,transcriber's note3 ,minor typographical errors have been corrected without note4 ,,auction ,,of ,,to-,,day by ,,milton ,c4 ,,work ,author of ,whist of ,to-day ,boston and ,new ,york ,houghton ,mifflin ,company ,the ,riverside ,press ,cambridge #aiac ,copyright1 #aiac1 by ,milton ,c4 ,work ,all ,rights ,reserved ,published ,january #aiac ,,this ,,book ,,is ,,respectfully ,,dedicated ,,to ,,the ,,auction ,,players ,,of ,,the ,,racquet ,,club ,,of ,,philadelphia1 ,,who1 ,,while ,,others ,,doubted ,,and ,,waited1 ,,were ,,sufficiently ,,broadminded ,,and ,,discerning ,,to ,,adopt ,,the ,,new ,,count ,,and ,,who1 ,,therefore1 ,,played ,,auction ,,of ,,to-,,day ,,months ,,before ,,it ,,was ,,in ,,vogue ,,elsewhere ,,contents ,,introduction xi ,i4 ,,the ,,declaration #a ,,ii4 ,,original ,,declarations ,,by ,,the ,,dealer #ae ,the ,bid of ,one ,no-trump4 ,table of ,hands in which the ,no-trump ,declaration is ,doubtful4 ,when to bid ,two ,no-trumps4 ,exception to the ,no-trump ,rule4 ,table of ,doubtful ,hands illustrating ,exception4 ,suit ,declarations4 ,various ,ideas of the ,two ,spade ,bid4 ,the ,two ,spade ,bid4 ,the ,three ,spade ,bid4 ,when to bid ,two in ,either ,royals or ,hearts4 ,when to bid ,three in ,either ,royals or ,hearts4 ,the ,two ,bid in ,diamonds or ,clubs4 ,how to declare ,two-,suit ,hands4 ,table of ,hands in which a ,trump ,declaration is ,doubtful4 ,,iii4 ,,second ,,hand ,,declarations #fj ,bidding over ,one ,spade4 ,when to bid ,no-trump4 ,when to make a ,trump ,declaration4 ,the ,double of ,one ,spade4 ,the ,bid of ,two ,spades4 ,table of ,spade ,bids4 ,the ,bid of ,three ,spades4 ,how ,second ,hand should bid after an ,offensive ,declaration4 ,the ,shift4 ,when to ,bid ,two ,no-trumps over ,one ,no-trump4 ,how to ,bid against ,two or ,three ,spades4 ,when to ,bid ,no-trump over a ,suit4 ,,iv4 ,,third ,,hand ,,declarations #hb ,when the ,dealer has called ,one ,spade1 and the ,second ,hand passed4 ,when the ,dealer has shown ,strength1 and the ,second ,hand passed4 ,when ,two ,spades has been declared4 ,when ,three ,spades has been declared4 ,when ,one ,club or ,one ,diamond has been declared4 ,when ,two ,diamonds or ,two ,clubs has been declared4 ,when ,one ,heart or ,one ,royal has been declared4 ,when ,two ,hearts or ,two ,royals has been declared4 ,when to overbid a ,partner's ,no-trump4 ,when to overbid with ,strong ,clubs4 ,a ,new ,plan for ,overbidding4 ,when to overbid ,one ,no-trump with ,two ,no-trumps4 ,what ,third ,hand should bid when ,second ,hand has declared4 ,v4 ,,fourth ,,hand ,,declarations #aad ,when the ,dealer's ,defensive ,declaration has been the ,only ,bid4 ,when the ,only ,offensive ,declaration has been made by the ,dealer4 ,when the ,only ,offensive ,declaration has been made by the ,second ,hand4 ,when the ,only ,offensive ,declaration has been made by the ,third ,hand4 ,when the ,dealer has ,made a ,defensive1 and both the ,second and ,third ,hands ,offensive1 ,declarations4 ,when the ,dealer and ,second ,hand have made ,offensive ,declarations1 and the ,third ,hand passed4 ,when the ,dealer and ,third ,hand have made ,offensive ,declarations1 and the ,second ,hand passed4 ,when all ,three ,players have made ,offensive ,declarations4 ,,vi4 ,,continuation ,,of ,,the ,,bidding #acj ,when to advance the ,bid4 ,when to overbid the ,partner4 ,flag-,flying4 ,,vii4 ,,doubling #adc ,the ,choice between a ,game and a ,double4 ,when to redouble4 ,what to do when the ,partner is doubled4 ,,viii4 ,,leading #aeh ,how to lead against a ,no-trump4 ,number-showing ,leads4 ,the ,lead against a ,suit ,declaration4 ,how to lead to a ,double4 ,table of ,opening ,leads against a ,trump ,declaration4 ,,ix4 ,,the ,,play #ahc ,difference between ,play in ,auction and ,bridge4 ,playing for ,game4 ,play for an ,even ,break4 ,general ,play of the ,declarer4 ,declarer's ,play of ,no-trump4 ,declarer's ,play of a ,suit ,declaration4 ,play by ,declarer's ,adversaries4 ,the ,signal4 ,the ,discard4 ,blocking the ,dummy4 ,avoid opening ,new ,suits4 ,how to return ,partner's ,bid4 ,the ,finesse4 ,table showing when ,third ,hand should finesse4 ,x4 ,,scoring ,,and ,,score-,,sheets #bac ,samples of ,score-,sheets4 ,,xi4 ,,the ,,laws #bbe #aiab ,code of ,the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york4 ,decisions by the ,card ,committee of ,the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york4 ,,summarized ,,penalties #bgg ,,appendix3 ,,queries ,,and ,,answers #bgi ,,introduction ,with so many excellent textbooks now in circulation1 it seems almost audacious to add another treatise to current card literature4 ,it happens1 however1 that the game of ,auction1 or ,auction ,bridge1 as it is generally called 7,auction ,whist is perhaps a more appropriate title71 has been so completely and so suddenly revolutionized that books written upon the subject a few months ago do not treat of ,auction of to-day1 but of a game abandoned in the march of progress4 ,only a small portion of the change has been due to the development of the game1 the alteration that has taken place in the count having been the main factor in the transformation4 ,just as a nation1 in the course of a century1 changes its habits1 customs1 and ideas1 so ,auction in a few months has developed surprising innovations1 and evolved theories that only yesterday would have seemed to belong to the heretic or the fanatic4 ,the expert bidder of last ,christmas would find himself a veritable ,rip ,van ,winkle1 should he awake in the midst of a game of to-day4 ,the present tourist along the newly macadamized ,auction highway has no modern signpost to guide him1 no milestone to mark his progress4 ,the old ones1 while most excellent when erected1 now lead to abandoned and impassable roads1 and contain information that of necessity confuses and misleads4 ,beyond doubt1 the present game1 like other modern improvements1 has come to stay1 and with that belief the following pages are offered as an aid to the thorough understanding of the new order of things4 ,until the latter part of #aiaa1 practically all players used the same count in ,auction that had for years obtained in ,bridge2 namely1 ,no-trump1 #ab2 ,hearts1 #h2 ,diamonds1 #f2 ,clubs1 #d2 and ,spades1 #b4 ,the change was first suggested by the author1 and it1 therefore1 seems only appropriate that he1 having had the good fortune to conceive a system which has been endorsed by general adoption1 should have the privilege of giving to the ,auction-loving public his views upon the most advantageous methods of playing the game under the new conditions1 and thus possibly help to allay the confusion created by the introduction of an innovation so drastic4 ,in this connection1 it may be interesting to recall how this new count1 which is now so universally used that it should be called1 not the new count1 but the count1 came to be suggested1 and why it met with popular favor4 ,when ,auction first took the place of ,bridge as the paramount game in the club and social life of the scientific card-player of the ,united ,states 7just as ,bridge had previously superseded ,whist71 it was but natural that the ,bridge count should be continued in ,auction4 ,admitting that these values were the best possible for ,bridge 7and of that there is considerable doubt in the mind of the player of to-day71 it1 nevertheless1 did not mean that for the new and very different game of ,auction they would of necessity be the most suitable4 ,it was soon found that the ,no-trump was so much more powerful than any other bid that competition was almost eliminated4 ,with even unusually strong suits1 only occasionally could a declaration valued at #ab be successfully combated by one valued at #h or less1 and the vast majority of hands were1 consequently1 played without a ,trump4 ,the inherent theory of the game of ,auction provides for a bidding in which each one of the four suits competes with each other1 and also with the ,no-trump4 ,using the ,bridge count1 this does not take place4 ,the two black suits1 by reason of their inconsequential valuation1 are practically eliminated from the sea of competitive bidding4 ,the ,diamond creates only a slight ripple1 and even the ,heart has to be unusually strong to resist the strenuous wave of the ,no-trump4 ,players in different parts of the country realized that as long as the ,bridge count was used1 five bids could not compete in the race1 as1 due to unequal handicapping1 the two blacks could barely pass the starter1 while the two reds could not last long in a keen contest4 ,the desire to make the ,spade a potent declaration had appeared in ,bridge2 ,royal ,spades1 valued at #aj1 having been played by some unfortunates who believed that1 whenever they had the deal1 the fickle goddess favored them with an undue proportion of black beauties4 ,as competitive bidding is not a part of the game of ,bridge1 that could not be offered as a reason for increasing the value of the ,spade1 and to be logical1 ,royal ,clubs should also have been created4 ,naturally1 ,royal ,spades never received any very large or intelligent ,bridge following1 but as making the ,spade of value was in line with the obvious need of ,auction1 as soon as that game became the popular pastime1 ,royal ,spades 7or ,lilies1 as they were perhaps foolishly called in some places1 the pseudonym being suggested by the color of the ,spade71 valued at #aa and at #aj1 were accorded a more thorough trial4 ,they met objection on the ground that three ,royals1 equally with three ,no-trumps1 carried a side to game from a love score1 and1 therefore1 while some continued to experiment with ,royals1 it cannot be said that they were anywhere accepted as a conventional part of ,auction4 ,finally1 some clever ,bostonians suggested that their value be made nine1 and this proved both more logical and more popular4 ,with affairs in this state1 the author determined that it would materially improve the game to arrange the count so that the various bids be as nearly as possible equalized1 every suit given a real rating1 and the maximum competition created4 ,after some little experimentation1 the very simple expedient now in vogue was suggested4 ,it makes the game in reality what it previously was only in name4 ,in ,september1 #aiaa1 the ,racquet ,club of ,philadelphia1 the first club to act upon the subject1 incorporated in its club code the count of #aj for ,no-trump1 #i for ,royal ,spades1 #h for ,hearts1 #g for ,diamonds1 #f for ,clubs1 and #b for ,spades4 ,other clubs in this country and abroad slowly but surely followed1 and the card-playing public in its social game adopted the new plan as soon as it received a fair trial4 ,early in #aiab1 the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york1 a most conservative body1 yielded to the pressure1 and accepted the new count4 ,since then1 it has been universally used4 ,it has been given various names1 such as the new count1 which is1 of course1 a title that cannot long be retained2 the ,philadelphia count1 which is now inappropriate1 as it is played in all parts of the country2 the game of ,royals1 which is grossly incorrect1 as it is not a game of ,royals any more than of any other suit1 and certainly is not one-tenth as much a game of ,royals as the old count was a game of ,no-trumps4 ,one writer1 who ably advocates the new count1 calls the present game ,royal ,auction ,bridge1 yet frankly admits that ,no-trump is still played more frequently than ,royals1 and ,hearts almost as often4 ,there can be no question that the number of ,diamond and ,club declarations has materially increased1 so the only apparent reason for calling the game ,royals is the desire for some name to distinguish the count now used from its predecessor4 ,that1 however1 is totally unnecessary4 ,the old1 or ,bridge count1 is a thing of the past--dead and almost forgotten4 ,the new count is ,auction--,auction of ,to-day if you will1 but unquestionably the best ,auction yet devised1 the only ,auction now played1 and destined to be ,auction for all future time1 unless some system be suggested which will create keener competition in bidding4 ,it is generally conceded that this is practically impossible4 ,in this book the author does not attempt to drill the uninitiated player in the intricacies of the game4 ,the rudiments can be learned far more satisfactorily by watching a rubber1 or by receiving the kindly instruction of a friend or teacher4 ,in perusing these pages1 the beginner will seek in vain to receive such information as that the #aj is a higher card than the #i2 or that the ,third ,hand plays after the ,second4 ,the reader is supposed to thoroughly understand the respective values of the cards1 as well as the underlying principles and the rules of the game4 ,neither is this book intended for the player who recognizes himself as an expert and continuously prates of his own ability4 ,even should he condescend to read1 he would find either nothing new1 or nothing new worth knowing4 ,why1 indeed1 should he waste his valuable time considering the ideas of others1 when by his brilliant exposition of his own inimitable theories1 he can inculcate in the minds of his inferiors a new conception of ,auction possibilities8 ,such a player may at any time confuse a conscientious partner by making an original bid without an ,ace or ,king1 or by committing some equally atrocious ,auction faux pas1 but as even a constant recurrence of such trifles will not disturb his equanimity1 why suggest ideas for his guidance8 ,the real purpose of this little book is to point out to the moderate player the system of bidding and methods of play now adopted by the best exponents of the game1 and to advise generally how to produce a satisfactory result at the end of the rubber1 sitting1 or season4 ,much of the success of an ,auction player is due to his ability to concentrate his entire attention upon the game4 ,if it were possible to make only a single suggestion to a beginner1 the most important point that could be called to his attention would be the necessity for concentration4 ,from the moment the first bid is made until the last card is played1 the attention of every player should be confined to the declaration and the play1 and during that time no other idea should enter his mind4 ,this may seem rudimentary1 but as a matter of fact1 the loss of tricks is frequently blamed upon various causes1 such as pulling the wrong card1 forgetting that a certain declaration had been made1 or that a certain card has been played1 miscounting the ,trumps or the suit in question1 etc41 when the lack of complete concentration is the real trouble4 ,success in ,auction is indeed difficult1 and the player who would grasp every situation1 and capture every possible trick1 must have the power to concentrate all his faculties upon the task before him4 ,no matter how great his capacity1 he cannot do thorough justice to any hand1 if1 during the declaration or play1 his mind wander4 ,too often do we see a player1 while the play is in progress1 thinking of some such subject as how many more tricks his partner might have made in the last hand2 whether his partner has declared in the manner which he believes to be sound and conventional2 what is going on at some other table2 whether this rubber will be over in time for him to play another1 etc4 ,when this is the mental condition of a player1 the best results cannot be obtained4 ,if a trick has been lost1 it is gone4 ,thinking over it cannot bring it back1 but may very quickly give it one or more comrades4 ,as soon as each deal is completed1 it should be erased from the mind just as figures from a slate4 ,in that way only can be obtained the complete and absolute concentration which is essential to perfect play1 and goes a long way toward securing it4 ,auction is beyond doubt the most scientific card game that has ever become popular in this country4 ,the expert has the full measure of advantage to which his skill entitles him1 and yet the game possesses wonderful fascination for the beginner and player of average ability4 ,it is doubtless destined to a long term of increasing popularity1 and it is1 therefore1 most advisable for all who participate that they thoroughly familiarize themselves with the conventional methods of bidding and playing1 so that they may become intelligent partners1 and a real addition to any table4 ,,auction ,,of ,,to-,,day ,i ,,the ,,declaration#a ,it is well to realize from the start that the declaration is the most important department of the game1 and yet the most simple to master4 ,a foolish bid may cost hundreds of points4 ,the failure to make a sound one may lose a rubber1 whereas mistakes in the play1 while often expensive and irritating1 are rarely attended with such disastrous results4 #a ,also known as the ,bid and the ,call4 ,any good player who has to choose between a partner who bids well and plays poorly1 and one who is a wild or unreliable bidder1 but handles his cards with perfection1 without hesitation selects the former4 ,to be an expert player requires natural skill1 long experience1 keen intuition1 deep concentration1 and is an art that cannot be accurately taught either by the instructor or by a textbook4 ,bidding has been reduced to a more or less definite system1 which may be learned in a comparatively brief space of time4 ,consequently1 any one possessed of ordinary intelligence1 regardless of sex1 age1 temperament1 or experience1 may become an expert declarer1 but of all who attempt to play1 not more than forty per cent4 possess that almost indefinable characteristic known as a card head1 without which it is impossible to become a player of the highest class4 ,the average club or social game1 however1 produces numerous expert players1 while the sound bidder is indeed a rara avis4 ,the explanation of this peculiar condition is not hard to find4 ,most ,auction devotees began their card experience with ,whist1 a game in which1 beyond doubt1 ,the play's the thing2 then they transferred their allegiance to ,bridge1 where the play was the predominant factor2 and now they fail to realize that in their new pastime the most important part of the game is concluded before the first card leaves the leader's hand4 ,it must encourage the student to know that he may surely and quickly become a sound bidder1 and that he will then be a more valued partner than a ,whist or ,bridge celebrity who does not accord to the ,declaration the care it deserves and rewards4 ,many methods of bidding have been suggested2 some have been so absurd that they have not warranted or received serious consideration2 others have been accorded a thorough trial1 and found wanting4 ,the system which is herein advocated is believed to be the most sound and informatory yet devised4 ,before taking up the declaration by each hand1 it is important for the player to realize that with the introduction of the count of to-day1 much of the bidding previously in vogue has1 of necessity1 passed into disuse4 ,for example1 under the old count1 a player1 knowing that the ,club suit would never be played and that there was no danger of that declaration being continued by his partner1 very properly called a ,club to show the ,ace and ,king1 even when these two cards were the only ,clubs in his hand4 ,in ,auction of to-day1 it being possible to score game with any declaration1 a suit cannot be safely called unless it be of such length and strength that the partner may continue it as far as his hand warrants4 ,in discussing the subject of ,bidding1 under the subheads of ,,dealer1 ,,second ,,hand1 etc41 this will be considered more thoroughly1 and it is referred to at this time only for the purpose of pointing out that informatory bids from short suits containing high cards are no longer included in the vocabulary of the ,declarer4 ,another difference between the old and the present game is worthy of notice4 ,in the old game a marked distinction was drawn between the color of the suits in the make-up of a ,no-trumper1 it being more important that the black suits should be guarded than the red4 ,using the ,bridge count1 the adversaries1 if strong in the red suits1 were apt to bid1 but the black suits1 by reason of their low valuation1 frequently could not be called4 ,black was1 consequently1 the natural lead against a ,no-trump1 and therefore1 required more protection4 ,now1 as every suit can be named with practically equal effectiveness1 the color distinction has ceased to exist4 ,the original leader1 when ,no-trump has been declared1 no longer attempts to guess his partner's strength by starting with a black suit1 in preference to a red2 and in bidding one ,no-trump1 strength in one color is just as valuable as in the other4 ,when ,auction was first played in ,england1 it was believed that the deal was a disadvantage1 that the ,declarer should disguise his hand as long as possible and use every expedient to force his adversary to be the first to show real strength4 ,this doctrine has been found to be ridiculous4 ,the premium of #bej for winning the rubber is a bonus well worth having1 and the player who1 when his cards justify a bid1 unduly postpones his declaration1 belongs to an antiquated and almost extinct school4 ,it is now conceded that the best results are obtained by that character of bidding which gives the partner the most immediate and accurate information regarding the strength of the ,declarer4 ,there are still the old fogies who preach that1 as there are two opponents and only one partner1 all information is doubly advantageous to the adversary4 ,this moss-covered idea was advanced concerning the play in ,whist and ,bridge1 but experience proved it fallacious4 ,in ,auction1 its folly is apparent1 not only in the matter of the play1 but even more surely when applied to the bidding4 ,a moment's consideration causes the realization that the declaration would become an easy task if the exact composition of the partner's hand were known2 it should1 therefore1 be the aim of the bidder to simplify the next call of his partner by describing his own cards as accurately as possible4 ,true it is that the deceptive bidder at times succeeds in duping some confiding or inexperienced adversary and thereby achieves a temporary triumph of which he loves to boast4 ,for every such coup1 however1 he loses many conventional opportunities1 frequently gets into trouble1 and keeps his partner in a continual state of nervous unrest1 entirely inimical to the exercise of sound judgment4 ,nevertheless1 the erratic one rarely realizes this4 ,he gives his deceptive play the credit for his winning whenever he holds cards with which it is impossible for him to lose1 but characterizes as hard luck the hundreds that his adversaries tally in their honor columns by reason of his antics1 and is oblivious of the opportunities to win games which he allows to slip from his grasp4 ,the difference between informative and deceptive bidding is shown in the harmony of a partnership4 ,when the former is practised1 the pair pull together2 the latter results in misunderstandings and disputes4 ,it must not be understood1 however1 that the ability to give accurate information comprises the entire skill of the bidder4 ,it is most important that he possess the judgment which enables him to force the adversary into dangerous waters without getting beyond his own depth4 ,it is no excuse for a player who has led his partner on to their mutual destruction to murmur1 ,i could have made my bid4 ,an early bid being allowed to become the final declaration is exceptional4 ,whether or not it could be made is1 therefore1 immaterial1 but the result it may produce is vital4 ,in club circles the story is told of the player of experience1 who1 after he had been deceived by his partner's declaration1 said3 ,partner1 if you were reading the paper to a stranger1 you would not vary a word of even an unimportant item4 ,why1 then1 should you1 in describing your thirteen cards1 deliberately misinform a trusting partner8 ,another exploded idea is that an advantage can be obtained by so-called misleading or trap bidding4 ,there are some players who imagine that1 by calling one ,spade with an excellent hand1 they can induce the adversaries to believe that the bidder possesses a trickless combination1 and as a result1 some ridiculous declaration will follow1 which will give an opportunity for a profitable double4 ,experience has shown that in practice this idea does not produce satisfactory results4 ,adversaries will not bid to a point where they are apt to be doubled1 except in the face of competition4 ,when the ,dealer has called one ,spade1 his partner1 unless he hold very strong cards1 will not materially elevate the declaration4 ,if both partners have strength1 it is not probable that the adversaries can do much bidding1 so that it is only in the unusual case1 and against the inexperienced and unskilled1 that such a scheme is apt to prove successful4 ,on the other hand1 it transfers the advantage of being the first to show strength and abuses the confidence of the partner4 ,it is a tool which should be employed only by the ,declarer of ripe experience1 and he will limit its use to the unusual hand4 ,the bidder should remember that part of the finesse of the game1 when partners vary considerably in their respective skill1 is to so arrange the declaration that the stronger player is at the helm most of the time4 ,a weak player with a strong partner should not jump with undue haste into a ,no-trump1 ,royal1 or ,heart declaration2 but rather1 wait for the partner1 and then back up his call4 ,the weak player should also hesitate before taking away his partner's bid1 although of course1 there are many situations which thoroughly justify it1 regardless of the greatest difference in the skill of the players4 ,the objection to the game of ,auction which makes it the subject of the most severe criticism is the possibility that improper information may be conveyed to the partner by the manner of making the bid4 ,after starting to bid1 by using the word one or two there should never be any hesitation1 as that tells the partner that there is more than one call under consideration4 ,the same comment applies to hesitation when it is evident to the partner that it must be caused by a doubt whether or not to double1 and the opportunity so to do still remains with him4 ,an extended delay in passing or bidding one ,spade also conveys an obvious suggestion4 ,it goes without saying that no honorable partner would avail himself of such information4 ,being the unwilling recipient of it1 however1 places him in an awkward position1 as he must cross-examine himself as to whether any questionable bid or double he contemplates is in any way encouraged by it4 ,if he have even a scintilla of doubt1 he must pass4 ,a few principles of bidding applicable to all conditions may be stated at the beginning of the consideration of the subject4 ,adopt informatory and conservative methods4 ,a good player may bid higher than a poor one4 ,when your partner fails to assist your bid1 do not count on him for more strength than a ,dealer who has bid one ,spade4 ,any overbid of an adversary shows strength2 an overbid of a partner who has declared ,no-trump may show weakness4 ,overbidding a partner who has declared ,royals or ,hearts shows weakness in his suit4 ,being without a suit1 or holding a singleton1 is an element of strength for a ,trump declaration2 of weakness for a ,no-trumper4 ,when1 if you do not bid1 the adversary will be left in with a declaration with which he cannot make game1 do not take him out unless you expect to score game with your declaration4 ,do not1 by reckless bidding1 make the loss of one rubber equal the usual value of two4 ,with a love score1 it requires three tricks in ,no-trumps1 four in ,royals or ,hearts1 and five in ,diamonds or ,clubs1 to make game4 ,it is an exceptional hand in which the ,declarer does not lose more than two tricks4 ,diamonds and ,clubs are1 therefore1 rarely played in preference to one of the three declarations of higher value1 which are spoken of as game-going declarations4 ,there is very little declaring to the score in ,auction1 as the majority of deals in which the contract is fulfilled score game1 so that most of the time the score is love4 ,in a certain percentage of cases1 however1 there is a score1 and it affects the bidding to the following extent3-- ,if it be #b or more1 ,diamonds should be treated as ,royals or ,hearts would be at love2 if it be #f or more1 ,clubs should be similarly treated4 ,if it be #c or more1 ,royals1 with a holding of five or more1 should be bid in preference to ,no-trump1 even with all the suits stopped1 and if it be #f or more1 ,hearts should be similarly treated4 ,when the score reaches a higher figure1 such as #af1 for example1 holding five ,diamonds1 ,hearts1 or ,spades1 suit bids should be given the preference over ,no-trumpers4 ,the reason is plain4 ,the winning of the game is the object of the bidder2 when that is in sight with a suit declaration1 ,no-trump should not be risked unless in the higher declaration the fulfilment of the contract be equally sure4 ,the establishment of an adverse suit is the rock which sinks many a ,no-trumper4 ,there is little chance of this with a suit declaration4 ,therefore1 especially when it does not require any more tricks to go game1 the suit should be selected1 if the ,no-trump present any element of danger4 ,the state of the score never justifies an original bid which would not be conventional at love4 ,in other words1 while being the possessor of a score may make it wise for a bidder to select a suit instead of a ,no-trump1 it never justifies his calling a suit in which he has not both the length and strength requisite for a declaration with a love score4 ,bidding by the different hands is so varied in its character that each must be considered as practically a separate subject1 and they will1 therefore1 be taken up seriatim4 ,in all cases where the score is not especially mentioned1 it should be understood that neither side is supposed to have scored4 ,,ii ,,original ,,declarations ,,by ,,the ,,dealer ,the ,dealer1 in making the initial declaration1 obtains a valuable strategic position whenever his hand justifies an offensive bid 7i4e41 anything but one ,spade72 but when he is compelled to assume the defensive1 this advantage passes to his opponents4 ,by any declaration which shows strength1 he materially aids his partner and places difficulties in the path of his adversaries4 ,a ,no-trump is naturally his most advantageous opening4 ,there are many hands in which the strength is so evenly divided that the advantage of playing the ,dummy enables the player who gets to the ,no-trump first to make good his declaration1 and frequently1 in such equally balanced hands1 one ,no-trump is the only bid that can be made4 ,one ,no-trump eliminates all adverse calls of one1 and sometimes when the strength of the opponents is considerable1 but divided1 results in shutting out a productive declaration4 ,the ,dealer1 therefore1 whenever his hand warrants it1 should grasp his good fortune and declare his strength4 ,he should not1 however1 rashly assume the offensive4 ,there is no way in which he can more thoroughly deceive his partner1 create greater havoc with the bidding of the hand and cast deeper distrust upon his future declarations than by using the keynote bid to announce strength which his hand does not contain4 ,he must thoroughly understand the conventional declarations1 and when in doubt should bid one ,spade1 as the damage which is apt to result from an overestimation by his partner of his winning cards is much greater than any benefit gained by starting the attack4 ,,the ,,bid ,,of ,,one ,,no-,,trump ,the ,dealer is justified in basing his declaration upon the assumption that his partner has one-third of the high cards not in his own hand4 ,he may1 therefore1 bid one ,no-trump with any holding better than the average whenever he has 7a7 ,four suits stopped4 7b7 ,three suits stopped and his hand contains an ,ace4 7c7 ,three ,king suits1 all of which contain in addition either ,queen or ,knave4 7d7 ,a solid five-card ,club or ,diamond suit and another ,ace4 ,the first question to determine is what1 from the standpoint of the ,declarer1 constitutes a guarded or stopped suit4 ,that an ,ace comes under that head is self-evident4 ,so also must a ,king1 if accompanied by one small1 because the lead comes up to the ,declarer1 and the ,king must either be able to win the trick or be made good4 ,a ,queen and one other manifestly will not stop a suit1 and a ,queen and two others is not apt to do so unless the leader hold both ,ace and ,king4 ,queen and three others is1 however1 comparatively safe1 and ,queen1 ,knave1 and one other is a most satisfactory guard4 ,knave1 ,ten1 and two others surely stops a suit1 but ,knave and three small is about as unreliable as ,queen and two small4 ,it1 therefore1 becomes evident that the ,dealer1 to count a suit as stopped1 must have in it one of the following holdings3-- ,ace4 ,king and one other4 ,queen and three others4 ,queen1 ,knave1 and one other4 ,knave and four others4 ,knave1 ,ten1 and two others4 ,some experts1 with three suits stopped1 bid ,no-trump with exactly an average hand1 but experience has shown that this is advisable only when supported by exceptional skill1 and cannot be recommended to most players4 ,the average holding of high cards is one ,ace1 one ,king1 one ,queen1 and one ,knave4 ,from the average standpoint it is immaterial whether they are all in one suit or divided4 ,any hand containing a face card or ,ace above this average is a ,no-trumper1 whenever it complies with the other above-mentioned requirements4 ,when the average is exceeded by holding two ,aces1 instead of an ,ace and ,king1 a ,no-trump should be called1 but two ,kings1 instead of a ,king and ,queen1 or even a ,king and ,knave1 is a very slight margin1 and the declaration is doubtful for any but the most expert4 ,a hand with two ,queens instead of one ,queen and one ,knave1 while technically above the average1 cannot be so considered when viewed from a trick-taking standpoint1 and does not warrant a ,no-trump call4 ,in bidding ,no-trump with three guarded suits1 it does not matter which is unprotected4 ,for example1 the minimum strength of a ,no-trumper composed of one face card more than the average is an ,ace in one suit2 ,king1 ,knave1 in another2 and ,queen1 ,knave1 in a third4 ,this hand would be a ,no-trumper1 regardless of whether the suit void of strength happened to be ,hearts1 ,diamonds1 ,clubs1 or ,spades4 ,the above-described method of determining when the hand sizes up to the ,no-trump standard is generally known as the average system1 and has been found more simple and much safer than any of the other tests suggested4 ,it avoids the necessity of taking the ,ten into consideration1 and does not involve the problems in mental arithmetic which become necessary when each honor is valued at a certain figure and a total fixed as requisite for a ,no-trump bid4 ,the theory upon which a player with possibly only three tricks declares to take seven1 is that a hand containing three sure tricks1 benefited by the advantage derived from having twenty-six cards played in unison1 is apt to produce one more2 and until the ,dummy refuse to help1 he may be figured on for average assistance4 ,the ,dealer is expecting to take four tricks with his own hand1 and if the ,dummy take three 7one-third of the remaining nine71 he will fulfil his contract4 ,even if the ,dummy fail to render the amount of aid the doctrine of chances makes probable1 the declaration is not likely to prove disastrous1 as one ,no-trump is rarely doubled4 ,it is also conventional to declare one ,no-trump with a five-card or longer ,club or ,diamond suit1#b headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 and one other ,ace4 ,this is the only hand containing strength in but two suits with which a ,no-trump should be called4 #b ,with a similar suit in either ,spades or ,hearts1 ,royals or ,hearts should be the bid4 ,as a rule a combination of high cards massed into two suits does not produce a ,no-trumper1 although the same cards1 divided into three suits1 may do so4 ,for example1 a hand containing ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 in one suit2 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 in another1 and the two remaining suits unguarded1 should not be bid ,no-trump1 although the high cards are stronger than the example given above with strength in three suits4 ,admitting all the advantage of the original ,no-trump1 even the boldest bidders do not consider it a sound declaration with two defenseless suits1 unless one of the strong suits be established and the other headed by an ,ace4 ,the reason for this is easily understood4 ,when the adversaries have a long suit of which they have all the high cards1 the chances are that it will be opened2 but if not1 it will soon be found unless the ,declarer can at once run a suit of considerable length4 ,when a suit is established by the adversaries1 the ,declarer is put in an embarrassing position1 and would probably have been better off playing a ,trump declaration4 ,it is a reasonable risk to trust the partner to stop one suit1 but it is being much too sanguine to expect him to protect two4 ,should he fail to have either stopped1 the ,declarer's loss is so heavy that only with a long and apparently established suit and an additional ,ace is the risk justified4 ,it is realized that the case cited1 namely1 ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 and two others1 may not prove to be an established 7or solid1 as it is often called7 suit4 ,if however1 the division be at all even1 as it is in the vast majority of cases1 the suit can be run1 and it is cited as the minimum holding which may be treated as established4 ,with the present value of ,clubs and ,diamonds1 either suit presents an effective original declaration4 ,there is1 therefore1 much less excuse than formerly for a reckless ,no-trump bid1 based upon five or six ,club or ,diamond tricks and one other suit stopped4 ,when1 however1 an ,ace of another suit accompanies the unusual ,club or ,diamond strength1 the advantage of being the first to bid ,no-trump makes the chance worth taking4 ,the hands above cited as containing the minimum strength to warrant the call are all what are known as weak ,no-trumpers4 ,this kind of bidding may not be conservative1 but experience has shown it to be effective as long as it is kept within the specified limits4 ,a ,no-trump must1 however1 justify the partner in acting upon the assumption that the bidder has at least the stipulated strength1 and it merely courts disaster to venture such a declaration with less than the conventional holding4 ,a few examples may possibly make the above somewhat more clear1 as by that means the various minimum-strength or border-line ,no-trumpers1 and also hands which fall just below the mark1 can be accurately shown4 ,it will be understood that an effort is made to give the weakest hands which justify the ,no-trump declaration1 and also the hands which fall short by the smallest possible margin4 ,in other words1 the hands which puzzle the ,declarer4 ,with greater strength or greater weakness the correct bid is plainly indicated4 ,the suits are numbered1 not designated by their respective names1 in order to emphasize that it does not matter where the weakness is located4 ,,hands ,,in ,,which ,,the ,,no-,,trump ,,declaration ,,is ,,doubtful ,suit #a ,king1 ,knave1 ,x ,does not contain an ,ace1 but is #b ,king1 ,x1 ,x above the average and has four #c ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x suits stopped4 ,it is a ,no-trump #d ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x bid4 ,suit #a ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,has an ,ace1 three suits stopped1 #b ,x1 ,x1 ,x and a ,knave over the average4 ,it #c ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x is a ,no-trump bid4 #d ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x ,suit #a ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x ,has an ,ace and two face cards #b ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave more than the average1 but1 not #c ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x having three suits stopped1 is #d ,knave1 ,x1 ,x not a ,no-trump bid4 ,suit #a ,king1 ,queen1 ,x ,has three suits stopped1 but is #b ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x without an ,ace1 and is one ,king #c ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x short of three ,king suits all with #d ,x1 ,x1 ,x another face card4 ,it is not a ,no-trump bid4 ,suit #a ,king1 ,knave1 ,x ,has three ,king-,queen1 or #b ,king1 ,queen1 ,x ,king-,knave suits4 ,it is a ,no-trump #c ,king1 ,knave1 ,x bid4 #d ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,suit #a ,ace1 ,x1 ,x ,has three suits stopped and is #b ,ace1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x above the average4 ,it is a ,no-trump #c ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x bid4 #d ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,suit #a ,ace1 ,x1 ,x ,this is the border-line hand #b ,king1 ,x1 ,x mentioned above4 ,it may be a #c ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,no-trump bid for an expert1 but #d ,king1 ,knave1 ,x the moderate player is hardly justified in risking it4 ,the presence of one or two ,tens would add materially to the strength of this hand and make it a ,no-trump4 ,suit #a ,ace1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,only above the average to the #b ,king1 ,queen1 ,x extent of a ,queen in place of #c ,queen1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x a ,knave4 ,no-trump is not advised #d ,x1 ,x unless ,declarer is confident he can outplay his adversaries4 ,suit #a ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,an average hand4 ,with this holding #b ,king1 ,x1 ,x only an expert is justified in #c ,queen1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x bidding ,no-trump4 #d ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,suit #a ,ace1 ,x1 ,x ,below the average1 and1 therefore1 #b ,king1 ,x1 ,x only one ,spade should be bid4 #c ,queen1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x #d ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,has the weakest solid suit or ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x that with one other ,ace warrants ,diamonds a ,no-trump bid4 ,suit #b ,ace1 ,x1 ,x #c ,x1 ,x1 ,x #d ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,absence of ,queen in one case1 and or or of ,king in the other1 keeps the ,diamonds ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x suit from being established4 ,even the presence of the additional ,suit #b ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x ,queen in ,suit #b does not make this #c ,x1 ,x1 ,x a ,no-trumper4 #d ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,absence of additional ,ace makes or ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x a ,no-trump inadvisable4 ,diamonds ,suit #b ,king1 ,queen1 ,x #c ,x1 ,x1 ,x #d ,x1 ,x ,it is realized that in the last three cases cited the margin is unusually close2 the last one1 should the partner happen to have either ,suit #c or #d stopped1 and the ,ace and some length of ,suit #b1 would be very much stronger than the example justifying the bid4 ,it is also true that a fortunate drop of the ,king or ,queen of the long suit1 with a little help from the partner1 would make the next to the last the strongest of the three4 ,it is idle1 however1 to speculate on what the partner may have4 ,in such close cases it is most important to invariably follow some fixed rule4 ,the player who guesses each time may always be wrong1 while the player who sticks to the sound bid is sure to be right most of the time4 ,experience has shown that1 when only two suits are stopped1 it is not wise to bid ,no-trump without both an ,ace and a solid suit1 and experience is the best teacher4 ,,when ,,to ,,bid ,,two ,,no-,,trumps ,an original bid of more than one ,no-trump is rarely advisable1 as it is important that the partner be given the option of bidding two of a suit4 ,with great strength such a call should never be made1 as in that case there is no good reason for attempting to shut out the adversary4 ,the only character of hand which justifies starting with two ,no-trumps is the rare combination in which a long1 solid suit of six or seven ,clubs or ,diamonds is held1 accompanied by an ,ace or guarded ,king in at least two of the remaining suits1 the idea being to shut out adverse ,royals or ,hearts4 ,some players believe in bidding two ,no-trumps with every ,ace and not a face1 but that sort of an effort to steal the #ajj is not justified as the partner's hand may make a game1 which could not be won at ,no-trumps1 obtainable in a suit declaration4 ,a game with the incidental score is worth much more than one hundred ,aces and only two odd tricks1 or perchance an unfilled contract4 ,it is also important that the bid be limited to the one case mentioned1 as in that way it gives the most accurate information4 ,,exception ,,to ,,the ,,no-,,trump ,,rule ,there is one important exception to most of the ,no-trump bids above described1 and that is when the hand1 which otherwise would be a ,no-trumper1 contains as its strong suit five or more ,spades or ,hearts4 ,it takes only one more ,royal or ,heart than it does ,no-trump to win the game1 and with a suit unguarded1 it is far safer and wiser1 with such a holding1 to bid the ,heart or ,royal than the ,no-trump4 ,for example1 with ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 and two small ,clubs2 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 and one ,diamond2 ,queen1 ,knave1 and one ,heart2 and one ,spade1 the bid would unquestionably be ,no-trump4 ,if1 however1 the ,club and ,spade holding be transposed1 a ,royal should be declared4 ,when there is a score which places the ,club or ,diamond within four tricks of game1 these suits become as valuable as the ,heart or ,royal1 with the score at love1 and should be treated accordingly4 ,the ,declarer should bear in mind that as the game is the desideratum1 the surest1 not the most glorious or enjoyable1 route of reaching it should be chosen4 ,when ,no-trump is declared with a hand containing a defenceless suit1 there is a grave chance that the adversaries may save game by making five tricks in that suit before the ,declarer can obtain the lead4 ,with five or more strong cards of a suit and two other suits stopped1 four tricks are more probable with the suit declaration than three with ,no-trump1 but three with the ,no-trump are more likely than five with the suit4 ,it1 therefore1 depends upon which suit be held whether it or ,no-trump should be bid4 ,the inclination which many players have for a ,no-trump bid should be firmly curbed1 when the holding is of the character mentioned and the strength is in ,spades or ,hearts4 ,a very different case arises1 however1 when all the suits are stopped2 the ,dealer is then1 the game being probable with either declaration1 justified in bidding either the ,no-trump or the suit1 as he may prefer1 and the value of the honors he holds should be an important factor in guiding his decision4 ,when he has more than five ,spades or ,hearts1 the suit declaration is generally to be preferred1 even with all suits stopped1 unless the hand contain four ,aces4 ,a few examples follow3-- ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x ,while this hand contains three ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x ,aces1 it is more apt to score ,diamonds ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x game with ,royals than without a ,clubs ,x ,trump4 ,with the ,spade and ,club or ,spade and ,diamond suits transposed1 it is a ,no-trumper4 ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,x ,not having five ,spades1 this hand ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x is a ,no-trump bid4 ,the fact that ,diamonds ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x it contains a singleton is an ,clubs ,x argument in favor of a suit declaration1 but with only four ,spades it is safer to risk the ,clubs than long adverse ,spades with one more trick required for game4 ,spades ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x ,a ,no-trumper1 as it has three ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave suits stopped and contains an ,diamonds ,x ,ace4 ,a transposition of the ,clubs ,clubs ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x to ,spades or ,hearts would make it a ,trump declaration4 ,spades ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,can be declared either ,royals ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen or ,no-trump1 as four suits are ,diamonds ,ace1 ,x1 ,x stopped and it has five strong ,clubs ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,spades4 ,the #cj ,aces as compared with #ah honors in ,royals and the absence of a singleton make the ,no-trump more attractive4 ,if1 however1 the ,ten of ,spades be substituted for a small ,spade1 the #gb honors would make it a ,royal4 ,spades ,king1 ,knave1 ,x ,while the four ,suits are stopped1 ,hearts ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x the length in ,hearts makes the ,diamonds ,ace1 ,x suit call the more advisable4 ,clubs ,ace1 ,x ,spades ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten ,the ,diamond is tempting1 as a ,hearts ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten score of #ef honors is compared ,diamonds ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave with possibly #cj adverse aces4 ,clubs ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave ,if1 however1 the three missing ,aces be held by the adversaries1 game cannot be scored in ,diamonds1 and a game is always worth more than #ajj4 ,it is therefore a ,no-trump4 ,,suit ,,declarations ,for some reason the ,dealer is more apt to make faulty suit bids than unwarranted ,no-trumpers4 ,it seems as difficult for the old ,whist and ,bridge player as it is for the novice to realize that even excessive length does not justify an original suit call1 unless the suit contain either the ,ace or the ,king4 ,it1 also1 is just as important to remember that if the suit does not contain both the ,ace and the ,king1 the hand must in addition have at least one other honor in the suit named1#c and one other sure trick4 ,by sure trick in this connection is not meant merely a suit stopped1 but a trick that can be won not later than the second round2 in other words1 either an ,ace or a ,king and ,queen1 or ,king and ,knave1 of the same suit4 #c ,while1 as a general rule1 to justify an original suit declaration1 one other honor should accompany either ,ace or ,king1 it is not necessary to blindly follow such a requirement to an absurd extreme4 ,if the suit be headed by the ,ace1 either unusual length 7six or more7 or considerable strength in another suit 7,ace and ,king1 or ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave7 would justify a call without one other honor4 ,if1 however1 the suit be headed by the ,king1 the presence of another honor is essential unless the length or additional strength be extraordinary4 ,stating in another way the combination of high cards requisite for an original suit bid1 it may be said that a suit should never be originally declared unless the hand contain two sure high-card tricks1 one of which must be in the suit named4 ,these sure high-card tricks must be either two ,aces or their equivalent in value for trick-taking purposes4 ,the reason is obvious4 ,the declaration of a suit by an informatory bidder tells the partner1 not only that the bidder is satisfied to have that hand played with the suit named as the ,trump1 but also that his holding will be helpful to the extent of at least two tricks1 one of which is in his suit1 should the declaration be shifted to ,no-trump4 ,this is one of the simplest and most vital rules of bidding1 yet it is probably the most frequently disregarded4 ,innumerable points have appeared in the adverse honor column because a partner has properly assumed that an original suit call showed the high-card strength just mentioned1 only to find out too late that the bidder1 with perhaps a couple of ,kings1 had yielded to the lure of length4 ,even at the risk of seeming repetition1 it is necessary to be a little more explicit upon this subject4 ,when the ,dealer bids a suit1 he says3 ,partner1 ,i have great strength in this suit2 it is probable that ,i have both the ,ace and ,king1 but if not1 ,i have either the ,ace or ,king1 supported by at least one other honor1#d and the ,ace or the ,king and ,queen1 or ,king and ,knave1 of some other suit2 you can bid ,no-trump or double any adverse declaration1 positively assured that ,i will support you to the extent named4 #d ,see footnote1 page #ca4 ,the holding in the suit which is declared1 is vital4 ,take1 for example1 such a hand as ,queen1 ,knave1 and five small ,hearts2 and the ,ace and ,king of ,clubs4 ,of course1 the ,dealer wants to play this hand with ,hearts as ,trump1 but he should not bid a ,heart at the start1 as he has not the ,ace or ,king4 ,the fact that he has both the ,ace and ,king of ,clubs does not justify a ,heart call without either the ,ace or ,king of ,hearts4 ,with the hand cited there will be plenty of time to bid ,hearts later4 ,the rule which governs this case is the foundation of modern bidding2 it is without exception1 is not affected by the score1 and is the most important of all ,auction conventions4 ,every player should resolve that1 whatever his other shortcomings may be1 he will treat it as a veritable law of the ,medes and ,persians1 and that never1 as ,dealer1 will he call a suit unless he hold the ,ace or ,king of it1 and the other requisite strength4 ,the combination of high cards above mentioned1 however1 is not in itself sufficient to justify a suit declaration4 ,there must1 in addition1 be length in the suit4 ,this is just as essential in ,clubs or ,diamonds as in ,hearts or ,royals4 ,the partner may have great strength1 and yet be unable to stop the adverse suit4 ,a ,no-trump being thus eliminated1 he1 acting on the assurance given by the original call1 may carry the suit to high figures4 ,this is sure to prove disastrous1 unless the original bidder has length as well as strength4 ,as a general rule1 five is the minimum length with which a suit should be called1 but with great strength1 such as ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave2 ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave2 or ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 in the suit1 coupled with another ,ace2 or a ,king and ,queen1 a bid with a four-card combination may be ventured4 ,a four-card suit1 headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 may be called without other strength4 ,a short suit1 that is1 one of three cards or less1 should never be bid originally1 regardless of its strength4 ,even the holding of ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 does not justify the naming of such a suit4 ,while the doctrine above enunciated as to the minimum strength required for a ,trump bid is unquestionably logical and is now regarded as conventional by a very large proportion of the expert players of ,auction1 it is only natural that there should be some dissent4 ,there is a certain character of mind that always desires to carry any sound theory to dangerous extremes1 and1 consequently1 some players and writers have seen fit1 while adopting the theory which has altered the old system of always starting with one ,spade into the modern informatory game1 to advocate extensions which would practically eliminate the defensive declaration4 ,these extremists desire to permit a ,dealer to bid whenever he has a long suit1 regardless of whether it be headed by high cards1 and also whether it would aid a ,no-trump4 ,one system suggested is that a ,trump be called whenever the ,dealer holds any suit which counts #g1 on the basis of an ,ace or face counting #b1 and any lower card1 #a4 ,the believers in this doctrine would1 therefore1 bid a ,club from such a hand as ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 without any possibility of another trick2 or even from ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x4 ,the absurdity of this becomes obvious when it is remembered that the only real object in bidding a ,club or ,diamond is to show strength which will justify the partner in declaring one of the three game-going declarations4 ,any such holding as that mentioned not only does not help any other declaration1 but as a matter of fact is a hand so far under the trick-taking average that1 if any method could be devised by which weakness could be emphasized more strongly than by making the defensive declaration1 such a hand would fully justify employing it4 ,it is difficult to conceive what benefit can result to a partnership from any such weakness being1 for the purpose of the declaration1 changed into alleged strength4 ,if a player declare with any such combination1 his power to give information when he really possesses strength of course immediately ceases to exist1 and the entire structure of informative bidding thereby drops to pieces4 ,the system of suit declarations above outlined1 and upon which all that is hereinafter suggested in relation to bidding is based1 must be followed by players who wish to give their partners accurate data1 and while it may be tempting at times to depart from the conventional1 the more frequently such exception is made by the ,dealer in his bid1 the more often does misunderstanding between the partners ensue4 ,,various ,,ideas ,,of ,,the ,,two ,,spade ,,bid ,every game of the ,whist family has some point upon which experts disagree1 and which1 consequently1 produces apparently interminable discussion4 ,in ,auction1 it is the two ,spade bid1 and no less than four recognized factions have widely divergent views concerning it4 ,these views may be briefly stated as follows3-- 7a7 ,with the border-line ,no-trumpers now in vogue1 a hand not strong enough to bid ,no-trump is too weak to warrant any call but one ,spade4 ,the two ,spade bid is1 therefore1 useless and should never be made4 7b7 ,the two ,spade bid should be used as a ,no-trump invitation with any hand not quite strong enough to justify a ,no-trump call4 ,having this meaning it does not matter whether the hand contain any ,spade strength4 7c7 ,the two ,spade bid should be used as a ,no-trump invitation1 but must also give the additional information that the hand contains at least one trick in ,spades4 7d7 ,the two ,spade bid should be used to tell the partner that the hand has the high-card strength to bid one ,royal1 but not sufficient length4 ,it thus becomes either a ,no-trump or ,royal invitation4 ,all these systems have their advocates1 most of whom refuse to see merit in any plan but their own4 ,it is only fair1 however1 before reaching a definite conclusion to accord to all a fair and dispassionate consideration4 7a7 ,the argument that1 as long as light ,no-trumpers are conventional1 any hand not sufficiently strong to call ,no-trump is too weak to justify declaring more than one ,spade1 has considerable force4 ,beyond question1 many followers of plans b and c call two ,spades when their holdings do not warrant such action1 but the fact that a declaration is at times abused is far from being a sufficient reason for wiping it off the ,auction map1 and saying to those who desire to use it rationally1 ,no1 because some players see fit to make this bid with two ,knaves and a ,queen1 it is not safe to allow you the privilege of using it sanely1 wisely1 and at the appropriate time4 ,the supporters of a1 however1 go further1 and say that the hands in which a ,no-trump cannot be called1 but with which the invitation should be extended to the partner to bid it1 are so rare that the retention of the two ,spade call merely encumbers the catalogue of the ,declarer with a bid that is practically obsolete4 ,this1 if it be true1 would be most convincing1 but it is so surprising a statement that it should be examined before being accepted4 ,every hand that class d would bid two ,spades would be similarly called by b and c1 and at least ninety-nine per cent4 of expert ,auction players concede that such a bid is sound4 ,for example3-- ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave ,hearts ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x has strength which deserves1 if possible1 to be shown4 ,this is merely a sample of a hand which would be a ,royal1 if length in ,spades accompanied the strength4 ,such hands come within the d classification1 and are not rare4 ,this must be admitted when it is considered that three- or four-card suits are much more frequently held than suits of greater length4 ,therefore1 two ,spades should be bid more often than one ,royal4 ,with the single exception of ,no-trump1 ,royals is the call most frequently played2 consequently1 as a preliminary call1 two ,spades must be used more constantly than any declaration1 except ,no-trump4 ,experience bears out this argument1 and it1 therefore1 seems that the a allegations are not supported by examination4 ,it is obvious that the more original calls with which it is possible to equip a ,dealer1 the more accurately can he distinguish for the benefit of his partner between the different classes of holdings4 ,it therefore seems absurd to contend that the bid of two spades should be eliminated4 7b7 ,the argument presented by the b school is also at first quite convincing4 ,take such a hand as ,spades ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,hearts ,ace1 ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,king1 ,knave1 ,x ,clubs ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,it is just too weak for a ,no-trump1 but at first glance seems too strong for a ,spade4 ,why1 however1 should it be too strong for a ,spade8 ,it is under the average1 which means the holding of the partner must be quite a bit better than the average to get one odd4 ,if he have such a hand he will declare it in any event1 and the dealer can then help4 ,furthermore1 this system does not point out any one suit as stopped1 and1 therefore1 gives the minimum degree of information4 ,it is practically saying1 ,i bid half a ,no-trump4 ,it is quite doubtful whether the holding essential for such a bid can be properly limited and whether it will not tempt bidding with too great weakness4 ,furthermore1 it must be taken out4 ,the ,third ,hand cannot allow his partner to play two ,spades1 and if he be weak1 all he can do under this system is to call three ,spades1 which only makes matters worse1 as it is sure to be doubled1 and the dealer must in turn take that out4 ,to do this with the hand above cited1 he must either call two ,clubs with four to a ,knave1 or one ,diamond with three to the ,king1 ,knave4 ,the trouble is evident--the result apt to be unfortunate4 ,if the partner with average strength accept such a ,no-trump invitation1 the contract cannot be fulfilled2 while if he be strong1 he will bid in any event1 so where is the advantage of the call8 ,for one purpose1 however1 this system of bid seems sound4 ,if the dealer be a poor player and the ,third ,hand an expert1 it is for the benefit of the partnership that the ,third ,hand be the ,declarer4 ,when the ,dealer holds a real ,no-trumper1 but wishes his partner to become the ,declarer1 the two ,spade1--not invitation1 but command1--has real merit1 but as few players either concede their own inferiority or are willing to allow their partners to play a majority of the hands1 this apparent argument in favor of the plan will not appeal to many1 and will1 therefore1 seldom prove of service4 7c7 ,this comes nearer being logical1 as it shows one ,spade trick1 and1 therefore1 indicates help for a partner's ,royal1 but with that exception1 it is subject to the same objections as b4 ,it is troublesome to take out1 and when compared with d gives extremely limited information4 ,it may1 however1 be of distinct advantage for a player who does not approve of light ,no-trumpers4 ,followers of the theory that the call of one ,no-trump means four or five sure tricks will certainly find c or even b an advantageous system1 but the advantage of getting to the ,no-trump first is so manifest that the light declarations have become generally popular1 and but few of the ,i-will-not-declare-unless-,i-have-the-' goods' bidders are now to be found4 ,if a player believe in calling ,no-trump with the minimum strength now considered sufficient1 he has little use for either b or c4 ,it is self-evident that c cannot be used as often as b1 so the ,declarer who likes always to say something will prefer b1 but the bidder who wishes1 when he calls1 to have distinct value attached to his announcement1 will elect in favor of c rather than b1 and for the same reason will find d the best system of all4 7d7 ,it is toward this system that the evolution of modern bidding is turning4 ,true1 two ,spades cannot be declared as frequently when d is used as when b or c is employed1 but the d bid conveys information so comprehensive and important that one call is of greater value than several b or c bids1 which1 at best1 furnish the partner with indefinite data4 ,it makes the weakness take-out of the partner1 namely1 one ,royal1 easy and logical1 and in every way seems the soundest1 safest1 simplest1 and most conducive to game-winning of all the plans suggested4 ,it invites equally the two most important declarations1 makes easy the position of the partner when he holds long1 weak ,spades1 and is doubtless destined1 in a short time1 to be the only two-,spade system in use1 unless it be found advisable to include in the repertory of the original declarer both b and d4 ,this can be readily accomplished by calling two ,spades for b2 three ,spades for d2 and four ,spades for the combination hereinafter given1 for which the declaration of three ,spades is suggested4 ,no serious objection can be advanced to this plan1 except that it is somewhat complicated1 and for a light ,no-trump bidder1 possibly unnecessary4 ,it is a totally new idea1 but believed to be of sufficient value to entitle it to a trial4 ,as it is impossible to declare or play intelligently when any doubt exists between partners regarding the convention employed1 and as it is wise not to follow unsound theories1 no further reference will be made to a1 b1 or c plans4 ,the d system will be fully described1 and all suggestions that hereinafter appear will be based upon the supposition that it is being used4 ,,the ,,two ,,spade ,,bid#e ,the bid of two ,spades is a showing of ,spade strength1 with a hand which does not contain ,spade length sufficient to justify the bid of one ,royal4 #e ,see page #hi1 as to how the partner should treat this declaration2 also table on pages #fh and #fi4 ,the latter is the more advantageous declaration1 and