions for the elder. That is, lead high or com- 
 manding cards early so as to make them before 
 the suits in which they occur may be ruffed; 
 or lead from a short suit or a singleton in the 
 hope of making one or more of your small 
 trumps before the dealer leads trumps and ex- 
 hausts you. 
 
 Discard first from your best suit; the suit 
 you wish your partner to lead ; this, in the event 
 that you have not already led the suit. In later 
 discards think only of the best protection of the 
 hand. A discard is the play of a card of a suit 
 other than the suit led when you have none of 
 the suit led and do not trump. 
 
 Whatever your position at table, whenever 
 possible force the adversary who is strong in 
 trumps. That is, lead such suit and such card 
 of the suit as you know he must trump if he 
 would win the trick. 
 
 As DEALER study your own and dummy's 
 hands thoroughly before making a play. Decide 
 upon your campaign and bring all your powers 
 to bear upon its successful issue. You have the 
 advantage of knowing not only the exact forces 
 32 
 
MAXIMS FOR BEGINNERS 
 
 at your command, but the exact force combined 
 against you. 
 
 Generally lead trumps if you and dummy to- 
 gether hold the majority, seven or more. If you 
 can first give your weak trump hand a chance 
 to ruff, it is often well to do so. 
 
 Work to establish the suit which is longest in 
 the two hands. Work to estabHsh it in the hand 
 which is longest. A suit divided six and three is 
 a better suit to establish than one divided five 
 and four, as it would score an additional trick. 
 
 Work for re-entries in the hand where you 
 hope to establish the suit. A re-entry is a card 
 that mill enable you at a later stage to recover 
 the lead. 
 
 As a rule lead the highest card from the short 
 suit hand to the long. If it wins the trick, fol- 
 low with next best of the suit. This is generally 
 the surest way of establishing the suit with the 
 least possible loss. 
 
 Watch the adversaries' discards. They will 
 often guide you as to which of your two hands 
 can best venture a finesse. 
 
 Make no finesse in a suit of which you and 
 33 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 dummy together hold nine cards, including both 
 ace and king. The other four will usually fall 
 in two rounds. 
 
 Make no finesse against the adversary who 
 holds an established suit. 
 
 By every means which are not prejudicial to 
 your interests, endeavor to deceive the adver- 
 saries. Play the highest rather than lowest of 
 cards in sequence, make unconventional leads, 
 false discards, etc. Having no partner, though 
 two adversaries to deceive, deception is one of 
 your strongholds of defence. 
 
 34 
 
CHAPTER SIX 
 
 THE DECLARATION BY THE DEALER 
 
 Nothing perhaps more closely marks the 
 dividing line between the good and the average 
 player than the fineness of judgment brought to 
 bear upon the declaration. 
 
 More points are lost through unsound makes 
 than through incorrect play, and the player's 
 first ambition, therefore, should be to acquire 
 proficiency and skill in the respect of the makes. 
 At the same time it cannot but be admitted that 
 the best of makers err at times ; no one and no 
 judgment is infallible. Besides, the unforeseen 
 and at times unusual distribution of the cards 
 often upsets the closest reasoning ; calculations go 
 wildly astray, and luck alone becomes the domi- 
 nant and controlling element. 
 
 However, the make which with average as- 
 sistance from one's partner will bring about the 
 best results in the greatest number of cases is 
 35 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 the make which should be called. The follow- 
 ing pages are designed gradually to lead up to 
 the various conditions by which the respective 
 worth of the respective makes is usually deter- 
 mined, and their careful perusal is strongly 
 recommended. 
 
 Various important factors enter into the cal- 
 culation of the dealer bearing upon the declara- 
 tion, notably, the state of the score, the general 
 make-up of his hand, the chance of a double, 
 and, — what his partner would likely declare in 
 the event of his passing. 
 
 We should be firmly impressed with the im- 
 portance of making a high score, game if at all 
 possible, on our deal. The deal carries with it 
 an immense advantage, one, however, which is 
 but short-lived, and which, therefore, we should 
 utilize to the utmost. Since from love with a 
 black trump game would be impossible, unless 
 our hand warrant " no-trumps " or a red declara- 
 tion, preferably hearts, we should pass the make 
 in the hope that partner will call "no-trumps," 
 hearts or diamonds and insure a chance at least 
 of our making game. 
 
 36 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 Naturally, because of its fascinating possibil- 
 ities for a large score, the desideratum of all 
 players is a no-trump hand. The " no-trumper," 
 par excellence, is a hand with the four aces. 
 Hands with four, or even three aces are, how- 
 ever, like the traditional visits of angels, " few 
 and far between," and the question at issue con- 
 cerns not so much hands of this strength, as 
 hands of variously diminishing strength; prac- 
 tical, everyday hands, such as constantly come 
 within our experience, and are susceptible of 
 good results only as correctly generaled. 
 
 No more in Bridge than in Whist is there a 
 royal road to victory. The player unprepared to 
 cope with difficulties, or to face situations mak- 
 ing demands upon his judgment and mentality, 
 will meet with many awakenings, for the most 
 part the reverse of agreeable, as he pursues the 
 feeble tenor of his way. 
 
 A declaration should never be made, nor a 
 make doubled, until the declarant or doubler has 
 first made a careful study of the score. He 
 should know the precise number of tricks he 
 must needs score to make game, or, failing this, 
 
 37 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 to save game, they of course varying in the sev- 
 eral deals by reason of the changing trick values 
 and the changing scores. 
 
 A conservative " no-trump " hand is one which 
 contains a sure trick in every suit. 
 
 When the make is to the score, i. e., when 
 expensive points are needed to carry one out, 
 " no-trump " is at times called on hands which 
 at other scores would be prohibitive. Risks of 
 this nature are oftenest ventured at a desperate 
 score on the rubber game, or when we are a 
 game to the bad, and bold means must be em- 
 ployed if bold ends would be attained. This 
 brings to mind the oft repeated and sound in- 
 junction: — Be venturesome and bold when play- 
 ing a losing game, cautious and conservative 
 when ahead. In the one case there is everything 
 to gain and little to lose; in the other, it is 
 better to lean toward safety, discretion being 
 usually its own best reward. 
 
 To summarize: — With a game to the good, 
 
 and especially when well along on a second 
 
 game, declare conservatively. With a game to 
 
 the bad, and especially when behind on the sec- 
 
 38 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 ond, or when, in the rubber game, the score is 
 heavily adverse, declare boldly. With even 
 games, love all, declare much the same as at 
 love all on the first game. 
 
 When in doubt between " no-trump " and a 
 suit, the score alone should decide the question. 
 When, for instance, game for our side would 
 mean several tricks, but for the adversaries, few, 
 the score, say, being lo to 26 in their favor, " no- 
 trump " should be called ; with the scores re- 
 versed, the suit. 
 
 Again : — If the odd at " no-trump " would put 
 the adversaries out, but the suit odd would leave 
 them in, the suit should be declared, and more 
 than ever if the suit odd would score game for 
 our side. 
 
 Illustrations bearing upon the makes could be 
 given without number, but this work is but a 
 digest on the game of Bridge, and designed 
 chiefly to suggest the correct line of thought. 
 As will be seen, however, and as will constantly 
 be more and more impressed upon the mind of the 
 student, the score is the pivotal point round which 
 the declarations at all times revolve, and declara- 
 39 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 tions which would be entirely sound at some 
 scores would be distinctly unsound at others. 
 
 A make which falls short of a standard is very 
 apt to be doubled, and any doubled declaration 
 but a spade may score game even from love. 
 With the declarant the victor, well and good! 
 With the opponents the victors, he (the decla- 
 rant) will find to his sorrow that his rashness 
 has proved expensive, it being visited upon him 
 doublefold. 
 
 A distinct advantage possessed by a " no- 
 trump " over a suit declaration is that the adver- 
 saries are thereby kept in the dark, sometimes 
 until an advanced stage, as to our possible one 
 weak suit, and in consequence often lead and 
 play to our direct advantage. 
 
 However, an important factor present at a 
 trump but absent at " no-trump " is the ability to 
 ruff. This, however, often resolves itself into a 
 weapon with a reversible edge, as potent for 
 harm as for good, and, therefore, should not for 
 a moment enter into our calculations bearing 
 upon the make if the conditions otherwise are 
 favorable to " no-trump." 
 40 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 And now as to what our partner would likely 
 declare in the event of our passing. The answer 
 is forthcoming: — If there can be no question of 
 " no-trump," and as to this our own hand gener- 
 ally will aid us in determining, more often than 
 not the suit in which we are weakest. We should 
 carefully consider therefore, what assistance, if 
 any, we could render in this particular suit, and 
 then, weighing in the balance its respective worth 
 as against what we would declare, give the pref- 
 erence to whichever apparently promises the best 
 results. 
 
 We must learn to judge from our holding as 
 to our partner's holding and most likely declara- 
 tion. If we hold a single ace, or none at all, 
 there is often a chance, and especially in the lat- 
 ter case, that he may call " no-trump " on aces. 
 Holding ourselves two aces, this chance is prac- 
 tically eliminated. 
 
 Holding two honors in hearts, there is little 
 chance that he will call hearts. 
 
 If we hold a singleton, or are void entirely of 
 one suit, long and short suits are evidently the 
 rule, and we may pretty safely assume, not only 
 41 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 that partner holds a short suit, but an exception- 
 ally long one. 
 
 If our hand be exceptionally red, partner's 
 should be exceptionally black, and vice versa. 
 In the one case we could expect only a black 
 declaration, in the other, likely hearts or dia- 
 monds. 
 
 The following cover general cases where " no- 
 trumps " should be declared : — 
 
 When holding four, or even three aces, with 
 
 or without other protection. 
 When holding two aces, with guarded king 
 
 or queen, preferably king, in at least one of 
 
 the two remaining suits. 
 When holding one ace with guarded king or 
 
 queen, preferably king, in the three remain- 
 ing suits. 
 When holding a black suit of six or more 
 
 cards headed by the tierce major, {ace, king, 
 
 queen) and still another ace."^ 
 
 * Hands repeatedly come up which, while not con- 
 forming strictly to the elements of strength specified 
 42 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 " No-trumps " from four aces calls for no 
 comment. loo points above the line are an as- 
 sured fact, and should far more than offset the 
 possible loss below. However, with four tricks 
 in sight, and dummy to reckon upon, the cases 
 would be exceptional where a goodly number 
 should not appear below. " No-trumps " from 
 four aces should be called at any score. 
 
 " No-trumps " from three aces even lacking 
 other protection, is practically obligatory. At 
 
 in the above rules, nevertheless contain equivalent 
 strength, and undoubtedly warrant a "no-trump" dec- 
 laration. 
 
 To the practiced player such cases will present no 
 difficulty; however, the beginner and the moderate 
 player will often find themselves in doubt. 
 
 For such the following test, commonly known as 
 the "Robertson Rule," will prove of great benefit: 
 
 Count each ace as 7, each king as 5, each queen as 3, 
 each jack as 2, and each 10 as i, and if the sum total 
 reaches 24, and at least three suits are protected, "no- 
 trumps" should be declared. (The advanced player 
 will usually declare " no-trumps " if the sum total 
 reaches 21.) 
 
 A singleton ace counts 4 only, a singleton king 2 and 
 a singleton queen i. 
 
 43 
 
B'RIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 the same time there are some who argue that 
 " no-trumps " without four tricks assured, or 
 with one suit defenceless, unless warranted by 
 the score, is unsound. Experience nevertheless 
 has shown that " no-trumps " under conditions 
 as above described more often than not results in 
 gain. If the unknown quantity in dummy's hand 
 prove equal to the occasion, a good score is prac- 
 tically assured. In any event the 30 point honor 
 score should offset, or nearly so, the possible loss 
 of the trick score. However, should the hand 
 contain a strong heart suit which insures fair 
 promise of winning the game and the certainty 
 of not losing it, preference undoubtedly should 
 be given hearts. 
 
 " No-trumps " from two aces, though with 
 guarded king or queen in a third suit; or from 
 one ace and guarded honors in all the other 
 suits, though to be sure attended with more or 
 less risk, is nevertheless entirely sound and con- 
 sistent with the principles of good Bridge. 
 Bridge, it must be borne in mind, is to a greater 
 or less degree a game of risks, and who would 
 wish it otherwise? Absolutely to be guaranteed 
 44 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 against loss in each and every situation would 
 deprive the game of one of its greatest charms, 
 involving no fine play, and therefore reducing it 
 to a mere mechanical level. 
 
 Especially from the first holding should " no- 
 trumps " be called if the two aces are red, as 
 this would greatly lessen the chance of any 
 but a black make on the pass; or from both 
 holdings, if the ace suits have other protec- 
 tion, or if the protected honors are protected 
 by other honors, as therein would lie added 
 strength. 
 
 " No-trumps " from a black suit of six or 
 more cards containing ace, king and queen (if 
 the suit were red, the suit generally should be 
 called) and another ace — the sine qua nan to the 
 make — would be very unlikely to miss the mark. 
 It is thoroughly sound and generally results in 
 a good score. 
 
 Some players recommend " no-trumps " from 
 hands which, though void of an ace, contain 
 guarded king in each of the four suits. One 
 exponent asserts that the substitution of guarded 
 queen, jack, for king in one of the suits need 
 45 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 not necessarily place the hand beyond the pale 
 of a " no-trumper," provided the kings be 
 guarded by one or more lower honors. 
 
 " NO-TRUMPS " TO THE SCORE 
 
 When it is apparent that our only chance de- 
 pends upon an expensive make, a weak " no- 
 trump," it will be found, will usually turn out 
 better than a weak heart or diamond. As a rule 
 expensive makes to the score should be attempted 
 only at a heavily adverse score in the rubber 
 game or when we are a game to the bad. 
 
 With the adversaries perhaps 24 to our love 
 on the first game, or when we are a game ahead, 
 our declaration as a rule should be conservative. 
 A risky make at this juncture might enable the 
 adversaries to win on our deal and thus give 
 them the advantage of starting the new game 
 on their deal. Having the deal at the begin- 
 ning of a new game, especially the rubber game, 
 or when few points only are needed for game 
 (not the rubber game) are entirely separate and 
 distinct things. 
 
 " No-trumps " to the score may be called on 
 46 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 Two aces, one being in sequence with king, 
 or when there is some protection, even well 
 gimrded jack, in a third suit. 
 
 One ace, guarded king or queen in a second 
 suit, and both king and queen in a third. 
 
 One ace and high card protection, preferably 
 kings or queens, in two of the remaining 
 suits. 
 
 A long black suit {six or more cards), con- 
 taining ace, king and queen, and guarded 
 king of another suit. 
 
 Guarded king in each of the four suits. 
 
 HEART MAKES 
 
 When convinced of the impracticability of a 
 " no-trump '' declaration, we next study our 
 hand, naturally, with a view to its heart possi- 
 bilities. 
 
 A heart make is of little less intrinsic value 
 than " no-trumps," three tricks being needed for 
 game from love at "no-trump," and but one 
 more, or four, at hearts. Therefore, if halting 
 between the two declarations, because of the 
 additional risk which " no-trump " generally en- 
 47 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 tails, the choice as a rule should rest with the 
 suit. 
 
 When, however, there can be no question of 
 "no-trumps," and hearts are doubtful, hearts 
 nevertheless should generally be called if our 
 hand assures three certain tricks and a probable 
 fourth. Our only hope in passing would be 
 that dummy would call " no-trump,'' and unless 
 our own hand strongly points to this prob- 
 ability, to pass would simply be to incur needless 
 risk. 
 
 An ingenious method of estimating the value 
 of a trump is given by Charles Stuart Street, as 
 follows: — (To the beginner at least it will be 
 found of much help.) 
 
 To the number of cards in the suit considered 
 add the number of honors it contains, and the 
 certain outside tricks, counting each ace and 
 guarded king as a trick. If the sum total reaches 
 eight, the chances are in its favor; if more than 
 eight, strongly so. If less than eight, as a 
 rule it should be abandoned. 
 
 The following cover general cases where 
 hearts should be called: — 
 48 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 When holding seven with or without honors, 
 or six with at best one honor, if in the lat- 
 ter case there is some outside strength. 
 
 When holding five with at least two honors. 
 
 In many such cases, however, there should be 
 more or less outside protection depending in 
 inverse ratio upon the number and particular 
 value of the honors. With ace and king or with 
 three honors, it is generally called regardless 
 of other considerations. With queen or jack 
 as the higher of two honors, at least two out- 
 side tricks or a fairly good four or five card 
 plain suit should be in evidence. 
 
 (Hearts from five with one honor, and a four 
 or five card plain suit, which may be easily es- 
 tablished, is usually a sound declaration.) 
 Declare hearts when holding four with three 
 honors, if holding another fairly good four 
 or live card suit; or if the hand promises 
 at least two outside tricks. 
 Declare hearts from four with four honors 
 
 regardless of outside strength. 
 (The honor score, 64 points, would likely 
 49 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 more than offset the possible loss of the trick 
 score, and while as a rule, trick scores should 
 be the first consideration, an honor score of 
 this value is not to be ignored.) 
 
 DIAMOND MAKES 
 
 Diamonds occupy a somewhat anomalous posi- 
 tion in the line of declarations. They represent, 
 so to speak, the border line between attack and 
 defence. Strictly speaking, they are not of the 
 former class, and yet unquestionably they are not 
 of the latter. 
 
 As from love score at a diamond trump eleven 
 tricks would be needed for game, at love on the 
 first or rubber game, or when we are a game to 
 the bad, diamonds should rarely if ever be de- 
 clared. To be sure, if the suit were exception- 
 ally strong and the hand otherwise so constructed 
 as practically to preclude the chance of " no- 
 trumps " or hearts on the pass, the better policy 
 might be to declare them, and get a start at least 
 on the game. However, a hand so constructed 
 might easily merge into a " no-trump " hand, and 
 50 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 so of itself settle the question by leaving dia- 
 monds out of the question. 
 
 The border line between a trump and a " no- 
 trump " hand is at times almost indistinguish- 
 able, appealing only to a player of the finest and 
 most delicate perception. It behooves us, there- 
 fore, at all times to study our hand carefully and 
 well before announcing a declaration which at 
 the next moment perhaps we should be glad to 
 rescind. 
 
 In cases where it is of vital importance that 
 the game be won before the deal with the mani- 
 fold advantage which it usually entails passes to 
 the adversary, the adversaries perhaps being 24 
 to our love, we should rarely, if ever, declare 
 diamonds. 
 
 On the other hand, to pass a diamond which 
 with average help from dummy should score the 
 needful tricks for game, for a possible " no- 
 trump " or hearts, would be unwise. Game 
 always should take precedence of a large 
 score, and at no time should we incur needless 
 risk. 
 
 However, when with a very low score, per- 
 51 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 haps 6 or less, we are in doubt between a dia- 
 mond and "no-trump," the choice generally 
 should rest with the latter. The risk, to be 
 sure, would be greater — since " no-trump " 
 makes as a rule are attended with more risk 
 than a trump — ^but so, in the event of the deal 
 scoring in our favor, would be the attendant 
 gain. 
 
 It cannot but be admitted that there is a grow- 
 ing prejudice, especially among our own players, 
 against an original declaration of diamonds. 
 They have been found so often to result disas- 
 trously when, had the make been passed, dummy 
 could have called " no-trump " or hearts, with 
 unusually fine results, or, make being passed, 
 dummy has coolly announced a spade, that what- 
 ever we do we wish usually we had done the 
 other thing. Reason, not prejudice, however, 
 should govern the case, and when the score and 
 the conditions generally seem favorable to dia- 
 monds, diamonds should be declared. When 
 the reverse is the case, we should call upon 
 dummy. 
 
 The rules governing the diamond make are 
 52 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 practically the same as those governing hearts, 
 which see. If we err at all, it is best to do so on 
 the side of added strength.* 
 
 BLACK SUIT MAKES 
 
 As has been repeatedly impressed upon us, 
 the attitude of the dealer is essentially that of 
 attack. Defence, if defence becomes necessary, 
 is the province of dummy. 
 
 The black suits, therefore, the inherent value 
 of both of which is exceedingly small, should 
 never be declared originally, except when, at an 
 advanced score, we are sufficiently strong in the 
 particular suit as, with average assistance from 
 dummy, practically to be assured of the few 
 tricks needed for game. 
 
 At love score, or any score where expensive 
 points are demanded, not for a moment should 
 they enter into our calculation. 
 
 Clubs may be called, the conditions being as 
 above described, from i8 and over; spades, 
 
 * It is rarely, if ever, advisable to declare diamonds 
 on four, save when including four honors. 
 
 S3 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 from 24 and over. At the score of 24 or over 
 unless assured of our own make v^e should pass. 
 
 At 24 all on the rubber game many players 
 pass on fairly good " all round " strength in the 
 belief that their hand will fit in with whatever 
 dummy may declare, and in the hope that he 
 (dummy) may be warranted in declaring richly. 
 
 An innovation which is meeting with much 
 favor and bids fair to become one of the recog- 
 nized features of the game of Bridge, is the 
 abandonment of an undoubled spade hand unless 
 the score of either side stands at 20 or more. In 
 an abandoned spade hand 2 points (one trick) 
 are conceded to the dealer, and the honors, as in 
 other deals, score to the side holding the 
 majority. 
 
 In cases where our hand seemingly is without 
 a trick, and especially when we are a game to 
 the good, some players advocate a " defensive 
 spade " in preference to a pass. They reason 
 that as dummy's make would likely be expensive, 
 and we would be powerless to help, the results 
 could hardly be other than disastrous. Whether 
 or not the policy will be generally adopted re- 
 54 
 
DECLARATION BY DEALER 
 
 mains to be seen. Its objectors style it " The 
 Spade Heresy." 
 
 A serious objection certainly to its adoption 
 is that it is a complete " give-away " of our hand 
 and, in conjunction with the exposed hand, ren- 
 ders us from the start an easy prey to the shafts 
 of our opponents. 
 
 As " Badsworth " points out, an original pro- 
 tective policy is very apt to overreach itself. 
 Starting, apparently innocently enough, with the 
 least valuable declaration and in cases where the 
 dealer's hand does not assure a single trick, it 
 requires fine discrimination indeed, as well per- 
 haps as a certain amount of moral courage, 
 closely to draw the line as regards other declara- 
 tions, and cases where the hand promises per- 
 haps one trick, or a trick and a half, or possibly 
 two tricks. 
 
 As a matter of fact, some advocate a " defen- 
 sive club," in cases, for instance, where the clubs 
 number four or five with perhaps as many honors, 
 and the hand throughout is so uncompromisingly 
 black that a passed red make points to disaster. 
 Others recommend under certain conditions a 
 55 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ** defensive diamond " ; and, as the culminating 
 cap-sheaf, " Badsworth " cites the case of a 
 player who explained his declaration of a heart, 
 which, it is needless to say, resulted disastrously, 
 on the grounds that it was a " defensive heart." 
 An original protective policy has besides the 
 disadvantage of depriving one's partner, whose 
 interest in the game and its successful issue is 
 certainly equal with the dealer's, and who should 
 be depended upon at all times and in all situations 
 to do the best of which he is capable, of his right- 
 ful share in the choice of declarations, and thus 
 not only reduces him to a mere figurehead in the 
 game, but at times shuts out a good make which 
 he could carry alone. 
 
 56 
 
CHAPTER SEVEN 
 
 THE DECLARATION BY DUMMY 
 
 The considerations and rules governing the 
 declaration by the dealer, save only that bearing 
 upon his partner's probable make in the event of 
 his passing, apply, though in a somewhat modi- 
 fied sense, to the declaration by dummy. 
 
 While a passed make does not necessarily 
 imply weakness save in the respect of aces and 
 the red suits, more particularly hearts, it never- 
 theless is a tacit admission that the dealer's hand 
 is not up to the standard of an expensive make, 
 and especially at a desperate score, conveys with 
 it a sign manual of the hope of a good declara- 
 tion from dummy. 
 
 The importance of making to the score should 
 be as patent to dummy as to the dealer. Dummy 
 should in fact at any score and at all times de- 
 clare richly if his hand at all warrants his so do- 
 57 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ing. Judgment and common sense, however, 
 must be brought to bear, and by reason of the 
 fact that his hand is to be exposed and serve as 
 a vantage ground, as it were, not alone for his 
 partner, but for his opponents, he is less war- 
 ranted, perhaps, than the dealer in too closely 
 " running the gauntlet." 
 