should be made whenever five ,spades with the requisite high-card strength are held4 ,when1 however1 the hand contains the strength1 but not the length1 for a ,royal call1 the bid of two ,spades is a most useful substitute4 ,it may be made with three or four ,spades in any case in which1 with five1 one ,royal could be declared1 except the solitary instance of holding ,ace and ,king of ,spades without another trick of any kind4 ,a ,royal may be called with five1 headed by ,ace1 ,king1 as1 should the bid stand1 the three small ,trumps would surely take one trick4 ,every original offensive declaration is based upon a minimum of three tricks4 ,this principle applies to the bid of two ,spades1 and1 therefore1 a hand containing less than five ,spades1 headed by ,ace1 ,king1 and no other winning card1 is a one ,spade call1 as it is one and one-quarter tricks below the average4 ,when a player bids two ,spades1 he sends his partner a message which gives information about as follows3 ,i have three or four ,spades with two or three high honors1 and in addition1 unless ,i have ,ace1 ,king1 and ,queen of ,spades1 ,i have one other suit well stopped4 ,my hand does not warrant a ,no-trump1 because ,i have only two suits stopped4 ,as ,i have not more than four ,spades1 ,i do not wish to bid a ,royal2 ,i am too strong to be satisfied with one ,spade1 so ,i bid two for the purpose of encouraging you to call ,no-trump or ,royals4 ,such a declaration certainly gives very accurate information1 and should be used whenever such a hand occurs1 but not under any other circumstances4 ,,the ,,three ,,spade ,,bid#f ,the declaration of three ,spades by the ,dealer is a very recent idea and is also most informatory4 ,it says3 ,partner1 ,i am anxious to have ,royals the ,trump1 but ,i cannot make that declaration now1 as ,i have not the requisite high cards4 ,i probably have not the ,ace of ,spades1 and the chances are that ,i am without the ,king also4 ,either because the balance of my hand is so strong that ,i fear ,i will be left in with one ,spade1 or for some other reason1 ,i do not wish to open with the defensive declaration and wait for a later round to show strength4 ,you can count on me for five or more 7probably more7 ,spades and other strength4 #f ,see page #ij1 as to how the partner should treat this declaration4 ,,when ,,to ,,bid ,,two ,,in ,,either ,,royals ,,or ,,hearts ,another case to consider in bidding by the ,dealer is when more than one of any game-scoring suit should be declared4 ,the original theory of declaration was to withhold from the table as long as possible all information regarding the strength of the hand2 therefore1 to start with one in the real suit was regarded as most unwise1 and to bid two would have been deemed the act of a lunatic4 ,now1 however1 the original suit declaration of more than one is generally acknowledged to be an important part of the finesse of the skilled bidder1 and such bidding1 when justified by the hand1 is recognized as eminently wise and proper4 ,when the two and three original ,trump bids first came into vogue1 they were used indiscriminately with great length1 regardless of whether or not high cards headed the suit4 ,the meaning of the bid was ,do not take me out1 and it was made under widely divergent conditions4 ,no distinction was drawn between a hand which might be trickless as an aid to1 or defense against1 a ,no-trump declaration1 and one which would produce seven or eight tricks under such circumstances4 ,this kind of bidding was found to be much too confusing for the partner1 and prevented him from rendering intelligent support4 ,it is now realized that it is far wiser with length1 no matter how great1 but without commanding cards1 to start with a ,spade and then bid the long suit on the succeeding round1 thus practically photographing the hand for the partner and energetically waving the red flag for any declaration but the one suit4 ,take1 for example1 such a hand as seven ,hearts1 headed by ,queen1 ,knave2 ,ace1 ,knave1 and two ,clubs2 two small ,diamonds1 and no ,spades4 ,an original two ,heart or one ,club call would grossly mislead the partner without being of any real advantage1 but one ,spade followed by two ,hearts1 or even three1 if necessary1 shows the exact situation4 ,as long as the hand containing a long suit is not so strong that there is grave danger of its being left in with one ,spade1 it should be started with the defensive declaration4 ,when such great strength exists1 a sound opening bid invariably presents itself4 ,it1 therefore1 becomes apparent that an original suit bid of two or three1 just as necessarily as a bid of one1 should demonstrate the underlying principle of original suit declarations--namely1 strength1 as well as length4 ,the incidental object in bidding more than one originally is to warn the partner that the ,dealer prefers to play the suit named rather than a doubtful ,no-trump2 the main reason1 however1 is1 if possible1 to shut out adverse bidding4 ,when there is great length in either ,spades or ,hearts and distinct weakness in the other1 a two or three bid is most advisable4 ,in that case1 the strength in the other suit may be entirely with the adversaries and may be divided between them4 ,they could readily find this out1 if allowed to start with a cheap bid1 but it frequently happens that neither is sufficiently strong to make a high declaration without assistance from his partner4 ,when the ,dealer has sufficient strength in either ,royals or ,hearts to bid more than one1 and1 in addition1 has considerable strength in the other suits1 it is as a rule advisable to bid but one1 as in that case he does not wish to frighten off adverse bidding1 but prefers to encourage it with the hope that it may reach a point which will give him a safe and profitable double4 ,six sure tricks with the possibility of more is the minimum strength for an original call of two ,hearts or two ,royals4 ,,when ,,to ,,bid ,,three ,,in ,,either ,,royals ,,or ,,hearts ,an original bid of three ,royals or ,hearts is justified by a hand in which sufficient strength exists to make it probable that the declaration will be successful1 and which nevertheless cannot effectively defend against a high bid by the adversaries in the other suit4 ,as a rule this is a two-suit hand1 and in a genuine two-suiter it often happens that one side may be able to win eleven tricks in ,royals or ,hearts1 while their adversaries can capture a similar number in the other4 ,the three bid is1 of course1 a shut-out measure1 and should be employed for that purpose only4 ,seven sure tricks1 with the possibility of more1 is the minimum strength for an original call of three ,hearts or three ,royals4 ,,the ,,two ,,bid ,,in ,,diamonds ,,or ,,clubs ,the original bid of two in either ,diamonds or ,clubs with the score at love is a totally different character of declaration from two ,hearts or two ,royals4 ,the ,dealer does not with this declaration say1 ,let me stay in and make game1 but he does say1 ,i have a long suit 7at least five cards7 headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 with no considerable support on the side4 7,if ,i had another ,ace1 ,i would bid ,no-trump47 ,now you know my exact hand4 ,when there is a score which places ,diamonds or ,clubs within four tricks of game1 the original bid of two or more in either suit is of exactly the same significance as a similar call of ,royals or ,hearts1 with the score at love4 ,,how ,,to ,,declare ,,two-,,suit ,,hands ,the only remaining case of original declaration by the ,dealer is the hand with two suits1 both of which are of sufficient strength to bid4 ,as a general rule1 it is wiser first to call the lower in value1 and then to declare the higher on the next round4 ,this gives the maximum amount of information1 but should only be attempted when the hand clearly indicates that there will be another opportunity to bid1 as otherwise the ,dealer may be left in with a non-game-producing declaration4 ,the ,dealer must determine from the composition of his hand whether a second opportunity to bid is assured4 ,when he is not very strong1 the chances are that some one else will declare4 ,when he is without a suit or has a singleton1 it is a reasonably safe assumption that some one will be strong enough in that suit to call it4 ,a few examples follow of hands which have the minimum strength to justify the various ,trump calls and also of hands which1 by a small margin1 fall short3-- ,,hands ,,in ,,which ,a ,,trump ,,declaration ,,is ,,doubtful ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,has five ,spades headed by ,ace ,hearts ,x1 ,x1 ,x and ,king4 ,with ,royals ,trump has ,diamonds ,x1 ,x1 ,x two high-card tricks1 and can ,clubs ,x1 ,x take at least one with small cards4 ,it is1 therefore1 a one ,royal bid4 ,spades ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,has not high-card strength ,hearts ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x sufficient for either a ,heart or ,diamonds ,x1 ,x two-,spade bid4 ,one ,spade is the ,clubs ,x1 ,x correct call4 ,spades ,x1 ,x ,complies with all the requirements ,hearts ,king1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x of a ,heart bid4 ,diamonds ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,has only four ,hearts2 is1 ,hearts ,king1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x therefore1 a one ,spade call4 ,diamonds ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,has only four ,hearts1 but has ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x sufficient high-card strength ,diamonds ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x to justify a ,heart bid4 ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x ,a two ,spade bid2 with one more ,hearts ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spade1 it would be one ,royal4 ,diamonds ,ace1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,a two ,spade bid4 ,with two more ,hearts ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,spades1 it would be one ,royal4 ,diamonds ,king1 ,queen1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,either two ,spades or one ,club ,hearts ,x1 ,x could be bid1 but the ,club is ,diamonds ,x1 ,x distinctly preferable4 ,clubs ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,a one ,spade bid1 as it has not ,hearts ,ace1 ,x1 ,x two honors in ,spades4 ,diamonds ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x1 ,a three ,spade bid2 cannot be ,x1 ,x started as a ,royal without ,ace ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen or ,king1 and so strong1 one ,spade ,diamonds ,king1 ,knave1 ,x might not be overbid4 ,clubs ,king ,spades ,none ,a two or three ,heart bid4 ,hearts ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten ,clubs ,ace1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,ace1 ,king ,a one ,heart bid4 ,so strong that ,hearts ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 a higher call is unnecessary1 as ,x1 ,x adverse bidding is desired4 ,diamonds ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten ,clubs ,king1 ,queen ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,a three ,royals bid4 ,important to ,x1 ,x1 ,x shut out adverse bidding4 ,hearts ,none ,diamonds ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,ace1 ,king1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,x1 ,x ,a two ,diamonds bid4 ,hearts ,king1 ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,should either be bid one ,club ,hearts ,x and subsequently ,royals1 or ,diamonds ,x1 ,x started at two ,royals to shut out ,clubs ,ace1 ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x other bidding4 ,spades ,king1 ,x ,while this hand has more than ,hearts ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen sufficient high-card strength to ,diamonds ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x justify an offensive bid1 it is only ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x a ,spade4 ,two ,spades would mislead the partner as to length and strength of ,spades and might induce him to bid high ,royals2 one ,heart would mislead him as to length of ,hearts2 having1 however1 called one ,spade1 the hand can advance any declaration of the partner and if the partner bid either ,clubs or ,diamonds1 can call ,no-trump4 ,spades ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,should not be bid one ,royal1 as ,x1 ,x that deceives partner as to ,hearts ,x1 ,x high-card strength2 two ,spades ,diamonds ,x1 ,x invites a ,no-trump1 which is not ,clubs ,x1 ,x wanted4 ,either three ,spades or one ,spade should be called4 ,the hand1 outside of ,spades1 is so weak that the latter is the wiser bid4 ,spades ,queen1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x ,spade honors are too weak for two ,hearts ,ace1 ,x1 ,x ,spades4 ,one ,spade is the only ,diamonds ,x1 ,x1 ,x sound bid4 ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,x ,one ,club should be bid1 followed1 ,hearts ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 regardless of the partner's ,x1 ,x1 ,x declaration1 with ,hearts4 ,diamonds ,none ,clubs ,ace1 ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,spades ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,three ,spades1 and on the next ,x1 ,x round1 ,hearts1 unless the partner ,hearts ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 has bid two ,royals4 ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,none ,clubs ,x ,spades ,knave1 ,ten1 ,nine1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,this very interesting hand affords ,hearts ,none a number of correct original bids4 ,diamonds ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x ,one ,club1 three ,spades1 and one ,clubs ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,x ,spade are all sound2 the latter is not apt to be left in1 as a ,heart call is most probable1 the long hand in that suit containing at least five4 ,three ,suits being stopped1 with more than an average hand1 one ,no-trump is also technically correct4 ,the chances are1 however1 that the hand will produce better results if the ,trump be ,royals1 and as the call of one ,no-trump may stand1 it is not wise to open the bidding that way4 ,three ,spades seems the most advisable declaration1 as it gives the information most important for the partner to receive4 ,the risk in calling one ,spade1 while slight1 is totally unnecessary1 and one ,club does not warn the partner not to bid ,hearts1 if he have anything in ,spades4 ,should three ,spades be called and the partner declare one ,heart1 the dealer on the next round could try ,no-trump1 but one ,club1 followed by one ,heart from partner1 would necessitate a ,royal from the dealer1 as the absence of ,spades in the partner's hand is not then announced4 ,in the event of the small ,club being transposed to a ,diamond1 so that the hand contain four ,diamonds and three ,clubs1 three ,spades would unquestionably be the most advantageous original call4 ,,iii ,,second ,,hand ,,declarations ,the ,second ,hand bids under two totally dissimilar conditions4 ,the ,dealer of necessity has declared and1 either by a call of one ,spade1 shown comparative weakness1 or1 by an offensive declaration1 given evidence of strength4 ,it is obvious that whether the ,dealer be strong or weak materially affects the question of how the ,second ,hand should bid1 as it makes quite a variation in the number of tricks he has the right to expect to find in his partner's hand4 ,this1 however1 is not the only1 and1 possibly1 not the most important difference4 ,when the ,dealer has called one ,spade1 it is practically certain1 should the ,second ,hand pass1 that he will have another opportunity to enter the bidding4 ,when1 however1 the ,dealer has declared a suit or ,no-trump1 it is possible1 if the ,second ,hand fail to declare1 that no other bid will be made1 and the declaration of the ,dealer will stand4 ,it is1 therefore1 readily seen that1 in the first case1 the ,second ,hand is making an initial declaration2 in the other1 a forced bid4 ,,bidding ,,over ,,one ,,spade ,when ,auction was in its infancy1 the authorities advised the ,second ,hand1 regardless of the character of his cards1 to pass a declaration of one ,spade4 ,the reason given was that the ,third ,hand would have to take his partner out1 which might prove embarrassing1 and that a bid by the ,second ,hand would release his left-hand adversary from this1 possibly1 trying position4 ,modern ,auction developments have proven the futility of this idea4 ,the ,third ,hand of to-day is not troubled by any obligation to take the ,dealer out of one ,spade1 and will not do so without considerable strength4 ,should the ,second ,hand pass1 with winning cards1 the ,fourth ,hand may be the player who finds himself in the awkward position1 and if1 adopting the conservative course1 he allow the ,spade declaration to stand1 a good chance to score game may be lost by the failure of the ,second ,hand to avail himself of his opportunity4 ,second ,hand silence is not now regarded as golden1 but there is still some question as to the amount of strength required to make a declaration advisable4 ,some authorities believe the ,second ,hand should pass1 unless his cards justify him in expecting to make game4 ,this theory was for a time very generally accepted1 and even yet has a considerable following4 ,experience1 however1 has convinced most of its advocates that it is unsound1 and it is being rapidly abandoned4 ,it is now conceded that the deal is quite an advantage1 because of the opportunity it gives the ,dealer to strike the first blow4 ,it follows that when the ,dealer has been obliged to relinquish his favorable position1 it is the height of folly for the ,second ,hand1 when he has the requisite strength1 not to grasp it4 ,furthermore1 the ,dealer having shown weakness1 the adverse strength is probably in the ,third ,hand4 ,should the ,third ,hand call ,no-trump1 the ,fourth ,hand will be the leader1 and it will then be important for him to know which suit his partner desires opened4 ,on the first round of the declaration1 this can be indicated by a bid of one1 but after the ,no-trump1 it takes two1 which1 with the strength over the bidder1 may be dangerous4 ,the bid of the ,second ,hand1 furthermore1 makes the task of his left-hand adversary more difficult and may prevent a ,no-trump4 ,it certainly aids the ,fourth ,hand--indeed1 it may be just the information he needs for a game declaration4 ,it seems clear1 therefore1 that the ,second ,hand should show his strength when he has the chance4 ,he should not1 however1 carry too far the principles above outlined4 ,it is just as fatal for the ,second ,hand as for the ,dealer1 to deceive his partner4 ,,when ,,to ,,bid ,,no-,,trump ,the rules governing an original offensive bid by the ,dealer apply to the ,second ,hand1 after the ,dealer has called one ,spade1 in practically every instance4 ,the only possible exception is the holding necessary for a border-line ,no-trump4 ,when the ,dealer1 with the minimum strength1 declares one ,no-trump1 he figures on the probability that his partner holds one-third of the high cards not in his own hand4 ,when the ,second ,hand declares after one ,spade1 it is reasonable for him to count upon his partner for a slightly greater percentage of strength2 therefore1 he may bid ,no-trump a little more freely4 ,to justify a ,no-trump by the ,dealer1 he should have slightly better than average cards4 ,the ,second ,hand1 with exactly an average holding1 may make the bid4 ,the ,no-trump requirements1--namely1 four suits stopped1 three suits stopped and an ,ace1 three ,king-,queen or ,king-,knave suits1 or at least five solid ,diamonds or ,clubs and an ,ace1--which limit the declaration of the ,dealer1 apply1 however1 with equal force to the ,second ,hand1 and should never be disregarded4 ,,when ,,to ,,make ,a ,,trump ,,declaration ,the ,dealer1 having declared one ,spade1 a ,trump declaration of one1 two1 or three by the ,second ,hand is subject to exactly the same rules as in the case of the original call by the ,dealer4 ,precisely the same reasoning holds good and the same danger is apt to arise1 should the ,second ,hand digress from the recognized principles of safety1 and bid a long suit which does not contain the requisite high cards4 ,the ,second ,hand will have an opportunity to declare his weak suit of great length on the next round1 and there is no necessity for deceiving the partner as to its composition by jumping into it with undue celerity4 ,,the ,,double ,,of ,,one ,,spade ,the question of when the ,second ,hand should double is covered in the chapter on ,doubling1 but as the double of one ,spade is really a declaration1 rather than a double1 it seems proper to consider it here1 especially as it is of vital importance that it be accurately distinguished from the ,second ,hand bid of two ,spades1 with which it is very frequently confused4 ,many good players treat the two declarations as synonymous1 although by so doing they fail to avail themselves of a simple and safe opportunity to convey valuable information4 ,the reason for this apparent carelessness on the part of many bidders is that no scheme of declaring that accurately fits the situation has hitherto been generally understood4 ,the idea that follows has been found to work well1 and while as yet not sufficiently used to be termed conventional1 seems to be growing in favor with such rapidity that its general adoption in the near future is clearly indicated4 ,the ,second ,hand doubles one ,spade1 with practically the same holding with which the dealer bids two ,spades1 not with the expectation or wish that the double will stand1 but as the most informatory action possible1 and as an invitation to his partner to bid ,no-trumps or ,royals4 ,in a general way his bid of two ,spades has the same significance1 except that it more emphatically suggests a call of ,royals4 ,by accurately distinguishing the two1 the partner may declare with much greater effect4 ,the double shows short ,spades 7two or three71 with at least two high honors in ,spades1 and one other trick1 or the ,ace of ,spades and two other tricks4 ,,the ,,bid ,,of ,,two ,,spades#g ,the bid of two ,spades shows exactly four ,spades and the same high-card holding which justifies doubling one ,spade4 #g ,see ,bid of ,two ,spades by ,dealer1 page #dg4 ,the ,second ,hand1 when he doubles one1 or bids two ,spades1 says3 ,i have not three suits stopped1 so ,i cannot bid ,no-trumps4 ,while ,i have sufficient high-card strength to call one ,royal1 ,i have less than five ,spades1 and1 therefore1 am without sufficient length4 ,i can1 however1 by this declaration1 tell you the exact number of my ,spades1 and ,i expect you to make the best possible use of the exceptionally accurate information with which you are furnished4 ,as much care should be taken in selecting the correct declaration1 when in doubt whether to bid two ,spades or double one1 as when determining whether to call a ,royal or a ,heart4 ,many a player doubles one ,spade with five or six1 headed by ,knave1 ,ten1 apparently never realizing that with such a hand he wishes the trump to be ,royals1 and yet1 by his bid1 is inviting his partner to call ,no-trump2 or he bids two ,spades with the ,queen of ,spades and a couple of ,kings1 and after his partner has declared a ,royal1 or doubled an adverse ,no-trump1 counting on the announced ,spade strength1 says3 ,i realize ,i deceived you in the ,spades1 but ,i had two ,kings about which you did not know4 ,that sort of a declarer makes it impossible for his partner to take full advantage of any sound bid he may make4 ,every ,second ,hand bidder should remember that when he doubles one ,spade or bids two1 he tells his partner he has short or exactly four ,spades1 as the case may be2 that he has not three suits stopped1 and that his minimum high-card holding is one of the following combinations3-- ,,spades ,,minimum ,,strength ,,in ,,other ,,suit ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen ,no strength required ,ace1 ,king ,queen1 ,knave1 and one other ,ace1 ,queen ,king1 ,knave ,ace1 ,knave ,ace1 or ,king and ,queen1 or ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten ,ace ,ace and ,king2 ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave2 or ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave ,king1 ,queen ,ace1 or ,king and ,queen1 or ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten ,ace1 or ,king and ,queen1 or ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten ,king1 ,knave ,ace and ,king2 ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave2 or ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten ,ace and ,king2 ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave2 or ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave ,in order that the distinction between the various ,second ,hand ,spade declarations may be clearly marked1 take such a holding as ,spades ,ace1 ,king ,hearts ,three small ,diamonds ,four small ,clubs ,ace ,only ten cards are mentioned1 and the remaining three are either ,spades or ,clubs4 ,when ,making the ,the ,second the missing number of ,hand cards are ,spades in the ,hand should ,all ,clubs ,two ,double ,two ,clubs and one ,spade ,three ,double ,one ,club and two ,spades ,four ,bid two ,spades ,all ,spades ,five ,bid one ,royal ,the method suggested above is not the only plan for distinguishing between the double of one and the bid of two ,spades4 ,some players think the double should mean a ,no-trump invitation1 without any significance as to strength in the ,spade suit1 and two ,spades should show two honors in ,spades4 ,the same comment applies to this as to a similar declaration by the ,dealer2 namely1 that with the light ,no-trumpers now conventional1 the invitation without ,spade strength is unnecessary and possibly dangerous4 ,those1 however1 who wish to have the privilege of issuing such an invitation1 are not obliged to deprive themselves of the undoubted and material advantage of being able1 when strong in ,spades1 to distinguish between a holding of short ,spades 7two or three7 and of exactly four4 ,they can convey to their partners that very important information by using the following system3-- ,,the ,,bid ,,the ,,meaning ,double of one ,spade ,a ,no-trump invitation4 ,no information as to ,spade strength ,two ,spades ,short ,spades with two high honors and one other trick ,three ,spades ,four ,spades with two high honors and one other trick ,four ,spades ,same as bid of three ,spades described immediately below ,this system is entirely new1 is somewhat complicated1 and is suggested for what it is worth for those who wish1 without ,spade strength1 to invite a ,no-trump4 ,as the bid of four ,spades can be taken out by the partner with one ,royal1 the system is not subject to objection1 on the ground that four ,spades forces the partner to an unduly high declaration4 ,the scheme is1 as yet1 merely an experiment1 and of doubtful value except for the purpose of enabling a poor player to place with an expert partner the responsibility of the play4 ,it is not hereinafter referred to1 but the suggestions made regarding ,third and ,fourth ,hand bidding can be readily adapted to comply with its self-evident requirements4 ,,the ,,bid ,,of ,,three ,,spades#h ,the bid of three ,spades when made by the ,second ,hand shows a holding of at least five 7probably six7 ,spades1 almost certainly without the ,ace and probably without the ,king1 but with some side strength4 ,it says1 ,i want this hand played with ,royals as the ,trump1 but ,i cannot bid that suit now1 as ,i have not the requisite high-card holding4 ,either because the rest of my hand is so strong that ,i fear neither the ,third ,hand nor my partner can bid1 or for some other good reason1 ,i prefer now1 rather than later1 to give my partner all possible information4 #h ,see page #abc as to how the partner should treat this declaration4 ,this system of bidding differentiates most accurately between the various lengths of ,spade holdings and enables the partner to elect between ,no-trump and ,royals1 with an exact knowledge of the situation not otherwise obtainable4 ,,how ,,second ,,hand ,,should ,,bid ,,after ,,an ,,offensive ,,declaration ,when the ,dealer has made an offensive declaration1 the ,second ,hand must bear in mind that it is possible this may be his last opportunity to declare4 ,a declaration under such circumstances being what is very properly termed forced1 is of a totally different character from the free declaration heretofore considered1 and is not limited by any hard-and-fast rules as to the presence of certain cards4 ,for example1 should the ,dealer bid one ,royal1 and the ,second ,hand hold seven ,hearts1 headed by ,queen1 ,knave1 he obviously must declare two ,hearts2 otherwise1 even if the ,fourth ,hand hold the ,ace and ,king of ,hearts1 and other strength1 the declaration of one ,royal might stand4 ,the principle is that an offensive bid having been made1 the declaration of the player following does not of necessity show high cards1 but does suggest the ability of the ,declarer to successfully carry out the proposed contract4 ,when the ,dealer has called a ,no-trump1 the ,second ,hand is obliged either to pass1 or declare two of some suit1 or of ,no-trump4 ,he must remember that against the ,dealer's ,no-trump he is the leader1 and as the information regarding his strong suit will be given to his partner by the first card played1 it is not important that he convey it by a bid4 ,the ,no-trump may be only of minimum strength1 but it may1 on the other hand1 be of much more than average calibre4 ,the ,third ,hand has yet to be heard from1 and if1 as is possible1 he have considerable strength in the suit that the ,second ,hand thinks of declaring1 such a bid will offer an ideal opportunity for a profitable double4 ,the ,second ,hand1 therefore1 should be somewhat diffident about bidding two in a suit4 ,he should make the declaration only when his hand is so strong that in spite of the ,no-trump1 there seems to be a good chance of scoring game1 or he has reason to think he can force and defeat an adverse two ,no-trumps1 or the ,no-trump bidder is a player who considers it the part of weakness to allow his declaration to be easily taken away1 and can1 therefore1 be forced to dangerous heights4 ,this is an opportunity for the ,second ,hand to use all his judgment4 ,the ,dealer may be taking desperate chances with a weak ,no-trumper1 and the balance of strength may be with his partner and himself1 in which case it is important for him now to show his colors2 yet he must always keep in mind that conservatism1 in the long run1 is the main factor of ,auction success4 ,it is the ability 7possibly instinct is the proper term7 to act wisely in such cases that makes a bidder seem inspired4 ,with a strong ,club or ,diamond holding and a reentry1 such a hand as1 for example1-- ,spades ,two small ,hearts ,two small ,diamonds ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 and two small ,clubs ,ace1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,nine it is generally unwise to bid ,second ,hand over one ,no-trump4 ,there is little danger of the adversaries going game in ,no-trumps1 but they may easily do so in ,hearts or ,royals4 ,a ,second ,hand declaration in this position may point out to the opponents their safest route to game1 and is not apt to prove of material benefit1 as with such hand1 eleven tricks against a ,no-trump is extremely improbable4 ,a similar principle presents itself when the holding is five of any suit1 headed by the four top honors1 or even by the three top honors1 and no other strength4 ,with such cards1 the ,no-trump can almost certainly be kept from going game1 and if the partner be able to assist1 the declaration may be defeated4 ,if1 however1 two of that suit be called1 the adversaries1 not having it stopped1 will not advance the ,no-trump1 but if sufficiently strong1 will declare some other suit in which they may score game4 ,,the ,,shift ,holding six or more of a suit1 headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 some writers have very properly called it an ,auction crime to double4 ,the question arises1 however1 ,what should the ,second ,hand do under such circumstances8 ,a bid of two in his solid suit will eliminate any chance of the ,no-trump being continued1 and an adverse call of two ,no-trumps is just what the holder of the solid suit most desires1 as he can double with comparative safety1 being assured both of the success of the double and of the improbability that the ,declarer will be able to take himself out4 ,there has been suggested to meet this emergency a declaration called the ,shift4 ,it consists in bidding two of a suit in which the ,declarer has little or no strength4 ,for this purpose a suit of lower value than the solid suit1 should1 if possible1 be selected4 ,the theory of the bid is that either the original ,no-trump declarer or his partner1 having the suit securely stopped1 will bid two ,no-trumps and that the double can then be effectively produced4 ,the advocates of the ,shift urge that should the worst happen1 and the declaration be doubled1 the player making it can then shift 7this situation giving the declaration its name7 to his real suit1 and that no harm will ensue4 ,the trouble is that a double under such circumstances is not the worst that can happen4 ,when the ,shift was first suggested1 players were not familiar with nor on the lookout for it4 ,success1 or at least the absence of failure1 therefore1 often attended its use4 ,now1 however1 it is generally understood1 and players will not either overbid or double a declarer they suspect of it4 ,they merely allow him to meet his doom attempting1 with weak ,trumps1 to win eight tricks against an adverse ,no-trumper4 ,while1 therefore1 at long intervals and under advantageous circumstances1 the ,shift may be successfully utilized1 against experienced players it is a dangerous expedient1 especially for any one known to be fond of that character of declaration4 ,the conservative and safe course to follow with a holding of the character described is to pass the one ,no-trump4 ,,when ,,to ,,bid ,,two ,,no-,,trumps ,,over ,,one ,,no-,,trump ,the bid of two ,no-trumps over one ,no-trump is a more or less spectacular performance1 that appeals to those fond of the theatrical4 ,there are some hands that justify it1 but it is safe to say that in actual play it is tried far more frequently than ,second ,hand holdings warrant4 ,such a bid may be made with a strong suit--not of great length--and the three other suits safely stopped1 with the four suits stopped twice1 with a long solid ,club or ,diamond suit and two other suits stopped1 or with some similar1 and1 under the circumstances1 equally unusual combination4 ,,how ,,to ,,bid ,,against ,,two ,,or ,,three ,,spades ,with two ,spades bid by the ,dealer1 if the ,second ,hand have a suit he desires led against a ,no-trump1 it is of the utmost importance that he indicate it to his partner4 ,under such conditions1 the ,second ,hand should declare a suit headed by ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 or some similar combination1 but should avoid bidding a long1 weak suit1 as the ,no-trump declarer may hold ,ace1 ,queen of it1 and the partner may1 by the call1 be invited to lead his ,king into the jaws of death4 ,of course1 if the hand contain reentries1 it may be advisable to make such a bid1 although even then it may advantageously be delayed until the second round1 since against a two ,spade declaration the ,second ,hand is sure of having another opportunity to speak4 ,with three ,spades declared by the ,dealer1 the ,second ,hand expects a ,royal from the ,third ,hand4 ,he knows that he will have another chance to bid1 but1 as he will then probably have to go much higher1 it is just as well not to wait if the hand contain any advantageous declaration4 ,,when ,,to ,,bid ,,no-,,trump ,,over ,a ,,suit ,the question of what amount of strength warrants the ,second ,hand in bidding one ,no-trump1 after a suit has been declared by the ,dealer1 is somewhat difficult to accurately answer4 ,it goes without saying that to justify a ,no-trump under such circumstances1 the ,second ,hand must have much better than merely an average holding4 ,the suit that the ,dealer has bid should be safely stopped1 and when the declarer has only one trick in that suit1 at least four other tricks should be in sight4 ,occasionally cases arise in which the ,second ,hand may bid one ,no-trump over a suit declaration without the suit that has been declared being stopped1 but these are rare and such a call should only be made with unusual strength1 as it gives the partner the right to assume that the adverse suit is stopped and he may consequently advance the ,no-trump to dangerous figures4 ,it is probably a good rule that a ,no-trump should not be called over a declared suit1 that suit not being stopped1 with a holding of less than six sure tricks4 ,even with one stopper in the suit bid1 it is generally better to declare either ,royals or ,hearts in preference to ,no-trump1 provided the hand contain sufficient length and strength to warrant such declaration4 ,,iv ,,third ,,hand ,,declarations ,third ,hand declarations can best be considered by dividing them into three classes3-- #a4 ,when the ,dealer has called one ,spade1 and the ,second ,hand passed4 #b4 ,when the ,dealer has made an offensive declaration1 and the ,second ,hand passed4 #c4 ,when the ,second ,hand has declared4 ,the distinction between these three situations is so clearly drawn that each is really a separate and distinct subject4 ,they will be taken up seriatim4 ,,when ,,the ,,dealer ,,has ,,called ,,one ,,spade1 ,,and ,,the ,,second ,,hand ,,passed ,in the old days1 when the ,dealer's one ,spade was without significance1 the ,third ,hand was always obliged to declare1 in order to give the ,dealer the opportunity to get back into the game1 as it was possible that he had great strength4 ,now the ,third ,hand recognizes that there is not the least obligation upon him to bid1 and that it is inadvisable for him to do so unless his hand be so strong that1 even with a weak partner1 game is in sight1 or unless it be important for him to indicate to the ,dealer what to lead if the ,fourth ,hand make the final declaration4 ,should the ,third ,hand pass1 and the ,fourth ,hand also pass1 allowing the one ,spade declaration to stand1 the liability of the ,declarer cannot exceed #ajj points1 but if the ,third ,hand bid1 the liability becomes unlimited4 ,while the ,dealer and ,second ,hand both have the right to assume that their partners have an average percentage of the remaining cards1 the ,third ,hand is not justified in any such presumption1 after the ,dealer1 by bidding one ,spade1 has virtually waved the red flag4 ,true it is1 a similar warning has appeared on the right1 but if both danger signals are to be believed1 the only inference is that the strength is massed on the left4 ,the bidding by the ,third ,hand must1 therefore1 be of a very different character from that of the ,dealer or ,second ,hand4 ,he should not venture a ,no-trump unless he have four sure tricks with the probability of more and at least three suits stopped4 ,when in doubt whether to declare ,no-trump or a suit1 it is generally wise for him to select the latter4 ,third ,hand suit declarations should be made under either of two conditions3-- 7a7 ,when the hand is so strong that there appears to be at least a fair chance for game with the suit he names as ,trump4 7b7 ,when he expects a ,no-trump from the ,fourth ,hand and wishes to indicate to his partner the lead he desires4 ,in the former case1 it is often good policy for the ,third ,hand to start with a bid of two4 ,this serves a double purpose1 as it shows the ,dealer the character of the hand and helps to shut out an adverse declaration4 ,if the main idea of the bid be to indicate a lead1 it is advisable to make it on the first round1 when one can be called1 rather than wait until it becomes necessary to bid two1 which1 against a ,no-trump1 may prove dangerous4 ,if the ,third ,hand have any such combination as ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 with one or more others of that suit1 and a reentry1 a declaration at this stage is most important1 as unless the partner open that suit1 it will probably never be established against a ,no-trump4 ,even if the long suit be headed by ,queen1 ,knave1 it may be important to show it1 as the partner may hold an honor1 in which case the suit may be quickly established4 ,when the long suit is headed by a ,knave1 it should not be shown unless the hand contain more than one reentry4 ,it may be so necessary for the ,third ,hand1 in the position under consideration1 to indicate a lead that no absolute strength requirement1 such as a fixed number of tricks1 is essential for a bid4 ,it frequently keeps the adverse ,no-trumper from going game to have the right suit called originally--otherwise1 the ,dealer has to lead his own suit1 and when the ,third ,hand is without strength in it1 such a lead greatly facilitates the ,declarer4 ,,when ,,the ,,dealer ,,has ,,shown ,,strength ,,and ,,the ,,second ,,hand ,,passed ,one of the cardinal principles of harmonious team play is that when the partner has made a suit declaration which is apt to result in game1 it is inadvisable to take him out merely with the hope of obtaining a slightly higher score4 ,suppose the partner has declared a ,heart and the ,third ,hand holds three ,hearts1 headed by the ,ace1 four ,clubs headed by the ,king1 no ,diamonds1 and five ,spades with three honors4 ,of course1 the partner may have an honor and some other ,spades1 and1 therefore1 a bid of ,royals may produce a higher count than ,hearts1 but that is only may4 ,the ,declarer certainly has ,heart strength1 and the ,third ,hand1 valuable assistance4 ,it takes the same number of tricks to score game in each suit4 ,why1 therefore1 risk the game for a paltry addition to the trick and honor score8 ,one of the most remarkable features of ,auction is the extraordinary desire1 exhibited by a large percentage of players1 to play the combined hands4 ,this comment is not applicable to a strong player1 who1 for the good of the partnership1 is anxious to get the declaration himself1 in order that during the play two or three tricks may not be presented to the adversaries1 but is intended for the general run of cases where the partners are of equal1 or nearly equal1 ability4 ,a player1 before determining to overbid his partner's call1 should remember that one of the greatest pleasures of the game is facing the ,dummy1 especially when the declaration is apt to be successful1 and he should assure himself beyond peradventure that1 in bidding his own suit in preference to advancing his partner's1 he is not in any way influenced by his own selfish desires4 ,he should be sure that1 with the positions reversed1 he would thoroughly approve of just such action by his partner2 and1 if his partner be the better player1 he should also convince himself that his suit is at least two tricks stronger1 as his partner's superior play probably makes a difference of at least one in favor of his declaration4 ,it should be put down as axiomatic that1 when a partner takes out a ,heart or ,royal with a bid of another suit1 he denies strength in the suit originally declared and announces great length with probably four honors in the suit he names2 also1 that when a ,heart or ,royal is taken out by a ,no-trump declaration 7except with a four-,ace holding71 not only is weakness in the declared suit announced1 but also the fact that every other suit is safely stopped4 ,this must not be understood as a suggestion that a partner should seldom be overbid4 ,quite the reverse4 ,the informatory school of modern bidding1 which attempts1 as nearly as possible1 to declare the two hands as one1 has as an essential feature the overbidding of the partner in an infinite number of cases4 ,it is against the foolish and selfish instances which occur with great frequency that this protest is directed4 ,,when ,,two ,,spades ,,has ,,been ,,declared ,when the ,dealer bids two ,spades1 he gives explicit information regarding the contents of his hand4#i ,the ,third ,hand is1 therefore1 practically in the position of having twenty-six cards spread before him1 and the question of what he should declare is not apt to be at all confusing4 #i ,see page #dg4 ,if his hand be trickless1 or practically so1 he must bid one ,royal1 as that reduces the commitment from two tricks to one1 and increases the possible gain per trick from #b points to #i4 ,it is a noncommittal bid1 as it may be made with great weakness or moderate strength4 ,with considerable ,spade strength1 however1 two ,royals should be declared4 ,when the ,third ,hand has other than ,spade strength1 he will1 of course1 bid in accordance with his holding1 but it goes without saying that he should make the best possible use of the accurate information he has received4 ,with four strong ,spades1 even with sufficient additional strength to justify a weak ,no-trump1 a ,royal is generally preferable1 and with more than four ,spades1 two ,royals is unquestionably the bid1 regardless of the strength of the remainder of the hand1 unless1 of course1 it contain the much looked for1 but seldom found1 four ,aces4 ,,when ,,three ,,spades ,,has ,,been ,,declared ,when the ,dealer has called three ,spades1 the ,third ,hand has quite accurate data with which to work4#aj ,in this case1 even if his hand be trickless1 he must bid one ,royal1 as his partner's three ,spades might otherwise be left in by the ,fourth ,hand4 ,with some strength in other suits1 one ,royal is his bid1 unless his cards justify him in telling the ,dealer that1 in spite of the announced long1 weak ,spades1 the combined hands are apt to sail more smoothly and on more peaceful seas to the port called ,game by the ,no-trump than by the suggested ,royal route4 #aj ,see page #di4 ,should the ,third ,hand overbid three ,spades with either ,hearts1 ,diamonds1 or ,clubs1 he shows great strength in the suit named and absolute weakness in ,spades2 the bid of two ,royals shows assistance in ,spades1 and probably other strength4 ,,when ,,one ,,club ,,or ,,one ,,diamond ,,has ,,been ,,declared ,when the ,dealer has called one ,club or one ,diamond1 the ,third ,hand 7the score being love7 must realize that going game with the declaration made is most unlikely4 ,he should1 therefore1 overbid it whenever he has sufficient strength to justify such action4 ,with strong ,hearts or ,spades1 he should bid ,hearts or ,royals2 without such ,heart or ,spade strength1 but with three tricks and two suits stopped1 he should bid ,no-trump4 ,in the rare case in which game seems probable with the ,club or ,diamond declaration1 he should advance his partner's call to two or three4 ,,when ,,two ,,diamonds ,,or ,,two ,,clubs ,,has ,,been ,,declared ,when the ,dealer has called two ,clubs or two ,diamonds with the score at love1 the ,third ,hand should allow the declaration to stand1 unless his ,heart or ,spade holding be such that he believes1 with the assistance of his partner's ,club or ,diamond suit1 he may win the game2 or unless able to bid two ,no-trumps4 ,with the information that his partner has an established suit1 it does not require much strength to justify the two ,no-trumps call4 ,with all the other suits stopped1 no matter how weakly1 the bid is imperative4 ,with two securely stopped1 it is advisable1 but with only one stopped1 it is entirely out of the question4 ,with a score in the trick column1 the ,third ,hand will treat either a one or two ,club or ,diamond declaration just as1 with the score at love1 he treats a similar call in ,hearts or ,royals4 ,,when ,,one ,,heart ,,or ,,one ,,royal ,,has ,,been ,,declared ,when the ,dealer bids one ,heart or one ,royal1 the ,third ,hand should not overbid unless without strength in the declaration4 ,by this is meant not only the absence of high cards1 but also the absence of length4 ,with four small ,hearts or ,spades1 and that suit bid by the ,dealer1 it is almost invariably the part of wisdom to allow it to remain4 ,the ,third ,hand should bid one ,royal over one ,heart1 or two ,hearts over one ,royal with strength sufficient to justify an original call in that suit1 and distinct weakness in the partner's declaration4 ,the theory is that the ,third ,hand knows he cannot help his partner's declaration1 while it is possible his partner may help him4 ,when the ,third ,hand has such strength in ,hearts or ,royals that he would advance his partner's declaration of either1 in the event of an adverse bid1 it is wise for him to bid two on the first round1 in order1 if possible1 to shut out such adverse declaration and the information thereby given to the leader4 ,the ,third ,hand should call two ,diamonds or ,clubs over one ,heart or ,royal when he holds a long and practically solid suit4 ,the original bidder can then use his judgment whether to let this declaration stand1 continue his own1 or try two ,no-trumps4 ,with a score1 two ,clubs or ,diamonds may be bid more freely over the partner's ,heart or ,royal4 ,the ,third ,hand should not bid a ,no-trump over the ,dealer's ,heart or ,royal1 unless he have the three remaining suits safely stopped1 or his hand contain solid ,diamonds or ,clubs1 and one other suit stopped4 ,,when ,,two ,,hearts ,,or ,,two ,,royals ,,has ,,been ,,declared ,the declaration of two ,hearts or two ,royals is practically a command to the partner not to alter the call4 ,it indicates at least six sure tricks1 probably more1 and a valuable honor count1 in the ,declarer's hand1 provided the suit named be the ,trump4 ,the ,third ,hand should only change such a declaration when convinced beyond reasonable doubt that his holding is so unusual that he is warranted in assuming the responsibility of countermanding the order that has issued4 ,weakness in the ,trump and strength in some other suit is far from being a sufficient justification1 as the chances are that the ,dealer is weak in the suit of the ,third ,hand1 and called two mainly for the purpose of keeping it from being named4 ,to overbid two ,royals or ,hearts with three ,diamonds or ,clubs is obviously absurd1 unless holding five honors and such other strength that game is assured4 ,to overbid two ,hearts with two ,royals1 or two ,royals with three ,hearts1 is almost tantamount to saying1 ,partner1 ,i know you are trying to shut out this declaration1 but ,i am strong enough to insist upon it4 ,such action is only justified by #fd or #gb honors1 and a sure game4 ,to overbid two ,hearts or two ,royals with two ,no-trumps1 as a rule1 means #ajj ,aces4 ,high-card strength assures the game in the partner's call with probably a big honor score2 only the premium of #ajj makes the change advisable4 ,with strength1 in the case under consideration1 the ,third ,hand should advance his partner's call with much greater confidence than if it were an ordinary bid of one4 ,he should not worry even if absolutely void of ,trumps2 in that suit his partner has announced great length as well as commanding cards2 ,aces and ,kings of the other suits are what the ,declarer wishes to find in his hand1 and with them he should bid fearlessly4 ,the same line of comment applies with even greater force to the action of the ,third ,hand when the ,dealer has bid three ,royals or three ,hearts4 ,,when ,,to ,,overbid ,a ,,partner',s ,,no-,,trump ,when the ,dealer bids one ,no-trump and the ,third ,hand holds five or more of any suit1 one of the most disputed questions of ,auction presents itself4 ,the conservative player believes that with five ,hearts or ,spades1 inasmuch as but one more trick is required to secure game1 it is safer to bid two ,hearts or ,royals1 except1 of course1 when the ,third ,hand1 in addition to a five-card suit1 has the three remaining suits stopped4 ,the theory is that if the combined hands are very strong1 the winning of the game is absolutely assured with the suit in question the ,trump1 but may possibly be lost in the ,no-trump by the adversaries running a long suit4 ,the chance of a hostile suit being established is unquestionably worthy of the consideration of the ,third ,hand whenever1 with great strength in ,hearts or ,spades1 he allows his partner's ,no-trump to stand4 ,five adverse tricks prevent a game4 ,in the majority of cases1 the leader opens a five-card suit4 ,when it is not stopped1 the game is saved by the adversaries before the powerful ,no-trump hand can get in2 if it be stopped but once1 the game is still in grave danger unless the ,declarer take nine tricks before losing the lead4 ,with a ,heart or ,royal declaration the adversaries are not apt to take more than two tricks in their long suit1 which1 at ,no-trumps1 may produce four or five 7in rare cases six71 and yet the ,trump bid requires only one more trick for game4 ,it is unquestionably true that1 with great strength1 the game will be won nine times out of ten with the ,no-trump declaration1 but in every such case it is absolutely cinched by the ,heart or ,royal call4 ,it is further argued that1 when the combined hands are not quite so strong1 a game is more frequently won with the ,trump declaration1 as the small ,trumps are sure to take tricks1 but the long suit may not be established in the ,no-trumper4 ,the believers in taking a chance1 however1 view the situation from the opposite standpoint4 ,their argument is that the game requires one more trick1 when a ,trump is declared1 but does not count as much1 that the original declarer may be weak in the suit named1 yet strong in all the others1 and therefore1 with a good hand1 it is wiser to leave the ,no-trump alone4 ,it is possible that the question is one rather of the temperament of the player than of card judgment4 ,it is susceptible of almost mathematical deduction that five or more cards of a long suit are of greater trick-taking value when that suit is the ,trump than when ,no-trump is being played1 and it does not require any argument to substantiate the proposition that the slight difference in the score1 between the total in the trick and honor columns netted from a game made without a ,trump and a game made with ,royals or ,hearts1 is so infinitesimal as not to be worthy of consideration4 ,nevertheless1 players possessed of a certain temperament will1 for example1 refuse to overbid a partner's ,no-trump with ,ace1 ,king1 ,ten1 and two small ,spades1 ,king of ,hearts1 and ,ace of ,diamonds1 on the ground that the hand is too strong1 although the ,no-trump bid may have been thoroughly justified by such a holding as ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 of ,hearts2 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 of ,diamonds2 and ,queen1 ,knave1 of ,spades4 ,in that event it is practically sure the adversaries will open the ,club suit and save the game before the ,declarer has a chance to win a trick4 ,this and similar situations occur with sufficient frequency to make them well worthy of consideration1 and when such a hand fails to make game1 it certainly seems to be a perfect example of what might be termed useless sacrifice4 ,in spite of all this1 however1 probably as long as the game lasts1 in the large proportion of hands in which the taking-out does not make any difference1 the ,declarer will say1 ,with such strength you should have let my ,no-trump alone2 or the ,dummy will learnedly explain1 ,i was too strong to take you out4 ,it would be in the interest of scientific play1 if1 except when all suits are stopped1 the theory1 ,too strong to take the partner out of the ,no-trump1 had never been conceived1 and would never again be advanced4 ,the same comment applies with equal force to the remark so often heard1 ,partner1 ,i was too weak to take you out4 ,this generally emanates from a ,third ,hand who has a five- or six-card suit in a trickless hand4 ,he does not stop to realize that his hand will not aid his partner's ,no-trump to the extent of a single trick1 but that in a ,trump declaration1 it will almost certainly take two tricks4 ,the ,trump bid only increases the commitment by one1 so it is obviously a saving and advantageous play4 ,furthermore1 it prevents the adversaries from running a long suit4 ,it1 also1 in ,clubs and ,diamonds1 is a real danger signal1 and1 in the probable event of a bid by the ,fourth ,hand1 warns the partner away from two ,no-trumps4 ,the advocates of the weakness take-out realize that in exceptional instances the play may result most unfortunately4 ,when the ,dealer has called a border-line ,no-trump1 without any strength in the suit named by the ,third ,hand1 and one of the adversaries has great length and strength in that suit1 a heavy loss is bound to ensue1 which may be increased #ajj by the advance of the bid from one to two4 ,this case is1 indeed1 rare1 and when it does turn up the chances are that the ,declarer will escape a double1 as the holder of the big ,trumps will fear the ,dealer may be able to come to the rescue if he point out the danger by doubling the suit call4 ,the fact1 however1 that a play at times works badly is not a sufficient argument against its use1 if in the majority of cases it prove advantageous1 and that is unquestionably true of the weakness take-out4 ,the strength take-out1 above advocated1 applies only to ,spades and ,hearts4 ,with ,diamonds and ,clubs1 at a love score1 the distance to go for game is in most cases too great to make it advisable1 but the weakness take-out should be used equally with any one of the four suits1 as it is a defensive1 not an offensive1 declaration4 ,with a score1 ,clubs and ,diamonds possess the same value that ,hearts and ,spades have at love1 and should be treated similarly4 ,,when ,,to ,,overbid ,,with ,,strong ,,clubs ,the question of whether the ,third ,hand1 with strong ,clubs1 should overbid his partner's ,no-trump has aroused considerable discussion4 ,the argument in favor of such a declaration in ,clubs1 which does not apply to any other suit1 is that the difference between a strength and a weakness overbid can be made apparent by calling three and two respectively1 and yet the show of strength will not force the ,dealer higher than two ,no-trumps1 when his hand is such that the announcement that the ,third ,hand holds strong ,clubs1 but nothing else1 makes the return to ,no-trump advisable4 ,on this basis of reasoning some believe in calling three ,clubs whenever an otherwise trickless ,third ,hand contains five or more ,clubs headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen4 ,this1 it is conceded1 only results advantageously when the ,no-trump has been called with one suit unguarded1 and ,clubs is one of the protected suits4 ,when the ,no-trump has been declared with such a hand as ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,x ,hearts ,x ,diamonds ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x the employment of such a system of declaration is exceptionally advantageous2 as the game is assured in ,clubs1 while if the ,no-trump be left in1 the adversaries will probably save it by making all their ,hearts before the ,declarer secures the lead4 ,it is admitted that this case is somewhat unusual1 but the advocates of the system1 conceding this1 argue it is advantageous to have this bid in the repertory1 and1 in the exceptional instance1 to obtain the benefit1 which is bound to ensue from its use4 ,the contention is that it can do no harm1 with such a ,club holding1 to force the partner to two ,no-trumps1 if he have all the other suits stopped1 and the fact that three ,clubs is called with strength more clearly accentuates the principle that the two ,club takeout means nothing but weakness4 ,admitting the force of this argument1 and conceding that the system advocated should be universally adopted were there not a wiser use for the three ,club take-out1 first brings forth the question of whether the case does not more frequently arise in which the long ,club holding of the ,third ,hand is headed by ,king and ,queen1 and is it not much more probable1 when the ,third ,hand has long ,clubs1 that the ,no-trump maker has the suit stopped with the ,ace than with four headed by ,knave1 ,ten8 ,it must be remembered that the three ,club take-out with ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 at the head of five or more1 is only advantageous when the ,no-trump has been called with a hand in which only three suits are stopped1 of which the ,club is one4 ,if the ,club be the suit unstopped1 the call merely forces an advance in the ,no-trump4 ,if1 however1 the convention be to use three ,clubs to overbid the partner's ,no-trump only when holding an otherwise trickless hand which contains either at least five ,clubs headed by ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 or at least six headed by ,king1 ,queen1 would not the number of instances in which the call proves of benefit appreciably increase1 and would not every reason applicable in the former case be even more forceful in the latter8 ,it cannot be questioned that the partner having called ,no-trump1 the ,third ,hand is more likely to hold either five ,clubs headed by ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 or six headed by ,king1 ,queen1 than five or more headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen4 ,the greater probability that the ,dealer will have the ,ace than four headed by ,knave1 ,ten1 is just as obvious4 ,take such a ,no-trump declaration as ,spades ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave ,hearts ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,ace1 ,x1 ,x and the advantage of the proposed system becomes apparent4 ,the game1 which is almost sure to be lost by the ,heart lead in ,no-trump1 becomes almost a certainty with ,clubs ,trump4 ,when this plan is used and the ,dealer has the other suits stopped but has not the ,ace of ,clubs1 he can easily decide whether to go to two ,no-trumps1 as he can estimate from the length of his ,club holding whether he can establish the long ,clubs or the adverse ,ace will block the suit4 ,when the latter is the case1 he should not bid two ,no-trumps unless his own hand justify it1 as the ,third ,hand has announced the absence of a reentry4 ,take such a ,no-trump declaration as ,spades ,ace ,hearts ,ace1 ,king1 ,x ,diamonds ,ace1 ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x and suppose the ,third ,hand hold one or two small ,diamonds2 six ,clubs1 headed by ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 and no other face card4 ,in such a case ,clubs is the call most likely to produce game4 ,another and possibly the wisest theory of the three ,club take-out1 is that it should be reserved1 not for any one particular holding which may not occur once in a year1 but for any hand in which the ,declarer wishes to say1 ,partner1 my cards are such that ,i believe we can go game in ,clubs2 with this information1 use your judgment as to whether or not to return to your more valuable declaration4 ,a ,,new ,,plan ,,for ,,overbidding ,in this connection1 a new scheme of take-out is respectfully called to the attention of the thoughtful and studious ,auction players of the country4 ,it is not in general use1 is not recognized as conventional1 has never been given a satisfactory trial1 and is1 therefore1 suggested merely as an experiment worthy of consideration4 ,the idea is that when a partner has called one ,no-trump1 ,second ,hand having passed1 the ,third ,hand with five or more ,spades or ,hearts1 unless he have four suits stopped1 should bid his long suit in the following manner3 if the hand be weak1 the bid should be two2 if strong1 three4 ,this warns the ,dealer1 when two is called1 to let the declaration alone1 as it is defensive4 ,on the other hand1 when three is bid1 the ,dealer knows that his partner is strong1 and he may then use his judgment as to the advisability of allowing the bid to stand or going back to the ,no-trump1 which he can do without increasing the number of tricks of the commitment4 ,it must be remembered that1 with great strength1 it is as easy to make three ,no-trumps as one1 three are needed for game1 and1 therefore1 nothing is lost by the expedient4 ,playing under this system1 should the ,third ,hand hold four or five honors in his suit1 and earnestly desire to play it for the honor score1 it would be a perfectly legitimate strategy to deceive the partner temporarily by bidding two1 instead of three4 ,,when ,,to ,,overbid ,,one ,,no-,,trump ,,with ,,two ,,no-,,trumps ,when the ,dealer has bid one ,no-trump and the ,second ,hand passed1 the ,third ,hand1 much more frequently than most players imagine1 should call two ,no-trumps4 ,it must be remembered that should the ,third ,hand pass1 the ,fourth ,hand can1 by bidding two of a suit1 indicate to his partner the lead he desires4 ,this places the adversaries in a much more advantageous position than if the leader open his own suit without information from his partner4 ,the bid of two ,no-trumps by the ,third ,hand generally prevents the ,fourth ,hand from declaring1 as it necessitates a call of three1 which1 sitting between two ,no-trump bidders1 is1 in most cases1 too formidable a contract to undertake4 ,it is1 therefore1 advisable for the ,third ,hand1 on the first round1 to advance1 from one to two1 his partner's ,no-trump declaration1 in every instance in which1 in the event of an adverse bid1 he is strong enough to call two ,no-trumps4 ,this convention1 while as yet comparatively new1 and1 therefore1 but little used1 works most advantageously1 as it frequently shuts out the only lead which can keep the ,no-trump from going game4 ,it is important for every player to understand the scheme1 and never to overlook an opportunity to make the declaration4 ,,what ,,third ,,hand ,,should ,,bid ,,when ,,second ,,hand ,,has ,,declared ,this situation involves so many possibilities that it is hard to cover it with fixed rules4 ,the ,third ,hand in this position should reason in very much the same manner as the ,second ,hand1 after the ,dealer has made a declaration showing strength4#aa ,there is this distinct difference1 however3 in the case of the ,second ,hand1 he only knows that the ,dealer has sufficient strength to declare1 and is without any means1 other than the doctrine of chances1 of estimating the strength of his partner's hand4 ,the ,third ,hand1 however1 in the situation under consideration1 is not only advised that one adversary has sufficient strength to declare1 but also knows whether his partner's cards justify an initial bid4 ,when the ,dealer has shown strength1 he can be counted upon for at least the minimum that his bid has evidenced2 when he has called one ,spade1 it would not be wise to expect him to win more than one trick4 #aa ,see page #gb4 ,the ,third ,hand should consider these features of the situation1 and satisfy himself1 when his partner has not shown strength1 that he is taking a wise risk in bidding