 When the dealer declares he is often accred- 
 ited with greater strength than he in reality pos- 
 sesses. Not so, however, with dummy. The mo- 
 ment his hand is upon the table its true essentials 
 are known. Without gloss or dissimulation, in 
 all its bare, unvarnished details, it stands ex- 
 posed. The most strategic management can ac- 
 complish nothing from it in the way of decep- 
 tion. Unconventional plays cannot mislead, nor 
 can false cards deceive. In truth, when exposed 
 to the cold scrutiny of calculating opponents, 
 its very strength seems often perceptibly to di- 
 minish, and its weakness to become accen- 
 tuated. 
 
 As can be seen, then, a make which falls be- 
 low the requisites to a standard is much more apt 
 to result in loss when declared by dummy, than 
 S8 
 
DECLARATION BY DUMMY 
 
 when originally declared. Because of the dealer's 
 acknowledged weakness in the red suits, a " no- 
 trump" lacking red suit strength, especially 
 heart strength, is risky and as a rule unwise. 
 However, if the make is to the score, a weak " no- 
 trump " is generally better than a weak red, be- 
 cause of the greater liability in the latter case to 
 a double. 
 
 In considering a light " no-trumper," dummy 
 should to some extent take into account the play- 
 ing capacity of the dealer, he who will have the 
 exclusive management of the two hands. With 
 a player of doubtful ability, especially if pitted 
 against strong opponents, fewer chances should 
 be taken than with one of acknowledged strength. 
 Even a thoroughly good player resents at times 
 being called upon to make something out of prac- 
 tically nothing. It is not every one who can 
 bring the same philosophy to bear as the player 
 who affirmed that he made it a rule never to find 
 fault with his partner's (dummy's) declarations; 
 that the weaker the " no-trump " hand he made 
 for him to play, the more he took it as a com- 
 pliment. 
 
 59 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 The test given for a trump declaration by the 
 dealer should be used by dummy also; in dum- 
 my's case, however, the sum total should reach 
 nine. 
 
 The rules given for the original heart make 
 apply, though perhaps in a modified sense, to the 
 passed make as well. To make the declaration 
 absolutely sound dummy's own hand should in- 
 sure four tricks. 
 
 The same, virtually, may be said of diamonds. 
 Diamonds, though, are at times ventured on 
 somewhat less strength than hearts because of 
 the well known fact that the dealer will occa- 
 sionally pass a fair diamond in the hope that 
 dummy may call " no-trumps " or hearts. 
 
 It should constantly be borne in mind that the 
 weaker the declaration, the greater the liability 
 to a double. Clubs, therefore, though properly 
 belonging to the defensive makes, should not be 
 risked without average club strength, and, gen- 
 erally, more or less outside protection. The 
 stronger the club suit in itself, the less outside 
 protection needful, and vice versa. A doubled 
 club, which would make the value of the suit 
 60 
 
DECLARATION BY DUMMY 
 
 equal with hearts, could easily carry the adver- 
 saries out even from love. 
 
 Not so, however, a doubled spade. Spades, 
 by reason of their very nature, are the natural 
 refuge of a weak hand, and declared, regard- 
 less of any special holding in the suit, when the 
 hand practically shuts out any other declaration. 
 Though at times, to be sure, they are declared 
 from strength, more often than not they repre- 
 sent weakness, and are called, not with the hope 
 or expectation of winning, but of losing as little 
 as possible. 
 
 6i 
 
CHAPTER EIGHT 
 
 DOUBLING 
 
 The general make-up of one's hand, the state 
 of the score, the particular value of the declara- 
 tion, and the inferences it gives as to the maker's 
 holding, the chance of a re-double, the position 
 one occupies with regard to the maker, to say 
 nothing of one's knowledge of the playing abil- 
 ity of the dealer, — each and all should enter into 
 the calculation of the player who contemplates 
 doubling. 
 
 Under the most favorable conditions doubling 
 necessarily entails greater or less risk. The 
 chance that the adversaries' score may be in- 
 creased to double, or, in the event of a re-double, 
 to quadruple what it ordinarily would be, is no 
 light consideration. Therefore, unless the score, 
 and the conditions generally, fully justify the 
 double, the practice is one infinitely more hon- 
 ored in the breach than the observance. 
 
 As a rule when the advisability of a double is 
 62 
 
DOUBLING 
 
 in doubt, the benefit of the doubt should be given 
 its negative side, and, instead of from the house- 
 tops proclaiming our strength, we should grace- 
 fully accept the policy of concealment. Doubling 
 of necessity gives valuable inferences as to where 
 the adverse strength chiefly lies, and the dealer's 
 shots from the first may be definite and direct 
 rather than tentative and uncertain. 
 
 The beginner at least should have nothing to 
 do with doubling. In fact until a player is en- 
 tirely famiHar with the principles of scoring, and 
 fairly well along in the intricacies of the game, 
 he should let doubling discreetly alone, being 
 warned by the not infrequent cases where a too 
 ambitious and over-confident player has spread 
 his pinions before they were yet ready for flight, 
 and as a result covered both himself and his 
 partner with confusion and defeat. 
 
 As a matter of fact, among the strongest and 
 best players, where the declaration is on a sound 
 basis and the inherent principles of the game 
 thoroughly understood, doubling is but Httle 
 practiced and re-doubling is almost unknown. 
 It is usually the less sound and more visionary 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 who delight in the process, those who belong to 
 the category of "adventurous no-trumpers" and 
 " light-hearted makers of expensive suits." 
 
 Before venturing upon a double we should be 
 entirely familiar with the score; not simply of 
 our side, but of the adverse side as well. Hav- 
 ing in mind the increased value of trick points 
 which doubling would involve, we should know 
 the precise number of tricks which either side 
 must needs score to make game, and whether, in 
 the event of the odd scoring to the dealer, he 
 would make game because of the increased value, 
 whereas otherwise he would not. We should 
 calculate also upon the chance of a re-double and 
 the bearing this would have upon the dealer's 
 score. 
 
 It is perhaps easier to say when we should not 
 double than when we should: — 
 
 Never unless prepared for a re-double. 
 
 Never when we need but the odd trick, but the 
 adversaries two or more to win out. 
 
 Rarely at love-all unless practically assured of 
 the odd. The dealer may re-double and win 
 game. 
 
 64 
 
DOUBLING 
 
 Rarely at "no-trumps" (save the score points 
 to a desperation make), unless our own hand 
 assures us of six tricks and a possible seventh. 
 As the declarant has presumably a strong hand, 
 'twere folly to depend upon partner for more 
 than one trick, if that. A double of "no-trumps" 
 on fairly good "all round" strength is seldom 
 advisable. 
 
 Rarely on spades unless assured from our own 
 hand of four tricks and a possible fifth; or on 
 clubs, diamonds or hearts, save to the score, 
 unless assured of five tricks and a possible sixth. 
 
 We should bear in mind that doubling informs 
 the dealer as to which is the strong adversary, 
 and enables him the more readily to locate honors 
 and to judge on which side to take finesses ; also, 
 that a double against the dealer is as a rule at- 
 tended with greater risk than against dummy. 
 With a weak hand, the dealer has the alternative 
 of passing; dummy has no such privilege. 
 
 A good time to double, the conditions other- 
 wise justifying it, is when the adversaries need 
 but the odd trick, but we two or more to make 
 game. A double under these conditions does not 
 
 65 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 necessarily call for exceptional strength, and 
 partner may often be depended upon for an aver- 
 age hand and perhaps the accredited three tricks. 
 
 Also a good time to double is when the double 
 assures a reasonable prospect of winning game, 
 with little or no fear of losing it in the event of 
 a re-double. 
 
 As a bold make is warranted at times because 
 of a desperate score, so a bold double is occa- 
 sionally warranted because of similar reasons. 
 We should bear in mind, however, the condi- 
 tions being of this nature, the great danger of 
 being re-doubled, and perhaps suffering com- 
 plete rout. 
 
 Because of the uncertainty surrounding the 
 spade make, a double of spades does not neces- 
 sarily call for spade strength if the hand be 
 otherwise strong. 
 
 A double of clubs, diamonds or hearts calls for 
 trump strength. 
 
 The elder hand may double "no-trump" on any 
 long fully established suit, when his hand is good 
 for six tricks and a possible seventh. 
 
 The younger hand should double "no-trumps" 
 66 
 
DOUBLING 
 
 only when holding a fully established suit, or at 
 least exceptional strength, in hearts; or when, 
 holding any established suit, he holds the ace of 
 hearts as a re-entry. As in the case of the elder, 
 unless the score points to a desperate make, he 
 should be good for six tricks and a possible 
 seventh. 
 
 The player doubling is best situated with re- 
 gard to the maker when he is on the maker's 
 left. This enables him to play after the strong 
 player and therefore at times to make deep fin- 
 esses. The elder hand is in the best position to 
 double when the dealer is the maker, and the 
 younger, when dummy. 
 
 RE-DOUBLING 
 
 The various considerations relative to the ex- 
 pediency of a double should guide us as to the 
 expediency of a re-double. We should further 
 consider the chance of again being gone over, 
 and the bearing this would have upon the score 
 of the winning side. 
 
 In estimating the value of a hand, it should be 
 borne in mind that a player occupies the position 
 67 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 of vantage who is to the left of the strong adver- 
 sary. In this position finesses may be more 
 freely indulged in, and certain combinations and 
 cards often make which otherwise would not. 
 
 Because of the state of the score, we may oc- 
 casionally re-double though not holding excep- 
 tional strength. As a rule, however, a re-double 
 is prima facie evidence of a strong hand, and 
 implies the ability to take, unaided, six or more 
 tricks. A re-double of "no-trumps" proclaims 
 strength in every suit. 
 
 "Badsworth" sums up the case as follows: 
 *The declarant will of course re-double when he 
 has a higher opinion of himself than he has of 
 his doubhng adversary, but the cases in which 
 it is advisable for his partner to join in are so 
 few, that it is safer not to re-double on your 
 partner's declaration, while you feel there is any- 
 thing left for you to learn about the game." 
 
 68 
 
CHAPTER NINE 
 
 THE LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 As a rule widely opposed principles govern 
 the opening lead at " no-trump " and at a 
 trump declaration. A moment's consideration 
 will make the matter clear. 
 
 At "no-trump" the chances are often good that 
 we may establish and bring in a suit. To bring 
 in a suit at "no-trumps," the suit being estab- 
 lished, the holder of the suit has simply to be in 
 the lead, the element of ruffing, often so death- 
 dealing a power to a long suit at a trump declar- 
 ation, being essentially missing. At "no- 
 trumps," therefore, establishment tactics are 
 generally essayed and we originally lead from 
 our longest suit. 
 
 At an undoubled suit declaration, however, 
 other than spades, — spades, it must be borne in 
 mind, more often than not stand for weakness 
 69 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 rather than strength — the odds usually are 
 strongly in the dealer's favor, and our chance of 
 bringing in a suit is practically nil. 
 
 Establishment tactics, therefore, are employed 
 but seldom, but, as in Whist with trumps heavily 
 adverse, our aim rather should be to make high 
 or commanding cards early, before the suits in 
 which they occur are liable to adverse ruffing; 
 to force partner, and to invite a force ; in a word, 
 to play what, in Whist parlance, is known as a 
 running game. If, therefore, we lead from our 
 long suit at all, it is not as a rule so much with a 
 view to its establishment and final bringing in, 
 as to make what there is in it before it is liable 
 to a ruff. 
 
 However, our policy of necessity must be 
 more or less influenced by disclosures from 
 dummy; hence the desirability of our first or 
 " blind " lead, as it is often called, being such a 
 card, when practicable, as will insure us the lead 
 for the second round, after dummy's hand is ex- 
 posed. 
 
 The lead of ace or king from an ace, king 
 suit — ace, if holding ace, king only; king, if 
 70 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 holding ace, king and one or more others, — not 
 only effects this object, but, what is often of 
 great importance, does not deprive us of the 
 command of the suit. Such lead, therefore, is 
 generally conceded to be the best lead possible 
 as against a declared trump. 
 
 Lacking this particular combination, king 
 from a king, queen suit, long or short, furnishes 
 a good substitute. 
 
 Lacking this combination also, a lead from 
 our long suit is often advisable if it contain a 
 high card lead. Lacking a high card lead, we 
 may yet lead from the suit, and with the con- 
 ventional fourth best, or we may lead from a 
 short suit (a suit of three or less), as apparently 
 promises best for the hand. The lead of a 
 singleton may be resorted to if weak in trumps. 
 
 It would be especially undesirable to lead from 
 our long suit if it contain a tenace as ace, queen ; 
 ace, jack; or king, jack; as the trick-taking ca- 
 pacity of such suits is usually greater if led to 
 than if led from. A suit containing four cards 
 only and but a single honor is also an undesira- 
 ble suit to open. 
 
 71 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 A short suit lead is governed usually by one 
 of three considerations : the hope of reaching and 
 strengthening partner, of placing the lead, or of 
 securing a ruff. 
 
 A suit headed by two high or moderately high 
 cards in sequence (if there be a sequence of 
 three, so much the better), as king, queen; 
 queen, jack; or jack, lo, is a particularly de- 
 sirable short suit to open. The higher the se- 
 quence, the better the lead. A suit headed by 
 jack, 10 or 9 is usually also a good short suit 
 to open. In each of such cases we lead the card 
 heading the suit. 
 
 However, we should be more or less influenced 
 in our choice of a short suit by whether the make 
 was passed or otherwise. If passed, the dealer 
 evidently is stronger in black than in red, and, 
 other things being equal, we should lead short 
 red preferably to short black. 
 
 The generally accepted leads from suits long 
 or short, are as follows: 
 
 Ace, from ace, king only. 
 
 Ace, front ace and one or more others, not 
 including king. 
 
 72 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 King, when in sequence with ace or queen, or 
 bothy save, when in sequence with ace, the 
 suit consists of ace, king only. 
 
 Queen, from head of sequence to lo, or from 
 queen, jack, 9. 
 
 Jack, from jack, 10, 9. 
 
 10, from king, jack, 10. 
 
 Fourth best from other combinations. 
 
 Ace, when from any combination save ace, 
 queen, jack, etc., when the follow should be 
 queen, is followed with fourth best. Such follow 
 proclaims two cards intermediate between the 
 two leads, and, possibly, one or more lower. It 
 denies the holding of both queen and jack. 
 
 Ace followed by queen proclaims jack. Ace 
 followed by 10 proclaims both queen and jack. 
 
 (Ace followed by king proclaims no more of 
 the suit and the ability to ruff the third round. 
 This inference is important, and if properly taken 
 advantage of often results in one or more tricks 
 which could easily otherwise have scored ad- 
 versely.) 
 
 Many players oppose the original lead of an 
 ace suit on the grounds that ace is too valuable a 
 
 7Z 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 card at once to give up. Almost all agree, how- 
 ever, that ace is the correct lead from an ace 
 suit (the suit not also containing king), this with- 
 out reference to whether the suit be long or 
 short. The importance of this lead cannot in 
 fact be too strongly emphasized; all of us who 
 have undergone the dolorous experience of 
 carrying home aces — and who has not? — will 
 find it strikes a kindred chord. 
 
 As has been said, a tenace suit, especially when 
 made up of ace, queen; ace, jack, etc., should be 
 led to rather than from. Therefore unless of 
 such length as that it is seemingly expedient at 
 once to make the ace, such suit should be avoid- 
 ed, at least until we have the additional light on 
 the subject perhaps supplied by dummy. Should 
 dummy show king of the suit, the primary ob- 
 ject of its avoidance, the hope of catching the 
 king, disappears, and we may open the suit or 
 not as otherwise seems best. 
 
 King when led from ace but not queen is fol- 
 lowed with ace. 
 
 Whether it be best to go on with the suit, 
 dummy's hand and the fall to the first round will 
 74 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 usually aid us in determining. It should not be 
 done if at the risk of establishing the suit ad- 
 versely (unless it were evident that partner 
 could ruff the suit), or if it would allow the 
 weak adversary to ruff. 
 
 King, when led from both ace and queen, is 
 followed with queen rather than ace, as being the 
 more informatory. This, in accordance with the 
 general rule for second leads calling for the 
 lowest of the high sequence remaining from 
 suits containing more than two high cards in 
 sequence. Therefore, from ace, king, queen, 
 jack, etc., king being first led, the follow should 
 be jack. 
 
 King, being led from king, queen, etc., not 
 including jack, is followed with small card if 
 king hold the trick; otherwise, when regaining 
 the lead, with queen, commanding card. 
 
 From king, queen, jack, etc., the follow should 
 be jack. The dealer at times will hold up the 
 ace on the lead of king, especially if holding ace, 
 10, etc., thinking thereby to tempt us to follow 
 with small card and thus enable him to win 
 second round with lo and still hold the command. 
 75 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 The follow with jack effectually circumvents any 
 such plan, if attempted. 
 
 From king, queen, jack, lo, etc., the follow 
 should be lo. 
 
 Queen, being led from queen, jack, lo, etc., 
 without 9 is followed with lo; with 9 if the suit 
 also contains 9. 
 
 10 is followed with king, if 10 fall to partner's 
 ace; with small card, if to opponent's ace (queen 
 not being with dummy), as queen, clearly, is 
 with partner. 10 is followed with jack, the lower 
 of the two sequence cards, king and jack, if 10 
 fall to queen alone, or if both ace and queen fall 
 to the first round ; with small, if 10 hold the trick 
 and dummy shows neither ace nor queen, as both 
 these cards must be with partner. 
 
 A fourth best lead proclaims three cards 
 higher than the one led and, possibly, one or 
 more lower. It denies such a high card holding 
 as would warrant a high card lead. 
 
 Upon regaining the lead after an original lead 
 of fourth best, we follow usually with command- 
 ing card if holding it. Otherwise, with second 
 best, if holding both second and third best. This 
 1^ 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 to force the best and make third best com- 
 mand. 
 
 The impolicy of the attempt to estabHsh a suit 
 at a declared trump is to a great extent done 
 away with if we ourselves are strong in trumps, 
 holding four or more. There is then often a 
 chance, and especially if we may force and there- 
 by weaken the strong adversary, not only that 
 our trumps may outlive his, but that our long 
 plain suit, if we hold one, may, if established, 
 be brought in. As at "no-trumps," therefore, 
 establishment tactics are generally employed, and 
 we lead conventionally from our long suit. Dis- 
 cretion being the better part of valor, to broach 
 the trump ourselves would not as a rule be wise, 
 at least until we have the additional light on the 
 subject perhaps supplied by dummy. 
 
 This suggests the question: Are we at any 
 time justified in an original lead of trumps? 
 Waiving for the moment the considerations 
 governing the lead to a double, it may be an- 
 swered that a lead of trumps, dummy being the 
 maker, offers at times the best apparent protec- 
 tion of our hand. If we hold four or five trumps 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 not including an honor, and our plain suits are 
 so constructed that they should be led to — they 
 perhaps containing a tenace, or a single honor — 
 or if our only four card suit is the trump suit, 
 the three plain suits containing three cards each, 
 we might do worse than to lead a trump. 
 
 A trump is occasionally advisable, too, our 
 plain suits being as above described, though we 
 hold less than four trumps, perhaps a singleton 
 trump only. 
 
 In rare cases a short trump is admissible upon 
 the dealer's declaration, for instance, when our 
 trumps are headed by a high sequence, as king, 
 queen ; queen, jack, lo, etc., — and our plain suits, 
 as in the examples above given, are so con- 
 structed as that to open them ourselves would be 
 to court disaster. 
 
 It is not that the trump lead in itself is good, 
 but that another lead would, ostensibly, be worse. 
 It is, as it were, a choice of evils, the lesser of 
 which is believed to be the trump lead. 
 
 The principle involved is known as placing 
 the lead, the inherent value of which is familiar 
 to all Whist players. 
 
 78 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 An original lead of trumps does not of neces- 
 sity indicate a desire to exhaust trumps, but 
 often, rather, to have our plain suits led to, and 
 pone, upon securing the lead, should bear this in 
 mind, and instead of returning the trump, unless 
 it suits his own hand so to do, open such plain 
 suit as apparently fits in best with dummy's hold- 
 ing. His lead of a singleton, or from a suit of 
 two cards, with the object of a ruff, is often bet- 
 ter than the return of the trump. 
 
 Upon a make of spades, more often than not 
 a defensive make, we need not of necessity re- 
 frain from the lead of a spade, if strong in the 
 suit, if the lead apparently would subserve to our 
 best interests. 
 
 Spades are elusive, however, and the maker 
 (dummy) has at times exceptional strength. 
 Again, the dealer often is strong in the suit, and 
 in such event our play would resolve itself into 
 a lead up to strength, a play, excepting alone 
 when for the purpose of placing the lead, diamet- 
 rically opposed to the principles of good Bridge. 
 However, if holding as many as five spades, the 
 trump lead generally would be sound, the suit 
 79 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 not being so constructed that it were better if 
 led to. 
 
 Our policy upon partner's double depends 
 partly upon the particular value of the suit 
 doubled, partly upon whether the dealer or 
 dummy were the maker, and partly upon our 
 own holdings; save only when the double is to 
 the score, when exceptional risks are at times 
 taken, doubling of necessity indicates more or 
 less strength, and, except upon a spade double, at 
 least moderate strength in trumps. 
 
 Upon a double of spades, a lead of spades is 
 often advisable if we ourselves are strong in 
 spades, or if, though weak in spades, we hold a 
 long plain suit, established or nearly so, or high 
 card protection in shorter suits. In the one case 
 the double doubtless is upon plain suit strength; 
 in the other, trump strength; in either case the 
 trump lead should and often does work to our 
 advantage. 
 
 If, however, with weak trumps, and a hand 
 generally weak throughout, we hold a singleton 
 or a suit of two cards, it is often well to lead 
 short in the hope of a ruff. 
 80 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 Upon a double of clubs, diamonds or hearts, 
 a trump lead is often good when dummy is the 
 maker; by no means, when the dealer. Better, 
 the effort to throw the lead to partner that the 
 lead if in his judgment expedient, may come 
 from him through the strong; or a lead from 
 our long plain suit which in the event of partner's 
 trumps outliving the dealer's, may, if established, 
 be brought in. 
 
 When the advisability of the trump lead is in 
 doubt it is often well to postpone it pending dis- 
 closures from dummy and therefore to hold the 
 lead, if otherwise practicable, until his hand be 
 exposed. 
 
 A short lead is often preferable to the trump 
 lead when, we being weak in trumps, it seems 
 expedient to work for a ruff. 
 
 As is seen there is no cast-iron rule govern- 
 ing the situation, but we should be influenced 
 rather by one or another of the considerations 
 above named. What would be right in one case 
 would often be radically wrong in another. 
 
 The particular trump to lead to partner's 
 double depends usually upon our numerical hold- 
 Si 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ing; the highest from three or less, the lowest 
 from more. The best of a short suit is often a 
 card of such value as will work to partner's di- 
 rect advantage. A strict follow of the rule in 
 any event often enables him, in conjunction with 
 the data supplied by dummy, to approximate 
 closely as to the number and value of the 
 high cards of the suit held by the dealer. 
 
 Upon a re-double which rests with the deal- 
 er's side, the conditions are usually relatively the 
 same as though there had been no double. We 
 assume the maximum strength to be with the 
 dealer, and as a rule pursue practically the policy 
 we would originally have employed, taking care, 
 however, not to force partner in the early stages, 
 or before the true conditions are positively 
 known. 
 
 Upon a re-double which rests with partner, 
 we should be governed usually by the considera- 
 tions above given regarding the play to a double. 
 
 As, upon partner's double of "no-trumps" it 
 
 is of the first importance that we throw him the 
 
 lead, it being reasonable to assume — the double 
 
 not being to the score — ^that he has a long solid 
 
 82 
 
LEAD AT A DECLARED TRUMP 
 
 suit with the capacity perhaps to take six tricks 
 and a possible seventh, by a recognized conven- 
 tion his double of "no-trumps" should indicate 
 the ace of hearts as a re-entry. 
 
 We, therefore, lead our highest heart, and if 
 it wins, follow with next in value. This is known 
 
 as the HEART CONVENTION. 
 
 To be sure if we hold an established suit — an 
 unlikely contingency — we would first run with 
 our own suit and then lead the heart. 
 
 Should we hold no hearts — another unlikely 
 contingency — the lead of our weakest suit would 
 stand the best chance usually of hitting partner's 
 suit. As a matter of fact the weak suit lead 
 upon pone's double of "no-trumps" is adopted in 
 England and by some of our own players in 
 preference to the lead of a heart. It is known as 
 
 the WEAK SUIT CONVENTION. 
 
 83 
 
CHAPTER TEN 
 
 THE SECONDARY LEAD 
 
 Having held the lead until dummy's cards are 
 exposed, as a guide to our second lead we have 
 not only the inferences perhaps gathered from 
 the first round, but the data supplied by dummy. 
 It is superfluous to state that we should study 
 dummy's hand with the minutest care, noting 
 both its weak points and its strong, and turning 
 all, as far as possible, to our own advantage. 
 
 While at a declared trump in rare cases only 
 do we, " non-dealers," stand a chance of winning 
 game or even the odd trick, nevertheless it will 
 often be possible to save the game, and to this 
 end our efforts should first be directed. A mo- 
 ment's calculation based upon our knowledge of 
 the value of the declaration, and the adverse 
 score, will enable us in each and every case to 
 determine the number of tricks our side must 
 84 
 
THE SECONDARY LEAD 
 
 needs score to compass this end. Five at "no- 
 trumps," four at hearts and three at diamonds, 
 will save game when the adversaries are at love. 
 One trick saves a grand slam, or 40 points in 
 the adverse honor score ; two, a little slam, or 20 
 points in the adverse honor score. As our time 
 usually is short it behooves us to use it to the 
 utmost. 
 
 It will often be advisable to go on with the 
 suit first led, especially if holding the command. 
 If this seem inexpedient, and generally it would 
 if a second round would establish the suit ad- 
 versely, or allow the weak adversary to ruff, 
 dummy's own hand often will suggest the proper 
 alternative. 
 
 If he holds an established suit, the dealer's 
 policy undoubtedly will be to exhaust trumps 
 and bring in the suit. In such a case we should 
 be more than ever nimble and quick, and garner 
 what we may before the dealer gets in the lead. 
 
 A good lead often is a lead through dummy's 
 
 strength. A lead through strength is the lead of 
 
 a suit in which the player who will he second 
 
 player to the trick is strong. Such lead, com- 
 
 8s 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 pelling a play from the strong holder before third 
 player (our partner) plays to the trick, often 
 results in partner's winning a trick in the suit 
 with a card which otherwise would be valueless. 
 
 The terms leading through strength, and, con- 
 versely, up to weakness, are familiar to all Whist 
 players, the principles they embody being coeval, 
 so to speak, with the birth of Whist. Their ap- 
 plication is peculiarly effective in Bridge because 
 of the exposed hand, and the knowledge absolute 
 one possesses of the location of certain cards. 
 
 There can be no doubt that Bridge in many 
 respects furnishes valuable object lessons in 
 Whist. By reason of the exposed hand, and our 
 certain knowledge from the start of twenty-six 
 rather than thirteen cards, the plan we have in 
 view and the ends we endeavor to attain, as well 
 as the difficulties we must surmount, are more 
 forcibly impressed upon us than in Whist, where 
 we see but the one hand, and can know inferen- 
 tially only as regards the others. Assuredly, a 
 broader, keener and more comprehensive Whist 
 player should be the legitimate outcome of the 
 wide-awake and successful Bridge player. 
 86 
 
THE SECONDARY LEAD 
 
 A lead through dummy is especially recom- 
 mended if he hold a single honor suit (the honor 
 not the ace), and we lower honors in sequence of 
 the suit, as king and small with dummy ; queen, 
 jack, etc., with us. The lead of queen, the higher 
 of the cards in sequence, in the event of ace be- 
 ing with partner, would place dummy at a direct 
 disadvantage, and, if followed with jack, as un- 
 doubtedly should be done, should queen hold the 
 trick, result often in dummy's king not making 
 at all. 
 
 As a rule the combinations from which it 
 would be undesirable to lead are the ones which 
 can most effectively be led through. A partial 
 list is given: king and small cards; queen and 
 small ; ace, queen, alone or with others ; ace, jack, 
 alone or with others; king, jack, alone or with 
 others. 
 
 A lead through dummy's strength would be 
 the reverse of good if we hold high cards in se- 
 quence of the suit higher than his highest, or 
 high cards of the suit which are not in sequence, 
 particularly a tenace as ace, queen; ace, jack; or 
 king, jack. 
 
 87 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 A lead through dummy's strength would also 
 be unwise should the suit with him contain two 
 or more high cards in sequence, or a fourchetfe,"^ 
 over a supporting card in our hand. In either 
 case he would cover the card led and defeat the 
 object of the lead. 
 
 _^ A trump is occasionally led as a secondary 
 l^ad, regardless of what we hold in trumps, in 
 cases where dummy (or perhaps the dealer) is 
 void of our long plain suit, and weak in trumps. 
 This in the endeavor to exhaust his trumps and 
 deprive him of the power to ruff the suit. 
 
 When dummy holds a long suit which may be 
 established in one or two rounds, weak trumps, 
 and a singleton ace (his only outside re-entry), 
 it is often well to lead the singleton ace suit. 
 This, at once depriving him of re-entry, would 
 greatly lessen the chance of the suit when 
 established being brought in, making it depend- 
 ent in fact upon the dealer putting him in 
 through a card of the suit. Should he, the 
 dealer, prove short in the suit, he will often be 
 powerless to do so. 
 
 * See page 99. 
 88 
 
THE SECONDARY LEAD 
 
 In cases where dummy holds no re-entry, save 
 in his long suit, it is often advisable if holding 
 ace of the suit, to go at once for two rounds of 
 the suit, in the hope thereby to exhaust the 
 dealer. This by some is considered better than 
 holding up the ace in the event that the dealer 
 opens the suit, because of the ever present danger 
 that he, the dealer, may trump the second round 
 and our ace not make at all. 
 
 Picking up a singleton is a phrase applying to 
 the lead of ace of a suit of which dummy holds 
 a singleton, when he is at the same time weak in 
 trumps and short in still another suit. The ob- 
 ject of the play is to make the ace before the 
 dealer has a chance to discard the singleton and 
 ruff the suit. 
 
 (The several plays last mentioned are equally 
 applicable to the leader or pone under conditions 
 as described.) 
 
 89 
 
CHAPTER ELEVEN 
 
 THE LEAD AT ''NO-TRUMP'^ 
 
 The princples governing the lead at "no- 
 trump" have already been briefly touched upon. 
 At "no-trumps" it is not infrequently the case 
 that the leader's long suit is the declarant's one 
 weak suit, and, inasmuch as he, the declarant, by 
 his declaration of "no-trumps," has deprived 
 himself of the ability to ruff the suit, there is 
 often a good chance that the suit if established 
 may be brought in, especially if the leader holds 
 re-entry, perhaps ace or guarded king of an- 
 other suit. 
 
 Establishment tactics, therefore, are generally 
 employed and our opening lead is from our long- 
 est suit. One exception may be noted, to wit: 
 when the suit contains four cards only, with a 
 single honor or none at all. 
 
 In such case our better policy usually is the 
 90 
 
THE LEAD AT "NO TRUMP" 
 
 effort to reach our partner's suit. This can best 
 be accomplished as a rule by a lead from our 
 weakest suit, it being in accordance with the doc- 
 trine of probabilities that our weakest is part- 
 ner's strongest. If having two equally weak 
 suits, one red, the other black, the red usually 
 should be chosen in preference to the black, the 
 dealer ostensibly having less strength in red than 
 in black, and the chance being greater, therefore, 
 that partner is strong in red. So if having to 
 decide between hearts and diamonds, hearts gen- 
 erally are preferable to diamonds. 
 
 Conformably to the same line of reasoning, if 
 at a halt between two long suits of practically 
 the same value, one red, the other black, 
 we should lead the red in preference to the 
 black, and as between the two reds, preferably 
 hearts. 
 
 If holding two suits of equal value numeri- 
 cally, one headed by ace, the other by queen, 
 both otherwise void of high card strength, the 
 queen suit generally should be led preferably to 
 the ace. Should it become established, through 
 the ace re-entry, we could perhaps bring it in. 
 91 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 Should the ace suit become established, the queen 
 would be but doubtful as a re-entry. 
 
 Comparatively few players at Bridge properly 
 estimate the value of re-entry cards, especially 
 at "no-trumps," and when holding an established, 
 or nearly established, suit. An established suit 
 can avail naught unless one is in the lead. There- 
 fore, until our suit is established, unless the 
 chances of its becoming established are practi- 
 cally nil, at least one re-entry should if possible 
 be held up, and more than ever, if we know, or 
 suspect, that partner is void of the suit and that 
 we must fight single-handed. 
 
 Herein lies the germ of the principle, con- 
 stantly recurring at Bridge, upon a " no-trump " 
 declaration, of holding up the command of the 
 adverse suit for the first and often also the sec- 
 ond round, save when we hold two command- 
 ing cards of the suit, when our own or partner's 
 suit is established, or when for some other reason 
 it seems desirable to take the lead. 
 
 The state of the score must guide us as to how 
 long the holding-up policy would be safe, or 
 should be indulged in. We should not forget 
 92 
 
THE LEAD AT "NO TRUMP" 
 
 that while we are refusing tricks, the adversaries 
 are scoring them. Besides, the suit may be 
 changed and our command not make at all. 
 
 After the foregoing, it may be superfluous to 
 add that the lead of a master card at "no-trump," 
 as at a declared suit, for the oftentimes valuable 
 look at dummy, would be unsound, unless, an 
 unlikely contingency, we can well afford it be- 
 cause of an embarrassment of re-entries. 
 
 The card to lead at "no-trump" is subject to 
 the principles governing the lead of trumps in 
 Whist, and often extending, especially when 
 holding outside re-entry, to a plain suit lead after 
 trumps are exhausted. 
 
 Unless holding exceptional strength, high 
 card or numerical, not a high card, but fourth 
 best should be led. A threefold objection exists 
 to the lead of a high card when not fully war- 
 ranted by the suit's strength: first, it minimizes 
 the chance that partner will take a trick in the 
 suit; secondly, two rounds may exhaust him and 
 so render him unable, later, in the event of his 
 having a lead, to return the suit; thirdly, but by 
 no means the least important, if we at once give 
 93 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 up our high or commanding cards, we materi- 
 ally lessen the chance that we ultimately will hold 
 the command. The primary object of the lead 
 would often therefore be defeated and we would 
 be powerless to bring the suit in. 
 
 A good general rule covering trump leads may 
 be given as follows : 
 
 Usually lead fourth best. Lead high when 
 
 the suit contains seven or more cards if the 
 
 conditions otherwise warrant the lead of a 
 
 high card. 
 
 Generally lead high if the suit contain three 
 
 honors, at least two of them in sequence. 
 When leading high, lead the same high card 
 
 that would be led at a declared trump. 
 To summarize: 
 Lead ace from ace and seven or more others, 
 
 not including king. 
 Lead ace from ace, queen, jack, etc., if holding 
 re-entry in another suit. Lacking re-entry, 
 lead queen, unless the suit contain seven or 
 more cards, when lead ace. 
 Lead king when in sequence with ace or queen, 
 seven or more in suit. 
 94 
 
THE LEAD AT "NO TRUMP" 
 
 Lead king when accompanied by ace and 
 queen; ace and jack; or queen and jack 
 from suits of four or more. 
 
 Lead queen from head of sequence to lo, four 
 or more in suit, or from mieen, jack, g, seven 
 or more in suit. 
 
 Lead jack from head of sequence to 9. 
 
 Lead 10 from king, jack, 10, etc. 
 
 From other combinations lead fourth best. 
 
 On the second round generally lead command^ 
 ing card, if holding it, unless it be in se- 
 quence with one or more lower cards, when 
 lead lowest of sequence. 
 
 Otherwise, if remaining with second and third 
 best, usually lead second best. 
 
 95 
 
CHAPTER TWELVE 
 
 SECOND HAND PLAY 
 
 Second hand play is not only influenced in a 
 greater or less degree by the nature of the decla- 
 ration — whether "no-trump" or a suit — ^but by 
 the position one occupies with regard to dummy. 
 It should, therefore, be considered from four 
 separate viewpoints. 
 
 It may be stated that second hand play as 
 herein considered pertains chiefly to the non- 
 dealers. As applying to the dealer and dummy, 
 it will be found duly considered under its respec- 
 tive heading. 
 
 We will consider first when we sit at dummy's 
 right: In this position we are told to "beat the 
 dummy" if we can. This does not mean, though, 
 at too great a cost, when dummy's cards are low ; 
 or that we should necessarily play ace on the first 
 round of a suit, low card led, when, dummy hold- 
 96 
 
SECOND HAND PLAY 
 
 ing low cards only of the suit, there exists no 
 apparent reason why partner should not score 
 the trick. 
 
 It applies chiefly to cases like the following: 
 Dummy holds a high card, perhaps guarded 
 queen of the suit led ; we hold guarded king. The 
 play of king is obvious, and more than ever at a 
 trump declaration, when, as has been explained, 
 it behooves us usually to take all the tricks in 
 sight. 
 
 However, as there is no rule which is not 
 subject to modification, so cases will at times 
 arise where to beat the dummy would be un- 
 sound, though otherwise he will score the trick. 
 For instance : we hold ace, jack, etc., and dummy 
 guarded king of a suit of which small card is led. 
 The play of a low card rather than ace would 
 presumably leave us with a direct tenace over the 
 dealer, and, upon the return of the lead, result 
 often in our winning two tricks in the suit rather 
 than one. This applies particularly at "no- 
 trump" ; at a trump, it would of necessity be at- 
 tended with more or less risk because of the in- 
 evitable rufling to which a suit is liable. 
 97 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 When dummy holds a tenace as ace, queen, 
 etc., over king, jack, etc., in our hand, we play- 
 low; with the holdings reversed, ace. However, 
 with high cards in sequence, as king, queen, etc., 
 in our hand, as against ace, jack, etc., with 
 dummy, we play queen, lower of cards in se- 
 quence. The dealer otherwise might finesse the 
 jack. 
 
 The following rules cover general cases where 
 
 a high rather than a low card should be played 
 
 second in hand. Except where stipulated to the 
 
 contrary, they apply equally perhaps whether we 
 
 sit at the right or the left of dummy. 
 
 At a declared trump cover an honor led from 
 
 strength zvith ace. At times also cover 
 
 small card led with ace. 
 
 At ''no-trumps" generally hold up the ace, 
 
 even at times an honor led, and when it is 
 
 known the trick otherwise will be adverse. 
 
 (Exception: When holding an established suit, and 
 especially when there are enough tricks in sight to in- 
 sure game.) 
 
 Cover an honor with an honor lower than ace 
 if not more than twice guarded, though an 
 98 
 
SECOND HAND PLAY 
 
 honor higher still, perhaps ace, he held ad- 
 versely, 
 (The cover forces the higher adverse card, or 
 holds the trick. If the former, it compels two 
 adverse high cards to the one trick, and thus 
 often raises to command in the hand of partner 
 a card of the suit which otherwise would be 
 valueless.) 
 
 Cover a g or higher card when holding a four- 
 chette (a card higher and a card lower than 
 the one led). 
 (The motive of the play, as in the case just 
 explained, is to hold the trick, or force a higher 
 adverse card, and thus defeat the evident bear- 
 ing of the lead. The cover from a fourchette has 
 the additional advantage that it can do no pos- 
 sible harm to our own hand. Many players be- 
 blieve so implicitly in the value of the cover from 
 a fourchette, both at Bridge and Whist, that they 
 advise it from an imperfect fourchette, as for in- 
 stance jack, from jack, 8, etc., on lo led.) 
 Cover the card led when inferences from the 
 eleven rule"^ show that we hold all the cards 
 * See page 104. 
 99 
 
 LCFC. 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 higher of the suit than the one led which are 
 not with the leader, playing the lowest of 
 these cards. 
 (The card so played, barring a trump, will 
 hold the trick.) 
 
 Cover the card led when holding two or more 
 
 high cards in sequence, playing the lowest 
 
 of the sequence. 
 
 (To be sure if, when we play before the 
 
 dummy, we see that a smaller card will hold the 
 
 trick, we waste no strength but win as cheaply 
 
 as possible.) 
 
 Save in situations covered by the foregoing, 
 
 generally play low on low card led zvhen 
 
 dummy's cards are low. 
 
 When we sit at dummy's left, we consider as 
 
 cards in sequence, not simply cards in sequence 
 
 in our hand, but any in his hand which form a 
 
 sequence with ours. For instance: we hold ace, 
 
 queen, etc., of a suit of which dummy holds king. 
 
 Dummy leads low. As ace, king and queen are 
 
 in sequence, we play queen. So, also, to a low 
 
 lead from dummy we play jack from a suit of 
 
 which we hold king, jack, etc., and dummy, 
 
 100 
 
SECOND HAND PLAY 
 
 queen; or king, from king and others, when 
 dummy holds ace. 
 
 These plays are obvious and will readily ap- 
 peal to the intelligence of the student. 
 
 When, sitting at dummy's left, we hold two 
 cards only of the suit led, one an honor, we 
 generally play low save when from his holding 
 we know that the higher card will win, as when 
 we hold king and one lower and dummy ace ; or 
 ace and one lower, and dummy king. 
 
 lOI 
 
CHAPTER THIRTEEN 
 
 THIRD HAND PLAY 
 
 Third hand play is influenced by the player's 
 own holding, by dummy's holding, and by infer- 
 ences from the lead. 
 
 As in the chapter on Second Hand, the rules 
 and considerations herein advanced apply chiefly 
 to the non-dealers. While the principles under- 
 lying third hand play, whether by the dealer or 
 non-dealers, are essentially the same, neverthe- 
 less the dealer, because of his certain knowledge 
 of his partner's holding, and the fact that he 
 alone generals the two hands, to say nothing of 
 his deceptive policy, has in many respects a law 
 unto himself, and, when it suits him so to do, 
 may and should adopt methods, if trick-winning, 
 peculiarly his own. 
 
 Third hand play upon the lead of a low card 
 is subject to a two-fold consideration : The de- 
 
 102 
 
THIRD HAND PLAY 
 
 sire, first, to take the trick ; failing this, to com- 
 pel a higher adverse card, and thus work to the 
 earlier establishment of the suit. 
 
 Therefore, upon the lead of a small card, we, 
 third in hand, play the card heading the suit in 
 our hand, unless it is smaller than the card led, 
 or the one played by second hand, or unless it is 
 in sequence with one or more lower cards, when, 
 in the first two cases, we play smallest of suit; 
 in the last named, lowest of sequence. 
 
 Modifications of the rule because of infer- 
 ences from the eleven rule^ or because of a 
 card or cards in dummy's hand which warrant a 
 FINESSE, will be considered presently. 
 
 It will of course be understood that the strict 
 letter of the rule does not apply to the elder hand 
 when in the position of third hand player if dis- 
 closures from dummy make a departure expedi- 
 ent. That is, the play by him from a holding 
 including both king and lO, of king rather than 
 10, if dummy holds neither queen nor jack, and 
 the dealer has played low, would not only be mis- 
 leading, but exceedingly puerile. So, also, would 
 be the play of his highest, the dealer not having 
 103 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 so played as to compel it, if dummy has none of 
 the suit led. 
 
 As has been explained, when we sit at dum- 
 my's left, we include as cards in sequence, not 
 only such cards in our own hand as are in se- 
 quence, but such in dummy's hand as form a 
 sequence with our own. To the lead, therefore, 
 of a low card of a suit of which dummy holds 
 jack and we queen, lo, etc., we play not queen, 
 but 10, as, obviously, it will hold the trick or 
 compel king or ace. 
 
 The play of the lowest of cards in sequence 
 is a valuable means of imparting inferences, and 
 by the non-dealers at Bridge should be studiously 
 observed. 
 
 The ELEVEN RULE is a rule the use of which 
 often enables a player definitely to calculate as 
 to number, and approximately as to the value of 
 the cards of a suit higher than the one led which 
 are not with the leader. By reason of its very 
 nature, the eleven rule can be applied only on the 
 lead of a fourth best, and rarely can it be made 
 practicable on a card led lower than 6. 
 
 To apply the rule we simply deduct from 
 104 
 
THIRD HAND PLAY 
 
 eleven the number of spots on the card led. If, 
 for instance, 8 is led, as 8 from eleven leaves 
 three, there are then three cards higher than the 
 8 which are not with the leader. 
 
 Now for the value of the inference : We will 
 again assume that 8 is led; further, that queen 
 and small of the suit are with dummy, and ace, 
 jack, etc., with us, third player. As the three 
 cards higher than the one led (8) are accounted 
 for, we play not ace or even jack, but small. 
 The 8 barring a trump, will hold the trick. We 
 should use care, however, to get rid of ace on the 
 next round, especially at " no-trump," if other- 
 wise it might block.* 
 
 The player familiar with the principle of the 
 ELEVEN RULE will readily recognize the oppor- 
 tunities, as they occur, for its application. It of 
 course develops in various forms. 
 
 Finesse is the effort to take a trick with a card 
 lower than the highest held of the suit led and 
 not in sequence with it. 
 
 As a rule third player at Bridge takes but little 
 chance in his partner's suit, somewhat more lati- 
 * See page io8. 
 105 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 tude, however, being allowed at "no-trump" 
 than at a trump. Even the finesse in general use 
 in Whist of queen from ace, queen, etc., is but 
 little used in Bridge. To be sure if, when hold- 
 ing ace, queen, etc., king appears with dummy, 
 the play of queen would be obvious. This, how- 
 ever, would not constitute a finesse, but the play 
 simply of lowest of a sequence. A play consti- 
 tutes a finesse only when the location of a card 
 or cards intermediate between the one played and 
 one or more higher ones held is unknown. Note 
 the difference. 
 
 As a matter of fact, all finesse by third player 
 should have for its aim the capture of one or 
 more high cards from dummy. It follows that if 
 dummy holds no high card of the suit led, third 
 player should take no finesse. Let us assume 
 dummy to hold guarded queen and we ace, jack, 
 etc., of the suit of which low card is led. With 
 the twofold hope of winning the trick, and, 
 eventually, catching dummy's queen, we finesse 
 the jack, and, should it win — and the chances are 
 that it will, since king, the only high card of the 
 suit not definitely accounted for, is likely with 
 io6 
 
THIRD HAND PLAY 
 
 partner — we at once return the ace. If dummy's 
 queen be twice guarded only, it must inevitably 
 fall on third round to partner's king. (To be 
 sure the third round of the suit may be trumped. 
 This, however, is not the question; we are con- 
 sidering simply correct third hand play under 
 conditions as above mentioned.) 
 
 Should dummy hold twice guarded king 
 rather than queen, and we ace, jack, and one 
 other only, the finesse of the jack, especially at 
 "no-trumps" would rarely be wise. In fact, un- 
 less partner should hold two re-entries — an un- 
 likely proposition — the finesse would gain 
 nothing. Better, therefore, at once to put up 
 the ace and return the jack, forcing the king and 
 establishing the suit in the second round. Then 
 if partner holds one re-entry, or even if we hold 
 re-entry — we still remaining with the small card 
 of the suit — the chances are good that he, 
 partner, will sooner or later bring in the suit. 
 To be sure the dealer may refuse to put up 
 dummy's king to the second round. Not to do 
 so would in many cases be his only correct 
 play. 
 
 107 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 When a strengthening card is led, we know 
 pricisely what higher cards of the suit are held 
 over us, and must be guided by developments 
 and our own holding, as well often as by the 
 state of the score, as to the expediency of pass- 
 ing, of playing the command (if holding it), or 
 of covering with a higher card, not the com- 
 mand. 
 
 A SUPPORTING OR STRENGTHENING CARD is a 
 
 card of high or moderate rank, as king, queen, 
 jack, 10 or g, led in the hope of strengthening 
 one's partner's hand; that is, of forcing higher 
 adverse cards and saving the high cards of the 
 suit held by the partner. 
 
 Unblocking is a form of play by which we 
 endeavor to rid our hand before the final round 
 of partner^ s suit of such card or cards as might 
 otherwise block the suit; that is, force us to take 
 the lead in the suit when having none to return 
 him. 
 
 Careless play in the respect of unblocking 
 
 often results in the loss of one or more tricks, 
 
 the holder of the suit being unable to recover the 
 
 lead and his long cards failing to make. It should 
 
 io8 
 
THIRD HAND PLAY 
 
 be distinctly borne in mind that it is the shorter 
 suit which unblocks to the longer. 
 
 Unblocking applies chiefly at "no-trumps." 
 At a trump a suit adverse to the dealer is rarely 
 brought in. Establishment tactics, therefore, are 
 optional rather than obligatory, and the original 
 lead does not always by any means stand for the 
 longest suit. 
 