over an adverse declaration4 ,to justify a call of ,no-trump over a ,trump1 he should either have the declared suit stopped twice or1 if it be stopped but once1 he should also have solid ,clubs or ,diamonds4 ,when the ,dealer has declared ,hearts or ,royals1 and the ,second ,hand made a higher suit call1 it is1 as a rule1 wiser for the ,third ,hand to advance his partner's declaration than to venture a ,no-trump unless he have the adverse suit stopped twice4 ,when the ,dealer has bid ,no-trump and the ,second ,hand two of any suit1 the ,third ,hand should not bid two ,no-trump unless he have the declared suit stopped and at least one other trick4 ,without the declared suit stopped1 he should not bid two ,no-trump unless his hand be so strong that he can figure with almost positive certainty that the ,no-trump bid of his partner could not have been made without the adverse suit being stopped4 ,when in doubt1 under such conditions1 as to the advisability of either bidding two ,no-trumps or some suit1 the latter policy is generally the safer4 ,when the ,dealer has called ,no-trump and the ,second ,hand two of a suit1 the ,third ,hand must realize that his partner has already been taken out1 and therefore1 under no circumstances1 should he bid in this situation1 except for the purpose of showing strength2 or with the conviction that1 aided by his partner's ,no-trump1 he can fulfil the contract he is proposing4 ,for example1 ,dealer bids one ,no-trump2 ,second ,hand1 two ,royals2 ,third ,hand holds six ,hearts1 headed by the ,knave1 without another trick4 ,under these conditions1 a ,heart bid would be most misleading1 and probably most damaging4 ,the ,dealer may not be able to help the ,heart declaration1 and he may very properly be encouraged by it to believe that the ,third ,hand has considerable strength1 especially in ,hearts1 but is very weak in ,spades4 ,if1 in consequence of this supposed information1 he return to his ,no-trump declaration1 or double an adverse three ,royals1 the result is apt to be extremely disastrous4 ,the ,third ,hand must distinguish this case carefully from the situation in which the ,dealer has bid one ,no-trump and the ,second ,hand passed4 ,with the combination mentioned1 he should then1 of course1 most unhesitatingly take out his partner by bidding two ,hearts2 that bid1 under such circumstances1 not showing strength4 ,another situation that arises more frequently than would be supposed1 and the advantage of which it is most important for the ,third ,hand to grasp1 is when the ,dealer has bid ,no-trump2 the ,second ,hand1 two of a suit2 and the ,third ,hand1 without the adverse suit stopped1 holds great strength in ,clubs1 with such a hand that he desires his partner to go to two ,no-trumps2 provided he have the adversaries' suit stopped4 ,the bid of three ,clubs does not increase the ,no-trump commitment which the partner is obliged to make1 and is much safer than for the ,third ,hand to bid two ,no-trumps without the adverse suit stopped4 ,it is a suggestion to the partner to bid two ,no-trumps1 provided he can take care of the suit which the ,second ,hand has declared4 ,v ,,fourth ,,hand ,,declarations ,some of the principles that have been considered in connection with certain ,second and ,third ,hand bids are also applicable to similar ,fourth ,hand declarations4 ,these are easily pointed out1 but the bidding by the ,fourth ,hand presents other problems much more difficult4 ,each player who has an opportunity to declare materially complicates the situation1 and makes it harder to accurately describe4 ,as three players declare or pass before the ,fourth ,hand has his turn1 it is almost impossible to anticipate every contingency that may arise4 ,the best that can be done is to subdivide ,fourth ,hand declarations as follows3-- #a4 ,when the ,dealer's defensive declaration has been the only bid4 #b4 ,when the only offensive declaration has been made by the ,dealer4 #c4 ,when the only offensive declaration has been made by the ,second ,hand4 #d4 ,when the only offensive declaration has been made by the ,third ,hand4 #e4 ,when the ,dealer has made a defensive1 and both the ,second and ,third ,hand1 offensive declarations4 #f4 ,when the ,dealer and ,second ,hand have made offensive declarations and the ,third ,hand passed4 #g4 ,when the ,dealer and ,third ,hand have made offensive declarations1 and the ,second ,hand passed4 #h4 ,when all three players have made offensive declarations4 #a4 ,,when ,,the ,,dealer',s ,,defensive ,,declaration ,,has ,,been ,,the ,,only ,,bid ,as a general rule1 when this situation arises1 the ,fourth ,hand holds a combination of cards which makes his bid unmistakable4 ,the other three players having shown weakness1 or1 at least1 the absence of offensive strength1 the ,fourth ,hand almost invariably has a ,no-trumper of such strength that his pathway is plain4 ,of course1 his hand may1 by reason of ,spade or ,heart length1 call for a ,royal or ,heart declaration in preference to a ,no-trumper1 but nevertheless1 under these circumstances1 it is generally easy for the ,fourth ,hand to declare4 ,when1 however1 the exceptional case occurs1 in which the ,fourth ,hand finds himself1 no previous offensive declaration having been made1 without a plainly indicated bid1 it is difficult to lay down a rule for his guidance4 ,three players have shown weakness1 and yet his cards assure him that one or more of them is either unduly cautious1 has passed by mistake1 or is trying to deceive4 ,if the strength be with his partner1 it may be that1 by passing1 he will lose an opportunity to secure the game4 ,on the other hand1 if the adversaries have the winning cards1 he may1 by declaring1 allow them to make a game declaration1 whereas they are now limited to an infinitesimal score4 ,he must also consider that1 should he pass1 the maximum he and his partner can secure is #ajj points in the honor column4 ,this is a position to which conventional rules cannot apply4 ,the individual characteristics of the players must be considered4 ,the ,fourth ,hand must guess which of the three players is the most apt to have been cautious1 careless1 or foxy1 and he should either pass or declare1 as he decides whether it is more likely that his partner or one of the two adversaries is responsible for his predicament4 ,it sometimes1 although rarely1 happens that the strength not in the ,fourth ,hand is so evenly divided that no one of the three has been justified in making an offensive declaration1 and yet the ,fourth ,hand is not very strong4 ,when this occurs1 a clever player can as a rule readily and accurately diagnose it from the character of his hand1 and he should then pass1 as he cannot hope to make game on an evenly divided hand1 while as it stands he has the adversaries limited to a score of #b points for each odd trick1 yet booked for a loss of #ej if they fail to make seven tricks2 #ajj1 if they do not make six4 ,in other words1 they are betting #be to #a on an even proposition4 ,such a position is much too advantageous to voluntarily surrender4 ,it is hardly conceivable that any one would advocate that a ,fourth ,hand player with a sure game in his grasp1 instead of scoring it1 should allow the adverse one ,spade to stay in for the purpose of securing the #ajj bonus4 ,inasmuch1 however1 as this proposition has been advanced by a prominent writer1 it is only fair that its soundness should be analyzed4 ,the argument is that the score which is accumulated in going game is generally considerably less than #ajj1 averaging not over #fj1 and that1 therefore1 the bonus of #ajj is more advantageous4 ,the example is given of a pair who adopted these tactics1 and on one occasion gathered eight successive hundreds in this manner1 eventually obtaining a rubber of approximately #aaej points instead of one of about #cej4 ,the answer to any such proposition is so self-evident that it is difficult to understand how it can be overlooked4 ,it is true that a game-going hand does not average over #fj points1 which is #dj less than #ajj1 but a game is half of a rubber4 ,winning a rubber is worth #bej1 without considering the #bej scored by the adversaries1 if they win4 ,a game1 at its lowest valuation1 is1 therefore1 worth #abe plus #fj1 or #he more than the #ajj4 ,examining the case cited1 it will be seen that even had the pair1 who are so highly praised for their self-control in scoring eight hundred before going game1 known that for ten successive hands they would hold all the cards1 and1 therefore1 that they had nothing to fear from adverse rubber scores of #bej1 they1 nevertheless1 made but poor use of their wonderful opportunities4 ,if1 instead of accumulating that #hjj1 they had elected to win five rubbers1 they would have tallied at the most moderate estimate five times #cej1 or #agej1 in place of the #aaej of which they boast4 ,if1 however1 during that run of luck the adversaries had held two game hands--say1 the #eth and #ajth1 the exponents of self-control would have made on the ten hands about #dej points1 instead of approximately #acej1 which would have been secured by players who realized the value of a game4 ,in the event of an even and alternate division of game hands1 the non-game winners at the end of twelve hands would have lost three rubbers and won none1 as compared with an even score had they availed themselves of their opportunities4 ,it is1 therefore1 easily seen that the closer the investigation1 the more apparent becomes the absurdity of the doctrine that it is advantageous to sacrifice a game for a score of #ajj4 #b4 ,,when ,,the ,,only ,,offensive ,,declaration ,,has ,,been ,,made ,,by ,,the ,,dealer ,in this case the ,fourth ,hand1 before making a declaration in any manner doubtful1 should remember that his partner has1 by failing to declare1 announced that he has not sufficient strength to overbid the ,dealer4 ,this does not1 however1 signify that he has a trickless hand1 and the ,fourth ,hand may even yet count upon him for some support4 ,there are two features--both of importance--one weighing in favor1 the other against1 a declaration under these circumstances4 ,one is1 that the strength being over the ,fourth ,hand1 he is placed in the worst possible position in the play1 and there is more probability of his being doubled than under any other conditions4 ,if he be doubled1 it is not likely that his partner can take him out or prove of material assistance1 as the double is apt to come in the case in which the partner has passed with a practically trickless hand4 ,on the other hand1 the lead is with the partner1 and especially when a ,no-trump has been declared1 it may be of great advantage to indicate the suit which should be led4 ,the ,fourth ,hand should1 therefore1 if possible avoid placing a large bonus in the adversaries' column1 yet he should not hesitate to take a chance when his hand indicates that the lead of a certain suit will be likely to save game4 ,in the event of a ,dealer's declaration which is not apt to produce game coming up to the ,fourth ,hand1 he should pass1 unless his holding convince him that he will be able to go game should he declare4 #c4 ,,when ,,the ,,only ,,offensive ,,declaration ,,has ,,been ,,made ,,by ,,the ,,second ,,hand ,in this situation the ,fourth ,hand is in much the same position as the ,third ,hand when the ,dealer has made an offensive declaration1 and the ,second ,hand passed4#ab ,the only difference is that the ,fourth ,hand knows that both of the adversaries are apparently weak1 whereas in the previous case the ,third ,hand had that information as to only one4 ,the ,fourth ,hand can1 therefore1 act much more freely1 and should1 if in any way possible1 increase a declaration which is not apt to result in game to one of the three game-producing bids4 ,at a love score1 a ,club or ,diamond declaration should be allowed to stand in two cases only3-- 7a7 ,weakness1 which does not make any further declaration reasonable4 7b7 ,a combination of cards which makes it probable the ,club or ,diamond call will result in game4 #ab ,see page #hf4 ,when the ,second ,hand has declared ,no-trump1 ,royals1 or ,hearts1 his bid should be accorded exactly the same treatment that a similar call of the ,dealer receives from the ,third ,hand4#ac #ac ,see page #hf4 ,neither a two nor three ,spade declaration made by the partner should under any circumstances1 be passed4 ,in these cases1 the ,fourth ,hand can have little doubt what course to pursue4 ,his partner's hand is spread before him almost as clearly as if exposed upon the table4#ad ,with weakness1 or with a moderate hand1 he should bid one ,royal1 this being merely a takeout1 and not giving any indication of strength4 ,in this position he is placed in the same situation as the ,third ,hand when the ,dealer has made a similar declaration1#ae and these two propositions are the only instances in the modern game of ,auction where a player without strength is required to assume the offensive4 ,no matter how weak the hand may be1 the ,fourth ,hand must declare one ,royal1 so as to reduce the contract1 and also to increase the advantage obtained from its fulfillment4 ,the partner must read one ,royal to be an indication of weakness1 or1 at least1 not a showing of strength4 #ad ,see pages #fg-gb inc4 #ae ,see pages #hh1 #hi1 #ij4 ,with ,spade length or strength1 the ,fourth ,hand1 especially in the case of the three ,spade declaration1 should bid two ,royals4 ,if he declare anything but ,royals1 he says to the partner1 ,i realize perfectly what you have1 but my hand convinces me that the declaration ,i am making will be more advantageous than the one you have suggested4 ,in the event of one ,spade doubled coming to the ,fourth ,hand1 he is also accurately informed as to his partner's holding1 and suggestion4#af ,in this case1 it is the rare hand which does not warrant an offensive declaration4 #af ,see pages #fe1 #ff4 ,it is not so great an advantage for the ,fourth ,hand to call two ,no-trumps over one ,no-trump declared by the ,second ,hand as it is for the ,third ,hand to similarly overbid the ,dealer4#ag ,the reason for this is1 that the main purpose of this overbid by the ,third ,hand is to prevent the ,fourth ,hand from indicating the suit he desires his partner to lead1 but the ,dealer1 having already declared weakness1 is not so likely to be able to make a bid which will in any way interfere with the success of a ,no-trumper4 ,it is1 however1 not at all impossible that a declaration of the ,dealer's long weak suit1 especially when the ,second ,hand has an honor or two of it1 may be awkward for the ,no-trump declarer1 and therefore1 with the holding which justifies it1 the bid of two ,no-trumps1 under these conditions1 is distinctly commendable4 #ag ,see pages #ajh1 #aji4 #d4 ,,when ,,the ,,only ,,offensive ,,declaration ,,has ,,been ,,made ,,by ,,the ,,third ,,hand ,in this position the ,fourth ,hand is informed of his partner's weakness4 ,this weakness is probably quite pronounced1 as the ,second ,hand has passed the ,dealer's defensive declaration1 and although it is doubtless reasonable for the ,fourth ,hand even yet to count upon his partner for one trick1 he certainly would not be justified in expecting much greater aid4 ,it is a place for caution2 although he is in the advantageous position of sitting over the adverse strength1 he should bid only if he see a fair chance for game1 or think his hand is such that he may safely attempt to force the adversary4 #e4 ,,when ,,the ,,dealer ,,has ,,made ,a ,,defensive1 ,,and ,,both ,,the ,,second ,,and ,,third ,,hands ,,offensive1 ,,declarations ,in this situation1 the ,fourth ,hand comes more nearly within the category of a second round1 or late bidder2 that is1 he is in the position in which a player often finds himself when1 after some bidding in which he has not participated1 he is in doubt whether he has sufficient strength to advance his partner's declaration4 ,under such circumstances1 a player should always remember that his partner has counted upon him for a certain percentage of high cards4 ,if he have not more than that percentage1 it would be the part of extreme folly for him to declare4 ,when the partner has made a suit declaration1 and he has weakness in the suit1 but some strength elsewhere1 he should be especially careful1 and1 before bidding1 convince himself that his side strength is more than his partner expected4 ,advancing a partner's suit bid by reason of strength in other suits1 while1 when the strength warrants it1 unquestionably sound1 is apt to deceive the partner1 as his first thought necessarily is that the bid indicates help in the suit declared4 ,when the partner has declared ,no-trump1 and the ,third ,hand has called two in a suit1 the ,fourth ,hand is in much the same position regarding the advancement of his partner's ,no-trumper as the ,third ,hand when the ,dealer bids a ,no-trump1 and the ,second ,hand1 two of a suit4#ah ,the only difference is that in this case there is little probability of high-card strength being developed on the left4 #ah ,see page #aaa4 #f4 ,,when ,,the ,,dealer ,,and ,,second ,,hand ,,have ,,made ,,offensive ,,declarations1 ,,and ,,the ,,third ,,hand ,,passed ,it is an exceptional hand which justifies taking the partner out of a suit declaration1 called over a ,no-trump bid by the ,dealer4 ,the partner has the advantage of sitting over the ,dealer1 while the ,dealer would have this same advantage should the ,fourth ,hand declare some other suit4 ,in this position the partner having bid two ,clubs or ,diamonds1 the ,fourth ,hand1 with the other three suits stopped1 is justified in assuming that the original ,no-trump was made with the minimum strength1 and the chance of game1 as the declaration stands1 being remote1 should try a bid of two ,no-trumps4 ,when the ,dealer has declared a suit1 and the ,second ,hand1 ,no-trump1 the ,fourth ,hand should overbid the ,second with a suit declaration 7except1 of course1 in the almost inconceivable case in which the strength of the ,fourth ,hand is in the suit named by the ,dealer71 with the same holding that the ,third ,hand is justified in overbidding the ,dealer's ,no-trump4#ai #ai ,see pages #if-ajh inc4 #g4 ,,when ,,the ,,dealer ,,and ,,third ,,hand ,,have ,,made ,,offensive ,,declarations ,,and ,,the ,,second ,,hand ,,passed ,in this case1 both adversaries having shown strength1 and the partner weakness1 it is dangerous for the ,fourth ,hand to declare1 and he should do so only when his holding convinces him that his declaration is not likely to be successfully doubled4 #h4 ,,when ,,all ,,three ,,players ,,have ,,made ,,offensive ,,declarations ,this case is entirely analogous to the second round or late bidding1 and is covered under the head of ,,continuation ,,of ,,the ,,bidding4 ,,vi ,,continuation ,,of ,,the ,,bidding ,after the completion of the first round1 the situation of the bidder becomes so complex that it is most difficult to apply general rules4 ,some principles1 however1 should be borne in mind4 ,bidding one ,spade1 or passing1 places a player with two tricks in a position to increase his partner's call2 but when a bidder has already shown the full strength1 or practically the full strength1 of his hand1 he should not1 under any circumstances1 advance either his own or his partner's declaration4 ,the temptation to disregard this rule is at times exceedingly strong4 ,for example1 the dealer declares one ,heart1 holding ,king1 ,queen1 at the top of five ,hearts1 and the ,ace of ,spades4 ,the partner calls one ,no-trump1 and the ,fourth ,hand1 two ,royals4 ,in such case1 the original ,heart bidder frequently advances the ,no-trump to two1 because he has the adverse suit stopped1 without considering that his partner1 in bidding one ,no-trump1 counted upon him for either that ,ace of ,spades1 or the equivalent strength1 and1 therefore1 he should leave the question of the continuance of the ,no-trump to the player who knows its exact strength4 ,another example of this proposition may be worthy of consideration4 ,the dealer holds ,spades ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,hearts ,ace1 ,x ,diamonds ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,he bids one ,diamond2 ,second ,hand1 pass2 ,third ,hand1 one ,heart2 ,fourth ,hand1 one ,royal4 ,in this position a thoughtless player might call two ,hearts1 but such a declaration would greatly exaggerate the value of the hand4 ,the dealer by his first bid has announced his ability to take at least three tricks if ,diamonds be ,trump1 and at least two tricks if the deal be played without a ,trump4 ,his hand justifies such a call1 but that is all2 having declared his full strength1 his lips must thereafter be sealed4 ,his partner is already counting upon him for two high-card tricks1 which is the maximum his hand can possibly produce2 should he call two ,hearts on the basis of the ,ace1 the original ,heart bidder would expect assistance to the extent of at least three tricks4 ,he might receive only one4 ,if1 however1 the dealer's hand be ,spades ,x ,hearts ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,diamonds ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x ,clubs ,ace1 ,x1 ,x a very different proposition presents itself4 ,while this combination1 had ,no-trump been called1 would not be stronger than the other and should not advance the bid1 with ,hearts ,trump it is a most valuable assistant1 and being worth at least three tricks1 is fully warranted in calling at least two ,hearts4 ,the fact that it contains four ,hearts is one material element of strength and the singleton ,spade is another1 neither of which has been announced by the original call4 ,one of the most difficult tasks of the bidder is to accurately estimate the number of tricks the combined hands of his partnership can reasonably be expected to win4 ,it sometimes occurs1 especially in what are known as freak hands1 that one pair can take most of the tricks with one suit declaration1 while with another1 their adversaries can be equally successful4 ,this is most apt to happen in two-suit hands1 or when length in ,trumps is coupled with a cross-ruff4 ,in the ordinary run of evenly divided hands1 there is not such great difference in the trick-taking ability of two declarations4 ,the player who1 except with an extraordinary hand1 commits his side to ten or eleven tricks1 after the adversaries have shown that with another declaration they do not expect to lose more than two or three1 is extremely venturesome1 and apt to prove a dangerous partner4 ,in normal deals1 a change in the ,trump suit does not produce a shift of seven or eight tricks4 ,,when ,,to ,,advance ,,the ,,bid ,it is frequently most difficult for a bidder to determine whether he is justified in advancing his own or his partner's declaration1 and when in doubt it is generally better to err on the side of conservatism4 ,the continuation of a ,no-trump without the adverse suit thoroughly guarded is most dangerous1 and should be risked only when the ,declarer is convinced beyond doubt that his holding justifies it1 or when the partner has shown that he can stop the threatening suit4 ,when the partner1 either as ,dealer or ,second ,hand1 has declared one ,no-trump1 the bid has unquestionably been based upon the expectation of average assistance1 and unless able to furnish more1 a higher call should not be made4 ,if1 however1 the partner bid twice1 without aid1 two tricks unquestionably justifies assisting once4 ,the minimum trick-taking ability with which an original suit declaration is made being appreciably greater than the number of tricks contained in a border-line ,no-trumper1 the former should be assisted with less strength than is required to advance the latter4 ,with two sure tricks the partner's suit call should be helped once by a player who has not declared1 but whether a ,no-trump should be aided with just two tricks and no chance of more is a question depending upon the judgment of the bidder and upon whether one of the tricks is in the adverse suit4 ,with two sure high-card tricks and a five-card suit1 but without the adverse suit guarded1 the five-card suit is generally the call1 especially if two in it will be sufficient4 ,three ,clubs1 however1 should not be declared without due consideration1 as that declaration is recognized as demanding two ,no-trumps from the partner if he have the adverse suit stopped4 ,being void or holding only a singleton of a suit1 especially if it be the suit declared by the adversary1 is to be considered in reckoning the trick-taking value of a hand which contemplates assisting a partner's ,trump declaration4 ,for example1 four small ,hearts1 the ,ace and three other ,clubs1 and five small ,diamonds1 when the partner has called one ,heart1 are worth three or four tricks1 although the hand contains but one ,ace and no face card4 ,holding such a combination1 a partner's bid of one ,heart should be advanced at least twice4 ,when a declaration by the dealer is followed by two passes and an overbid by the right-hand adversary1 the dealer is frequently placed in a doubtful position as to whether he should advance his own bid4 ,some authorities contend that with less than six tricks he should wait for his partner1 and while no inflexible rule can be made to cover all such cases1 the follower of this proposition has probably adopted the safest guide4 ,when the original call has been one ,no-trump1 it is the part of wisdom with less than six tricks1 even if the adverse suit be stopped twice1 to give the partner a chance4 ,if he can furnish more than two tricks1 he will declare1 and the ,dealer can then1 if he so desire1 continue the ,no-trump1 but to bid without first hearing from the partner is obviously venturesome4 ,if the ,dealer have five tricks1 that is enough to save game1 but is three tricks short of making two ,no-trumps4 ,when the ,dealer has declared a strong ,no-trump with one unprotected suit and his right-hand adversary calls two in that suit1 it is manifestly unwise to continue the ,no-trump4 ,holding six sure tricks in a higher-valued suit or seven in a lower1 it is probably wise to bid two or three1 as the exigencies of the case may require1 in that suit4 ,in close cases1 when advancing or declining to advance the partner's bid1 the personal equation should be a most important1 if not the deciding1 factor4 ,some players are noted for their reckless declaring2 with such a partner the bidding must be ultra-conservative4 ,other players do not regard conventional rules in their early declarations4 ,the bids of a partner of this kind should not be increased unless the hand contain at least one trick more than the number that normally would justify an advance4 ,when playing against a bidder who has the habit of overbidding1 full advantage should be taken of his weakness1 and whenever possible he should be forced to a high contract he may be unable to fulfil4 ,when a dealer who has opened with one ,spade1 or any other player who has passed the first round1 subsequently enters the bidding1 he gives unmistakable evidence of length but not strength4 ,this is a secondary declaration1 and the maker plainly announces1 ,i will take many more tricks with this suit ,trump than any other2 indeed1 ,i may not win a trick with any other ,trump4 ,overbidding a partner's secondary declaration1 or counting upon it for tricks when doubling an adversary who has overcalled it1 shows inexcusable lack of understanding of the modern system of declaring4 ,,when ,,to ,,overbid ,,the ,,partner ,overbidding a partner with a declaration which he has once taken out is only authorized by an honor count which is of material value1 or a sure game4 ,for example1 if a player declare one ,royal1 holding four or five honors1 and the partner overbid with a ,no-trump1 the original declarer should bid two ,royals2 but without the big honor count it is wiser to let the ,no-trump stand1 as the partner has announced weakness in ,spades4 ,the same line of reasoning should be followed when the partner has called two of a suit over a ,no-trump4 ,as a rule1 under these conditions1 it is most unwise for the original ,no-trump declarer to bid two ,no-trumps1 but with four ,aces1 the value of the honors thoroughly warrants such a declaration1 unless the partner's call has evidently been a rescue4 ,the rescue or weakness take-out is a warning not to be disregarded4 ,two ,clubs or ,diamonds over a ,no-trump is the most self-evident example1 and after such a call by the partner it takes a holding of eight sure tricks to justify two ,no-trumps4 ,of course1 with four ,aces1 seven tricks would warrant the call1 on the theory that at the worst the #ajj for the ,aces would set off the possible loss by the double1 and more than equal the loss if a double be not made4 ,,flag-,,flying ,the practice generally called flag-flying consists in overbidding an adverse declaration1 which will surely result in game and rubber1 with a holding which is not of sufficient strength to carry out the contract4 ,while at times flag-flying is of great advantage1 in inexperienced hands it is apt to prove a dangerous expedient4 ,the argument in its favor is obvious4 ,the bonus of #bej points for the rubber really makes #ejj points the difference between winning and losing1 and in addition there must be computed the points and honors which would be scored by the adversaries in the deal with which they go game1 and the points and honors which may be scored by the flag-flyers in the succeeding deal which they hope will carry them to their goal4 ,on this basis flag-flyers estimate that it makes a difference of #fjj points whether their opponents go out on the current deal or the flag-flyers score game on the next1 and they claim that any loss under #fjj is a gain4 ,the estimate is correct2 the claim1 ridiculous4 ,whenever the next deal furnishes the player who offers the gambit sufficient strength to capture the rubber1 he gains1 when his loss has been under #fjj1 but at best it is not more than an even chance that he will win1 and when the pendulum swings in the adverse direction1 the only result of the performance with the flag is to increase the size of the adversaries' rubber by the amount of the sacrifice4 ,this continued indefinitely is bound to produce ,auction bankruptcy4 ,the player who figures that1 on the doctrine of chances1 he and his partner will hold the strong cards once in every two deals1 should remember that the fickle goddess would never have deserved nor received her well-earned title had she been even approximately reliable4 ,a run of bad luck may continue for an indefinite period4 ,it has pursued good players not only for a day or a week1 but continuously for months and years4 ,it does not sound warnings announcing its appearance or disappearance4 ,to attempt to fight it by the flag-flying process as a rule only multiplies the loss many fold4 ,and yet1 it must not be understood that the flag-flyer should always be shunned and condemned4 ,when his loss amounts to only #ajj or #bjj1 or when1 not detecting his purpose1 the adversaries fail to double1 and the loss is1 therefore1 smaller1 the odds favor his exhibition of nerve4 ,flag-flying1 however1 is like dynamite3 in the hands of a child or of one unfamiliar with its characteristics1 it is a danger1 the extent of which none can foretell2 but used with skill1 it becomes a tool of exceptional value4 ,it is only during the rubber game that even the most enthusiastic and expert flyer of the flag should allow it to wave4 ,with a game out1 to make the play successful ,dame ,fortune must bestow her favors twice in succession4 ,before taking such a long chance1 a player should realize that there are future rubbers which he has an even chance of winning1 and that it is better to minimize the present loss than to allow it to become so great that1 even if good fortune follow1 it will be impossible to recoup4 ,on the first game of the rubber1 or with a game in1 and the adversaries still without a game1 it is plainly too early and the situation is not sufficiently desperate to resort to any real flag-flying4 ,except when playing the rubber game1 a voluntary loss of over #ajj should never be considered4 ,,vii ,,doubling ,all doubles1 except the double of one ,spade by the ,second ,hand1 which is really an informatory bid1#bj are made for the purpose of increasing the score of the doubler4 #bj ,see pages #fe1 #ff4 ,the old idea of informatory doubles has been abandoned4 ,now when a player doubles1 he does not invite a ,no-trump by showing one or more tricks in the adversary's suit1 but he practically says1 ,partner1 ,i am satisfied that we can defeat this declaration1 and ,i desire to receive a bonus of #ajj instead of #ej for each trick that our adversaries fall short of their contract4 ,i do not wish you to overbid1 unless your hand be of such a peculiar character that you have reason to believe the double will not be very profitable and feel sure that we can go game with your declaration4 ,although doubles are made under widely divergent conditions1 they may be subdivided into two classes3-- #a4 ,the double of a declaration which1 if successful1 will result in game1 regardless of the double1 such as four ,hearts1 with a love score4 #b4 ,the double which1 if unsuccessful1 puts the ,declarer out1 although if undoubled1 he would not secure the game by fulfilling his contract1 such as two or three ,hearts1 with a love score4 ,in the first instance1 the doubler has nothing to lose except the difference in points which the ,declarer may make as a