 At "no-trumps," however, the lead as a rule 
 is from the longest suit, and with a view to its 
 establishment and final bringing in. To aid in 
 these efforts becomes, therefore, our first aim 
 and consideration. A high card at "no-trumps" 
 indicates exceptional strength, high card or 
 numerical, or both. Under certain conditions, 
 therefore, a high card being led, it behooves us 
 at once to unblock. 
 
 // holding king and one other only, to the lead 
 of ace or queen, we play king. 
 
 If holding ace and one other only, to the lead 
 of king, we play ace. 
 
 (These plays, it will of course be understood, 
 as are all plays in Bridge, are necessarily subject 
 to disclosures from dummy which would make 
 109 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 a departure expedient. It is hardly necessary to 
 explain that they would be distinctly unsound 
 should dummy hold a card of the suit of such 
 value as, because of the unblocking, would ulti- 
 mately be in command, as jack twice guarded, 
 or 10 three times guarded.) 
 // holding three cards, in chiding one or more 
 honors, of the suit of zvhich partner leads 
 high, to the first round zve play second best 
 and to the second round best, keeping the 
 lowest or least valuable until the third round. 
 (As an example : — We hold ace, king and one 
 small of a suit; partner leads queen of the suit. 
 Unless we rid our hand on the two first rounds 
 of ace and king we will inevitably block. There- 
 fore, to the lead of queen, we play king, follow 
 on second round with ace, and on third round 
 put partner in with the small card, and thus 
 enable him to make or bring in the suit.) 
 // holding four cards of partner's suit, the 
 lead being high, to the first round we play 
 third best, to the second round second best, 
 and to the third round best. 
 (Thus, as in the above mentioned cases, we 
 no 
 
THIRD HAND PLAY 
 
 keep our smallest until the final round, and so 
 render it possible to put partner again in the 
 lead, or at least preclude the danger of taking 
 the lead from him in the event of his being in 
 the lead.) 
 
 // holding five cards of partner's suit, the lead 
 being high, to the iirst round we play fourth 
 best, and to the second round up or down as 
 developments apparently make expedient. 
 
 If indications point to our being longer in the 
 suit than partner, we so play, it goes without 
 saying, as to establish the suit in our hand rather 
 than in his. At " no-trumps " the play to part- 
 ner's lead of a high card of first a higher and 
 then a lower card of the suit — such play as in 
 Whist would constitute a trump signal — is an 
 indication to partner that we wish him to con- 
 tinue the suit. 
 
 A similar inference attaches to a similar play 
 upon partner's lead of king, at a declared trump ; 
 the play, that is, first of a higher and then a 
 lower card of the suit. The play is known as 
 an ECHO, and is made when we hold two cards 
 only of the suit (not an honor), or queen and 
 III 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 two small. It indicates the ability to ruff the 
 third round or to win with queen. In either 
 case the inference is important, especially so if 
 in the latter case, partner can read that the third 
 round if trumped at all will be trumped by the 
 strong adversary. 
 
 112 
 
CHAPTER FOURTEEN 
 
 RETURN LEAD 
 
 As the principles underlying Bridge leads vary 
 accordingly as whether " no-trump " or a suit 
 is declared, so the principles governing the re- 
 turn lead correspondingly vary. 
 
 As at " no-trump " the lead is from the longest 
 suit, and, if it be not already established, with a 
 view to its establishment and final bringing in, 
 so at " no-trump " the return lead should bear 
 upon the same subject. 
 
 Because of the enormous advantage enjoyed 
 by the dealer, complete harmony between part- 
 ners is, if anything, more essential in Bridge than 
 in Whist. If, instead of concentrating our efforts 
 upon one and the same goal, each of us works 
 separately and independently, our work is un- 
 even and divided, and not only do we fail to ac- 
 complish the greatest good for our side, but in 
 113 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 reality we often contribute in no small degree 
 to the success of the opposing side. 
 
 Therefore, upon winning our partner's lead 
 at " no-trump," or as soon as securing the lead, 
 as a rule we should at once return the suit and 
 thus aid in the efforts at establishment. Even 
 though the command of the suit be with dummy, 
 or inferences from the eleven rule point to a high 
 card, possibly the command, with the dealer, 
 unless dummy holds an established suit which the 
 dealer may at once run of¥, the suit as a rule 
 should be returned. 
 
 To be sure if zue hold an established suit, we 
 should first make our own suit. So, also, if hav- 
 ing reason to believe — a reason existing in fact, 
 and not simply in our imagination — that our own 
 suit could be more easily established, we at the 
 same time holding re-entry, we may usually shift 
 to our own. However, if there is any doubt on 
 the subject, the benefit of the doubt should be 
 given to the suit which has just been led. As 
 a rule it is difficult to establish one suit; to at- 
 tempt to establish two is usually the height of 
 folly. 
 
 114 
 
RETURN LEAD 
 
 No objection of course could be raised to the 
 lead first of king from ace, king, jack, etc., and 
 less than ever, if queen of the suit were with 
 dummy. Such policy in fact would be highly 
 commendable, inasmuch as it would furnish part- 
 ner with a valuable clew for a lead later, 
 through the queen. 
 
 The proper card to return depends upon our 
 numerical holding. If remaining with two only, 
 we return the higher; if with three or more, the 
 lowest, save when holding the command, or both 
 second and third best, when, in the one case, we 
 lead command, in the other, second best. How- 
 ever, if we have begun to unblock in the suit, 
 holding originally four, we return not our lowest 
 but our highest card, treating our holding in the 
 suit rather as a short suit. Otherwise we would 
 undo all the good we have already done and' run 
 the risk of blocking. 
 
 Some players approve of the return of jack, 
 10 or 9, as the case may be, regardless of num- 
 ber, if nothing higher is with dummy, on the 
 grounds that a card of this rank would give part- 
 ner the advantage of position, and often enable 
 115 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 him to save a high and valuable card of his own. 
 Such play in fact would conform to the twofold 
 principle of a lead up to dummy's weakness, and 
 of the lead of a card higher than his highest and 
 furnishes, therefore, a notable example for de- 
 parture from rule. 
 
 At a declared trump, the return of partner's 
 suit, far from being obligatory, is often inad- 
 visable. 
 
 However, the suit generally should be returned 
 if the lead has shown a strong suit, one already 
 established or nearly so, and we are strong in 
 trumps, perhaps holding four or more. Under 
 these conditions, and especially if we can force 
 the strong adversary, the importance of which 
 in this and similar situations cannot be too 
 strongly emphasized, partner's suit eventually 
 may be brought in. 
 
 So, also, if we hold the command of the suit, 
 or infer it is held by partner, or that he has led 
 for the purpose of a ruff, or if we ourselves may 
 rufif the third round, holding weak trumps, the 
 suit generally should be returned. In fact, a 
 similar policy to that recommended for the elder 
 ii6 
 
RETURN LEAD 
 
 hand as against a declared trump, when himself 
 weak in trumps, should usually be employed by 
 the younger hand, also, when weak in trumps. 
 That is, he should make high or commanding 
 cards early before the suits in which they occur 
 are liable to a ruff, force his partner, and freely 
 take a force. 
 
 When inferences from the eleven rule show 
 that the small card led is not a fourth best, or 
 when the lead of a high card is, clearly, not from 
 the conventional holding, the lead has some other 
 object than the attempt at establishment. Often 
 the second, or at most third round of the suit 
 will find partner void, and in a position to ruff, 
 the dealer having not in the meantime had one 
 or more rounds of trumps and perhaps ex- 
 hausted him. 
 
 To detect that a small card led is not a fourth 
 best, we simply apply the eleven rule, and if it 
 turns out that there are more high cards out 
 against the leader than a fourth best would pro- 
 claim, the lead is not a fourth best, but more 
 often a single card, or the better of two. 
 
 We should not fail to take into account that 
 117 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 as a secondary lead partner will often lead 
 through dummy's strength, and be guided ac- 
 cordingly in our inferences and resultant play. 
 When this, it is evident, is the motive, we should 
 not return the suit, but endeavor rather through 
 some other suit to put partner again in, that he 
 may continue it. By repeating this process once 
 or twice, as apparently expedient, and as within 
 our power to do, dummy's high cards of the suit 
 are often completely hemmed in and fail to make, 
 the tricks in the suit scoring to our side rather 
 than adversely. 
 
 We are at times in the lead when partner has 
 doubled and yet refrained from the lead of a 
 trump. Such situation truly calls for considera- 
 tion. When the dealer is the maker, it is often 
 the case that partner is waiting for the trump 
 to be led by us and it is important that we make 
 no mistake. Much, however, must be left to the 
 perception of the individual player, as rules fit- 
 ting each and every case would be impossible. 
 To be sure we can often be guided to a greater 
 or less extent by the considerations, as explained 
 in a former chapter, governing the elder's lead 
 ii8 
 
RETURN LEAD 
 
 upon his partner's double : * — that is, the par- 
 ticular value of the suit doubled, whether the 
 dealer or dummy were the maker, and our own 
 holding. 
 
 Upon a double of spades a trump lead is often 
 advisable if dummy is weak in spades, especially 
 if we are strong in spades, or if we hold a good 
 plain suit or protection in shorter suits. 
 
 However, if, with weak trumps and a hand 
 generally weak throughout, we are short in one 
 suit, the short lead with the object of a ruff is 
 often preferable to the trump lead. 
 
 Upon a double of clubs, diamonds or hearts, 
 the, dealer being the maker, the trump, if led at 
 all by the non-dealers, should undoubtedly be 
 led by pone, and a round will be found seldom to 
 work to our disadvantage, especially if we hold 
 a moderately good plain suit or protection in 
 shorter suits. Less than ever could the lead be 
 objected to if dummy's trumps are small and we 
 may lead higher than his highest. 
 
 However, as upon a spade double, if we hold 
 a singleton, or a suit of two cards, we may first 
 * See page 80. 
 119 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 lead short, if in our judgment expedient, with 
 the object of securing a ruff. 
 
 A lead of this nature with the same object in 
 view is often preferable to the return of a trump 
 lead. As has been explained, a trump lead by 
 partner does not necessarily indicate a desire to 
 exhaust trumps, but often rather to have his 
 plain suits led to. A return of trumps is, how- 
 ever, u&ually advisable, our hand not containing 
 a short suit which may be led with apparent 
 profit, if we are protected in the plain suits, and 
 the relation of our trumps to dummy's is not 
 such as that it would be manifestly better for 
 the lead to come again through dummy. 
 
 Special leads, such as picking up a singleton; 
 the lead of a suit of which dummy holds a single- 
 ton ace (his only re-entry), weak trumps, and 
 a long though unestablished plain suit; the lead 
 of a trump, regardless of our holding in trumps, 
 when dummy is void of our suit and weak in 
 trumps; — all of which are equally applicable to 
 either of the non-dealers, have been explained 
 under the heading " Secondary Lead." The lead 
 of a trump under conditions as above described 
 
 120 
 
RETURN LEAD 
 
 is especially important if the dealer has re- 
 frained from the lead of a trump with the ob- 
 ject ostensibly of securing the ruff. 
 
 A few principles governing our play when we 
 sit at dummy's left, otherwise answer to the call 
 of PONE, and bearing upon the relation of our 
 holding to dummy's, are here given: — 
 
 First and above all we should bear in mind 
 the importance of a lead up to dummy's weak- 
 ness. This has reference not so much to numeri- 
 cal as to high card weakness. 
 
 If a suit in dummy's hand is without an honor 
 and we lead a card of the suit higher than his 
 highest, we beat him from the start and the 
 play often resolves itself into a case of two to 
 one as against the dealer. Especially should we 
 observe this play from a suit containing a 
 sequence of high cards higher than dummy's 
 highest. 
 
 When dummy's only weak suit is the trump 
 suit, his plain suits perhaps containing a tenace 
 or a single honor, it is often well to lead a 
 trump. 
 
 The lead of a suit containing guarded king in 
 
 121 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 our hand to guarded queen with dummy would 
 be unwise; so, also, would be the lead from an 
 ace suit in our hand to guarded king with 
 dummy; or, vice versa, from king suit in our 
 hand to ace in dummy's. In all such cases we 
 will be left in better position if the suit be 
 opened elsewhere. 
 
 A low lead of a suit in which dummy holds 
 exceptional strength should mean our ability to 
 ruff the suit. So, the lead by the elder hand 
 of a suit in which dummy holds three high cards 
 in sequence, should convey a similar inference. 
 
 122 
 
CHAPTER FIFTEEN 
 
 THE DISCARD 
 
 When we have no card of the suit led and 
 do not trump, we play a card of another suit, 
 usually the lowest held of the suit. Such play 
 constitutes a discard. 
 
 The discard at Bridge, as was the case for so 
 long a time with the discard in Whist, has been 
 and is still a fruitful source of discussion. 
 
 Some advocate the discard from strength at 
 a trump and weakness at " no-trumps " ; others, 
 from weakness both at a trump and *' no- 
 trumps " ; others again, from strength both at 
 a trump and " no-trumps." 
 
 The last named, though seemingly in direct 
 contradistinction to the now generally accepted 
 system in Whist, is in reality governed by the 
 same principle, and for this reason perhaps has 
 a constantly increasing number of adherents. 
 123 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 The Whist discard calls for weakness under 
 usual conditions, but strength at an adverse 
 declaration of trumps. In Bridge both at a 
 trump and at " no-trumps " there is an adverse 
 declaration of strength, greater and more 
 varied often at " no-trumps " than at a trump 
 which practically shows strength in one suit 
 only. 
 
 As in Whist, then, at an adverse declaration 
 of strength, there surely is wisdom in throwing 
 from our longest or best protected suit (which at 
 most will probably score two or three tricks 
 only) not only as a signal to our partner as to 
 what constitutes our best suit, but — often the 
 more important reason — to guard our shorter or 
 weaker suits in the hope that we may eventually 
 block the adversaries. A twice guarded jack or 
 three times guarded lo will at times effect this 
 end. 
 
 When by reason of developments or the pecu- 
 liar construction of our hand the strength dis- 
 card would probably entail loss, the reverse 
 DISCARD comes in as a valuable interme- 
 diary. 
 
 124 
 
THE DISCARD 
 
 The reverse discard * is the discard first of 
 a higher and then a lower card of a suit — such 
 play as in Whist would constitute a trump sig- 
 nal — ^and it conveys an inference exactly the 
 reverse of that which the discard usually con- 
 veys. By the advocates of the strength discard 
 it indicates the weakest rather than the strong- 
 est suit. It may be stated that the reverse dis- 
 card should be attempted only when there is a 
 practical certainty that it may at once be com- 
 pleted; that is, that the suit which is being led 
 will go a second round uninterruptedly. Other- 
 wise partner if attempting to reach our suit may 
 justifiably take his clew from our one discard, 
 and open the wrong suit, perhaps with disas- 
 trous results. 
 
 It has been suggested that when our best 
 suit consists of four cards only, containing but 
 a single honor — a weak suit at best — ^we make 
 no attempt to indicate strength, but discard 
 rather from a suit which has already been led, if 
 
 * The reverse discard is used also by the exponents of 
 the weak suit discard. With them it indicates the 
 strongest rather than the weakest suit. 
 125 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 to do so would not in any sense militate against 
 our interests. 
 
 The discard at all times, however, calls for 
 caution and discretion. The question is not sim- 
 ply whether we shall discard from our strongest 
 or our weakest suit, but, how many discards 
 shall we make from the suit, how much protec- 
 tion is necessary for the shorter suits, etc., etc.? 
 These are questions which must be left largely 
 to the judgment of the individual player. Hav- 
 ing in mind the point he has set out to attain, he 
 must endeavor to judge for himself how long 
 his efforts along this particular line will be safe 
 and be pliable enough to change his tactics as 
 developments render expedient. 
 
 We have perhaps all undergone the experience 
 of throwing card after card, often first from one 
 suit and then another, — ^the dealer running with 
 a long established suit, — in the nerve-racking 
 consciousness that we are irrevocably weaken- 
 ing both, but without the smallest conception of 
 what is best, or what suit we should guard. As 
 a rule when it is evident we will be put to many 
 discards, it is better to throw from one suit en- 
 126 
 
THE DISCARD 
 
 tirely rather than so weaken all as to be unable 
 to offer defense in any. However, we can often 
 take our clew to some extent from partner's dis- 
 card — if he also is discarding — and throw from 
 the suit which he retains, and, conversely, guard 
 the one from which he discards. 
 
 The best discard upon partner's double is a 
 vexed question. Some advocate from weakness 
 upon a spade double, but strength upon the 
 double of other suits. Others, though advocat- 
 ing upon the double of any suit, the importance 
 of working for the long suit, nevertheless ad- 
 vise a discard from the suit in order definitely 
 to indicate it. Others again argue that, inasmuch 
 as a double, save perhaps a spade double, is a 
 proclamation of trump strength, the conditions 
 become relatively the same as in Whist where, 
 trumps originally being led adversely, they are 
 taken up and continued by partner. They, there- 
 fore, advise the discard, as under these condi- 
 tions in Whist, from weakness, on the grounds 
 that there is often a reasonable chance that our 
 suit may be brought in, and wisdom in keeping 
 it intact, 
 
 127 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 The conventional discard, it may be needless 
 to explain, applies in its full force to our first 
 discard only, and for the most part to cases 
 where we have not already had a lead. More- 
 over, discarding as a system applies chiefly to 
 the non-dealers. The dealer who has much to 
 gain and little to lose by false discards, and 
 whose strong policy often lies in concealment, 
 may employ what tactics seem to him best, bring- 
 ing judgment of course to bear and taking care 
 effectually to protect such cards in either hand 
 as may be needed for re-entries. 
 
 Early in a deal, or at any stage until devel- 
 opments have made it expedient, it is unwise to 
 blank an ace, unguard an honor, or discard a 
 singleton. Blanking an ace, i. e., throwing from 
 a suit consisting of ace and one other card only, 
 blocks a suit and should the suit turn out to be 
 partner's, renders us unable to put him in. A 
 similar disability follows upon the discard of a 
 singleton. Moreover, the discard of a singleton 
 exposes the situation as soon as the suit is led, 
 and enables the dealer to place both the number 
 and value of the cards of the suit held by part- 
 128 
 
THE DISCARD 
 
 ner, thus often subjecting him (partner) to ad- 
 verse finessing. 
 
 The existence of the exposed hand should not 
 be ignored, nor should we overlook the fact that 
 discards give as valuable inferences to the dealer 
 as to partner, and often guide him as to which 
 hand can most safely venture a finesse. Occa- 
 sionally, even though we hold worthless cards 
 only of a suit which it is evident the dealer must 
 lead and in which he must likely finesse, we 
 should refrain from the discard of a single card 
 of the suit in the hope to mislead him as to the 
 particular distribution, and perhaps tempt him 
 to finesse on the wrong side. As can be seen 
 there is no phase of Bridge play which does not 
 involves at times deepest strategy and obvious 
 departure from rule. Fortunate the player who 
 can recognize and successfully meet such situa- 
 tions as they occur. 
 
 A discard from partner's suit calls for great 
 care even though we are numerically weak in 
 the suit. Especially is this so at " no-trump " 
 or when there is but one trump remaining and 
 it is held adversely. If the dealer suspect our 
 129 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 Weakness, he will hold up the command of the 
 suit at " no-trump," or the last trump at a trump 
 declaration (unless in either case he can run with 
 an established suit), until he can read us with 
 no more of the suit. He thus minimizes the 
 chance of the suit being brought in. 
 
 We should also use care as to the particular 
 card we throw from partner's suit, especially at 
 " no-trumps " and if we have begun to unblock 
 in the suit. Having begun to unblock, we should 
 usually throw the higher of two, or the interme- 
 diate of three. A careless discard might easily 
 block the suit. 
 
 130 
 
CHAPTER SIXTEEN 
 
 THE dealer's play 
 
 The dealer who has the onus of the two hands 
 and who, while lacking the inspiration of an 
 intelligent partner, is nevertheless pitted against 
 two opponents whose knowledge of dummy's 
 holding is equal with his own, and whose legiti- 
 mate aim it is to profit to the utmost by the in- 
 formation thus afforded, as well as by inferences 
 from his own play, needs to be equipped with 
 card sense of an unusual order to make the most 
 of his dual role. Bridge strategy in fact com- 
 prises no features more intricate or difficult, 
 though withal fascinating, than those evolved in 
 the play of the two hands. 
 
 The ability to grasp what plan or line of action 
 
 offers apparently the greatest promise and to 
 
 keep this plan consistently in view throughout, 
 
 subject of course to changes or modifications 
 
 131 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 as developments may render expedient; the 
 ability advantageously and at the right moment 
 to place the lead; to save or establish re-entries 
 in the hand where apparently they will be 
 needed; correctly to judge when and on which 
 side to take a finesse; when a trump should be 
 led and when discontinued ; rightly to estimate 
 the value of a ruff and whether it were better 
 to work for this than to disarm the adversaries: 
 — in a word, so to play round by round and trick 
 by trick, as to secure the best results of which 
 the two hands are capable, calls for a thorough 
 knowledge of the inherent principles of the game, 
 as well as for judgment, adaptability, alertness 
 and tact. 
 
 At the same time it can but be admitted that 
 the dealer enjoys a direct and very manifest 
 advantage over the non-dealers. Not only can 
 he make the trump to suit himself — in itself a 
 consideration of vital importance — ^but from the 
 start he is fully cognizant both of the forces at 
 his command and the force combined against 
 him. Besides, the leader having made a start 
 on his own tack, he often has definite clew re- 
 132 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 garding a third holding. At times, also, in 
 cases, that is, where the leader opens with a 
 commanding card to hold the lead until dum- 
 my's hand is exposed, he has the additional ad- 
 vantage of a second lead with the various hints 
 or suggestions which it often embodies before 
 being compelled definitely to decide upon his 
 own course. 
 
 The moment dummy's cards are upon the table 
 we (as dealer), should take a careful, though 
 hasty, inventory of our stock in trade and de- 
 cide upon our campaign, whether it shall be ag- 
 gressive or the reverse. If the combination be 
 weak and there seem no chance of making game, 
 or even the odd trick, then we should bend our 
 energies upon saving the game, hazarding noth- 
 ing until this end is attained. 
 
 Our first query, naturally upon the adverse 
 lead, is: — What does it indicate, strength or 
 weakness? If the former, how much, and what 
 are the chances that the suit may be brought in? 
 If the latter, what does it portend ? Does it point 
 to a rufif, or is it the effort to reach and strengthen 
 the partner? The particular value of the card 
 133 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 led, our own and dummy's holding, should guide 
 us usually as to the correct solution. 
 
 If a ruff seem imminent, it behooves us at the 
 first opportunity to secure the lead and circum- 
 vent it if possible by one or more rounds of 
 trumps. More often than not in any event the 
 trump lead is advisable, in case, that is, our side 
 holds the majority, seven or more. 
 
 The considerations governing a trump lead 
 from strength in Whist apply in similar cases in 
 Bridge. In no one respect perhaps are the prin- 
 ciples governing Bridge more completely in har- 
 mony with those governing the parent game than 
 in the play and management of trumps. And in 
 Bridge no less than in Whist this involves at 
 times the deepest strategy. 
 
 When, with the majority of trumps, either 
 hand contains a good plain suit established or 
 nearly so, or high or commanding cards in 
 shorter suits, the question as to the expediency 
 of the trump lead admits of no discussion. Lack- 
 ing these elements of plain suit strength, the 
 trump lead is still often desirable (assuming, 
 always, that we hold the majority) both in order 
 
 134 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 to establish the trump suit, and because, neither 
 hand having the ability to ruff, the trumps appar- 
 ently can be used to no better purpose. Occa- 
 sionally, too, a trump should be led because any 
 other lead would, ostensibly, be worse, our plain 
 suits being so constructed as that to open them 
 ourselves would point to loss. 
 
 In the lead of trumps, or of any suit with 
 a view to establishment, care should be taken to 
 lead from the hand which is short in the suit to 
 the one which has length, or from the weak to 
 the strong. A high card from the shorter hand 
 usually insures the best chance of a successful 
 finesse, and, therefore, of winning the greatest 
 number of tricks in the suit of which it is 
 capable. 
 
 When the trumps in the two hands total less 
 than seven, unless at least five are in one hand 
 (and occasionally when this is the case) the wis- 
 dom of the trump lead is doubtful, the majority 
 being adverse, and perhaps five or more in 
 one hand. One of three alternatives usually 
 suggests itself in such a case: to play for a ruff 
 — cross ruff, if possible ; to force the strong ad- 
 135 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 versary; or to work for the establishment of a 
 suit. 
 