result of the double4 ,when1 for example1 a bid of four ,hearts is doubled and the ,declarer fulfils his contract1 the double costs exactly #hb points4 ,if the ,declarer fall one trick short1 the double gains #ej points4 ,when1 however1 there is a redouble1 the loss is increased #aad points1 the gain #ajj points4 ,the doubler is1 therefore1 betting the ,declarer #hb to #ej that he will not make his contract1 and giving the ,declarer the option of increasing the bet1 so that the odds become #aif to #aej4 ,it is evident1 therefore1 that even when the ,declarer will go out in any event1 it is not a particularly advantageous proposition for the doubler to give odds of #h to #e or #bj to #ae1 if the chances be even4 ,when the declaration is ,royals or ,no-trumps1 the odds against the double are increased4 ,if four ,no-trumps be doubled1 the figures are #ij to #ej with the option given to the ,declarer to increase them to #bbj to #aej4 ,the explanatory remark so often heard after an unsuccessful double1 ,it could not cost anything1 as they were out anyhow1 is not an absolutely accurate statement4 ,it may be worth while to consider one ordinary illustration of how many points may be lost by a foolish double of this character4 ,a bid of four ,hearts is doubled and redoubled4 ,the ,declarer takes eleven tricks1 as he is able to ruff one or two high cards which the doubler hoped would prove winners4 ,this is an every-day case1 but the figures are rarely brought home4 ,without a double1 the ,declarer would have scored #dj points2 with the redouble1 he scores #afj points and #bjj bonus1 or #cfj1 presented by an adversary1 who hoped at most to gain #ej and thought his effort could not cost anything4 ,a doubtful double should not be made when the partner has another bid1 as1 for example1 when the adversary to the right has called four ,hearts1 over three ,royals declared by the partner4 ,under these circumstances1 the double1 on the theory that the doubler expects to secure a large bonus1 may properly deter the partner from a successful four ,royals declaration4 ,even when the double is successful to the extent of #ajj1 that is not a sufficient compensation for losing the opportunity to win the game4 ,the fact that a good player has declared an unusually large number of tricks1 as1 for example1 five ,hearts1 is not in itself a reason for doubling4 ,a player of experience1 when he makes such a declaration1 fully realizes the difficulty of the undertaking4 ,he does not take the chance without giving it more consideration than he would a smaller bid1 and it is only fair to assume that he has a reasonable expectation of success4 ,doubling1 therefore1 merely because the bid requires ten or even eleven tricks1 is folly1 pure and simple4 ,this comment1 however1 does not apply when the bid is of the flag-flying character4#ba ,as to whether or not it comes within that category the doubler will have to determine4 ,the ,auction expert is always on the lookout for an opportunity to gather a large bonus at the expense of a flag-flyer1 and as unduly sanguine players indulge in that practice more than others1 their declarations should be subjected to the most rigid scrutiny4 #ba ,see pages #aci-adb inc4 ,the doubtful double1 which1 should it prove unsuccessful1 will result in the ,declarer scoring a game he would not otherwise obtain1 is1 as a rule1 inexcusable4 ,by this is not meant that a bid of two or three ,hearts or ,royals1 or of three or four ,clubs or ,diamonds1 should never be doubled4 ,that would be absurd doctrine1 but such a double should never be made with the chances even1 or nearly even4 ,an experienced bidder will not risk presenting the adversaries with the game and a bonus unless reasonably sure of defeating the declaration4 ,another absurd notion is doubling because of the partner's general strength4 ,the partner has an equal opportunity to double1 and is much better posted in relation to his own cards4 ,if the strength be his1 he should decide whether or not to take the chance4 ,when1 however1 one partner has some strength in the suit the adversaries have declared1 and the other1 high side cards1 the double is more apt to confuse the ,declarer if made by the player without the ,trump strength4 ,the above refers to doubtful doubles only2 when the indications are that the ,declarer can be decisively defeated1 the double is most important4 ,it is worth #ajj if the ,declarer go down two2 #aej1 if he lose three1 etc4 ,these additional points should not be allowed to escape4 ,even the most venturesome doublers realize that1 except in the unusual case1 it is unwise to double a bid of one1 whether it be in a suit or ,no-trump4 ,some players hesitate about doubling a bid of two1 preferring to take the chance of forcing the bidder higher4 ,no general rule covering the situation can be laid down1 as it depends greatly upon the character of the doubler's hand whether the adversary is apt to advance his bid4 ,a double of a ,no-trump is much safer than of a suit declaration4 ,the doubler of the ,no-trump knows approximately what to expect from his long suit1 what suits he has stopped1 and if one be unguarded1 can estimate how many tricks it may be possible for the declarer to run4 ,the doubler of a suit declaration cannot figure with any such accuracy4 ,he rarely has more than two winning ,trumps1 and therefore1 as a rule1 must depend upon side ,aces and ,kings for the balance of his tricks4 ,it is always possible that the ,declarer or his partner may be absolutely void of the suit or suits in which the doubler expects to win his tricks1 so that sometimes a hand with which the most conservative player would double1 goes to pieces before a cross-ruff4 ,when one hand is evenly divided1 the chances are that the others are of the same character1 but it is not a certainty that they are4 ,when one hand has a very long suit1 and is either blank in some other suit1 or has but a singleton of it1 the other hands are apt to contain very long and very short suits4 ,therefore1 if the doubler be without1 or have but a singleton of1 a suit1 he should be more conservative1 in doubling a suit declaration upon the expectation of making high side cards1 than when he has an evenly divided hand4 ,probably the most advantageous situation for a double is when the partner has declared ,no-trump1 and the adversary to the right1 two of a suit1 of which the doubler1 in addition to other strength1 holds four cards1 at least two of which are sure to take tricks4 ,this comes nearer being an informatory double than any other in vogue in the game of to-day4 ,the partner1 however1 should not take it out unless his ,no-trump consist of some such holding as a solid suit and an ,ace4 ,a hand of this character may not prove formidable against a suit declaration1 and it justifies the original ,declarer1 as he knows that the adverse suit is well stopped1 in bidding two ,no-trumps4 ,it is one of the few cases where it is not advisable to allow the double of a partner to stand4 ,it is generally conceded that the double1 although a most powerful factor in the game1 and the element which is productive of large rubbers1 is used excessively1 especially by inexperienced and rash players4 ,if a record could be produced of all the points won and lost by doubling1 there is little doubt that the lost column would lead by a ratio of at least two to one4 ,the double in the hands of a discreet player of sound judgment is1 indeed1 a powerful weapon greatly feared by the adversaries2 when used by the unskilled1 it becomes a boomerang of the most dangerous type4 ,a player cannot afford to have the reputation of never doubling1 as that permits his adversaries to take undue liberties in bidding1 but it is better to be ultra-conservative than a foolish doubler who continually presents his opponents with games of enormous proportions4 ,a player should not double unless able to count with reasonable exactness in his own hand and announced by his partner a sufficient number of tricks to defeat the ,declarer4 ,it is not the place to take a chance or to rely upon a partner1 who has not shown strength1 for an average holding4 ,it must also be remembered as an argument against a doubtful double that the ,declarer is more apt to make his declaration when doubled1 as he is then given more or less accurate information regarding the position of the adverse strength1 and can finesse accordingly4 ,a double frequently costs one trick--sometimes even more4 ,,the ,,choice ,,between ,a ,,game ,,and ,a ,,double ,a most interesting question arises when a player is placed in the gratifying position of having the opportunity of electing whether to go game or secure a bonus by doubling4 ,which course he should take depends entirely upon the state of the rubber1 and the size of the bonus that the double will probably produce4 ,a game is always to be preferred to a double which is not apt to net more than #ajj4 ,when #bjj is sure and a greater bonus probable1 the double should be made during either the first or second game of the rubber4 ,during the rubber game1 however1 the doubler should be more conservative1 and should take in his rubber unless satisfied that the double will produce #cjj1 with a potential possibility of more4 ,the reason1 which may not at first be apparent1 for this difference in the situation1 may be briefly explained as follows3 ,before a game has been won1 the securing of a large bonus in the honor column places the fortunate doubler in a most advantageous position1 as he starts the rubber insured against loss unless he suffer a similar penalty4 ,when the only game finished has been won by the adversaries1 a large bonus should be preferred to game4 ,as the adversaries already have a game1 the next hand may give them the rubber1 and should it do so1 its amount will be most materially affected by the action of the player who has the chance either to score a bonus or win a game4 ,if the first game be of normal size1 a large bonus will nullify the result of the rubber1 but if instead a game be taken in the adversaries will score an average rubber4 ,when the player considering a double has a game and the adversaries have not1 he is in a most excellent position to double with the hope of a big winning4 ,to secure the enlarged rubber1 it is only necessary for him to obtain one game before the adversaries get two1 and as the odds are greatly in his favor it is a chance worth taking4 ,when1 however1 each side has a game and the question is whether to obtain a bonus or score rubber1 the bonus must be large and sure to justify giving up a rubber practically won for merely an equal chance of capturing a larger one4 ,it has been elsewhere stated that when a player who has an opportunity to win a rubber fails to avail himself of it1 and on the next hand the adversaries reach the goal1 the loss may be roughly estimated at #fjj points4 ,the player who doubles during the third game knows that the next hand may see the adversaries score the rubber4 ,even if he obtain #djj points by doubling1 and this happens1 the adversaries gain to the extent of approximately #bjj points by his action4 ,on the other hand1 he has an equal chance for the game1 and if he win it1 he will be the gainer by the amount secured by the double4 ,when he has a sure #djj in sight1 or even a sure #cjj1 with a reasonable chance of more1 the odds favor the double1 but it is the height of folly to take an even chance of losing #fjj unless #cjj be the minimum return4 ,advice as to whether to double or go game is useful only for players who can with accuracy estimate the trick-taking value of their hands4 ,to refuse a double which would net several hundred for the sake of going game and then fall a trick short of both the game and the declaration is most exasperating1 while on the other hand to double for a big score1 instead of taking in a sure game1 only to have the double fail1 is equally heart-breaking4 ,the player who takes either horn of this dilemma must be sure of his ground and must figure the chances with the greatest care4 ,,when ,,to ,,redouble ,the question of when to redouble is so intricate that it is hard to consider1 except when the specific case arises4 ,some players frequently redouble1 as a kind of bluff1 when convinced their declaration will fail1 the intent being to frighten either the doubler or his partner into another declaration4 ,against a very timid player1 this is sometimes successful1 but unless it catch its victim1 it is expensive bait4 ,nine out of ten redoubles1 however1 are bona fide1 and made because the fulfilment of the contract seems assured4 ,even then1 however1 a player should not redouble unless practically positive that neither of his adversaries can get out of the redouble by making a higher bid4 ,the player who has been doubled and is sure of his contract is in a most enviable position2 game and a handsome bonus both are his1 and it would be most foolish for him to risk so much merely for the chance of the extra score4 ,if1 however1 there be no escape for the doubler1 the redouble is most valuable1 and a real opportunity for it should never be overlooked4 ,,what ,,to ,,do ,,when ,,the ,,partner ,,is ,,doubled ,the player who1 whenever his partner's declaration is doubled1 becomes frightened1 concludes that the worst is sure to happen1 and that it is his duty to come to the rescue by jumping headlong into some other declaration1 even if it require an increased number of tricks1 is a most dangerous vis-a-vis4 ,a double does not justify the assumption that the ,declarer is beaten1 especially when the partner has any unannounced help4 ,if the partner be weak1 it is folly for him to go from bad to worse2 if strong1 he may enable the ,declarer to make a large score4 ,in any event1 in nine cases out of ten1 standing pat is his best policy4 ,,viii ,,leading ,the selection of the correct lead in ,auction is not attended with so many difficulties as in ,whist1 or even in ,bridge4 ,in ,whist1 the original leader is obliged to begin the play in the dark1 the turn-up constituting his entire knowledge of the strength or weakness of the other players4 ,in ,bridge1 the extent of his information is limited to the inferences that can be drawn from the declaration and the double1 but in ,auction every player has made at least one announcement which is more or less instructive4 ,when there has been considerable bidding it is frequently possible to accurately estimate the length and strength of the suit of each player and the trick-taking value of the balance of his hand4 ,when only one or two declarations have been made1 so much information may not be obtainable1 but even then the leader1 from the failure of certain players to bid1 may be able to make deductions of considerable value4 ,the ,auction leader1 therefore1 must remember the various declarations1 draw both positive and negative inferences therefrom1 and whenever it is not advisable to open his partner's suit or his own1 should follow the old principle which1 since the days of ,pole1 has been applicable to all games of the ,whist family1 and realize ',tis seldom wrong to lead up to the weak and through the strong4 ,the original opening is materially varied by the character of the final declaration1 the system of leading against a ,no-trump being quite different from that employed when a suit is ,trump4 ,,how ,,to ,,lead ,,against ,a ,,no-,,trump ,when the partner has not shown strength1 the leader1 against a ,no-trump1 should open his own long suit4 ,if he have two long suits1 he should pick the stronger except when he has declared it1 and has not received support from his partner1 in which case it is generally wise to try the other4 ,the possible exception to the lead of a long suit against a ,no-trump is when that suit has been declared1 has not been helped by the partner1 and the ,no-trump has been subsequently bid to the right4 ,in this situation1 with a tenace in the long suit1 it is sometimes advisable to try1 by leading another suit1 to get the partner in1 so that he may lead through the ,declarer's strength in the suit called by the leader4 ,this1 however1 is a dangerous expedient when the partner has not declared4 ,should a suit be guessed which the partner cannot win1 one of his high cards is apt to be sacrificed1 and not only nothing gained1 but the advantage of the lead transferred to the adversary4 ,if two high cards be missing from the tenace suit1 as in the case when it is headed by ,ace1 ,queen1 ,ten1 or ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 and the ,declarer hold the missing honors and one small card1 it will take two leads to establish the suit4 ,it is not likely that a partner without sufficient strength to declare will be able to get in twice1 and trying to put him in once is most apt to establish a suit for the ,declarer4 ,therefore1 as a general proposition1 unless the partner have declared1 the tenace suit should be led4 ,when1 however1 the partner has shown a suit1 opening it1 in preference to a tenace1 is elementary and compulsory4 ,when the partner has declared1 the leader should open the suit named unless satisfied that his own affords a more potent weapon for the attack4 ,there are only three conditions which justify the leader in assuming this1 viz43-- 7a7 ,when the leader has called his suit and his partner has advanced the declaration4 7b7 ,when the leader's suit is headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 or ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave4 7c7 ,when the leader has only a singleton of his partner's suit and has several reentries4 ,innumerable tricks1 games1 and rubbers have been thrown away by a leader who1 considering solely his own hand1 has started with his suit in preference to that of his partner4 ,there is some peculiar characteristic in the composition of many players which magnifies the value of their own cards1 so that they seem of greater importance and more desirable to establish than their partners'4 ,even experienced players have been known to commit such an ,auction absurdity as opening a suit headed by a ,knave1 in preference to the suit named by the partner1 which1 of necessity1 contains the strength requisite for a ,trump declaration4 ,it is fair to estimate that ten tricks are lost by denying the partner's declaration to one that escapes the player who leads his partner's suit in preference to his own4 ,when the partner has declared1 his suit can be counted upon for both length and strength1 and unless it be practically solid1 his hand contains at least one reentry4 ,the leader by his opening can attack only one-quarter of the ,no-trump fortification1 and it is his duty to pick out the spot which promises to be most vulnerable4 ,a ,no-trump call is very likely to spell game unless a suit can be established against it4 ,in order to accomplish this it is generally necessary to start with the first card led4 ,therefore1 making the right original opening is probably the only opportunity to save the game4 ,when the leader selects his own suit in preference to his partner's1 he should be able to say1 ,in spite of the strength you have declared1 ,i am reasonably sure that we have a better chance to establish this suit than yours4 ,as a rule1 however1 the leader does not have sufficient strength to support such a statement1 and1 therefore1 his lead generally says1 ,partner1 ,i know you have considerable strength1 you may have declared expressly for the purpose of asking me to lead your suit1 but ,i selfishly prefer to play my own hand rather than act for the benefit of the partnership4 ,it is but a puerile excuse for a leader who does not open his partner's suit to explain that the ,no-trump was called by the right-hand adversary after the partner's declaration1 and that the bid1 having been made with the anticipation that the suit named would be led1 he should surprise the ,declarer4 ,it is true that the ,declarer expects that suit1 but it may be the only opening he fears4 ,it is more than possible that the suit is stopped but once1 and that leading it will save the game1 even if it do not defeat the declaration4 ,it is certainly a very short-sighted or unduly sanguine player who selects a suit of his own1 which has not nearly the strength of his partner's1 merely on the wild chance that his partner1 rather than the ,no-trump bidder1 has the missing high cards4 ,when the partner has declared two suits and the leader has length or strength in one of them1 he should open it1 but when he cannot assist either1 he should open the suit named first1 as it is probably the stronger4 ,as will be seen from the tables of leads against a ,no-trump declaration1 in some cases whether the leader has a reentry materially affects the manner in which he should open his long suit4 ,by a reentry in this connection is meant either an ,ace or ,king1 unless the suit containing the ,king have been bid by the adversary to the left of the leader4 ,in that case the ,king cannot be expected to win unless accompanied by the ,queen4 ,a ,queen1 or even ,queen1 ,knave1 cannot be considered a reentry1 as the suit may not be led three times4 ,the reason for varying the lead1 depending upon the presence of a reentry1 is that the sole thought of the leader against a ,no-trump is to establish the suit led1 and to insure so doing he opens his suit exclusively with that end in view1 regardless of whether it would otherwise be the opening most apt to prove trick-winning4 ,he knows that the ,declarer will1 if possible1 hold up a winning card until the ,third ,hand is unable to return the suit4 ,therefore1 if he be without a reentry1 he must do all in his power to force the winning card from the adversary's hand as early in the play as possible4 ,if he have a reentry1 he may play much more fearlessly4 ,an example of this is a long suit1 headed by ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave4 ,the most advantageous lead from this combination is the ,ace 7as an adversary may hold an unguarded ,king71 and that would be the lead with a reentry2 but the chances are that the partner does not hold more than three cards of the suit1 and1 if it be opened in the usual way1 the ,king will be held up until the third round4 ,the leader without a reentry1 therefore1 is compelled to open with the ,queen1 so as to establish the suit1 while the partner1 who probably has a reentry1 still retains a card of it4 ,another important convention which applies to the opening of the leader's suit against a ,no-trump declaration 7but1 of course1 against a ,no-trump declaration only7 is that the original lead of an ,ace calls for the partner's highest card4 ,an ,ace1 therefore1 should be led from such a combination as a suit headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 since the drop of the ,queen will permit the suit to be run without hesitation1 and the failure of the partner to play the ,queen will permit the leader to place its position positively1 and to continue the suit or not1 as his judgment and the balance of his hand dictate4 ,this doctrine is extended to all cases of the original lead of an ,ace against a ,no-trump declaration4 ,the ,ace should not be led unless the partner's best card1 regardless of its size1 be desired1 and the partner should play it unhesitatingly1 be it ,king1 ,queen1 or ,knave1 unless the ,dummy convince him that meeting the demand of the lead will be trick-sacrificing1 in which case the leader's command should be ignored4 ,in leading a partner's suit1 the general rule of selecting the fourth best1 when opening with a small card1 is not followed4 ,the object in leading that suit is to strengthen the partner1 and it is more important to do that and also to tell him what is the leader's highest card than to post him regarding exact length4 ,holding either two1 three1 or four of a partner's suit1 the top1 therefore1 should be led1 followed on each succeeding trick by the next in order1 the lowest being retained until the last4 ,this is sometimes called the down and out4 ,the one exception to the lead of the top of the partner's suit is when it consists of three or more headed by ,ace or ,king1 and the right-hand adversary has called ,no-trump after the suit has been declared4 ,in that case1 it may be that the stopper which the ,declarer thinks he has in the suit can be captured1 and the lead1 therefore1 should be a low card4 ,,number-,,showing ,,leads ,the lead in ,auction is materially simplified by the fact that number-showing is not nearly so important as in ,whist1 and really only becomes of value when opening a small card against a ,no-trump declaration4 ,in that case the lowest should always be led with four in the suit1 because the partner1 having the ,dummy spread before him1 being able to count his own hand1 and being informed by the lead regarding the leader's length in the suit1 can generally tell the exact number held by the ,declarer1 and can1 therefore1 accurately determine whether it is better to continue that suit or try some other4 ,it happens more frequently than would be supposed that when a four-card suit is opened with a small card1 the ,dummy and ,third ,hand have only four cards of it between them4 ,the ,third ,hand can then1 if the leader have shown exactly four1 mark it as the long suit of the ,declarer1 and make an advantageous shift4 ,this is the only method of giving this warning4 ,if the fourth-best lead be not adopted1 the suit must1 in most cases1 necessarily be continued to the great benefit of the ,declarer4 ,number-showing by the lead of a small card 7one of the rudiments of ,whist7 is doubtless thoroughly understood by most ,auction players2 it consists in leading the fourth best1 when the suit is not of such a character as to demand a high card or intermediate sequence opening4 ,this informs the partner that the leader has exactly three cards in that suit higher than the card led1 and that he may or may not have any smaller card4 ,for example3 the leader has ,queen1 #g1 #f1 and #d2 the ,dummy1 a singleton 7the #c72 and the ,third ,hand1 who wins the trick with the ,ace1 only two others 7the #h and #b74 ,the ,third ,hand can place the ,declarer with five1 as the leader1 having opened his lowest1 can have had only four originally4 ,number-showing leads in high cards1 so advantageous in ,whist1 are absolutely unimportant in ,auction1 and only complicate the situation4 ,they are not given in the table of leads appended at the end of this chapter1 nor is their use permissible1 even by the ,whist-player of the old school who is thoroughly familiar with their meaning4 ,he must realize that ,auction is not a number-showing game1 and must be content to limit his skill in that respect to the fourth best1 which is advisable when it is not higher than the #g4 ,the limitation of the fourth-best lead to a #g or lower card is a useful modern innovation4 ,when the #h or a higher fourth best is led against a ,no-trump1 the ,declarer1 with his twenty-six cards at his command1 and with great strength in his own hand1 is apt to receive information as to the exact high cards held by the leader which will prove of greater value to him than to the partner4 ,furthermore1 the lead of an #h or #i as a fourth best is bound at times to conflict with the valuable lead known as the top of an intermediate sequence4 ,the holdings from which the top of an intermediate sequence should be led are shown in the tables1 and while some of the leads in such cases1 which are absolutely conventional in ,auction1 may shock the ,whist-player1 they have1 nevertheless1 been found to be advisable in the present game4 ,trick-winning is far more important than giving numerical information1 and the top of an intermediate sequence often succeeds in capturing a valuable card in the ,dummy1 does not give too much information to the ,declarer1 helps to establish the suit1 and seldom interferes with the play of the partner4 ,much has been written by those who contend that the fourth-best lead against a ,no-trump gives the ,declarer too much information1 and1 therefore1 should never be employed4 ,the writers1 however1 do not consider that practically the only cases in which the lead is objectionable for the reason cited is when it is an #h or higher card1 while the great advantage of the lead is the warning above mentioned4 ,there are also instances in which the ,third ,hand is at some time in the play in doubt whether to return the original lead or try his own suit4 ,the knowledge of whether his partner holds three or more of the suit first led may in such case be of the greatest value4 ,the idea of leading the fourth best only when it is a #g or smaller card eliminates the objection1 yet in practically every case affords the advantage4 ,a player who adopts this system may at times1 as1 for example1 with such a holding as ,ace1 ,queen1 #aj1 #h1 #b1 be obliged to open the #h1 but inasmuch as he would lead the same card from ,ace1 ,queen1 #h1 #g1 #b1 the ,declarer cannot bank upon the #h of such a leader showing three higher cards of the suit in his hand1 and1 therefore1 no harm is done4 ,if the leader have any such four-card combination as ,ace1 or any one face card1 accompanied by #i1 #h1 #b1 or #h1 #g1 #b1 showing that the lead is from four only is more important than opening the top of a two-card intermediate sequence4 ,when1 however1 the intermediate is headed by a ,knave or #aj1 the opening of the top of it becomes advisable regardless of the length of the suit4 ,of course1 the #b1 in the examples just given1 is used to represent any small card1 and the fourth best should be led if it be a #c1 #d1 or #e4 ,,the ,,lead ,,against ,a ,,suit ,,declaration ,against a suit declaration1 the original lead of the longest suit is not in the least imperative4 ,strength is far more important than length4 ,as the tables show1 many high-card combinations are opened very differently1 the theory being to win with honors1 not to establish small cards4 ,if the leader be a ,whist-player1 he must remember that ,auction is a very different game4 ,the ,trump has not been selected by chance1 but has been named because of his adversaries' great length and strength4 ,the establishment of an adverse suit against a ,trump declaration is1 therefore1 an almost unknown proceeding4 ,the object of the leader against a suit declaration is to get as many tricks as possible1 and he should utilize the two best methods for so doing3 namely1 winning with his own and his partner's high cards1 and ruffing with weak ,trumps4 ,he should avoid opening a tenace suit1 regardless of its length4 ,a singleton1 if he be short in ,trumps1 is probably his best lead2 his second choice should be high cards in sequence4 ,when his hand does not contain either of these advantageous openings1 he should try his partner's suit4 ,it goes without saying that if the leader have both the ,ace and ,king of a suit1 it is always well to lead the ,king1 not only for the purpose of giving information and taking a practically assured trick1 but also in order to obtain a look at the ,dummy1 which will enable him to more advantageously size up the entire situation4 ,when his partner has not shown strength1 the leader need never hesitate about starting with a strengthening card of a short suit which has not been declared4 ,he is also thoroughly justified1 if weak in ,trumps1 in asking for a force by leading the top of a two-card suit4 ,this1 while not nearly so desirable an opening as a singleton1 is better than leading from a tenace4 ,when the leader is long in ,trumps1 he should open his own or his partner's strength4 ,the leader should bear in mind as a vital principal that1 against a suit declaration1 a suit containing an ,ace should never be opened originally1 unless the ,ace 7or ,king1 if that card be also held7 be led4 ,the leader should observe this convention1 regardless of the length of the suit4 ,the knowledge that a leader can be relied upon not to have the ,ace unless he lead it will be of material assistance to his partner in the play4 ,it is sometimes very tempting to lead low with an ,ace1 hoping that a ,king may be found in the ,second ,hand1 and that the partner's ,queen may capture the first trick4 ,this play will occasionally prove successful1 but in the long run1 it is a trick-loser1 there being so many instances of singletons1 even of single ,kings1 and also of two-card suits1 where1 unless the ,ace be led1 the ,declarer will win the first trick and discard the other card4 ,the leader must observe the distinction between opening a long and a short suit which has always been in force in ,whist1 ,bridge1 and ,auction--that is1 when leading a suit headed by a ,knave or smaller card1 if long1 open from the bottom2 if short1 from the top4 ,for example1 holding ,knave1 #i1 #g1 #b1 the #b should be led1 but holding ,knave1 #g1 #b1 the ,knave is the card to open4 ,one other conventional lead should be mentioned1 which1 as an original opening1 is advisable against a ,trump declaration only4 ,it is the lead of a two-card suit consisting of ,ace1 ,king4 ,the ,ace first1 and then ,king1 signifies no more of the suit1 and a desire to ruff4 ,of course1 by analogy1 the lead of the ,king before the ,ace shows more of the suit4 ,,how ,,to ,,lead ,,to ,a ,,double ,the question of what lead should be made when the partner has doubled is comparatively simple1 although the answer depends materially upon whether the double has been of a ,no-trump or a suit declaration4 ,when a ,no-trump has been doubled1 the original lead should invariably be the suit the doubler has declared4 ,when the doubler has not made any declaration1 the suit the leader has called should be opened4 ,when neither the doubler nor the leader has declared1 a case that rarely occurs1 the lead should be either the best ,club or the highest card of the leader's shortest suit1 depending upon which of these two conventions the doubler approves4 ,the theory of the advocates of the ,club convention is that it is important for the doubler of a ,no-trump to know exactly what suit will be led1 and that he is more apt to desire ,clubs than any other1 as the other suits1 being of greater value1 are more likely to be bid4 ,the argument of the advocates of the high card of the short suit convention is that it enables a double to be made with any long suit4 ,the ,club convention is much safer1 and is used by most conservative players4 ,in the event of there being any doubt what the lead should be1 if the leader be fortunate enough to hold an ,ace1 it is good policy for him to lead it for the purpose of taking a look4 ,the contents of the ,dummy will probably furnish the desired information4 ,when a suit declaration has been doubled1 a singleton is always an advantageous opening4 ,the lead of a high card is also advisable for the purpose of taking a look4 ,if the leader be without either a singleton or high-card lead1 his partner's suit is unquestionably his wisest opening4 ,,the ,,tables ,the tables which appear at the end of this chapter should be carefully examined by all who are not absolutely letter perfect in the conventional leads4 ,the present tendency of players taking up ,auction is to regard the leads as unimportant1 and this often results disastrously4 ,the quondam ,whist-player realizes the necessity of having every lead at his fingers' ends1 but for the benefit of those who have never participated in the older game1 it may be said that the conventional leads have been determined upon only after years of experimentation2 as a consequence of which it is known just which card1 in the long run1 will win the most tricks4 ,a leader who1 on the spur of the moment1 during the play1 tries something else1 is taking a course sure to deceive an intelligent partner1 and one which will probably reduce the number of his tricks4 ,the one combination that seems to tempt some players to disregard the conventional1 is the ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten1 against a ,no-trump4 ,with this holding the ,king is manifestly most advantageous1 as if the ,declarer hold ,ace1 ,knave1 it will either force the ,ace and hold the tenace over the ,knave or win the trick4 ,without the ,ten1 a small card should be led1 but many players fail to recognize the important distinction4 ,every one attempting to play the game should learn the conventional leads1 and having once mastered this comparatively easy lesson1 should never allow a childish impulse1 such as having a hunch1 to induce an experiment with a lead not recognized as sound4 ,the various tables follow4 ,,opening ,,leads ,,against ,a ,,no-,,trump ,,declaration ,with a ,without a ,holding ,reentry ,reentry ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 with or without others ,ace ,ace ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten1 with one or more others ,ace ,ace ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten ,king ,king ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 with three or more others ,ace ,ace ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 with one or two others ,king ,king ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with two or more others ,ace ,ace ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with one other ,ace ,knave ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten ,king ,knave ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 with three or more others ,ace ,ace ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 with two others ,ace #dth best ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 with one other ,king ,king ,ace1 ,king1 and five others ,ace ,ace ,ace1 ,king1 and four others ,king #dth best ,ace1 ,king1 and two or three others #dth best #dth best ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with or without others ,ace ,queen ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 with one or more others ,ace ,queen ,ace1 ,queen1 ,ten1 ,nine1 and three others ,ace ,ten ,ace1 ,queen1 ,ten1 ,nine1 with less than seven ,ten ,ten ,ace1 ,queen1 and five others ,ace #dth best ,ace1 ,queen1 and two1 three1 or four others #dth best #dth best ,ace1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with one or more others ,knave ,knave ,ace1 ,knave1 with two or more others #dth best #dth best ,ace1 ,ten1 ,nine1 with one or more others ,ten ,ten ,ace1 ,ten1 ,eight1 with one or more others #dth best #dth best ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with or without others ,king ,king ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 with one or more others ,king ,king ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten1 with one or more others ,king ,king ,king1 ,queen1 with five or more others ,king ,king ,king1 ,queen1 with four or more others ,king #dth best ,king1 ,queen1 with two or three others #dth best #dth best ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with one or more others ,knave ,knave ,king1 ,knave1 with two or more others #dth best #dth best ,king1 ,ten1 ,nine1 with one or more others ,ten ,ten ,king1 ,ten1 with two or more others #dth best #dth best ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with one or more others ,queen ,queen ,queen1 ,knave1 ,nine1 with one or more others ,queen ,queen ,queen1 ,knave1 with two or more others #dth best #dth best ,queen1 ,ten1 ,nine1 with one or more others ,ten ,ten ,knave1 ,ten1 ,nine1 with one or more others ,knave ,knave ,knave1 ,ten1 ,eight1 with one or more others ,knave ,knave ,knave1 ,ten1 with two or more others #dth best #dth best ,ten1 ,nine1 ,eight1 with one or more others ,ten ,ten ,ten1 ,nine1 ,seven1 with one or more others ,ten ,ten ,in all the above cases in which the fourth best is given as the lead1 should the hand contain an intermediate sequence1 headed by an #h1 or higher card1 the top of such sequence should be led instead of the fourth best4 ,for example1 ,king1 ,knave1 #i1 #h1 #b1 lead the #i2 ,king1 ,knave1 #i1 #g1 #b1 lead the #g4 ,in any case not mentioned1 in which there is not an intermediate sequence1 headed by an #h or higher card1 the fourth best should be opened4 ,the lead of the fourth best1 when it is an #h or higher card1 should be avoided whenever possible4 ,for example1 ,ace1 ,queen1 #aj1 #h1 #f1 #b1 lead the #f2 but never lead the lowest when holding more than four1 so from ,ace1 ,queen1 #aj1 #h1 #b1 lead the #h4 ,in all the ,ace-,king combinations in the above table1 in which the ,ace is the conventional lead1 it is selected in preference to the ,king1 because the highest card of the partner is desired2 when the ,king is the lead1 the suit is not of sufficient strength to make that play advisable4 ,,opening ,,leads ,,against ,a ,,trump ,,declaration ,holding ,lead ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave ,king1 then ,knave ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen ,king1 then ,queen ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave ,king ,ace1 ,king1 and one or more others ,king ,ace1 ,king1 without any others ,ace1 then ,king ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave#bb ,ace1 then ,queen ,ace1 ,queen1 and one or more others#bb ,ace1 then lowest ,ace1 ,knave1 ,ten#bb ,ace ,ace1 and one or more small ,ace ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 with or without others ,king ,king1 ,queen1 ,ten1 with or without others ,king ,king1 ,queen1 with or without others ,king ,king1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with or without others#bb ,knave ,king1 ,knave1 and one or more others#bb ,lowest or #dth best ,king1 ,ten1 ,nine1 and one or more others#bb ,ten ,king1 and two or more others#bb ,lowest or #dth best ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten1 with or without others ,queen ,queen1 ,knave1 ,nine1 with or without others ,queen ,queen1 ,knave1 and two or more others #dth best#bc ,queen1 ,knave1 and one or no others ,queen ,queen1 ,ten1 ,nine1 with or without others ,ten ,knave1 ,ten1 with or without others ,knave ,ten1 ,nine1 with or without others ,ten #bb ,these suits unless declared by partner should not be opened1 as they are disadvantageous leads against a ,trump declaration4 #bc ,this is the conventional lead from this combination1 but many good players prefer the ,queen1 especially when the indications are that the hand is not evenly divided4 ,when long suits have been announced1 the chances are that the suit led will be ruffed on the third round1 if not earlier4 ,if the ,king be in the ,second ,hand and the ,ace in the ,third1 a trick can be gained by leading the ,queen whenever the suit does not last for three rounds4 ,therefore1 unless the hand indicate that the suits are evenly divided1 the ,queen seems to be the better lead4 ,,ix ,,the ,,play ,it has been stated elsewhere that it is easier to advise an ,auction player how to declare than how to play4 ,this is unquestionably true1 and as a rule instruction in print relating to intricate situations in the play is of little benefit to the reader4 ,end situations1 and even those which arise earlier in the hand1 seldom exactly repeat themselves4 ,pages may be filled with the description of brilliant plays by the ,declarer and his opponents4 ,the reader may study such examples until he becomes thoroughly familiar with every detail1 and yet1 so great and infinite is the variety of ,auction hands1 may play for years without ever having one of them arise4 ,mathematicians state that the #eb cards may be distributed in #ec1fdd1gcg1gfe1hci1bcg1ddj1jjj different ways1 and that a player may receive #fce1jac1eei1fjj different hands4 ,there is no reason to question the accuracy of these figures1 but even if they be grossly excessive1 it is still self-evident that each deal is apt to produce some totally new situation4 ,all that will be attempted1 therefore1 in considering the play1 is to offer a few general suggestions that it is believed will be found applicable to a considerable percentage of hands1 and that it is hoped will prove useful4 ,,difference ,,between ,,play ,,in ,,auction ,,and ,,bridge ,there is little difference between the play in ,auction and ,bridge1 although in ,auction1 due to the bidding1 all the players have much greater information regarding the strength and weakness of the various hands4 ,there is one point of variance1 however1 worthy of consideration3-- ,in ,bridge1 the player of the open hand is generally striving for the game as his only object4 ,in ,auction1 the ,declarer has two purposes in view2 first1 to fulfil his declaration2 and second1 when the making of the declaration does not in itself secure game1 to obtain that also4 ,naturally1 the opponents of the ,declarer play with exactly the opposite idea1 their first object being to prevent him from going game1 and their second1 to keep him from fulfilling his contract4 ,,playing ,,for ,,game ,the ,declarer should never take a finesse or make any other play which1 if it succeed1 gains one or more tricks1 but which1 if it fail1 risks the fulfilment of an otherwise assured contract4 ,having once made sure of his bid1 he should apply a similar rule to the winning of the game4 ,an extra trick counts comparatively little1 but the failure to carry out a contract or to capture a game may alter the result of the rubber4 ,the game is1 of course1 far more important than the contract1 and the ,declarer1 when he has a reasonable chance of obtaining it1 should1 if necessary1 risk his declaration4 ,on the other hand1 his opponents should save the game beyond peradventure1 even if by so doing they lose an opportunity to defeat the ,declarer4 ,a couple of examples will show this more clearly than pages of explanation4 ,suppose1 the score being love1 the ,declarer1 who has bid three ,royals1 has about exhausted the possibilities of his cards4 ,he has won eight tricks and has the lead in his own hand1 with an ,ace and ,queen of the same suit in the ,dummy4 ,one more trick will fulfil his contract1 two will give him game4 ,the development of the play has shown that the adversaries will make the rest of the tricks whenever they obtain the lead1 and consequently1 if he finesse and lose1 the eight tricks already taken will be all he will secure1 his ,ace will die1 and he will be one down4 ,he is without information as to the location of the ,king2 neither adversary has declared1 and neither has by discard or otherwise in the play given a reliable hint as to the absence or presence of the all-important card4 ,his duty is plain4 ,by finessing he may lose #bg points and a penalty of #ej1 #gg in all1 but the finesse gives him an even chance to win the game2 and whether it be the rubber1 with its premium of #bej1 or merely the first game1 but still a most important advance toward the goal1 he should take his chance1 realizing that the value of the object for which he is striving is far greater than the #gg he may lose4 ,under similar conditions1 however1 if the ,trump be ,diamonds1 the finesse should be refused4 ,it would then take three more tricks to make game1 and but two are possible4 ,one completes the contract1 and winning the finesse adds only #g points1 less than one-tenth of the #ga placed in jeopardy4 ,the #ba points in the trick column assured by refusing the finesse are1 viewed from a practical standpoint1 just as near a game as #bh would be1 but #ba makes the bidding for game on the next deal much easier than if the effort to win the extra #g had resulted in the score remaining at love4 ,in this case1 therefore1 not only when the chances are equal1 but even when unmistakable inferences of declaration and play indicate that the success of the finesse is almost assured1 the opportunity should be refused4 ,penny-wise and pound-foolish aptly characterizes a player who would risk advantage of position and #ga points for the chance of gaining a paltry #g4 ,,play ,,for ,,an ,,even ,,break ,the ,declarer1 in the absence of any positive indication to the contrary1 should base his play upon the probability of an even division of the cards4 ,that is1 with seven of a suit in his own hand and ,dummy1 he should play for each of the adversaries to have three2 with nine1 he should play on the basis that the four missing cards are equally divided4 ,in the long run1 playing for the even break will net many tricks1 but in a small percentage of instances it will result unfortunately4 ,the case in which the question most frequently arises is when either in ,trumps or in the ,declarer's strong suit in a ,no-trump1 the two hands hold nine cards headed by ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave4 ,the division between the two hands may be ,ace1 ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x and ,x1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,ace1 ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x and ,knave1 ,ten1 ,x1 ,x ,ace1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x and ,king1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,king1 ,knave1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x and ,ace1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x or any other4 ,in all these cases the ,knave finesse is tempting1 but it should be refused1 and the ,ace and ,king played with the expectation of an even break which will drop the ,queen on the second round4 ,the exceptions to this general rule occur when 7a7 ,the presence of the ,queen in either adverse hand has been indicated by some declaration or double4 7b7 ,when one adversary has shown unusual length in some other suit4 ,in the latter case1 it is sometimes wise to play on the assumption that the adversary1 very long in another suit1 has but one of the suit in question1 and consequently to finesse the second round on that basis4 ,,general ,,play ,,of ,,the ,,declarer ,the ,declarer1 as soon as the ,dummy's cards are spread1 should size up the situation1 see how many tricks are in sight1 what suit or suits it is necessary for him to establish1 and what1 if any1 finesse or finesses he will have to make in order to secure his declaration and his game4 ,in determining which way to finesse1 he should be materially assisted by the bids of his adversaries1 and during the play1 as situations develop either in his favor or against him1 he should be continually figuring on the best method to make his declaration4 ,he should remember that failure to fulfil his contract will not only result in a material loss on the score1 but1 in the end1 may cost the rubber4 ,when the scheme of play he has planned at the start shows signs of becoming unsuccessful1 he should1 if possible1 change it for one more promising4 ,the ,declarer1 especially if brought up in the ,whist school1 should bear in mind that he now has no partner anxiously seeking information regarding the contents of his hand1 but that he has two adversaries from whom he should withhold1 as long as possible1 knowledge of his strength1 weakness1 aims1 and schemes4 ,when any method of play suggests itself which seems more deceptive than another1 and yet produces the same result1 it should be adopted4 ,false cards should be used whenever possible1 as they are less informatory than the conventional lowest of a sequence4 ,the ,declarer should worry his opponents in this way whenever the opportunity offers4 ,in playing small cards1 the higher should frequently precede the lower1 and every means should be used to make it as difficult as possible for the adversaries to place the cards4 ,,declarer',s ,,play ,,of ,,no-,,trump ,the ,declarer will find that he is obliged to use different tactics when playing a ,no-trump from those he employs when a ,trump has been named4 ,in the former case1 his main object should be to establish his long suit or suits1 and to shut out those of the adversary4 ,when he has the ,ace 7without any other stopper7 of an adverse suit1 unless there be some other he fears more1 he should refrain from playing the ,ace until the third round1 or until sure that the partner of the long hand has exhausted his holding of that suit4 ,the reason for this is obvious4 ,if the holder of the long suit can be kept from the lead1 the suit will not be made4 ,he may be without a reentry1 so it is important that his partner be unable to put him in by leading that suit4 ,in this case1 the ,declarer should take any doubtful finesse1 which he has the opportunity of taking either way1 so that1 if it lose1 the holder of the long suit will not be in the lead4 ,the ,declarer should postpone as long as possible leading a suit of four cards in one hand and three in the other1 headed by ,ace1 ,king1 and ,queen1 but not the ,knave1 unless he be afraid of a long1 adverse run which will force him to awkward discards4 ,the reason is that1 should either of the adversaries be long in that suit1 three rounds will establish for him one or more cards which otherwise would not be made good4 ,leading even two rounds will be a warning not to discard from that suit4 ,it should1 therefore1 be avoided1 except for the purpose of placing a lead1 until the other strength of the ,declarer is exhausted1 or until it becomes evident that1 when next he loses the lead1 the adversaries will control the situation4 ,then1 and not until then1 should he lead such a suit with the realization that1 having postponed its establishment as long as possible1 he has adopted the most probable method not only of shutting out adverse long cards1 but also of making an extra trick for himself4 ,while the probability of establishing an adverse trick is not nearly so great when the ,declarer has four cards of such a suit in each hand1 it is still possible1 and the method of handling it above advised1 when the total holding is seven1 should be followed even with eight4 ,a thoughtless ,declarer who has nothing to fear from an adverse run will often as soon as he gets in 7and before he establishes some suit that demands attention7 start with a suit of this character4 ,such tactics sometimes cost a declaration--sometimes a game2 yet the thoughtless one rarely appreciates his folly4 ,an example may make this more evident3-- ,,dummy ,,declarer ,spades ,x1 ,x ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x ,hearts ,ace1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,king1 ,queen1 ,x ,diamonds ,x1 ,x ,ace1 ,queen1 ,x ,clubs ,knave1 #i1 ,x1 ,x1 ,x ,queen1 #aj1 ,x1 ,x ,the #b of ,spades is opened1 and the ,declarer wins the first trick with the ,queen4 ,he now has assured two ,spade1 three ,heart1 and one ,diamond tricks1 with a chance of one more in both ,hearts and ,diamonds2 six sure and eight possible1 without the ,clubs4 ,if he establish his ,clubs1 he can make #c tricks in that suit1 which will insure game4 ,if he open his ,hearts1 he may establish one or more for the adversaries and thus give up all chance of the game1 as he is at best practically sure to lose two ,spades and two ,clubs4 ,it is impossible to gain any advantage by running the four ,hearts before the ,clubs1 even if they all be good2 in other words1 it is a play which may cost the game and cannot by any possibility gain anything whatever4 ,when the ,declarer holds a suit long in both hands1 headed by the three top honors1 two in one hand and one in the other1 it is wise to win the first trick with one of the honors of the hand which holds two2 this is apt to be beneficial in the event of an adversary refusing or having a singleton4 ,the ,declarer1 even when he has bid a light ,no-trump and received little assistance1 should play with confidence4 ,his adversaries do not know the flimsy character of his declaration1 and will credit him with more powerful cards than he really holds4 ,even experienced players seem to feel that a ,no-trump declaration is entitled to greater respect than it deserves when made with the minimum strength which conventionally authorizes it4 ,a clever player will frequently capture the odd with such a declaration1 merely because the adversaries do not realize his weakness4 ,,declarer',s ,,play ,,of ,a ,,suit ,,declaration ,the ,declarer generally has a greater opportunity to display skill in the play of a suit declaration than of a ,no-trumper4 ,with a suit declared1 as soon as the ,dummy is placed before him1 he must determine which of two plans of campaign it is advisable for him to adopt3 that is1 he must either lead ,trumps until the adversaries have no more1 or he must play the ruffing game and make his ,trumps separately4 ,the latter is especially advantageous if1 with his weaker ,trump hand1 he can take a trick or tricks that would1 of necessity1 be lost if he immediately exhausted all the ,trumps4 ,the ,declarer1 therefore1 should first look for a chance to ruff losing cards with his weak hand2 when he does not find that opportunity1 he should realize that the adversaries will attempt to do some ruffing themselves1 and in nine cases out of ten1 should exhaust the ,trumps4 ,when the ,declarer has a holding which makes him anxious that the ,trump lead should come from the other side1 and the ,dummy contains short ,trumps and a short suit 7which short suit the ,declarer cannot arrange for the ,dummy to ruff1 either because he has the same number as the ,dummy1 or because he has winning cards71 he can sometimes induce an adverse ,trump lead by opening the short suit1 thus conveying to his adversaries the impression that he desires to ruff with the short ,trumps4 ,if the ,declarer have sufficient ,trump length in his weak ,trump hand to exhaust the adverse ,trump holding1 and still remain with sufficient ,trumps for all possible ruffs1 he should lead ,trumps before taking the ruff1 so as to avoid any chance of an over-ruff4 ,an obvious case will exemplify this principle3-- ,the ,declarer holds ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 and one small ,trump2 the ,dummy1 four small2 the ,declarer1 ,king1 ,queen1 and two small ,clubs1 in which suit the ,dummy has ,ace and one small4 ,part of the ,declarer's original scheme of play is to have the ,dummy ruff his losing ,club1 yet to lead that suit before three rounds of ,trumps would be the height of folly1 as a winning card might be ruffed by an adversary or the ,dummy over-ruffed4 ,managing the ,dummy so as to utilize all his small ,trumps to the greatest advantage is one of the tests of the skill of the player of the combined hands4 ,a simple example follows3 ,with ,hearts ,trump1 the ,dummy puts down one small ,club1 and three worthless ,trumps4 ,the ,declarer wins the first trick1 has ,ace at the head of his long ,trumps2 also1 ,ace1 ,king1 and two losing ,clubs4 ,his play is plain4 ,he should lead his ,ace and then a small ,club2 ruff the latter1 lead a ,trump from ,dummy1 and then the remaining losing ,club1 for ,dummy to ruff with his last ,trump4 ,,play ,,by ,,declarer',s ,,adversaries ,the adversaries of the ,declarer must realize that they are at some disadvantage in the play4 ,the ,declarer knows every card in the ,dummy1 but each of his opponents can at best only guess the holding of his partner4 ,they should1 therefore1 strive by every means in their power to give each other all possible information4 ,they should always play the lowest1 and 7except with ,ace1 ,king1 and one or more others7 lead the highest of a sequence4 ,the only case in which they should withhold information or play a false card is when such action may upset the calculations of the ,declarer1 and either cannot mislead the partner1 or1 if it do1 will not affect his play4 ,for example1 with ,king1 ,queen1 over an adverse ,ace1 ,knave1 #aj1 a false card is more than justified1 as it tempts the ,declarer to mould his play for another finesse2 so also1 in other cases in which the partner is without strength in the suit and his play is1 therefore1 unimportant1 he may be treated as if he were a ,dummy4 ,the advantage of forcing the strong hand is just as great in ,auction as in ,whist or ,bridge1 and as a rule it is the best play possible for the adversaries of the ,declarer4 ,the only exception is when the ,dummy has an established suit and a reentry4 ,suppose1 for example1 with four tricks to play1 the ,declarer has the last ,trump 7,hearts71 one ,club1 and two ,diamonds4 ,the ,dummy has three winning ,clubs1 and the leader a ,diamond and winning ,spades4 ,he knows he can force the ,declarer's last ,trump with a ,spade1 and generally this would be his wisest play2 but the long ,clubs in the ,dummy show that the usual tactics cannot now be employed1 and his only chance is to lead a ,diamond hoping that his partner has one or two winners4 ,it goes without saying that leading a suit the weak adverse hand can trump1 and upon which the strong hand can discard1 is carrying out a custom most commendable at ,christmas1 but which at the card-table does not arouse the enthusiasm of the partner4 ,a player should be most careful not to indicate by some mannerism that his hand is trickless4 ,by pulling a card before it is his turn to play1 by apparent lack of interest1 or by allowing himself to be wrapped in gloom1 he may give the ,declarer as much information as if he spread his hand on the table4 ,,the ,,signal ,one of the best and most serviceable methods of giving information is by using the signal1 which is made by the play of an unnecessarily high card4 ,for example1 the ,ace and ,king of a suit are led4 ,the play of the #f before the #e constitutes a signal1 as the #f is an unnecessarily high card4 ,the meaning of this signal is that the maker desires the suit1 in which it is made1 continued4 ,playing in ordinary order1 lower before higher1 shows that the continuation of that suit is not requested4 ,it is the old ,trump signal of the game of ,whist1 which1 inasmuch as a demand for a ,trump lead is not needed in ,auction1 has been borrowed and transformed into a request to continue the suit4 ,this signal was first used to mean1 ,i can ruff the third round1 but the absurdity of limiting it to any such meaning soon became apparent1 and1 as it is now played1 it means1 ,partner1 continue this suit4 ,i have some reason for asking you so to do4 ,the failure to give this signal may mean1 ,shift the suit1 but does not of necessity do so4 ,it merely says1 ,partner1 ,i have no reason for asking you to lead this suit a third time4 ,this signal is a most important part of ,auction tactics4 ,it can be given on either the partner's or the ,declarer's lead1 should always be used when a continuation of the suit is desired1 and should be watched for by the partner with the most painstaking care4 ,the first trick sometimes furnishes this information4 ,for example1 the play of the deuce1 or of any card which the partner can read as being of necessity the lowest1 tells him that either the card is a singleton or that the player is not beginning a signal4 ,when a player is anxious to place his partner in the lead1 the signal may be of the greatest possible value4 ,suppose1 for example1 he has two suits from which to choose4 ,in one of these suits he is without strength1 but his partner may have the ,ace4 ,in the other1 he has the ,ace himself1 and his partner may have the ,king4 ,if he guess the wrong suit1 the ,declarer will get in and take the rest of the tricks4 ,by leading his ,ace and watching the size of the card his partner plays1 he can generally tell what to do4 ,if the lowest card be played1 he should shift the suit4 ,in such a situation1 if the partner wish the suit continued1 and has more than two small cards1 he should play the highest so as to emphasize the signal4 ,,the ,,discard ,the discard which in ,whist has been the subject of so many controversies1 and which1 even in ,bridge1 has created some discussion1 does not assume nearly so great importance in ,auction4 ,the strength of the various suits having been clearly indicated by the bid1 there is not as great opportunity to furnish new information by the discard4 ,it must not1 however1 be assumed1 merely because the ,auction discard is comparatively unimportant1 that it is not worthy of consideration4 ,true it is that there is no need to worry over any such complicated systems as strength or rotary discards4 ,they are apt to confuse and produce misunderstandings far more damaging than any possible benefit which results when they work perfectly4 ,the strength discard may compel the playing of a card which1 if its suit be established1 will win a trick1 and the rotary is not always reliable1 as the discarder may be void of the next suit1 or unable to discard from it because it is composed of high cards only or of necessary guards for single honors4 ,the odd-and-even discard1 that is1 #c1 #e1 #g1 #i1 showing strength1 #b1 #d1 #f1 #h1 weakness1 is very satisfactory when the hands are made to order1 but a certain proportion of hands fail to contain an odd card when the discarder desires to announce strength1 or an even one when he has extreme weakness4 ,the awkwardness1 when using this system1 of such a holding as #c1 #e1 #g1 is self-apparent4 ,all these plans or fads had their innings in ,whist1 where important information had to be conveyed by the discard1 but in ,auction1 they are about as necessary as pitching a curve to a blind batsman4 ,the plain1 simple1 old-fashioned discard from weakness is all that is used or required1 provided it be understood that a signal in the discard means a reversal of its ordinary inference4 ,a signal by discard 7that is1 for example1 discarding first a #e1 followed by a #b7 is generally a showing of strength in that suit1 and a most pronounced suggestion1 if not an imperative command1 that it be led at the first opportunity4 ,the only case in which it is not an evidence of strength is when it shows a desire to ruff4 ,the signal in the discard is most serviceable when the ,declarer is playing a long suit1 and the partner is in doubt which of the two remaining suits to keep guarded4 ,in this case it may not be a command to lead1 but merely a wireless message saying1 ,i have this suit stopped2 you take care of the other4 ,a signal in a discard to show strength is only necessary when it is not advisable to discard once from each of the other suits1 which by inference gives the same information1 yet does not shorten the strong suit4 ,strength information can often be transmitted by the weakness discard1 just as quickly and more simply than by the now generally abandoned strength discard4 ,for example1 the discard of the lowest card shows weakness and negatives all possibility of a strength signal1 but if the first discard be as high as a #g or #h1 and the partner can read1 from the general composition of his hand and the ,dummy1 that the discarder must hold a lower card in that suit1 he gets the information at once4 ,regardless of showing his partner strength or weakness1 the player has ample opportunity to give evidence of skill in discarding4 ,too much information should never be given to the ,declarer when he is in the lead and controls the situation4 ,there are many hands in which it becomes obvious that all the adversaries of the ,declarer can hope to accomplish is the saving of a slam1 or the taking of one more trick4 ,the question is not what to tell the partner to lead when he gets in1 but how to win a single trick4 ,in such a case1 a bluff discard1 i4e41 showing strength where it does not exist1 is sometimes