 When, though holding the majority of trumps, 
 the trump lead is not specially urgent, it is often 
 well, when otherwise practicable, first to give 
 the weak trump hand a chance to ruff. Every 
 trick so gained adds just so much to the value 
 of our score and is not to be ignored. Care must 
 be taken, however, in the adoption of such a 
 policy, and decidedly it should not be attempted 
 if at the contingent risk of overtrumping. Should 
 the trumps in the two hands aggregate nine, two 
 rounds usually would exhaust the adversaries, 
 when unless the shorter hand originally held two 
 trumps only, the ruff could then be given with- 
 out any contingent risk. Extremely pretty play 
 is involved at times in the effort to give the 
 weaker hand a ruff and at the same time avoid 
 blocking. Blocking in the trump suit does not 
 apply in quite the literal sense as in plain suits, 
 but has reference rather to getting rid of high 
 or commanding cards from the shorter hand in 
 order not to interfere with the continuance of the 
 lead until the adversaries are exhausted. 
 136 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 At " no-trumps " the adverse lead as a rule is 
 from the longest suit, and, if the suit be not 
 already established, with a view to its establish- 
 ment and final bringing in. To defeat this pur- 
 pose and if possible clear and bring in a suit 
 for our side becomes usually the guiding motive 
 of our play. As a means to the first end, if hold- 
 ing the commanding card of the adverse suit, we 
 should generally refuse to part with it until the 
 partner of the holder is exhausted of the suit. 
 This, as has been repeatedly pointed out, would 
 reduce to a minimum the chance of the suit being 
 brought in, making it dependent in fact upon the 
 holder regaining the lead through re-entry of 
 another suit. Should he hold no such re-entry, 
 the suit could not be brought in. Better, in- 
 finitely, that what tricks in the suit must score to 
 the adversaries do so in the start rather than 
 when the suit is established and its trick-taking 
 capacity proportionately greater. 
 
 It may therefore be stated as a rule, one, how- 
 ever, subject to exceptions as noted below, that 
 the commanding card of the adverse suit at 
 " no-trumps " should be held up until such round 
 137 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 as will exhaust the partner of the holder of what 
 cards he holds of the suit. 
 
 Exception one: When our side holds an established 
 suit, and especially when there are enough tricks in 
 sight to insure game. 
 
 Exception two: When we hold two commanding 
 cards, or when, with the command, we hold still an- 
 other card as will eventually be in command. 
 
 Exception three: When we are entirely defenceless 
 in one suit. The adversary, if suspecting this, may shift 
 to this suit and perhaps make game or the odd before 
 another chance offers for our getting in. Better, there- 
 fore, to take the lead and make what is possible in the 
 two remaining suits. 
 
 The choice of suit for establishment should 
 generally rest with the one that is longest in the 
 two hands, and, it goes without saying, we should 
 endeavor to establish it in the hand which is 
 longest. If having to choose between two suits 
 of practically equal value, numerically and other- 
 wise, we should, obviously, select the one which 
 when established would insure the greater num- 
 ber of tricks. A suit, for instance, divided six 
 and three is better than one divided five and 
 four, and one divided five and three than one 
 138 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 four and four. Conditions being equal in this 
 respect, we should select the one in the hand 
 containing re-entries ; should both contain re- 
 ntries, the one shown upon the table, it being 
 a cardinal principle of Bridge that the dealer 
 publish no information which he may as easily 
 withhold. 
 
 Should it develop that a continuance of our 
 suit would but establish it adversely, we should 
 abandon it and adopt the next best expedient. 
 We need not hesitate in regard to continuing the 
 suit adversely led if our side has length in the 
 suit and will ultimately be in command. Care 
 should be used, however, to lead the suit in the 
 most advantageous way possible, or through the 
 strong. 
 
 It is important at all times in the effort at 
 establishment that the lead be made from the cor- 
 rect hand, usually from the one which is short 
 in the suit to the one which has length. The 
 correct lead from the correct hand constitutes 
 in fact one of the great essentials to the suc- 
 cessful play of the two hands. A high card from 
 the shorter suit not only lessens the danger of 
 139 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 blocking, but as a general thing admits of a 
 finesse (if finesse be necessary) from the hand 
 entailing the least risk and therefore insures the 
 best chance of establishing the suit at the smallest 
 cost. At times it is well to defer the effort at 
 establishment until the lead can be correctly 
 placed. 
 
 It is in fact at all times of the first importance 
 that the lead be placed where it is most effective. 
 To throw it first to the one hand, then the other, 
 now here, then there, back and forth, back and 
 forth, as expedient, calls at times for the closest 
 maneuvering. This phase of the dealer's play 
 has been aptly compared to the weaving back 
 and forth of a shuttle. 
 
 It should be borne in mind, however, that an 
 established suit can avail naught unless the 
 holder is in the lead. It is not alone sufiicient, 
 therefore, to establish a suit, but we should care- 
 fully consider the chances of the suit being 
 brought in. Should the hand containing the suit 
 have less than the needed re-entries to this end, 
 or should it be unlikely that the other hand, 
 though perhaps containing re-entries, could put 
 140 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 it in through a card of the suit, we should de- 
 vise means (if at all possible) by which it might 
 regain the lead after the suit is established. 
 
 Building or establishing re-entries which in- 
 volves at times extremely pretty and facile play 
 develops in various forms. At times it can be 
 accomplished through the use of the descha- 
 pelle's coup, which will be explained in the fol- 
 lowing chapter.* At others, in overtaking, that 
 is, taking a trick already partner's, or in winning 
 a trick with a card higher than necessary, when 
 to do so will promote a smaller one held by part- 
 ner. An example will best illustrate: — We as 
 dealer declare " no-trumps." Elder leads fourth 
 best heart. Dummy's hand is as follows: — 
 Queen, jack hearts; king, jack, 8, 7, 5 and 3 
 diamonds; king and small club; and two small 
 spades. We hold ace, king and one small heart ; 
 queen diamonds only; ace and four small clubs; 
 ace and three small spades. As it is most un- 
 likely that diamond ace will be played to the first 
 round, we at once see that in order both to es- 
 tablish and bring in dummy's suit, he, dummy, 
 
 *See page 157 
 141 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 must have two re-entries. As he has but one, 
 king clubs — ^this is sure, as we hold ace — we 
 must build a second one. To this end we over- 
 take dummy's jack hearts with ace hearts, lead 
 diamond queen, which wins the trick, and then 
 small heart, dummy getting in with queen. 
 Dummy then leads king diamonds, which forces 
 ace, later regains the lead with king of clubs, and 
 makes his suit. Ignorant or careless play to the 
 first trick would have lost it. 
 
 We must not run away with the idea that a 
 re-entry card must of necessity be a high card. 
 Any card which enables a player to recover the 
 lead, be its value what it may — ace, king, queen, 
 or even a three spot — is a re-entry card. 
 
 Occasionally it develops that one or more 
 tricks in our own or dummy's suit must be won 
 adversely with card or cards other than com- 
 mand. When this is so, if the hand containing 
 the suit be without the needed re-entries to bring 
 in the suit, or if it is unlikely the other hand could 
 put it in with a card of the suit, the first, and at 
 times the second trick also, should be passed. 
 This is known as ducking. To illustrate: — We 
 142 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 declare "no-trumps." Dummy reveals ace, king 
 and six small clubs ; the rest of his hand is worth- 
 less. We, though well provided with re-entries 
 in other suits, have two small clubs only. Elder 
 leads fourth best diamond. We win with ace and 
 lead small club, to which elder renounces, thus 
 marking pone with queen, jack and lo. No play 
 can prevent one of these cards from winning. 
 It becomes of the first importance, therefore, that 
 it be compelled to win on the first round, while 
 zve still remain with a card of the suit. To this 
 end we play low from dummy, forcing pone's 
 10, on the next round recover the lead, give 
 dummy our remaining club and he makes the 
 suit. Had pone not been forced to win the first 
 round, this would have been impossible. 
 
 Unblocking, which at first thought, the two 
 hands being known, would seem to involve no 
 special skill, nevertheless, as all other plays, calls 
 for forethought and judgment. Not simply high 
 or commanding cards in the shorter hand may 
 block, but intermediate or even small ones may 
 do so, and from the start we should carefully 
 weigh the respective value of the cards of the 
 143 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 suit in the two hands, and endeavor so to play as 
 will effectually obviate any danger in this regard. 
 
 Finesse is one of the most interesting features 
 which the dealer has to handle. As an estab- 
 lished suit at the start is rather the exception than 
 the rule, generally one or more rounds must be 
 played, and often one or more finesses ventured, 
 before this end is attained. Occasionally in order 
 to capture a high adverse card of a suit, the suit 
 must be led twice from the same hand. Such 
 contingency must be provided for if possible by 
 establishing, or at least saving, re-entries, as 
 needed, in this particular hand that the leatl, if 
 lost, may quickly be recovered. 
 
 It will often be found better to finesse on the 
 second round of a suit than the first, there being 
 always a chance that the high adverse card will 
 fall to the first round. In any event the play to 
 the first round will at times guide us as to which 
 hand can the more safely risk the finesse. Dis- 
 cards are at times effective in enabling us to 
 judge as to the hand which may best venture the 
 finesse, we assuming naturally that a player who 
 freely discards from a suit has no protection in 
 144 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 the suit, and that the missing high card or cards 
 are therefore with his partner. 
 
 It is unwise to finesse in a suit containing in 
 the two hands nine cards including both ace and 
 king. The remaining four will usually fall to the 
 two rounds. Neither should we finesse in a suit 
 which contains ten cards, including ace, queen, 
 and jack. Unless one adversary is void entirely 
 of the suit, one of them holds a singleton, as 
 likely to be king as any other card. If queen or 
 jack, or both, are in one hand and ace in the 
 other, queen or jack, as the case may be, should 
 be led towards the ace, but whether or not it be 
 covered by king, ace should be played third in 
 hand in the event, i. e., that second player does 
 not renounce to the suit. In such case the play 
 must be guided by individual judgment. 
 
 If one hand be strong and the other weak, we 
 should so finesse as, if the finesse loses, would 
 enable the strong hand to be fourth player to 
 the next round. 
 
 Second hand play by the dealer is influenced 
 by various considerations: the rank of the card 
 led, and the evident bearing of the lead, the par- 
 145 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ticular cards of the suit in the two hands, where 
 it is most desirable to keep re-entries, where it 
 is better to have the lead, and, to a greater or less 
 extent, by the nature of the declaration, whether 
 "no-trumps" or a trump. 
 
 Even on low card led at a trump declaration 
 when the other hand would be unable to win the 
 trick, it is often well to play ace and lead a trump. 
 This should always be done if the lead points to 
 the probability of a ruff, or if our other hand, 
 being weak in trumps, could ruff the next round. 
 In the latter case, however, we would not lead 
 the trump, but a small card of the suit. 
 
 If able to win the trick in either hand, we 
 should aim to do so in the one least likely to be 
 in need of re-entries, or where it seems most de- 
 sirable to have the lead. If these considerations 
 have no special weight, it is well often to pass in 
 the second hand, that fourth hand may capture 
 what high card of the suit may be with third 
 player, thus often at the same time enabling us to 
 infer as to the particular distribution. 
 
 The rule for the play of the lowest of cards in 
 sequence (save alone when held by the dealer), 
 146 
 
THE DEALER'S PLAY 
 
 should usually be observed; also for covering 
 from a fourchette. We include as cards in se- 
 quence not only those in sequence in our own 
 hand, but such in dummy's hand as form a se- 
 quence with our own. So, also, the two cards 
 composing a fourchette may be divided, one in 
 each hand. 
 
 With king and one low or queen and one low 
 with dummy at "no-trumps" it is usually well to 
 play the higher card — ^the case not being covered 
 by the foregoing — save when our holding in- 
 cludes jack and two others, or ace, lo and an- 
 other, when low should be played. However, 
 with queen and two low with dummy at "no- 
 trumps," and small cards only of the suit with 
 us, it is generally well to risk dummy's queen on 
 the chance that the lead is from both ace and 
 king. With a tenace as ace, queen, etc., with 
 dummy, especially at " no-trumps," low usually 
 should be played. 
 
 The ELEVEN RULE is oftcu effective in enabling 
 us to place the high adverse cards of a suit. An 
 example will best illustrate: — We, as dealer de- 
 clare "no-trumps." Elder leads 6 of spades. 
 147 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 Dummy shows ace, lo, 9 and one small spade. 
 We hold king and two small. By the eleven rule 
 it is evident that but one card higher than the 
 one led (6) is with pone. Dummy plays low, 
 pone puts up jack and we win with king. We 
 then lead small spade. Dummy wins with 9, 
 gives us back the lead with a heart, we lead an- 
 other spade, which dummy wins with 10, and 
 then makes his ace, our side thus scoring four 
 tricks in the suit. Had ace, thoughtlessly, been 
 put up on the second round, this would have 
 been impossible. 
 
 At any time before abandoning the lead from 
 one hand to put in the hand with an established 
 suit, we should first make anything possible in 
 the hand, if, apparently, it would be unable later 
 to recover the lead. Hasty play at this point 
 could easily lose one or more tricks. 
 
 148 
 
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN 
 
 TRUMP MANAGEMENT^ FINESSE AND CRITICAL 
 ENDINGS 
 
 GENERAL REMARKS 
 
 The correct management of trumps furnishes 
 one of the most difficult problems which the 
 player has to handle. Trumps are at all times 
 wonderfully subtle and powerful agencies, and 
 to make the most of a deal it is absolutely essen- 
 tial that we be impressed with this fact; with 
 their intrinsic value, their trick-taking capacity 
 as compared with the plain suits. One's best laid 
 schemes are often thwarted not alone because of 
 the superior trumps held by the adversary, but 
 because of the manner in which he uses and skil- 
 fully adjusts them to the needs of the occasion. 
 
 Various considerations in connection with 
 trump play have already been explained. It re- 
 mains but to consider a few only — space will not 
 149 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 admit of many — of the finer and more delicate 
 points involved. 
 
 As has been repeatedly impressed upon us, 
 judicious forcing is one of the surest defences 
 of a weak hand. If the player refuse the force 
 it should be attempted again and again. Nothing 
 so reduces a player's strength, often compelling 
 him to adopt measures entirely the reverse of 
 those originally intended, as repeated forcing. 
 At the same time the forcing play, as all plays in 
 Bridge, should be tempered with discretion and 
 governed with reason. 
 
 As the primary object of adverse forcing is 
 to so weaken the strong holder as to render him 
 unable to exhaust us of trumps, it follows that if 
 he be so strong that the force can do him no 
 harm, it is useless to give it. So, also, it would be 
 folly to force a player who remains with the long 
 trumps and an established suit. Better rather to 
 make what offers in our own hand before giving 
 up the lead. To attempt to force with a card 
 other than the command often results disas- 
 trously. The partner of the strong hand may 
 take the trick with a suit card and thus not only 
 150 
 
GENERAL REMARKS 
 
 save the force but enable the strong hand to 
 make an effective discard. With many players 
 the aversion to the lead of a commanding card, 
 knowing that it will be trumped, is so deeply 
 rooted that they will adopt almost any line of 
 play in preference. Absolutely the best use to 
 which we can put our long suit, if unable to bring 
 it in, is in forcing and weakening the strong ad- 
 versary, and the sooner this fact impresses itself 
 upon us, the better and more satisfactory our 
 results as a player. If the strong adversary hold 
 originally five trumps and we three, by forcing 
 twice we reduce him to the same level as our- 
 selves, with the result not infrequently that our 
 side brings in a suit rather than his. 
 
 However, to lead a suit of which both oppo- 
 nents are known to be void, trumps not being 
 exhausted, would be unwise. The weaker ad- 
 versary would trump and the stronger perhaps 
 make an effective discard. 
 
 By an inverse process of reasoning, it follows 
 that to force the strong trump hand of our part- 
 ner would be most injudicious. If we infer him 
 to be weak, we should force freely; so, also, if 
 
 151 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 a cross ruff (alternate trumping by partners) 
 may be secured, as a general thing we need not 
 hesitate to force. When opposed to the dealer, 
 partner not having doubled, we should generally 
 force at every opportunity, as our policy, being 
 usually a defensive one, certainly would not lie 
 in keeping our trumps intact until the dealer 
 leads and exhauts them. 
 
 The importance of being in control of trumps 
 the last time they are led cannot be overesti- 
 mated. To this end, if at all possible, we 
 should regulate our play throughout. The player 
 in control at this stage is the player generally 
 who brings in a suit. However, when there is 
 an adverse cross ruff, actual or impending, an 
 immediate trump lead, and of the command, if 
 holding it, is demanded. This, regardless of our 
 holding in trumps. 
 
 When remaining with long trumps and a los- 
 ing card of a plain suit, it is best to lead the 
 trumps. In the various discards the plain suit 
 card may be promoted to command. 
 
 When two trumps only remain in play, the 
 commanding one with the adversary, it, as a rule, 
 153 
 
GENERAL REMARKS 
 
 should be forced with a suit card. However, 
 if we hold the losing trump, and partner an 
 established suit, but no re-entry, we should lead 
 the trump and force the command, if assured of 
 soon regaining the lead, before parting with the 
 last card of partner's suit. When three trumps 
 remain in play, one each in the two partner's 
 hands, and the commanding one adverse, again 
 the command as a rule should be forced with a 
 suit card. We may thus make our two trumps 
 separately. 
 
 When two trumps only remain in play, the 
 losing one adverse, generally the obvious and 
 only right play is to draw it. Cases arise at 
 times, however, where to draw the losing trump 
 would be most injudicious. If our side has an 
 established suit the trump should be drawn as a 
 matter of course. So, also, it should be drawn 
 if in the hand of the opponent who holds an 
 established suit, as, if he holds outside re-entry, 
 or even if his partner holds re-entry, having a 
 card of the suit to lead him, the suit is bound to 
 make. No play can prevent it. If, however, 
 the losing trump is with the partner of the holder 
 153 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 of the suit, and he (the partner) still remains 
 with a card of the suit, — ^this having been shown 
 from previous play — ^the trump should not be 
 drawn, as a matter of course. Our policy rather 
 should be to place the lead adversely, in the hope 
 that another round of the adverse suit would 
 exhaust the partner of the holder of the last card 
 he holds of the suit, and so render him un- 
 able, should he later regain the lead, to put the 
 holder in. This can best be accomplished, as a 
 rule, by another round of our own or partner's 
 suit. 
 
 The inclination to overtrump is natural and 
 as a general thing right and proper. Cases occa- 
 sionally arise, however, where to overtrump 
 would involve the loss of one or more tricks. 
 At the eleventh trick, if we hold best and fourth 
 best trumps to right opponent's second and third 
 best, we should never overtrump third best. To 
 do so would compel us to lead to the next round, 
 and thus endanger the loss of both the two re- 
 maining tricks, whereas, if the lead could be kept 
 with right opponent, as it would if we refused 
 to overtrump, we would make them both. 
 154 
 
GENERAL REMARKS 
 
 Whenever, also at the eleventh trick — at cer- 
 tain critical stages to be in the lead is often to 
 be in an exceedingly doubtful position, one in- 
 volving more loss than gain — we know from 
 previous play that the only remaining trumps 
 are equally divided between partner and our left 
 adversary, we should overtake, that is, take the 
 trick already partner's, if within our power, to 
 give him, partner, the advantage of position or 
 tenace. 
 
 A few further suggestions bearing upon fi- 
 nesse :- — Finesse becomes often a question of the 
 score. No finesse, therefore, should be made 
 bearing upon the trick which, if won, would 
 make or save game. However, we may finesse 
 in the hope of making game if assured that fail- 
 ure will not lose game. 
 
 When finesse if successful would gain but one 
 trick, though failure would lose several, we 
 should not finesse. We should not in any case 
 make a finesse without first considering what 
 would result in case of failure and whether the 
 risk were worth while. While deep finesse in 
 trumps is often allowable, no finesse should be 
 155 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 ventured if there is an adverse ruff, actual or 
 impending. Better rather to take the immediate 
 trick and continue the trump lead. 
 
 Especially at "no-trumps" we should make no 
 finesse which, if successful, would let in the 
 player holding an established suit. 
 
 The OBLIGATORY OR ARBITRARY FINESSE, Ell ex- 
 tremely pretty and effective play is, briefly, as 
 follows: — We remain with second and fourth 
 best cards of a suit. The best of the suit is 
 marked at our left. Location of third best un- 
 known. Upon the suit being returned us by 
 partner, it becomes obligatory upon us — hence 
 the name — to play fourth rather than second 
 best, as if both best and third best are with left 
 opponent, he holds over us, however we play; 
 while if he holds best only, fourth best will force 
 it, and leave us in command. To illustrate: — 
 We originally lead fourth best from queen, lo 
 and two or more small. Partner wins with king 
 and returns small. Ace positively is at our 
 left. Location of jack is unknown. We there- 
 fore play not queen, but lo, knowing that if left 
 opponent holds jack as well as ace, he holds over 
 IS6 
 
GENERAL REMARKS 
 
 us in any event, while if he simply holds ace, 
 fourth best (lo) will force it and leave queen in 
 command. Should we play queen, and jack 
 be with right opponent, jack would be in com- 
 mand. 
 
 When having no card of partner's established 
 suit, often an effective way of providing him 
 with re-entry is through the deschapelles' 
 
 COUP. 
 
 Deschapelles* Coup consists in the lead of 
 king, queen, or jack, as the case may be, from 
 the top of a suit not previously opened, regard- 
 less of any special holding in the suit, in cases 
 where we have no established suit of our own, 
 and no card of partner's suit with which to put 
 him in. Deschapelles' Coup applies both at "no- 
 trumps" and at a trump, when (the conditions 
 being as above described), trumps are either ex- 
 hausted or we hold the only ones remaining. 
 The primary object of the play is at once to force 
 what high card or cards of the suit may be ad- 
 verse, in the hope that a subsequent round will 
 find partner in command. To illustrate: — 
 Dummy holds an established suit but no re-entry. 
 157 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 We (dealers) re-entries, but no established suit, 
 and no card of partner's established suit. Dummy 
 holds queen and two small of a side suit; we 
 king, etc., of the same suit. We, therefore, lead 
 king of this suit in the hope that it will force 
 the adverse ace, and promote dummy's queen. It 
 may be stated that Deschapelles' Coup can usu- 
 ally be defeated by the adversary who holds the 
 ace, more particularly if this be right hand ad- 
 versary, by a refusal to play the ace on the first 
 round. Reasoning from the standpoint that our 
 next lead from the suit will doubtless of necessity 
 be a low card, compelling the high card from the 
 hand containing the established suit, and that if 
 it fall to the ace, he, the player with the suit, 
 will lose perhaps his only chance of re-entry, the 
 adversary holding the ace should generally hold 
 it up on the first round (unless having an estab- 
 lished suit) when the motive of the play is sus- 
 pected. 
 
 Deschapelles' Coup applies equally to the 
 
 dealer and the non-dealer. As non-dealer we of 
 
 course are ignorant as to what partner may hold 
 
 in the particular suit. Still, when our only chance 
 
 158 
 
GENERAL REMARKS 
 
 of enabling partner to bring in an established 
 suit, or of winning or saving game, depends upon 
 his (partner's) holding a certain card or cards, 
 it is right and proper that we assume him to hold 
 them and govern our play accordingly. 
 
 IS9 
 
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN 
 
 BRIDGE FOR THREE PLAYERS 
 
 Three handed Bridge, as played in England, 
 furnishes perhaps the most pleasing, as well as 
 scientific variation of the game proper so far 
 devised. Briefly explained, it is as follows: — 
 
 As when played by four, the players cut for 
 deal, the one cutting lowest securing both the 
 deal and dummy. At the completion of the deal, 
 pone, the player to the dealer's right, moves one 
 seat to the right, (sitting opposite the original 
 dealer), and the player to the original dealer's 
 left becomes dealer and has dummy for the sec- 
 ond deal. This form is observed throughout the 
 rubber, each player in turn securing the deal and 
 dummy, but retaining them for the one hand 
 only. 
 
 When the make is passed, the player at the 
 dealer's right looks at dummy's cards and an- 
 i6o 
 
BRIDGE FOR THREE PLAYERS 
 
 nounces the declaration. It is in accordance with 
 arbitrary rulings. 
 
 With four aces, or three aces, "no-trumps" is 
 declared. Lacking these essentials, the longest 
 suit. Should two suits be of equal length, that 
 one is declared which totals the highest counting 
 by spots, the ace counting as ii, and the king, 
 queen and jack, as lo each. When two suits are 
 equal in this respect, that one is declared which 
 has the higher trick valuation. 
 
 When the make is passed, the elder alone may 
 double. 
 
 On an original make, either adversary may 
 double, but in no case may dummy re-double. 
 
 Individual scores are kept. The system of 
 scoring, with one or two exceptions, is the same 
 as in four-handed Bridge. A player may win 
 game only on his own deal. Therefore, if the 
 non-dealers score the odd trick or tricks, the value 
 of the tricks gained is placed, not in their trick 
 but their honor score. Fifty points are added 
 to the honor score of the player winning game, 
 and an additional fifty to the honor score of the 
 player or players who win the rubber. 
 i6i 
 
THE REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE. 
 
 AS ADOPTED BY 
 
 THE NEW YORK WHIST CLUB 
 
 NEW YORK, DECEMBER, I905 
 ALSO THE 
 
 ETIQUETTE OF THE GAME 
 
 THE RUBBER 
 
 1. The rubber is the best of three games. 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 honors, chicane or slam. 
 
 3. Every deal 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 
 
 162 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 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. Honors are ace, king, queen, knave and 
 ten of the trump suit ; or the aces when no trump 
 is declared. 
 
 6. Honors are credited to the original holder 
 and are valued as follows : 
 
 WHEN A TRUMP IS DECLARED 
 
 3 honors held between partners equal 
 
 value of 2 tricks 
 
 4 honors held between partners equal 
 
 value of 4 ** 
 
 5 honors held between partners equal 
 
 value of 5 " 
 
 4 honors in one hand equal value of. . 8 " 
 
 4 honors held in a hand, 5th in part- 
 
 ner's hand, equal value of 9 " 
 
 5 honors in one hand equal value of.. 10 " 
 
 WHEN NO TRUMP IS DECLARED 
 
 3 aces held between partners count 30 
 
 4 " " " " " 40 
 
 4 aces in one hand count 100 
 
 163 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 7. If a player and his partner make thirteen 
 tricks, independently of any tricks gained by the 
 revoke penalty, they score slam and add forty 
 points to the honor count. 
 
 8. Little slam is twelve tricks similarly made, 
 and adds twenty points to the honor count. 
 
 9. Chicane (one hand void of trumps) is 
 equal in value to simple honors, i. e., if partner 
 of player having chicane score honors he adds 
 the value of three honors to his score, while, if 
 the adversaries score honors, it deducts an equal 
 value from theirs.* 
 
 10. The value of honors, slam, little slam or 
 chicane, is in no wise afifected by doubling or 
 re-doubling. 
 
 11. At the conclusion of a rubber the scores 
 for tricks and honors (including chicane and 
 slam) obtained by each side are added, and one 
 hundred points are added to the score of the win- 
 ners of the rubber. The difference between the 
 
 ♦Double Chicane (both hands void of trumps) is 
 equal in value to four honors, and the value thereof 
 must be deducted from the total honor score of the 
 adversaries. 
 
 164 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 completed scores is the number of points won or 
 lost by the winners of the rubber. 
 
 12. If an erroneous score affecting honors, 
 chicane or slam be proved, such mistake may be 
 corrected at any time before the score of the 
 rubber has been made up and agreed upon. 
 
 13. If an erroneous score affecting tricks be 
 proved, such mistake must be corrected prior to 
 the conclusion of the game in which it has oc- 
 curred, 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 agree- 
 ment between the sides (as to the value of the 
 rubber) shall have been reached. 
 
 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. 
 
 165 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 FORMING TABLES 
 
 17. If there are more than four candidates, 
 the players are selected by cutting, those first in 
 the room having the preference. 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 playing 
 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 part- 
 ners, 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 orig- 
 inal lowest the dealer. 
 
 21. Six players constitute a full table, and 
 
 166 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 no player shall have a right to cut into a game 
 which is complete. 
 
 22. When there are more than six candi- 
 dates, 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 admission be 
 claimed by one or two candidates, the player or 
 players having played a greater number of con- 
 secutive 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 cut a card, either for the purpose of com- 
 mencing a fresh 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 
 
 167 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 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 re- 
 turning 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 con- 
 sent of the other three players, appoint a sub- 
 stitute during his absence ; but such appointment 
 shall become void with the conclusion of the rub- 
 ber, and shall not in any way affect the substi- 
 tute's rights. 
 
 28. If anyone break up a table, the remain- 
 ing 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 
 
 168 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 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 giv- 
 ing 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, must not leave fewer 
 than four cards in either packet ; if in cutting or 
 in replacing one of the two packets a card be ex- 
 posed, 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. 
 
 169 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 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 proved 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 con- 
 clusion of the deal and before looking at their cards. 
 
 g. Should the last card 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. Either 
 adversary may claim a new deal. 
 170 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 b. If either adversary expose a card. The dealer 
 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 either 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 either adversary 
 to decide as to a new deal. But in all other cases such 
 penalties must be claimed prior to the conclusion 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 ex- 
 posed during the deal cannot be called. 
 
 41. Should three players have their right 
 number of cards, the fourth have less than thir- 
 teen, and not discover such deficiency until he 
 has played any of his cards, the deal stands good ; 
 should he have played, he, not being dummy, is 
 answerable for any revoke he may have made as 
 if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. 
 He may search the other pack for it or them. 
 
 42. If, during the play of a hand, a pack be 
 
 171 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 proved incorrect or imperfect, such proof ren- 
 ders only the current deal void, and does not 
 affect any prior score. The dealer must deal 
 again. (Law 38 b.) 
 
 43. Any one dealing out of turn or with the 
 adversaries' cards must be corrected before the 
 play of the first card, otherwise the deal stands 
 good. 
 
 44. A player can neither cut, shuffle nor deal 
 for his partner without the permission of his 
 opponents. 
 
 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 
 declare the trump. 
 
 46. Should the dealer's partner make the 
 trump without receiving permission from the 
 dealer, either adversary may demand: 
 
 1st. That the trump shall stand, or 
 2d. ' That there shall be a new deal, 
 172 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 provided, that no declaration as to doubling has 
 been made. Should the dealer's partner pass the 
 declaration to the dealer, it shall be the right of 
 either adversary to claim a new deal or to com- 
 pel the offending player to declare the trump; 
 provided, that no declaration as to doubling has 
 been made. 
 
 47. The adversaries of the dealer must not 
 consult as to which of the penalties under the 
 foregoing law shall be exacted. 
 
 48. If either of the dealer's adversaries make 
 a 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 al- 
 tered. 
 
 DOUBLING, RE-DOUBLING, 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 adver- 
 saries have the right to double. The eldest hand 
 
 173 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 has the first right. If he does not wish to double, 
 he may ask his partner, "May I lead?" His 
 partner must answer, "Yes," or "I double." 
 
 52. If either of their adversaries elect to 
 double, the dealer and his partner have the right 
 to re-double. The player who has declared the 
 trump shall have the first right. He may say, 
 "I re-double," or "Satisfied." Should he say the 
 latter, his partner may re-double. 
 
 53. If the dealer or his partner elect to re- 
 double, 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 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 de- 
 scribed in paragraphs 52, 53, 55. 
 
 55. Whenever the value of each trick above 
 six exceeds one hundred points there shall be no 
 further doubling in that hand, if any player ob- 
 jects. The first right to continue the re-doubling 
 
 174 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 on behalf of a partnership belonging to that 
 player who has last re-doubled. Should he, how- 
 ever, express himself satisfied, the right to con- 
 tinue the re-doubling passes to his partner. 
 Should any player re-double out of turn, the ad- 
 versary who last doubled shall decide whether or 
 not such double shall stand. If it is decided 
 that the re-double shall stand, the process of 
 re-doubling may continue as described in this 
 and foregoing laws (52 and 53). If a double 
 or re-double 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 either adversary, without consultation, 'to a 
 new deal. 
 
 56. If the eldest hand lead before the doub- 
 ling be completed, his partner may re-double 
 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 
 
 175 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 doubling expresses himself satisfied, the play 
 shall begin. 
 
 58. If the eldest hand lead without asking 
 permission, his partner may only double if the 
 maker of the trump consent. If the right-hand 
 adversary of the dealer say, "May I play?" out 
 of turn, the eldest hand does not thereby lose 
 the right to double. 
 
 59. 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. In 
 this case no penalty can be exacted after the 
 dummy hand or any part of it is on the table, 
 since he (dummy) has accepted the situation. 
 
 60. 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. 
 
 176 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 62. After exposing his cards, the dealer's 
 partner has no part whatever in the game, except 
 that he has the right to ask the dealer if he has 
 none of the suit to which he may have renounced. 
 Until the trump is declared and the dealer's part- 
 ner's hand is exposed on the table, he has all the 
 rights of a player and may call attention to any 
 irregularity of, or to demand equally with the 
 dealer, any penalty from the adversaries. 
 
 63. If he should call attention to any other 
 incident of the play, in consequence of which 
 any penalty might be exacted, the fact of his 
 doing so precludes the dealer exacting such pen- 
 alty. He has the right, however, to correct an 
 erroneous score, and he may, at any time during 
 the play, correct the claim of either adversary to 
 a penalty to which the latter is not entitled. He 
 may also call his partner's attention to the fact 
 that the trick has not been completed. 
 
 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 on the dealer to play 
 or not to play the card suggested. 
 
 177 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 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. When the dealer draws a card from his 
 own hand such card is not considered as played 
 until actually quitted, but should he name or 
 touch a card from the dummy hand, such card is 
 considered as played unless the dealer in touch- 
 ing the card or cards says "I arrange," or words 
 to that effect. 
 
 CARDS EXPOSED BEFORE PLAY 
 
 6y. 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, either adversary, 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 re-double 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 
 178 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 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 adver- 
 saries 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 upwards, or in 
 any way exposed on the table, even though snatched 
 up so quickly that no one can name it. 
 
 3d. Every card so held by a player that any por- 
 tion of its face may be seen by his partner. 
 
 71. A card dropped on the floor or elsewhere 
 below the table is not an exposed card. 
 
 ^2. 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 demanded at any time. 
 
 73. If, without waiting for his partner to 
 play, either of the dealer's adversaries should 
 179 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 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 adver- 
 saries 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. Cards 
 exposed by the dealer are not liable to be called. 
 If the dealer should say "I have the rest," or any 
 other words indicating that the remaining tricks 
 are his, he may be required to place his cards 
 face upward on the table. 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 subse- 
 quently prove false. 
 
 75. If a player who has rendered himself 
 liable to have the highest or lowest of a suit 
 
 180 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 called (Laws 82, 91 and 100) fail to play as di- 
 rected, or if, when called on to lead one suit, lead 
 another, having in his hand one or more cards 
 of the suit demanded (Law 'yd), 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 
 
 'j^. If either of the dealer's adversaries lead 
 out of turn, the dealer may either call the card 
 erroneously led, or may call a suit when it is 
 next the turn of either adversary to lead. 
 
 yy. If the dealer lead out of turn, either 
 from his own hand or from 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 sec- 
 ond, or second and third play to the false lead, 
 their cards may be taken back ; there is no pen- 
 alty against any one except the original offender, 
 181 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 who, if he be one of the dealer's adversaries, may 
 be penalized as provided in Law 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 re- 
 peated 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 fourth hand (not being 
 dummy or dealer) play before the second has 
 played to the trick, the latter may be called upon 
 to play his highest or lowest card of the suit 
 played, or to win or lose the trick. 
 
 83. If any one, not being dummy, omit play- 
 ing to a former trick and such error be not cor- 
 rected until he has played to the next, the ad- 
 versaries 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 con- 
 stitute a revoke therein. 
 
 182 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 84. If any one (except dummy) play two 
 cards to the same trick and the mistake be not 
 corrected, 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. Should a player (other than dummy) 
 holding one or more cards of the suit led, play 
 a card of a different suit, he revokes. The pen- 
 alty for a revoke takes precedence of all other 
 counts. 
 
 86. Three tricks taken from the revoking 
 player and added to those of the adversaries 
 shall be the penalty for a revoke. 
 
 87. The penalty is applicable only to the 
 score of the game in which it occurs. 
 
 183 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 88. Under no circumstances can the revok- 
 ing side score game, slam or little slam, that 
 hand. Whatever their previous score may have 
 been, the side revoking cannot attain a higher 
 score toward game than twenty-eight. 
 
 89. 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, lead or 
 play to the following trick. 
 
 90. A player may ask his partner if he has 
 no card of the suit which he has renounced; 
 should the question be asked before the trick is 
 turned and quitted, subsequent turning and quit- 
 ting 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 sub- 
 
 184 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 stitute 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 
 ofifender to play his highest or lowest card of the 
 suit to the trick in which he has renounced; 
 but this penalty cannot be exacted from the 
 dealer. 
 
 92. 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 ex- 
 amined by the adversaries. 
 
 93. A revoke must be claimed before the 
 cards have been cut for the following deal. 
 
 94. Should the players on both sides subject 
 themselves to the revoke penalty, neither can win 
 the game by that hand. 
 
 95. The revoke penalty may be claimed for 
 as many revokes as occur during a hand ; but in 
 
 185 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 no event can more than thirteen tricks be scored 
 in any one hand. (See Law 7.) 
 
 GENERAL RULES 
 
 96. There should not be any consultation be- 
 tween partners as to the enforcement of penal- 
 ties. If they do so consult, the penalty is paid. 
 
 97. Once a trick is complete, turned, and 
 quitted, it must not be looked at (except under 
 Law 84), until the end of the hand. 
 
 98. 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. 
 
 99. 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. 
 
 100. Should either of the dealer's adver- 
 
 186 
 
REVISED LAWS OF BRIDGE 
 
 saries, during the play of a hand, make any un- 
 authorized reference to any incident of the play, 
 or should he call his partner's attention to the 
 fact that he is about to play or lead out of turn, 
 the dealer may call a suit from the adversary 
 whose turn it is next to lead. 
 
 loi. In all cases v/here a penalty has been 
 incurred, the offender is bound to give reason- 
 able time for the decision of his adversaries ; but 
 if a wrong penalty be demanded, none can be 
 enforced. 
 
 102. Where the dealer or his partner has in- 
 curred a penalty, one of his adversaries may say 
 " Partner, will you exact the penalty, or shall I ? " 
 But whether this is said or not, if either adver- 
 sary name the penalty, his decision is final. 
 
 NEW CARDS 
 
 103. 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 
 
 187 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 of the new cards. If it is the beginning of a 
 new rubber, the dealer, whether he or one of his 
 adversaries be the party caUing for the new 
 cards, shall have the choice. New cards must 
 be called for before the pack be cut for a new 
 deal. 
 
 104. A card or cards torn or marked must 
 be replaced by agreement or new cards fur- 
 nished. 
 
 BYSTANDERS 
 
 105. 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 at- 
 tention 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. 
 
 188 
 
ETIQUETTE OF BRIDGE 
 
 There is perhaps no game in which slight in- 
 timations can convey so much information as at 
 Bridge. There is no way of punishing the in- 
 fractors of the following rules, save by refusing 
 to play with them. A code is compiled for the 
 purpose of succinctly stating laws and for the 
 purpose of meting out proportionate punishment 
 to the offenders. To offend against one of the 
 rules of etiquette is far more serious than to 
 offend against any law in the code; for, while 
 in the latter case the offender is sure of punish- 
 ment, in the former the offended parties have no 
 redress other than refusal to continue to play 
 with the offender. 
 
 RULE 
 
 Rule i. Declarations should be made in a 
 simple manner, thus: "Hearts," "No-trump," or 
 when passing the option, " Make it, partner." 
 
 2. There should be no undue hesitancy in 
 189 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 passing to partner, as such hesitation might in- 
 fluence the make. 
 
 3. As the score should always be left on the 
 table, it is presumed that every player knows its 
 state; therefore, after the cards are dealt, the 
 dealer in passing the declaration should not say 
 anything to his partner concerning the state of 
 the game. Nor should either of the dealer's ad- 
 versaries say anything regarding the score. 
 
 4. A player who has the right to double, if 
 he intend passing the option to his partner^ 
 should not indicate any doubt or perplexity in 
 regard to exercising such right. 
 
 5. No player should give any indication by 
 word or gesture as to the nature of his hand, or 
 as to his pleasure or displeasure at a certain 
 play. 
 
 6. If a player demand that the cards be 
 placed, he should do so for his own information 
 and not in order to call his partner's attention 
 to any card or play. 
 
 7. No player, other than the dealer, should 
 lead until the preceding trick is turned and quit- 
 ted, nor after having led a winning card should 
 
 190 
 
ETIQUETTE OF BRIDGE 
 
 he draw another from his hand before his part- 
 ner has played to the current trick. 
 
 8. No player should play a card with such 
 emphasis as to draw particular attention to it. 
 Nor should he detach one card from his hand 
 and subsequently play another. 
 
 9. It is unfair to revoke purposely; having 
 made a revoke, a player is not justified in making 
 a second to conceal the first. 
 
 10. Players should avoid discussion and re- 
 frain from talking during the play, as it may be 
 annoying to players at the table or perhaps to 
 those at other tables in the room. 
 
 11. A player having been cut out of one 
 table should not seek admission into another 
 table unless willing to cut for the privilege of 
 entry ; this, of course, does not apply to a person 
 who has come from a table which has been 
 broken up. 
 
 12. The dealer's partner should not look over 
 either adversary's hand nor leave his seat for the 
 purpose of watching his partner's play. Neither 
 should he call attention to the score nor to any 
 card or cards that he or the other players hold. 
 
 191 
 
DECISIONS BY THE CARD COMMITTEE 
 
 SPADE CONVENTION 
 
 1. 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. 
 
 2. 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. 
 
 3. Should the third hand player double be- 
 fore 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. 
 
 LOOKING AT LAST TRICK 
 
 The dealer in the course of the play claims the 
 right to see the last trick, which has been turned 
 192 
 
CARD COMMITTEE DECISIONS 
 
 and quitted, in order to establish his claim that 
 it is a lead out of turn. Eldest hand objects, 
 quoting Rule 98. 
 
 DECISION 
 
 The dealer may look at the trick. An errone- 
 ous claim has been made by one side and, for 
 the protection of the players not in fault, the 
 trick may be seen. 
 
 LEADS OUT OF TURN 
 
 The dealer leads from the dummy and each 
 player follows suit, the trick being won by the 
 dealer. Before the cards are gathered the dealer 
 plays another card from dummy to the four al- 
 ready on the table and proceeds to gather in the 
 five cards. The eldest hand claims that the dealer 
 has led out of turn. The dealer states that he 
 believed he had not played to the trick from 
 dummy and therefore played the card. 
 
 DECISION 
 
 The dealer has not led out of turn. His word 
 must be taken as correctly representing the fact 
 
 193 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 that he played a second time to one trick. (Com- 
 pare Drayton Whist Decisions, Case 26; Caven- 
 dish, Case II.) 
 
 LAW 66 
 If the dealer touch more than one card at the 
 same time in the dummy hand, he may play 
 which one he chooses. 
 
 194 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 The following hands, which have occurred in 
 actual play, will perhaps serve the more fully 
 to impress the student with the importance of 
 correct and sound play. Their careful perusal 
 will, it is hoped, prove both pleasurable and 
 profitable. 
 
 To receive the full benefit, the cards in each 
 case should be properly dealt and the various 
 plays carefully noted and observed. In each 
 hand Z represents the dealer, A the leader, Y 
 dummy, and B pone. 
 
 HAND NO. I 
 
 Leading from longest suit and shifting the 
 lead. 
 
 Score: YZ 6; AB 12. 
 
 Z the dealer declares " no trumps," 
 
 Trick 2 : To all appearances both clubs and 
 spades are fully established, Z, however, leads 
 195 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 spades rather than clubs, as it is the longer suit. 
 Dummy puts up king as no finesse is ventured 
 when the two hands contain as many as nine 
 cards of a suit including both ace and king. 
 (See page 144.) 
 
 Trick 3: B having no spades, guarded queen 
 IS with A. The dealer, therefore, regains the 
 lead with club ace, and at trick 4 continues the 
 spade through the queen. Note the difference 
 had Z exhausted clubs before leading spades. 
 
 YZ make a grand slam. 
 
 196 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 
 S— / 
 
 VND NO. 
 
 1 
 1,3 
 
 
 
 
 ^, K, 10, 8, ^ 
 
 
 
 C— ( 
 
 :i, 10, 9, 7, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 D— 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H— - 
 
 4,3 
 
 S- 
 
 
 
 S-Q, 9, 7 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C-6,5 
 
 
 A B 
 
 C- 
 
 -J,2 
 
 
 D— 10, 6, 5 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, Q, 9, 
 
 8,4,3,2 
 
 H-Q, J, 8, 
 
 5.2 
 
 S-J 
 C— i 
 
 Z 
 
 H- 
 
 -K, 10, 7, 
 
 6 
 
 
 ,6,5,2 
 ^, K, 8, 4 
 
 
 
 D~. 
 
 ^J,7 
 
 
 
 
 
 H— . 
 
 A, 9 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 5 h 
 
 7 s 
 
 3 h 
 K s 
 
 
 K h 
 
 2 d 
 
 A h 
 2 s 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 "5 
 
 6 
 
 5 c 
 9 s 
 Qs 
 
 6 c 
 
 3 c 
 3 s 
 A s 
 10 s 
 
 
 2 c 
 
 3 d 
 6 h 
 Jc 
 
 A c 
 
 5 s 
 
 6 s 
 
 7 
 
 5 d 
 
 8 s 
 
 
 7 h 
 
 9 h 
 
 8 
 9 
 
 6 d 
 10 d 
 
 4 s 
 7c 
 
 
 4 d 
 8 d 
 
 7 d 
 K c 
 
 10 
 
 2 h 
 
 4 h 
 
 
 9 d 
 
 A d 
 
 11 
 
 8 h 
 
 9 c 
 
 
 10 h 
 
 4 c 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 J h 
 Qh 
 
 10 c 
 Qc 
 
 
 Qd 
 K d 
 
 8 c 
 Jd 
 
 197 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 2 
 
 Trumping with higher trump than necessary 
 to put partner in with lower one for his es- 
 tablished diamonds. 
 
 Score: YZ 12; AB o. 
 
 Z declares hearts. 
 
 Trick 7; Up to this point the play is quite 
 conventional. If at this trick the dealer makes 
 the mistake of trumping with his lowest trump, 
 he renders himself unable to put dummy in and 
 diamonds fail to make. He must trump with 
 the seven and lead the three. 
 
 YZ win four odds. 
 
 198 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 2 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 —5, 4, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 -8, 4, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D-Q, J, 10, < 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 Q,L 
 
 10,9 
 
 I 
 
 I-A, 5, 4 
 
 S- 
 
 -7 
 
 
 S— K, 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C-J, 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 A B 
 
 c 
 
 -A, K, 
 
 Q, 9, 6, 5 
 
 D-9, 
 
 4,3, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 D 
 
 -A, 8, 
 
 7,5 
 
 H-J, 
 
 6 
 
 
 S 
 
 Z 
 
 H 
 
 -Q, 9 
 
 
 
 -A, 8, 6, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 :-7,3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 )~K 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 I— K, 10, 8, 
 
 7,. 
 
 5,2 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 
 K s 
 
 
 2 s 
 
 
 7s 
 
 A s 
 
 2 
 
 
 6 h 
 
 
 Ah 
 
 
 9h 
 
 2 h 
 
 3 
 
 
 Jh 
 
 
 5 h 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 Kh 
 
 4 
 
 
 2 d 
 
 
 6 d 
 
 
 Ad 
 
 Kd 
 
 5 
 
 
 10 c 
 
 
 2 c 
 
 
 Kc 
 
 3 c 
 
 6 
 
 
 Jc 
 
 
 4 c 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 7 c 
 
 7 
 
 
 3 d 
 
 
 8 c 
 
 
 Ac 
 
 7 h 
 
 8 
 
 
 4 d 
 
 
 4 h 
 
 
 5 c 
 
 3 h 
 
 9 
 
 
 9d 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 
 5 d 
 
 3 s 
 
 10 
 
 
 9 s 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 
 7 d 
 
 6 s 
 
 n 
 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 8 d 
 
 8 s 
 
 12 
 
 
 J s 
 
 
 4 s 
 
 
 6 c 
 
 8 h 
 
 13 
 
 
 Qs 
 
 
 5 s 
 199 
 
 
 9 c 
 
 10 h 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 3 
 
 Inviting a ruff. Leading through. 
 
 Score: YZ i8; AB 12. 
 
 Z declares hearts. 
 
 Tricks I and 2 : A leads ace, then king clubs, 
 inviting a ruff. (Page y^i-) 
 
 Trick 3 : A leads through guarded king in 
 dummy's hand. 
 
 Trick 4: B returns a club that A may ruff 
 and continue diamond lead through king. 
 
 Trick 7: B leads another club hoping that A 
 may overtrump the dealer. 
 
 YZ win one odd. 
 
 200 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 3 
 
 
 
 S- 
 
 -Q, J. 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 ( 
 
 C- 
 
 -Q, 10, 5, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, 5, 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 H- 
 
 -8, 7, 2 
 
 S- 
 
 -9, 8, 3 
 
 
 S-7, 6, 5, 4, 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C— A, K 
 
 
 A R 
 
 c- 
 
 -9, 8, 7, 6 
 
 
 D— 10, 9, 6 
 
 
 y-. r^ 
 
 A. A^ 
 
 D- 
 
 -A, Q, J 
 
 
 H-9, 4, 3 
 
 
 
 z 
 
 H- 
 
 -J, 6, 5 
 
 
 
 s- 
 
 -A, K 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 -J, 4, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -8, 7, 3, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, K, Q 
 
 ,10 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Ac 
 
 
 2c 
 
 
 6c 
 
 3c 
 
 2 
 
 Kc 
 
 
 5c 
 
 
 7c 
 
 4c 
 
 3 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 4d 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 2d 
 
 4 
 
 3h 
 
 
 10 c 
 
 
 8c 
 
 Jc 
 
 5 
 
 9d 
 
 
 5d 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 3d 
 
 6 
 
 6d 
 
 
 Kd 
 
 
 Ad 
 
 7d 
 
 7 
 
 2s 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 
 9c 
 
 10 h 
 
 8 
 
 4h 
 
 
 2h 
 
 
 5h 
 
 Ah 
 
 9 
 
 9h 
 
 
 7h 
 
 
 6h 
 
 Kh 
 
 10 
 
 4s 
 
 
 8h 
 
 
 Jh 
 
 Qh 
 
 11 
 
 5s 
 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 3s 
 
 8d 
 
 12 
 
 6s 
 
 
 Js 
 
 
 8s 
 
 As 
 
 13 
 
 7s 
 
 
 Qs 
 
 201 
 
 
 9s 
 
 Ks 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 4 
 
 Unblocking. 
 
 Rubber game. Score: Love all. Z declares 
 " no trumps." 
 
 A leads king clubs proclaiming exceptional 
 strength in the suit. B, holding three clubs in- 
 cluding an honor, plays middle card to first 
 round, and best to second, thus enabling A to 
 retain the lead and bring in his clubs. (See 
 page no.) Note difference in result if B plays 
 smallest card to first round. 
 
 YZ lose one odd trick. 
 
 202 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO, 4 
 
 
 
 S— 8, -1 
 
 ,6 
 
 '. 
 
 
 
 
 C- 
 
 -3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, 
 
 Q, 10, 8, 
 
 7,4 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -Q, 
 
 8,3 
 
 S-Q, J, 
 
 
 S— 3 
 
 
 Y 
 
 10, 9, 7 
 
 C-A, 
 
 K, 8, 
 
 7,6,5,4 
 
 A 
 
 R 
 
 C-J, 9, 
 
 2 
 
 D— 6, 
 
 5,2 
 
 
 
 x> 
 
 D-J 
 
 
 H— 10, 
 
 7 
 
 S— 
 
 
 z 
 
 H-J, 9, 
 
 4,2 
 
 
 A, 
 
 K,5,2 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 -Q, 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -A, 
 
 9,3 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, 
 
 K,6,5 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 fi 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 
 K c 
 
 
 3c 
 
 9c 
 
 10 c 
 
 2 
 
 
 Ac 
 
 
 4s 
 
 Jc 
 
 Qc 
 
 3 
 
 
 8c 
 
 
 6s 
 
 2c 
 
 3d 
 
 4 
 
 
 7c 
 
 
 8s 
 
 7s 
 
 2s 
 
 5 
 
 
 6c 
 
 
 3h 
 
 Jd 
 
 5s 
 
 6 
 
 
 5c 
 
 
 4d 
 
 2k 
 
 5h 
 
 7 
 
 
 4c 
 
 
 7d 
 
 4h 
 
 6h 
 
 8 
 
 
 3s 
 
 
 8d 
 
 9s 
 
 As 
 
 9 
 
 
 2d 
 
 
 10 d 
 
 10 s 
 
 Ks 
 
 10 
 
 
 7h 
 
 
 8h 
 
 9h 
 
 Ah 
 
 11 
 
 
 10 h 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 Jh 
 
 Kh 
 
 12 
 
 
 5d 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 Js 
 
 Ad 
 
 13 
 
 
 6d 
 
 
 Kd 
 
 Qs 
 
 9d 
 
 203 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 5 
 
 Making an entry card. 
 
 Score : Love all. Z declares " no trumps." 
 
 Trick I : As Z will be unable to put dummy 
 in with a spade, unless the spade suit becomes 
 established in two rounds, dummy, it is evident, 
 will need an entry besides king hearts. Z, there- 
 fore, overtakes dummy's queen ' diamonds with 
 ace diamonds, making an entry of king. (See 
 page 140.) 
 
 Trick 4: Z puts dummy in with king hearts. 
 
 Trick 5 : Dummy leads for queen spades. 
 
 Trick 6: Z recovers lead with ace clubs, at 
 trick 7 puts dummy in with king diamonds and 
 brings in the spades. 
 
 Trick 1 1 : The game is won, and Z in the 
 hope of making a little slam, finesses ten hearts, 
 though finesse is against player with long 
 diamonds. 
 
 YZ make little slam. 
 
 204 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 5 
 
 
 
 
 S— J, 9, 6, 5, 3, 
 C— 8, 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -K 
 
 7,4 
 
 S- 
 
 -Q,7, 
 
 4 
 
 
 S— 10, 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C-K, 
 D-J, 
 
 10 
 9,8, 
 
 7, 5,3 
 
 
 A 
 
 B 
 
 c- 
 
 D- 
 
 -Q,J, 
 
 -10,6 
 
 6, 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 H-6, 
 
 5.2 
 
 
 S— 
 
 
 Z 
 
 H- 
 
 ~Q, 9, 
 
 8, 
 
 
 
 A, 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 A, 
 
 9,7,5,4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -A, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, 
 
 J, 10, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 
 7d 
 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 
 4d 
 
 
 Ad 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 
 8s 
 10 s 
 
 
 
 2s 
 3s 
 
 
 4s 
 7s 
 
 
 As 
 Ks 
 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 
 2h 
 5h 
 10 c 
 3d 
 6h 
 
 
 
 Kh 
 5s 
 2c 
 K d 
 Js 
 
 
 8h 
 Qs 
 3c 
 6d 
 6c 
 
 
 3h 
 4c 
 Ac 
 
 2d 
 5c 
 
 9 
 10 
 
 
 5d 
 8d 
 
 
 
 9s 
 6s 
 
 
 Jc 
 Qc 
 
 
 7c 
 9c 
 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 
 
 9d 
 Jd 
 Kc 
 
 
 
 7h 
 4h 
 8c 
 205 
 
 
 9h 
 
 Qh 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 10 h 
 Ah 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 6 
 
 Giving weak hand a ruff and trumping with 
 high trump to avoid blocking the trump suit. 
 
 First game. Score : YZ 12. AB o. Z passes. 
 Y declares diamonds. 
 
 Trick I : Dummy takes king hearts with ace 
 and leads small heart for dealer to ruff. (Page 
 
 136.) 
 
 Trick 4: High diamonds in the two hands 
 are of the same value. The dealer, therefore, 
 trumps with ace rather than queen, in order not 
 to block the trump suit. Correct play gains 
 two tricks. 
 
 YZ make grand slam. 
 
 ao6 
 

 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 HANDS 
 
 
 
 
 
 HAND NO. 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S-Q, 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C- 
 
 5, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K 
 
 J, 10, 5, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 8,2 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, 
 
 6.3,2 
 
 S- 
 
 -J, 9, 7 
 
 
 S— 10, 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C— 10, 
 
 9,3 
 
 
 
 A R 
 
 c- 
 
 -A, K, Q, J 
 
 
 D-9, 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -8, 7, 4 
 
 
 H— K, 
 
 Q, 9, 
 
 7,6 
 
 S— 
 
 
 Z 
 
 
 -J, 10, 4 
 
 
 
 A, 
 
 K, 6, 5, ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 -8, 
 
 7,6,4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -A 
 
 .Q, 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -8 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 
 Kh 
 
 
 
 Ah 
 
 
 4h 
 
 8h 
 
 2 
 
 
 5h 
 
 
 
 2h 
 
 
 10 h 
 
 6d 
 
 3 
 
 
 2s 
 
 
 
 Qs 
 
 
 7 s 
 
 4s 
 
 4 
 
 
 7h 
 
 
 
 3h 
 
 
 Jh 
 
 Ad 
 
 5 
 
 
 3d 
 
 
 
 Kd 
 
 
 4d 
 
 Qd 
 
 6 
 
 
 9d 
 
 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 7d 
 
 4c 
 
 7 
 
 
 3c 
 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 
 8d 
 
 6c 
 
 8 
 
 
 8s 
 
 
 
 Ys 
 
 
 9s 
 
 Ks 
 
 9 
 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 
 2c 
 
 
 Js 
 
 As 
 
 10 
 
 
 9h 
 
 
 
 5c 
 
 
 Jc 
 
 6s 
 
 11 
 
 
 9c 
 
 
 
 6h 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 5s 
 
 12 
 
 
 10 c 
 
 
 
 2d 
 
 
 Kc 
 
 8c 
 
 13 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 
 5d 
 
 
 Ac 
 
 7c 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 207 
 
 
 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 7 
 
 Finessing. 
 
 Score: YZ 12; AB o. Z passes. Y declares 
 clubs. 
 
 Trick 2: Z takes the trick in his own hand 
 rather than dummy's, both in order to kill what 
 high card of the suit may be with B, and that he 
 may lead the jack of clubs from his own hand 
 towards the ace, queen in dummy's. If king 
 clubs is with A, it may thus be killed. If with 
 B, no play will prevent its making unless it 
 happens to be a singleton. (See page 139.) 
 (A's better play would be king of clubs. This 
 would force the ace, and, in the event of 10 being 
 with B twice guarded, eventually make it good.) 
 
 Trick 7: Y with spades king, ten, etc., in his 
 own hand, and ace, jack, etc., with the dealer, 
 leads ten towards the ace and passes. Had 
 there been nine cards of the suit in the two 
 hands, the finesse would not be advisable. 
 
 YZ little slam. 
 
 208 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 S— 
 
 A> 
 K, 
 
 JD NO 
 
 7 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 10, 9. 6, 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 ■A, 
 
 Q, 6, 3, : 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -Q, 
 
 5,2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 
 — 
 
 S- 
 
 -Q, 7, 5 
 
 
 S— 8, 3 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C— K, 7, 4 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 B 
 
 c- 
 
 -9,8 
 
 
 D— A, 10, 9, 
 
 7,4 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -J, 8 
 
 
 H-9, 5, 2 
 
 
 S— 
 
 
 Z 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, K, 
 
 Q, J, 4, 3 
 
 
 A, 
 
 L2 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 J. 
 
 10,5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, 
 
 6,3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -10 
 
 8,7,6 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 Ad 
 
 
 
 2d 
 
 
 8d 
 
 3d 
 
 2 
 
 7d 
 
 
 
 5d 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 K d 
 
 3 
 
 4c 
 
 
 
 2c 
 
 
 8c 
 
 Jc 
 
 4 
 
 7c 
 
 
 
 3c 
 
 
 9c 
 
 10 c 
 
 5 
 
 Kc 
 
 
 
 Ac 
 
 
 3h 
 
 5c 
 
 6 
 
 4d 
 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 
 4h 
 
 6d 
 
 7 
 
 3s 
 
 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 5 s 
 
 2s 
 
 8 
 
 8s 
 
 
 
 4s 
 
 
 7s 
 
 Js 
 
 9 
 
 2h 
 
 
 
 6s 
 
 
 Qs 
 
 As 
 
 10 
 
 5h 
 
 
 
 6c 
 
 
 Jh 
 
 6h 
 
 11 
 
 9d 
 
 
 
 9s 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 7h 
 
 12 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 
 Ks 
 
 
 Kh 
 
 8h 
 
 13 
 
 9h 
 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 
 Ah 
 
 10 h 
 
 209 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 8 
 
 Eleven rule. 
 
 Rubber game. Score: Love all. Z declares 
 "no trumps." 
 
 Trick I : Applying the Eleven Rule, Z reads 
 five cards higher than the six out against the 
 leader. Z has one of them, dummy three, and 
 one, therefore, must be with B. Z takes the 
 trick in his own hand, both in order to capture 
 B's high card, and that he may continue the 
 lead through the strong. 
 
 Trick 2: A is unfortunately placed. What- 
 ever he plays dummy holds directly over him. 
 All the high spades remaining, being distributed 
 between A and Y, Y takes second trick with 
 eight of spades. 
 
 Trick 3 : The dealer throws the lead again in 
 his own hand that at trick 4 he may lead 
 another round of spades through the strong. Y 
 takes the trick with ten spades, and at trick 5 
 leads ace. YZ make every spade count. The 
 rest of the play is simple. 
 
 YZ grand slam. 
 
 210 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 8 
 
 
 
 S— A, 10, 8, 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C- 
 
 -10, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -A, 9, 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, 9, 6, 3 
 
 S- 
 
 -Q 
 
 
 
 S-J, % 7, 6, 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C-K, 9, 7 
 D-J, 8, 4 
 
 
 
 A B 
 
 c- 
 
 D- 
 
 -Q,J, 
 
 -10, 6, 
 
 8, 6, 4, 2 
 
 2 
 
 H— 8, 2 
 
 
 S— 
 
 Z 
 
 H- 
 
 -J, 10, 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 K,5,2 
 
 
 
 
 C- 
 
 -A, 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, Q, 7, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -K, Q, 5, 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 
 6s 
 3s 
 4d 
 7s 
 
 
 4s 
 
 8s 
 
 5d 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 Qs 
 
 2c 
 2d 
 6d 
 
 
 Ks 
 
 5 s 
 Kd 
 2 s 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 9s 
 8d 
 Jd 
 
 
 As 
 Ad 
 9d 
 
 
 10 d 
 4c 
 7h 
 
 
 5c 
 3d 
 Qd 
 
 8 
 9 
 
 2h 
 
 7c 
 
 
 3c 
 10 c 
 
 
 6c 
 
 8c 
 
 
 7d 
 Ac 
 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 
 8h 
 9c 
 Js 
 Kc 
 
 
 Ah 
 3h 
 6h 
 9h 
 
 
 10 h 
 
 Jc 
 Qc 
 
 
 4h 
 Qh 
 K h 
 5h 
 
 211 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 9 
 
 Echo, or calling for a ruff. 
 
 Score: YZ i8; AB 6. Z declares diamonds. 
 
 Tricks i and 2: B, having but two hearts, 
 makes the echo, that is, plays first the higher 
 and then the lower, indicating that he can 
 trump the third round. (See page iii.) But 
 for this play A would be unwise to lead a third 
 round of hearts with heart command and an es- 
 tablished suit in the exposed hand. The dealer 
 undoubtedly would at once lead trumps and 
 bring in the suit. 
 
 Trick 4 : B leads up to weakness in dummy. 
 
 Trick 7: A leads a fourth round of hearts, 
 hoping B can overtrump dummy. 
 
 YZ lose the odd trick. 
 
 212 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 9 
 
 
 S— 
 C- 
 D- 
 H- 
 
 9,5,4 
 -A, K, Q, 10 
 -7,2 
 -Q, J, 10 
 
 ,9 
 
 S-A, Q, J, 6 
 C— 8, 2 
 D-9, 8, 5 
 H— A, K, 5, 4 
 
 Y 
 
 A B 
 
 Z 
 
 S— 10, 8, 7 
 C-7, 6, 5, 4, 3 
 D-J, 6, 4 
 H— 7, 6 
 
 Trick 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 
 A 
 
 Ah 
 Kh 
 4h 
 6s 
 
 As 
 5h 
 2c 
 5d 
 8d 
 9d 
 8c 
 Qs 
 
 S— K, 3, 2 
 
 C-J 
 
 D-A, K, Q, 
 
 H— 9, 8, 3, 2 
 Y 
 10 h 
 Jh 
 Qh 
 4s 
 5s 
 9s 
 7d 
 9c 
 2d 
 10 c 
 Qc 
 Kc 
 Ac 
 213 
 
 10,3 
 
 B 
 
 7h 
 
 6h 
 
 4d 
 
 10 s 
 
 8s 
 
 7s 
 
 Jd 
 3c 
 6d 
 4c 
 5c 
 6c 
 7c 
 
 Z 
 
 2h 
 
 3h 
 
 8h 
 
 2s 
 
 3s 
 
 Ks 
 
 9h 
 
 i£- 
 
 A d 
 
 Kd 
 
 Qd 
 
 10 d 
 
 3d 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 10 
 
 Taking out dummy's re-entry, and holding up 
 command of adverse suit. 
 
 Rubber game. Score: YZ 6; AB 24. Z de- 
 clares " no trumps." 
 
 Trick 2 : It is the usual rule at " no trimips " 
 at once to return partner's suit unless having an 
 established suit of your own. However, when 
 dummy holds a long though unestablished suit 
 and a singleton ace (his only outside re-entry), 
 it is often well at once to deprive him of re- 
 entry. In this case B's play is especially good 
 as he holds the command of dummy's suit twice 
 guarded. B's play saves the game and rubber. 
 
 Dealer wins the odd trick. 
 
 214 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 10 
 
 
 
 S— f 
 
 , 
 
 4,3,2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c— 
 
 K, Q, 10, 9, 
 
 5,3 
 
 
 
 
 
 D— 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10,9, 
 
 H- 
 
 7 
 
 6, 
 
 5 
 
 S~Q,6 
 
 
 
 S— K, 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C— 7 
 
 
 
 A R 
 
 C-A, 6, 
 
 4 
 
 
 D-Q, 
 
 6,2 
 
 
 
 
 D— 10, 8, 
 
 7, 
 
 5,4 
 
 H-Q, 
 
 10,8 
 
 ,7,3 
 
 S—2 
 
 
 Z 
 
 H-A, 9, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 ^, 
 
 J>8 
 
 
 
 
 C— 
 
 J, 
 
 8,2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D— 
 
 K 
 
 , J, 9, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H— 
 
 K 
 
 ,L4 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 B 
 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 
 7 h 
 
 
 5 h 
 
 A h 
 
 
 4h 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 d 
 
 
 A d 
 
 5d 
 
 
 3 d 
 
 3 
 
 
 7 c 
 
 
 3 c 
 
 4 c 
 
 
 Jc 
 
 4 
 
 
 7 s 
 
 
 5 c 
 
 6 c 
 
 
 8 c 
 
 5 
 
 
 9 s 
 
 
 9 c 
 
 A c 
 
 
 2 c 
 
 6 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 
 6 h 
 
 9 h 
 
 
 Jh 
 
 7 
 
 
 10 h 
 
 
 2 s 
 
 2 h 
 
 
 K h 
 
 8 
 
 
 6 d 
 
 
 3 s 
 
 4 d 
 
 
 K d 
 
 9 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 
 4 s 
 
 7 d 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 10 
 
 
 8h 
 
 
 5 s 
 
 6 s 
 
 
 8 s 
 
 11 
 
 
 3 h 
 
 
 10 c 
 
 Qs 
 
 
 9 d 
 
 12 
 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 8 d 
 
 
 Js 
 
 13 
 
 
 K s 
 
 
 K c 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 As 
 
 215 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. II 
 
 Deschapelles' Coup. 
 
 Score : Love all. Z declares " no trumps." 
 
 Trick 4 : Z, having no club with which to put 
 dummy in, leads king spades, essaying Descha- 
 pelles' Coup. (Page 157.) B refuses to put up 
 ace. 
 
 Trick 5: Z continues spade suit. He cannot 
 afford, however, to give up dummy's queen. 
 The only hope depends upon spade ace falling 
 to this round. As B played jack spades to the 
 first round there is almost a certainty that it will. 
 
 Trick 6: Z recovers lead with king hearts, at 
 trick 7 puts dummy in with queen spades and 
 dummy makes his four remaining clubs. 
 
 YZ win five odds. 
 
 216 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 
 
 
 HAND NO. 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 s— 
 
 Q,4,3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 -J, 10, 8, 7, 6, 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -J, 3 
 
 
 
 
 8,6, 
 
 2 
 
 H- 
 
 -8,2 
 
 S-A,J 
 
 
 S— 10, 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C-Q, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 A B 
 
 C-9, 5, 3 
 
 
 D-Q 
 
 
 
 
 
 D-A, 9, 7, 
 
 5,4,2 
 
 H-J, 
 
 10,7, 
 
 6,5,2 
 
 s— 
 
 Z 
 
 H-Q,9 
 
 
 
 K, 9, 7, 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 -A, K 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -K, 10, 8, 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -A, K, 4 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 
 6 h 
 
 
 2 h 
 
 Qh 
 
 Ah 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 c 
 
 
 4 c 
 
 3 c 
 
 Ac 
 
 3 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 
 6 c 
 
 5 c 
 
 Kc 
 
 4 
 
 
 2 s 
 
 
 3 s 
 
 Js 
 
 Ks 
 
 5 
 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 4 s 
 
 As 
 
 9 s 
 
 6 
 
 
 3 h 
 
 
 8 h 
 
 9 h 
 
 Kh 
 
 7 
 
 
 6 s 
 
 
 Qs 
 
 2 d 
 
 5 s 
 
 8 
 
 
 5 h 
 
 
 J c 
 
 9 c 
 
 4 h 
 
 9 
 
 
 7 h 
 
 
 10 c 
 
 4 d 
 
 7 s 
 
 10 
 
 
 10 h 
 
 
 8 c 
 
 5 d 
 
 6 d 
 
 11 
 
 
 Jh 
 
 
 7 c 
 
 7 d 
 
 8 d 
 
 12 
 
 
 Qd 
 
 
 3d 
 
 A d 
 
 10 d 
 
 13 
 
 
 8 s 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 217 
 
 9 d 
 
 - K d 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 HAND NO. 12 
 
 Holding up command of opponent's suit and 
 placing the lead. 
 
 Score: Love all. Dealer declares hearts. 
 
 Tricks 6 and 7: B rightly refuses to give up 
 command of dummy's suit. He reads that an- 
 other round will exhaust the dealer and so, 
 dummy having no re-entry, the suit will fail to 
 make. 
 
 Trick 9 : B counts the dealer's hand : 2 trumps 
 and 3 spades. He therefore leads diamond, forc- 
 ing a trump, and compelling a lead up to his 
 tenace in spades. 
 
 YZ win two odds, 
 
 218 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 12 
 
 
 
 
 5-9, 5, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 C- 
 
 -K, 9, 8, 6 
 
 ,5 
 
 
 
 
 ] 
 
 D- 
 
 -10, 8, 3 
 
 
 
 
 7, 
 
 ] 
 3 
 
 H- 
 
 -Q, 6 
 
 S-A, Q, J 
 
 
 S-IO, 8, 
 
 
 Y 
 
 
 C-7,4 
 
 
 
 A ^ 
 
 C— A, 10, 3 
 
 
 D-J, 9, 
 
 7, 
 
 6. 
 
 
 
 D-A, K, Q, 
 
 5,2 
 
 H-J, 9, 
 
 7^ 
 
 1 
 
 
 Z 
 
 H— 8, 4 
 
 
 
 5— K, 6, 4 
 
 
 
 
 ( 
 
 C- 
 
 -Q, J, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 ] 
 
 D— 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 ] 
 
 a- 
 
 -A, K, 10 
 
 , 5, 3, 2 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 
 6 d 
 
 7 d 
 
 
 3 d 
 8 d 
 
 Qd 
 
 Ad 
 
 4 d 
 
 2 h 
 
 3 
 
 
 7 h 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 4 h 
 
 3 h 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 
 9 h 
 Jh 
 4 c 
 
 7 c 
 
 
 6 h 
 10 d 
 
 5 c 
 
 6 c 
 
 8 h 
 
 2 d 
 
 3 c 
 10 c 
 
 K h 
 A h 
 Qc 
 Jc 
 
 8 
 
 
 9 d 
 
 
 8 c 
 
 A c 
 
 2 c 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 
 
 Jd 
 
 10 s 
 
 3 s 
 
 
 2 s 
 5 s 
 9 s 
 
 K d 
 
 5 d 
 
 5 h 
 4 s 
 10 h 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 
 7 s 
 
 8 s 
 
 
 9 c 
 K c 
 
 Qs 
 
 As 
 
 6 s 
 K s 
 
 219 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 13 
 
 Making an entry card and finessing. 
 
 Rubber game. Score. YZ o ; AB 28. 
 
 Z declares " no trumps." 
 
 Trick I : To save the game should be simple, 
 but to win the game will doubtless depend upon 
 finding the king of clubs with B. As clubs should 
 be led from dummy, and as it will probably be 
 necessary that the lead should come twice from 
 the dummy hand, Z makes a re-entry in dummy's 
 hand by playing a high heart to the ace already 
 played. He plays king rather than queen to de- 
 ceive B as to the location of queen. 
 
 Trick 2 : Z plays small heart and dummy se- 
 cures the lead with jack. 
 
 Trick 3: Dummy leads small club, Z plays 
 jack, finessing against the king, and at trick 4, 
 throws the lead to dummy with king spades. 
 
 Trick 5: Z plays queen clubs and at trick 6 
 leads ace clubs knowing king must fall. 
 
 YZ win three by cards and rubber. 
 
 220 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 13 
 
 
 
 S— 
 
 K, 
 
 9,7,5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C-6, 
 
 5.2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -8, 
 
 4,3,2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -J> 
 
 10 
 
 S-Q, 10, 
 
 4. 
 
 
 S-L8 
 
 
 Y 
 
 3,2 
 
 C— 10, 9 
 
 
 
 A ^ 
 
 C-K, 8, 
 
 4 
 
 
 D-A, J, 
 
 10, 6 
 
 
 TZ 
 
 
 D— K, 5 
 
 
 
 H-9, 8, 
 
 7.6,5 
 
 S— 
 
 
 Z 
 
 H-A, 3, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 A, 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 c- 
 
 -A, 
 
 Q, J. 7, 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 D- 
 
 -Q, 
 
 9,7, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H- 
 
 -K 
 
 Q,2 
 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Y 
 
 B 
 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 
 6h 
 5h 
 9c 
 
 
 
 10 h 
 Jh 
 6c 
 
 Ah 
 4h 
 4c 
 
 
 Kh 
 2h 
 Jc 
 
 4 
 
 8s 
 
 
 
 Ks 
 
 2s 
 
 
 6 s 
 
 5 
 
 10 c 
 
 
 
 5c 
 
 8c 
 
 
 Qc 
 
 6 
 
 6d 
 
 
 
 2c 
 
 Kc 
 
 
 Ac 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 10 d 
 Js 
 
 
 
 2d 
 3d 
 
 3s 
 4s 
 
 
 7c 
 3c 
 
 9 
 
 Jd 
 
 
 
 5s 
 
 10 s 
 
 
 As 
 
 10 
 
 7h 
 
 
 
 4d 
 
 3h 
 
 
 Qh 
 
 11 
 12 
 
 Ad 
 8h 
 
 - 
 
 
 8d 
 
 7s 
 
 5d 
 Qs 
 
 
 7d 
 9d 
 
 13 
 
 9h 
 
 - 
 
 
 9s 
 
 221 
 
 Kd 
 
 
 Qd 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 14 
 
 Unblocking. 
 
 Score: Love all. Z declares "no trumps/' 
 
 Trick I : Queen lead at " no trumps " indicates 
 exceptional strength, and commands one's part- 
 ner, if holding king and one other only, at once 
 to put up the king. (See page 109.) Note the 
 difference should B not play king to first round. 
 
 YZ lose two odd tricks. 
 
 HAND NO. 15 
 
 Holding up command of long suit. Discard, 
 etc. 
 
 Rubber game. Score: YZ o; AB 20. Z 
 leaves it. Y declares " no trumps." 
 
 Trick 2 : Z cannot afford to give up the com- 
 mand of diamonds. 
 
 Trick 3: Z holds up command of clubs, in 
 the hope that another round will exhaust B. Z 
 222 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 14 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 —8,2 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 :-9, 4, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 D-5, 3, 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 1-9, 8, 6, 3, 
 
 2 
 S— A, 10, 9, 
 
 
 S-7,3 
 
 Y 
 
 6,5 
 
 C-Q, J, 10, 
 
 7,6,5 
 
 3 
 
 A B 
 
 C— K, 8 
 
 
 D— J, 10 
 
 
 
 
 D— K, 9, 8, 
 
 4 
 
 H-Q, 7 
 
 
 S 
 
 Z 
 
 H-^K, 10 
 
 
 
 -K, Q, J, 4 
 
 
 
 
 C 
 
 :— A 
 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 )-A, Q, 7, 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 I-A, J. 5, 4 
 
 
 
 Trick 
 
 A 
 
 
 Y 
 
 B 
 
 Z 
 
 1 
 
 Qc 
 
 
 2 c 
 
 K c 
 
 A c 
 
 2 
 
 Qh 
 
 
 2 h 
 
 10 h 
 
 4 h 
 
 3 
 
 Jc 
 
 
 4c 
 
 8 c 
 
 6 d 
 
 4 
 
 10 c 
 
 
 9 c 
 
 5 s 
 
 7 d 
 
 5 
 
 7 c 
 
 
 2 s 
 
 4 d 
 
 Qd 
 
 6 
 
 6 c 
 
 
 8 s 
 
 6 s 
 
 4 s 
 
 7 
 
 5 c 
 
 
 2 d 
 
 K h 
 
 Jh 
 
 8 
 
 3 c 
 
 
 3 d 
 
 8 d 
 
 Js 
 
 9 
 
 7 s 
 
 
 5 d 
 
 A s 
 
 Qs 
 
 10 
 
 3 s 
 
 
 3 h 
 
 10 s 
 
 Ks 
 
 11 
 
 10 d 
 
 
 6 h 
 
 9 d 
 
 Ad 
 
 12 
 
 7 h 
 
 
 8 h 
 
 9 s 
 
 A h 
 
 13 
 
 Jd 
 
 
 9 h 
 
 K d 
 
 5 h 
 
 223 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 discards small heart rather than spades. In the 
 spade suit lies his only hope of re-entry for the 
 diamonds. 
 
 Trick 5: Z again refuses to play diamond 
 command. If king diamonds is with A, no play 
 will prevent his bringing in his clubs. If with 
 B, there is a strong probability that the diamonds 
 may be brought in. 
 
 Trick 6: B having no card of his partner's 
 suit, is forced to lead up to dummy. 
 
 Trick 7: Dummy now leads his high spades, 
 hoping to make re-entry for Z's clubs. 
 
 Trick 10 : Z gains the lead with 6 spades, and 
 at tricks 11 and 12 and 13 makes his remaining 
 diamonds. 
 
 Result will be the same if Z leads spades be- 
 fore leading diamonds, provided he keeps six of 
 spades in his own hand for re-entry after dia- 
 monds are established. 
 
 YZ win four odd tricks. 
 
 224 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 
 HAND NO. 15 
 
 
 S— 
 
 c- 
 
 D- 
 H- 
 
 A, K, Q. 2 
 -A, 6, 5, 3 
 -10,5 
 -A, 7, 3 
 
 
 S-J, 10, 7 
 e-Q, J, 8, 7, 2 
 D— 9, 8, 3 
 H-K, 10 
 
 Y 
 
 A B 
 
 Z 
 
 S— 9. 8 
 C— 10, 9, 4 
 D-K, Q,J 
 H-Q, J, 6, 4, 2 
 
 Trick 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 
BRIDGE ABRIDGED 
 
 HAND NO. 1 6 
 
 Leading through. 
 
 Rubber game. Score YZ 6; AB 24. Z de- 
 clares " no trumps." 
 
 Trick 2: Before returning his partner's lead, 
 B, holding ace, king, jack, etc., of clubs, leads 
 king clubs, to induce his partner to return the 
 suit later through the queen. (See page 114.) 
 
 Trick 3: B is marked with three of hearts. 
 His return of the four indicates that he is lead- 
 ing back the higher of two (see page 115), and 
 queen, ten, therefore, must be with dealer. 
 
 Trick 4: To prevent queen hearts from win- 
 ning, the lead of hearts must come a third time 
 from B. A, therefore, puts B in with a small 
 club, and at trick 7 B returns the heart, enabling 
 A to make his three remaining ones. 
 
 YZ lose three odds and the rubber. 
 
 226 
 
ILLUSTRATED HANDS 
 HAND NO. 16 
 
 S— 8, 7, 6, 4 
 C-Q, 8, 7 
 D— Q, 10, 8, 7, 5 
 H— 7 
 
 S-J,9 
 
 Y 
 
 S-10, 5, 3. 2 
 
 C— 5, 3, 2 
 
 A B 
 
 C-A, K, J, 6 
 
 D-J, 4, 3 
 
 
 D— 9, 6 
 
 H-K, J, 9, 8. 2 
 
 Z 
 
 H-A, 4, 3 
 
 Trick 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 
 A 
 
 8h 
 2 c 
 9h 
 5c 
 3c 
 9s 
 Kh 
 
 2h 
 Js 
 3d 
 4d 
 Jd 
 
 S— A, K, Q 
 C— 10, 9, 4 
 D— A, K, 2 
 H— Q, 10, 6, 
 Y 
 7h 
 7c 
 4s 
 8c 
 Qc 
 6s 
 7s 
 8s 
 5d 
 7d 
 8 d 
 10 d 
 Qd 
 227 
 
INDEX 
 
INDEX 
 
 Abandonment of spade Cards exposed before play, 
 hands, 54 178; during, play, 179 
 
 Ace lead, rules for, declared Cards, how dealt, 7 
 trump, 72; "no-trumps," Cards in sequence, 27; how 
 
 reckoned, dealer, 146, 147; 
 pone, 29, 99, 103, 109 
 Cards in sequence, how 
 played, non-dealers, 29, 
 103, 104 
 
 played in error, 
 
 94, 95 . . , 
 
 Ace lead, origmal, opposed 
 
 by some players, 73 
 Adverse suit, occasionally 
 
 well to continue, 139 
 Average hand, what consti- Cards 
 
 tutes, 23 182 ^ 
 
 Carrying home aces, 74 
 Beginners, maxims for, 20 Chicane, 16 
 Black suit makes, 53 Clubs, when declared, deal- 
 
 Blanking an ace, 128 er, 25, 53 ; dummy, 26, 60 
 
 "Blind lead" 70 ^ ^ Counting the cards, 7 
 
 Bridge, as furnishing object Cross ruff, 152 
 
 lessons in Whist, 86 Cutting, 6, 165 
 
 Bridge for three players, Cutting out, 167 
 
 160 
 Bridge, how differing from Deal, a new, 170 
 
 Whist, 23 
 Bridge, origin of, 4 
 Bridge, an intellectual game, 
 
 5 
 Bridge— What is it? 2 
 Book, 14 
 Bystanders, 188 
 
 Dealer, advantages of, 32, 
 
 36, 132 
 Dealer, attitude of, 53 
 Dealer, deceptive policy of, 
 
 33, 34, 102 
 Dealer, how choose suit for 
 
 establishment, ZZ^ 138 
 
 231 
 
INDEX 
 
 Dealer, how lead in effort 
 at establishment, 121, 133, 
 134, 138 
 
 Dealer's play, the, 131 
 
 for dealer, 25, 52; dum- 
 my, 26, 60 
 Diamond makes, prejudice 
 against original, 52 
 
 Dealer's policy at a trump, Discard, as applying to 
 
 33, 134, 135, 136 
 Dealer's policy, 
 trumps," 137 
 
 dealer, 33, 128 
 no- Discard from partner's suit, 
 care required, 129 
 
 Dealer, when abandon lead Discard upon partner's dou- 
 
 from long suit, 139 ble, various theories re- 
 
 Dealer, when allow weak garding, 127 
 
 hand to ruff, 32, 135 Discard, the, 32, 123 
 
 Decisions by card commit- Discarding as a system, 128 
 
 TEE, 192 Discarding from strength, 
 
 Declaration by dealer, fac- 123, 124 
 
 tors entering therein, 35, Discarding, general hints 
 
 36, 'SJ on, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130 
 
 Declaration by dummy. Double chicane, 16 
 
 how governed, 57 Double of clubs, diamonds. 
 
 Declaration by dummy, cau- and hearts, 66 
 
 tion required in making. Double of spades, 66 
 
 25, 57, 58 Double of "no-trumps," 
 
 Declarations, formula in elder, 66; younger, 66, 67 
 
 making, 10, 11 Double to the score, 66 
 
 Declarations, importance of Doubling as regards begin- 
 
 fixed standards for, 22, ners, 26, 63 
 
 40, 58 
 
 Declarations, relative value 
 of, 14, 18 
 
 Declaring the trump, 8, 
 172 
 
 Defensive makes, disadvan- 
 tages of original, 54, 55 
 
 Defensive spade, 54 
 
 Doubling, considerations af- 
 fecting, 62 
 
 Doubling, formula used in, 
 10 
 
 Doubling, illustration of, 9; 
 limit to, 9 
 
 Doubling player, how best 
 situated, 67 
 
 Deschapelles' Coup, 141, 157 Doubling, when advisable, 
 Dl^mond makes, 50; rules 65 
 232 
 
INDEX 
 
 Doubling, when to avoid, 64 Forcing, importance of ju- 
 
 DOUBLING, RE-DOUBLING, dicioUS, 32, I50 
 
 ETC., 8, 173 
 
 Ducking, example of, 142 
 Dummy, 176 
 
 Dummy's hand, when ex- 
 posed, II 
 
 Forcing partner, when ad- 
 visable, 135, 151 
 
 Forcing, when inadvisable, 
 150 
 
 Formation of table, 6, 166 
 
 Dummy's hand, importance Fourchette, 99, 146, 147 
 of studying, 27, 32, 84, 133 Fourth best lead declared 
 
 Dummy, rights of, 11 
 Dummy, unique position 
 of, 3 
 
 Echo, or calling for a ruff, 
 
 30, III 
 Eleven rule, 104 
 
 trump, 
 94, 95 
 
 73 ; " no-trumps," 
 
 Game, how many points 
 
 constitute, 13, 22 
 Game, importance of mak- 
 ing on one's deal, 22, 36 
 Seven rufe, a7 applying to Game, importance of saving 
 dealer, 147; second play- when unable to make, 23, 
 er, 99, third player, 104 ^^4, I33 
 Eleven rule, negative value General rules, 186 
 
 of, 117 
 Etiquette of bridge, 183 
 
 Finals, how obtained, 16 
 
 Finesse, 30, 105 
 
 Finesse, as affected by 
 score, 155 
 
 Finesse as applying to deal- 
 er, 144, 145 
 
 Finesse as applying to third 
 player or pone, 30, 105, 
 106 
 
 Finesse, obligatory, 156 
 
 Finesse, when to avoid, 33, 
 -4, 144, 145, 155, 156 
 
 Giving weak hand a ruff, 28 
 
 Hand, estimating value of, 
 
 67, 68 
 Heart convention, 83 
 Heart makes, 47; rules for 
 
 dealer, 24, 25, 48, 49; 
 
 dummy, 26, 60 
 Holding lead till dummy is 
 
 exposed, importance of, 
 
 26, 70 
 Holding up command of 
 
 long suit, 84 
 Holding up command oppo- 
 nent's suit, 85 
 Holding up command of ad- 
 
 233 
 
INDEX 
 
 verse suit, importance of. Leading from longest suit, 
 92, 98, 137 . 69, 115 
 
 Honors as influencing the Leading through, 31, 85, 87 
 
 Leading up to weakness, 
 
 SI, 86, 121 
 Leads as affected by passed 
 
 make, 28, 72 
 Leads at a trump, rules for 
 
 long suits, 72 
 Leads at "no-trump s," 
 
 rules for, 28, 94, 95 
 Leads, elder, best at a 
 
 trump, 26, 27, 70, 71 
 Leads out of turn, 181, 
 193 
 King lead declared trump. Little slam, 16, 85 
 73; "no-trumps," 94, 95 Long suit, 28, 72 
 King, when guarded, 24 Looking at last trick, 192 
 
 Love all, 24 
 Lead at a declared trump, Love score, 24 
 69 
 
 make, 22, 25, 49 
 Honors, what constitute, 
 
 14, 15, 22 
 Honors, relative values of. 
 
 different suits, 14, 15, 18 
 
 Illustrated hands, 19S-227 
 Inviting a ruff, 79, 81 
 
 Jack lead declared trump, 
 72, 73; "no-trumps," 95 
 
 Lead at "no-trumps," 90 
 
 Lead of high card, "no- 
 trumps," inferences from, 
 109 
 
 Lead of trumps, elder, when 
 permissible, 77, 78, 79 
 
 Lead to a double, elder, 80, 
 
 Makes, how choose between 
 "no-trumps" and a suit, 
 39, 47, SI 
 Makes, injunction regard- 
 ing, 38 
 Makes to the score, 22, 23, 
 25, 39, 57, 58 
 81, 82, 83; younger, 118, Making an entry card, 126, 
 119 127 
 
 Lead to re-double, 82 
 
 Lead through strength, 31, Non-dealer's policy, de- 
 85; when especially de- clared trump, 26, 69, 70, 
 sirable, 87 77 ; " no-trumps," 28, 90 
 
 Lead through strength, " No-trump " hand, con- 
 when unwise, 87, 88 servative, 38 
 
 234 
 
INDEX 
 
 "No-trump" makes, 42; Queen lead at a trump, 75; 
 
 rules for and comments, "no-trumps," 95 
 
 23, 24, 25, 42, 43, 44 Queen, when guarded, 24 
 
 " No-trumper," par excel- 
 lence, 37 Re-doubling, "Badsworth" 
 " No-trumps " to the score, on, 68 
 
 38, 46, 47 Re-doubling, how influ- 
 
 enced, 67, 68 
 Overtaking, example of. Re-entry, ^^ 
 
 141, 142 Re-entry, building or es- 
 
 Overtrumping, when inad- tablishing, how done, 141, 
 
 visable, 154 142, 157 
 
 Re-entry, value of, 92 
 Partners, harmony between Re-entry, what constitutes, 
 
 essential, 113 142 
 
 Partners, how selected, 6 Return lead, 113 
 Passed make, inferences Return lead, " no-trumps," 
 
 from, 57 ^ 30, 113, 114; at a trump. 
 
 Picking up a singleton, 89, 30, 116, 117 
 
 120 Return lead, correct card, 
 
 Placing the lead, 78 30, ii5 
 
 Play of the two hands, skill Reverse discard, 125 
 
 required, 131, 132 Revised laws of Bridge, 162 
 
 Play to the score, 23 Revoke, the, 153 
 
 Players, advice to, 20, 21 Rights of entry, 167 
 Players, how designated, 9, Robertson Rule, 43 
 
 10 Rubber, 13; example of, 19 
 
 Pone's play, as affected by Ruff a suit, 28 
 
 secondary lead, 117, 118 Ruffing, 69 
 Pone's play, principles gov- Running game, 70 
 
 erning, 30, 31, 121 
 Pone's play upon elder's Scoring, 13, 162 
 
 lead of trumps, 79, 120 Secondary lead, 27, 28, 84 
 Preface, vii Second hand play, 96 
 
 Protective policies, original, Second hand play, dealer, 
 
 "Badsworth" on, 56 145, 146, 147, 148; player 
 
 235 
 
INDEX 
 
 at dummy's right, 96, 97; 
 at dummy's left, loo, loi 
 
 Second hand play, general 
 rules for, 98, 99, 100, loi 
 
 Second lead after ace, in- 
 ferences from, 73 
 
 Second lead after fourth 
 best, 76 
 
 Second lead after king, 74, 
 
 75 
 Second lead after queen, 76 
 Second lead after ten, 76 
 Sequence, 27 
 Short suit, 28, 72 
 Short suit lead, when advis- 
 able, 27, 72, 80, 81, 119, 
 120 
 Short suit leads, how gov- 
 erned, 80, 81 
 Short suit leads, correct 
 
 card, 27, 80 
 Shuffling, 168 
 Singleton lead, 27; when ad- 
 visable, 71, 80, 119, 120 
 Slam, 16, 85 
 Spade convention, 192 
 Spade makes, dealer, 25, 53, 
 
 54; dummy, 26, 61 
 Specimen of score sheet, 19 
 Special leads, 87, 88, 120 
 Suit, when established, 28 
 Suit, when brought in, 28 
 Suits to avoid, 71, 74 
 Suits to lead, how choose. 
 
 elder, " no-trumps," 90, 
 91 
 Supporting or strengthening 
 card, ic^ 
 
 Table of points, 18 
 
 Taking out dummy's re-en- 
 try, 88 
 
 Ten lead at a trump, y;^; 
 "no-trumps," 71, 74 
 
 Tenace suits, 71, 74; why 
 avoid, 71 
 
 Test for trump, dealer, 48; 
 dummy, 60 
 
 Third hand play, 102 
 
 Third hand play, dealer, 
 102; elder, 103; pone, 29, 
 30, 105, 106 
 
 Third hand play, how in- 
 fluenced, 102 
 
 Tierce major, 42 
 
 Trump management, 149 
 
 Trumps, importance of be- 
 ing in control when last 
 led, 152 
 
 Trumping with high trump, 
 154, 155 
 
 Unblocking, 108 
 Unblocking, dealer, 143, 144 
 Unblocking, rules for, 109, 
 no 
 
 Weak suit convention, 83 
 
 236 
 
STANDARD WHIST 
 
 An exponent of the principles and rules of the modern, 
 scientific game of whist, as adopted by the American 
 Whist League, at the Ninth American Whist Congress 
 convening at Chicago, July lo, 1899. 
 
 By Annie Blanche Shelby 
 
 Miss Shelby is known as one of the ablest whist 
 teachers in the country. Her book, " Standard Whist," 
 has attracted wide attention and meets with rapidly in- 
 creasing sale. Its teachings are thoroughly sound, and 
 their points well put and clearly stated. The Army and 
 Navy Register, Washington, D. C, pronounces its en- 
 thusiasm as "contagious," and adds that to "Whist 
 players it is as caviare to a Russian." — Whist Journal, 
 Milwaukee. 
 
 Miss Shelby has attained national repute as a teacher 
 of the finest of all card games, and in this new volume 
 she has compressed all the precepts which, as a teacher, 
 she puts into practical use. Her work called " Standard 
 Whist " embraces all the principles laid down by whist 
 authorities from Pole and Cavendish down to Cassius 
 M. Payne. It contains no superfluous matter, and is 
 
put together with remarkabe directness. Within 175 
 small pages the reader has everything old and new 
 which can be said about whist, and, what is more to the 
 purpose, all of it is sound whist, based not only upon 
 theory, but upon the experiences of the best players in 
 America and England. It cannot help but be a valuable 
 addition to the constantly growing literature of the 
 game. — Portland Oregonian. 
 
 I have read your elegant book, " Standard Whist," 
 carefully, and hasten to congratulate you upon its great 
 merits from both the technical and literary point of 
 view. It is concise and correct, and covers the whole 
 range of whist thoroughly in such an interesting and 
 practical way that all lovers of the game, and especially 
 every earnest student, will welcome your good work as 
 a valuable aid in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the 
 fascinating and intellectual pastime. — C. E. CofEn, 
 author " Gist of Whist," Indianapolis. 
 
 Albany (N. Y.) Journal — Annie Blanche Shelby has 
 met a long-felt want in her publication of a handy 
 volume, entitled " Standard Whist." The work is clean 
 and concise, easy for reference, and will be found in- 
 valuable by those who love the game, but not its many 
 intricacies until they are explained away in a manner 
 easily understood. 
 
 Mr. Nicholas Browse Trist, of New Orleans, the 
 "Father of American Leads" — whose opinion and ad- 
 vice is eagerly sought and highly valued by all true 
 lovers of the game, writes Miss Shelby: 
 
 "Many thanks for copy of your 'Standard Whist/ 
 
I like it very much, because you have rightly ignored 
 the modern fads, and have set forth in a clear and con- 
 cise manner, well adapted to both learners and advanced 
 players, the science from the game involved, from the 
 accumulated experience of a century and a half." 
 
 Buflfalo Express — A little volume entitled " Standard 
 Whist." The author is Annie Blanche Shelby, a whist 
 teacher. While she intends her book for both men and 
 women, she makes a special appeal to women to reduce 
 their play to a system. The author is a close reasoner 
 on the science; she has no fads to exploit, but is a 
 true lover of the game and makes her treatise thor- 
 oughly scientific and helpful. The tyro and the 
 seasoned player will find this to be a book of rare merit 
 and helpful, with many suggestions and directions. 
 
ocr 6 1900