effective1 although a keen ,declarer is not apt to be easily deceived by any ruse so transparent4 ,one thing to remember under such circumstances1 however1 is not to help the ,declarer by showing weakness1 so that he will know which way to finesse4 ,in ,no-trumps or with the ,trumps exhausted1 never discard a singleton1 or too many cards of a weak suit4 ,when a suit has been declared1 it is unnecessary1 by informatory discarding1 to repeat the announcement of strength4 ,this principle1 just as is the case with other systems of play1 is predicated upon the ability of the partner to remember the bids4 ,if1 however1 he be unable to do so1 information by discard will obviously be sowing seed on barren ground1 and should be withheld1 as the ,declarer is the only one who will reap any benefit4 ,,blocking ,,the ,,dummy ,when the ,declarer is playing a ,no-trump and the ,dummy holds a long suit without reentry1 an adversary of the ,declarer may have the opportunity1 when he has a card stopping that suit1 of blocking it and preventing the long cards from making1 by holding the winning card until the ,declarer has played what is necessarily his last card of the suit4 ,,avoid ,,opening ,,new ,,suits ,the adversaries of the ,declarer should avoid opening new suits unless the situation shows it to be necessary4 ,they should remember that when the honors of a suit are evenly divided1 opening it is practically sure to cost a trick1 and that the starting of any suit1 which is not headed by ,ace and ,king1 or a three-card sequence1 is almost invariably disadvantageous4 ,the lead by the partner has been made with some object1 and should1 therefore1 be returned1 except when the holding of the ,dummy or some other development renders such action plainly inadvisable4 ,shifting suits is about as advantageous as swapping horses while crossing a stream1 and the advice to return the partner's suit rather than risk a new one applies with equal force whether a ,no-trump or suit declaration is being played1 but does not refer to the situation in which the partner evidently desires that the suit he has declared be led through strength up to him4 ,,how ,,to ,,return ,,partner',s ,,lead ,when the original ,third ,hand returns a suit opened by his partner1 he should lead the winning card1 if he hold it4 ,if without the best card1 when the lead is against a ,no-trump declaration1 it is far more important that a high card should be led through strength1 and also that the holder of the length should be accurately advised as to his partner's high cards1 than that he should be told the exact number of small ones4 ,therefore1 when playing a ,no-trumper1 the highest card should be returned from either three or two remaining4 ,with four remaining 7five originally71 the holding may be longer than that of the original leader1 and1 therefore1 the lowest should be led4 ,if the partner be a keen counter of small cards1 the next to the lowest is doubtless more informatory and just as advantageous as the lowest4 ,when the original ,third ,hand returns a suit opened by his partner against a suit declaration1 there is some difference of opinion among good players as to whether he should follow the ,whist rule1 which is the most informatory as to number1 and lead the lowest of three remaining1 the higher of two2 or whether it is unwise to complicate matters by distinguishing between this case and the return when a ,no-trump is being played4 ,the question is not very important as long as partners understand which convention is being used4 ,none of these rules applies in the case1 readily distinguishable1 in which the adverse strength in the suit is in the ,dummy1 and it is necessary to hold a high card over that hand2 the play must then be made to fit the situation1 and not according to any hard-and-fast principle4 ,,the ,,finesse ,the cards of the ,dummy being exposed make it easy for the player sitting back of him to determine when to finesse4 ,as the object of a finesse is to catch a high card on the right1 it is folly to finesse against nothing--for example1 the leader opens with ,knave against a ,no-trump2 the ,third ,hand has ,king and others2 when the ,dummy has the ,queen1 it is obvious the ,king should not be played unless the ,queen cover the ,knave1 but when the ,dummy holds only worthless cards1 the ,third ,hand should play the ,king1 as1 should he finesse against nothing1 he would allow the ,queen to win4 ,the leader has opened either from ,ace1 ,knave1 ,ten1 or a suit headed by a ,knave-,ten combination4 ,in the former case the play of the ,king insures every trick2 in the latter1 it helps clear the suit4 ,it1 therefore1 is an example of the rule not to finesse when the ,dummy has nothing4 ,an apparent exception to this rule occurs when the lead is made in answer to a declaration1 or as an evident effort to find the partner's strength4 ,for example1 the original ,third ,hand1 with six ,hearts headed by ,king1 ,ten1 and two reentries1 has called ,hearts4 ,the ,declarer is playing a ,no-trumper1 and the opening is the ,knave of ,hearts4 ,the ,dummy is without strength4 ,in that case1 the ,declarer is marked with both the ,ace and ,queen of ,hearts4 ,the ,third ,hand should1 therefore1 play small4 ,the play of the ,king cannot be of any benefit1 and should the ,declarer have the ,nine1 will be most expensive4 ,this really is not a finesse against nothing1 but1 the position of the winning cards being marked1 is merely a conservation of strength4 ,the same general principle applies in many similar cases2 when1 however1 a small card is led1 the ,third ,hand should not finesse1 unless the ,dummy contain some high card4 ,playing ,no-trump1 the following finesses are advisable over the ,dummy3-- ,,when ,,dummy ,,has ,,finesse ,king ,ace1 ,queen ,ace1 ,knave ,ace1 ,ten ,king1 ,knave ,ace1 ,ten ,ace1 ,nine ,king1 ,ten ,ace1 ,nine ,queen ,ace1 ,knave ,ace1 ,ten ,king1 ,knave ,king1 ,ten ,knave ,ace1 ,ten ,king1 ,ten ,queen1 ,ten ,do not1 however1 except with a fourchette1 finesse against ,queen or ,knave singly guarded1 when it is evident that the ,declarer and ,dummy hold only four cards of the suit1 and the ,ace or ,king is marked with the leader4 ,when playing ,no-trump1 as a rule do not finesse if so doing will block the partner's suit4 ,x ,,scoring ,,and ,,score-,,sheets ,the score is a very important incident of the game of ,auction1 and to keep it properly requires considerable care and skill4 ,the figures frequently run into high numbers on both sides1 and when the rubber continues during three hotly contested games1 they become quite voluminous4 ,the score-sheet should be left on the table1 and the writing on it should be of such size that it can be seen at a glance4 ,this saves time and trouble1 as it relieves the players from the necessity of asking the state of the score4 ,in some clubs two scores are kept1 so that1 in the only too probable contingency of a mistake being made1 it may invariably be detected4 ,this1 however1 is unnecessary1 and at times confusing4 ,the extra sheet is also apt to prove annoying1 because of the space it occupies upon the table4 ,one score is quite sufficient1 if it be competently kept1 and each entry1 as well as the additions1 verified4 ,there are two totally different types of ,auction score-sheets4 ,the one which is used in perhaps ninety per cent4 of the private games1 and1 strange as it may seem1 in many clubs1 has absolutely no excuse for its existence1 except that it was the first to be introduced and has the reputation of being universally used in foreign countries4 ,it requires scoring above and below the line1 which is a most cumbersome and dilatory proposition4 ,keeping tally by this method involves1 at the end of a rubber1 long mathematical problems1 which1 as the scorer is then in a hurry1 frequently result in serious1 and at times undiscovered1 mistakes4 ,the modern system adopted in the up-to-date clubs1 in which the game has received its most scientific development1 and in the highest class of social games1 does away with the antiquated methods and exacting mathematical problems of the above- and below-the-line system1 by using a form of score-sheet which allows and encourages the scorer to mentally compute simple sums during the progress of the rubber4 ,by the elimination of complicated figuring1 it minimizes the opportunity for mistake1 and delay at the end of the rubber4 ,all players are doubtless familiar with the old system of above-and below-the-line scoring1 but only three classes now use it3 ,a4 ,those who have never had the modern system and its advantages called to their attention4 ,b4 ,those who believe that1 having once become accustomed to any method1 it should never be changed for a better4 ,c4 ,those who believe that1 because foreign clubs adopt a certain method1 we should do the same4 ,it is probably wasting time to attempt to convert any representative of either ,b or ,c1 and fortunately for the intelligence of ,american card players there are comparatively few who deserve to be included in either of these classifications4 ,class ,a1 however1 comprises the vast majority of ,auction players1 who have either never had the modern system of scoring called to their attention1 or1 if they have seen it1 have not thoroughly grasped its numerous advantages1 and have continued the old method merely because they were more familiar with it and did not perfectly understand the new4 ,it is not putting the matter too strongly to assert that every intelligent scorer1 who gives the new plan a thorough test1 never returns to the trials and vexations incident to keeping the tally above and below the line4 ,sample sheets are appended1 showing the up-to-date scoring-blank as it appears at the beginning of the rubber2 the same sheet with a rubber scored1 the net totals being computed at the end of each game2 and also with the same rubber scored1 the net totals being computed at the end of each deal4 ,one scorer will prefer to make up his totals at the end of a game1 another will elect to compute them at the termination of each deal2 but either way the advantages of the score-sheet are apparent4 ,it goes without saying that any system which allows a player to see at a glance1 not only the score of the game1 but also the exact status of the rubber1 is more advantageous than one which1 until some time after the rubber is completed1 may leave him in the dark as to whether he is ahead or behind4 ,some players allow1 whether they or their opponents are in the lead upon the total score of the rubber1 to affect their declarations and doubles4 ,this practice cannot be enthusiastically commended1 but all must admit that for such players the new scoring system is most essential4 ,it is1 however1 mainly as a labor- and time-saving device that the new plan is advocated4 ,if any one doubt1 let him keep the score of any rubber under the old method while the same rubber is being scored by some one familiar with the advantages of the new4 ,the result is sure to be most convincing4 ,under the new method1 the short sums in addition or subtraction are mentally computed1 during the deal of the cards1 etc4 ,this occupies waste time only1 and at the end of the rubber1 leaves a very simple1 frequently nothing more than a mental1 problem4 ,it has been estimated that during an evening's play1 at least one more rubber can be completed when the scoring is conducted under the new method4 ,the various score-sheets1 all showing the same rubber1 follow4 ,,sample ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,score-,,sheet ,,without ,,any ,,entry ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,our ,,score ,,opponents' ,,score ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,tricks ,,honors ,,totals ,,totals ,,tricks ,,honors ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,sample ,,of ,,new ,,form ,,of ,,score-,,sheet ,,showing ,a ,,rubber ,,scored ,,with ,,net ,,totals ,,computed ,,at ,,end ,,of ,,each ,,game ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,our ,,score ,,opponents' ,,score ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,tricks ,,honors ,,totals ,,totals ,,tricks ,,honors #af #cb #ah #gb ---------------------------------------- ------- #ajj #cj ---------------------------------------- ------- #fj #fj #bfh #abj 7#adh7 ---------------------------------------- ------- #baf #bff #bg #ah ---------------------------------------- ------- #bj #cj #dad #ade #dh #eb 7#bfi7 #bjj ---------------------------------------- ------- #fd #bdi #ajj ---------------------------------------- ------- #cf #eah #cef #bd #cb ---------------------------------------- ------- #ba #ef ---------------------------------------- ------- #cf #cf 7#afb7 ---------------------------------------- ------- #bej ---------------------------------------- ------- #dab ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,the score included in the circle is the net total at the end of each game4 ,it is obtained by subtracting the smaller score from the larger2 as1 for example1 in the first game above1 #abj from #bfh1 which leaves a net of #adh4 ,if a scorer find it more satisfactory to subtract when the figures are in line1 he can always write the smaller amount under the larger2 as1 for example1 the #abj under the #bfh4 ,,sample ,,of ,,new ,,form ,,of ,,score-,,sheet ,,showing ,,same ,,rubber ,,scored ,,with ,,net ,,totals ,,computed ,,at ,,end ,,of ,,each ,,deal ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,our ,,score ,,opponents' ,,score ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,tricks ,,honors ,,totals ,,totals ,,tricks ,,honors #af #cb #dh ---------------------------------------- ------- #db #ah #gb ---------------------------------------- ------- #ajj #bh #cj ---------------------------------------- ------- #fj #fj #adh ---------------------------------------- ------- #ajc #bg #ah ---------------------------------------- ------- #baf #cai ---------------------------------------- ------- #bj #cj #cfi ---------------------------------------- ------- #bfi #dh #eb ---------------------------------------- ------- #fd #acc #bjj ---------------------------------------- ------- #cf #fi #ajj ---------------------------------------- ------- #ac #bd #cb ---------------------------------------- ------- #ba #ef #ij ---------------------------------------- ------- #cf #cf #afb #bej ---------------------------------------- ------- #dab ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,all figures under the head of totals are net1 and show at the end of each deal the exact status of the rubber4 ,it is also possible1 when the above method is employed1 to further reduce the amount of bookkeeping by making only one entry whenever one pair scores honors and the other a penalty4 ,this method could have been employed above1 deal #c of game #a1 by merely entering #gj under ,our ,score ,honors1 and also in deal #b of game #c1 by entering #fd under ,opponents' ,score ,honors4 ,,sample ,,showing ,,same ,,rubber ,,scored ,,under ,,old ,,system ,,with ,,long ,,additions ,,and ,,subtraction ,,at ,,end ,,of ,,rubber ----------------------- ,,we ,,they ---------------------- #cf #ef #cf #cb #fd #ajj #cj #bjj #baf #eb #fj #ah #ajj #cj #cb #gb #af #ah #fj ----------------------- #bj #bg #dh ----------------------- #ba #bd #cf #bej #fba #ajcc #fba #dab ,,the ,,score ,,of ,,the ,,rubbers ,,is ,,best ,,kept ,,on ,a ,,sheet ,,of ,,the ,,following ,,character ,,score ,,by ,,rubbers ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,names ------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ,,total ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,the ,,following ,,shows ,,how ,,this ,,score ,,should ,,be ,,kept ,,score ,,by ,,rubbers ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,,names ----- - -------------------------------- ,smith #b #b #b #c #c #b -------------------------------- ,jones #b #b #f #e #e #f -------------------------------- ,brown #b #e #e #d #f #f -------------------------------- ,white #ba #a #b ,x,x,x ,x -------------------------------- ,green #ca #a #a #b -------------------------------- ,king #ca #a #c #d -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,total #ddhhhhhhiiajaj ---------------------------------------- ----------------- ,it is always well to total at the end of each rubber and to note the size of the rubber4 ,these precautions make it easy to correct mistakes1 should any occur4 ,,xi ,,the ,,laws ,in #aijb1 some years before ,auction had been heard of in the ,united ,states1 a number of the best-known clubs of ,new ,york1 ,philadelphia1 ,boston1 and other cities were represented at a meeting held in ,new ,york for the purpose of drafting a code of ,bridge ,laws to be used by the clubs of this country4 ,the so-called ,american ,laws of ,bridge were adopted1 and duly published4 ,it was then expected that they would be universally accepted4 ,in a few months1 however1 some clubs1 including several that had been represented at the meeting1 found that certain penalties of the ,american ,laws were not popular with their members4 ,one club after another made alterations or adopted its own code1 so that the object in calling the meeting1 namely1 club uniformity1 was soon as far as ever from being attained4 ,gradually1 however1 the various clubs began to recognize that the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york deserved to be ranked as the most conservative and representative card-playing organization in the ,united ,states4 ,they realized that it devoted its attention entirely to card games1 and included in its membership not only the most expert players of the metropolis1 but also of many other cities4 ,it was but natural1 therefore1 that the admirable ,bridge ,code of the ,whist ,club should be accepted by one club after another1 until in the end the desideratum of the drafters of the ,american ,laws was virtually obtained4 ,when1 in #aiji-aj1 ,auction1 with its irresistible attractions1 in an incredibly brief space of time made ,bridge in this country a game of the past1 the only ,auction laws available had been drafted in ,london by a joint committee of the ,portland and ,bath ,clubs4 ,they were taken from the rules of ,bridge1 which were altered only when necessary to comply with the requirements of the new game4 ,it is probable that the intent of the members of the ,bath-,portland ,committee was merely to meet an immediate demand1 and that they expected to revise their own code as soon as wider experience with the game demonstrated just what was needed4 ,under these circumstances1 it was to be expected that the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york would promulgate a code of ,auction laws which would be accepted from the ,atlantic to the ,pacific4 ,the club1 however1 did not act hastily1 and it was not until ,may1 #aiaj1 that it issued its first edition of ,the ,laws of ,auction ,bridge4 ,this was amended in #aiaa1 and in #aiab subjected to a most thorough and comprehensive revision4 ,until the adoption of a national code by an ,american congress of ,auction players1 an event not likely to occur1 it is doubtless for the best interest of ,auction in this country that the laws of the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york be generally followed4 ,uniformity is most important2 otherwise1 players from one city1 visiting another1 are sure to find local conditions which will1 temporarily at least1 prove something of a handicap4 ,when any improvement is suggested1 which1 after due trial1 meets with local favor1 it would seem wise that such suggestion1 whether it emanate from a club committee or an individual1 be forwarded to the ,card ,committee of the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york4 ,it may be authoritatively stated that all such ideas will be cordially received1 thoroughly considered1 and1 if approved1 incorporated in the club code at its next revision4 ,appended hereto will be found ,the ,laws of ,auction ,bridge as published by the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york1 ,november1 #aiab4 ,these laws should be carefully read1 if not studied1 by every devotee of the game4 ,no matter how familiar a player may have been with the old laws1 he will find an examination of the new to be advisable1 as the changes are both numerous and important4 ,if it has not been his practice to keep in touch with ,auction legislation1 he should realize that a close acquaintance with the code which governs the game he is playing will prove most beneficial4 ,as the laws speak for themselves1 it is not necessary to explain them1 or even to point out the various alterations4 ,the wording in many cases has been materially changed1 in order to clarify and simplify4 ,some penalties that seemed too severe have been reduced1 and certain modifications have been made which appear to be in the line of modern thought4 ,special attention is called to the elimination of the law which prevented consultation as to the enforcement of a penalty1 and also of the law which provided that when a wrong penalty was claimed1 none could be enforced4 ,the laws referring to cards exposed after the completion of the deal1 and before the beginning of the play1 have been materially changed1 and the law covering insufficient and impossible declarations has been altered and redrafted4 ,a point worthy of special attention is ,law #eb of the ,revised ,code4 ,it covers the case1 which occurs with some frequency1 of a player making an insufficient bid and correcting it before action is taken by any other player4 ,under the old rule1 a declaration once made could not be altered1 but now when the player corrects himself1 as1 for example1 ,two ,hearts--,i mean three ,hearts2 or ,two ,spades--,i should say1 two ,royals1 the proper declaration is allowed without penalty4 ,the laws follow4 ,,the ,,laws ,,of ,,auction ,,bridge ,,the ,,rubber #a4 ,the partners first winning two games win the rubber4 ,if the first two games decide the rubber1 a third is not played4 ,,scoring #b4 ,a game consists of thirty points obtained by tricks alone1 exclusive of any points counted for honors1 chicane1 slam1 little slam1 bonus or undertricks4 #c4 ,every deal is played out1 and any points in excess of the thirty necessary for the game are counted4 #d4 ,when the declarer wins the number of tricks bid1 each one above six counts towards the game3 two points when spades are trumps1 six when clubs are trumps1 seven when diamonds are trumps1 eight when hearts are trumps1 nine when royal spades are trumps and ten when there are no trumps4 #e4 ,honors are ace1 king1 queen1 knave and ten of the trump suit2 or the aces when no trump is declared4 #f4 ,honors are credited in the honor column to the original holders1 being valued as follows3-- ,when a ,trump is ,declared4 #c honors held between partners equal value of #b tricks4 #d #d #e #e #d in #a hand #h #d #a #eth in #i #e #a partner's hand #aj ,when no ,trump is ,declared4 #c aces held between partners count #cj #d #dj #d in one hand #ajj #g4 ,slam is made when seven by cards is scored by either side1 independently of tricks taken as penalty for the revoke2 it adds forty points to the honor count4#bd #bd ,law #hd prohibits the revoking side from scoring slam or little slam4 #h4 ,little slam is made when six by cards is similarly scored2 it adds twenty points to the honor count4#be #be ,law #hd prohibits the revoking side from scoring slam or little slam4 #i4 ,chicane 7one hand void of trumps7 is equal in value to simple honors1 i4e41 if the partners1 one of whom has chicane1 score honors1 it adds the value of three honors to their honor score2 if the adversaries score honors it deducts that value from theirs4 ,double chicane 7both hands void of trumps7 is equal in value to four honors1 and that value must be deducted from the honor score of the adversaries4 #aj4 ,the value of honors1 slam1 little slam or chicane1 is not affected by doubling or redoubling4 #aa4 ,at the conclusion of a rubber the trick and honor scores of each side are added1 and two hundred and fifty points added to the score of the winners4 ,the difference between the completed scores is the number of points of the rubber4 #ab4 ,a proven error in the honor score may be corrected at any time before the score of the rubber has been made up and agreed upon4 #ac4 ,a proven error in the trick score may be corrected prior to the conclusion of the game in which it occurred4 ,such game shall not be considered concluded until a declaration has been made in the following game1 or if it be the final game of the rubber1 until the score has been made up and agreed upon4 ,,cutting #ad4 ,in cutting1 the ace is the lowest card2 as between cards of otherwise equal value1 the lowest is the heart1 next the diamond1 next the club1 and highest the spade4 #ae4 ,every player must cut from the same pack4 #af4 ,should a player expose more than one card1 the highest is his cut4 ,,forming ,,tables #ag4 ,the prior right of playing is with those first in the room4 ,if there are more than four candidates of equal standing1 the privilege of playing is decided by cutting4 ,the four who cut the lowest cards play first4 #ah4 ,after the table is formed the players cut to decide upon partners1 the two lower playing against the two higher4 ,the lowest is the dealer who has choice of cards and seats1 and who1 having made his selection1 must abide by it4 #ai4 ,six players constitute a complete table4 #bj4 ,the right to succeed any player who may retire is acquired by announcing the desire to do so1 and such announcement shall constitute a prior right to the first vacancy4 ,,cutting ,,out #ba4 ,if1 at the end of a rubber1 admission is claimed by one or two candidates1 the player or players having played the greatest number of consecutive rubbers shall withdraw2 but when all have played the same number1 they must cut to decide upon the outgoers2 the highest are out4#bf #bf ,see ,law #ad as to value of cards in cutting4 ,,right ,,of ,,entry #bb4 ,a candidate desiring to enter a table must declare his intention before any player at the table cuts a card1 whether for the purpose of beginning a new rubber or of cutting out4 #bc4 ,in the formation of new tables candidates who have not played at any existing table have the prior right of entry4 ,others decide their right to admission by cutting4 #bd4 ,when one or more players belonging to an existing table aid in making up a new one he or they shall be the last to cut out4 #be4 ,a player who cuts into one table1 while belonging to another1 forfeits his prior right of reentry into the latter1 unless he has helped to form a new table4 ,in this event he may signify his intention of returning to his original table when his place at the new one can be filled4 #bf4 ,should any player leave a table during the progress of a rubber1 he may1 with the consent of the three others1 appoint a substitute to play during his absence2 but such appointment shall become void upon the conclusion of the rubber1 and shall not in any way affect the substitute's rights4 #bg4 ,if any player break up a table the others have a prior right elsewhere4 ,,shuffling #bh4 ,the pack must not be shuffled below the table nor so that the face of any card may be seen4 #bi4 ,the dealer's partner must collect the cards from the preceding deal and has the right to shuffle first4 ,each player has the right to shuffle subsequently4 ,the dealer has the right to shuffle last2 but1 should a card or cards be seen during his shuffling1 or while giving the pack to be cut1 he must re-shuffle4 #cj4 ,after shuffling1 the cards properly collected must be placed face downward to the left of the next dealer1 where they must remain untouched until the play with the other pack is finished4 ,,the ,,deal #ca4 ,each player deals in his turn2 the order of dealing is to the left4 #cb4 ,the player on the dealer's right cuts the pack1 and in dividing it he must leave not fewer than four cards in each packet2 if in cutting or in replacing one of the two packets a card is exposed1 or if there is any confusion or doubt as to the exact place in which the pack was divided1 there must be a fresh cut4 #cc4 ,when the player whose duty it is to cut has once separated the pack1 he can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut1 except as provided in ,law #cb4 #cd4 ,should the dealer shuffle the cards after the cut1 the pack must be cut again4 #ce4 ,the fifty-two cards shall be dealt face downward4 ,the deal is not completed until the last card has been dealt4 #cf4 ,in the event of a misdeal the cards must be dealt again by the same player4 ,a ,,new ,,deal #cg4 ,there must be a new deal-- a ,if the cards are not dealt into four packets1 one at a time and in regular rotation1 beginning at the dealer's left4 b ,if1 during a deal1 or during the play1 the pack is proven incorrect or imperfect4 c ,if any card is faced in the pack or is exposed during the deal on1 above or below the table4 d ,if any player has dealt to him a greater number of cards than thirteen1 whether discovered before or during the play4 e ,if the dealer deal two cards at once and then deal a third before correcting the error4 f ,if the dealer omit to have the pack cut and either adversary calls attention to the fact prior to the completion of the deal and before either adversary has looked at any of his cards4 g ,if the last card does not come in its regular order to the dealer4 #ch4 ,should three players have their right number of cards1 the fourth1 less1 and not discover such deficiency until he has played1 the deal stands2 he1 not being dummy1 is answerable for any established revoke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand4 ,any player may search the other pack for it or them4 #ci4 ,if1 during the play1 a pack be proven incorrect1 such proof renders the current deal void but does not affect any prior score4 7,see ,law #cg b47 ,if during or at the conclusion of the play one player be found to hold more than the proper number of cards and another have an equal number less1 the deal is void4 #dj4 ,a player dealing out of turn or with the adversaries' cards may be corrected before the last card is dealt1 otherwise the deal must stand1 and the game proceed as if the deal had been correct1 the player to his left dealing the next hand4 ,a player who has looked at any of his cards may not correct such deal1 nor may his partner4 #da4 ,a player can neither cut1 shuffle nor deal for his partner without the permission of his adversaries4 ,,declaring ,,trumps #db4 ,the dealer1 having examined his hand1 must declare to win at least one odd trick1 either with a declared suit1 or at no trumps4 #dc4 ,after the dealer has made his declaration1 each player in turn1 commencing with the player on the dealer's left1 has the right to pass1 to make a higher declaration1 to double the last declaration made1 or to redouble a declaration which has been doubled1 subject to the provisions of ,law #ed4 #dd4 ,a declaration of a greater number of tricks in a suit of lower value1 which equals the last declaration in value of points1 shall be considered a higher declaration--e4g41 a declaration of ,three ,spades is a higher declaration than ,one ,club4 #de4 ,a player in his turn may overbid the previous adverse declaration any number of times1 and may also overbid his partner1 but he cannot overbid his own declaration which has been passed by the three others4 #df4 ,the player who makes the final declaration shall play the combined hands of himself and his partner 7the latter becoming dummy71 unless the winning suit was first bid by the partner1 in which case he1 no matter what bids have intervened shall play the hand4 #dg4 ,when the player of the two hands 7hereinafter termed the declarer7 wins at least as many tricks as he declared1 he scores the full value of the tricks won 7see ,laws #d and #f74 ,when he fails1 neither the declarer nor his adversaries score anything towards the game1 but his adversaries score in the honor column fifty points for each under-trick--i4e41 each trick short of the number declared2 or1 if the declaration has been doubled1 or redoubled1 one hundred or two hundred respectively for each such trick4 #dh4 ,the loss on the original declaration by the dealer of ,one ,spade is limited to one hundred points whether doubled or not1 unless redoubled4 ,honors are scored as held4 #di4 ,if a player make a declaration 7other than passing7 out of turn1 either adversary may demand a new deal1 or may allow the declaration so made to stand1 in which case the bidding shall continue as if the declaration had been in order4 #ej4 ,if a player make an insufficient or impossible declaration either adversary may demand that it be penalized1 provided such demand be made before an adversary has passed1 doubled or declared4 ,in case of an insufficient declaration the penalty is that the declarer must make his bid sufficient and his partner is debarred from making any further declaration unless an adversary subsequently bids or doubles4 ,in case of an impossible declaration the penalty is that the declarer is considered to have bid to take all the tricks and his partner cannot further declare unless an adversary subsequently bids or doubles4 ,either adversary1 instead of accepting the impossible declaration1 may demand a new deal or may treat his own or his partner's last previous declaration as final4 #ea4 ,if1 after the final declaration has been made1 an adversary of the declarer give his partner any information as to any previous declaration1 whether made by himself or an adversary1 the declarer may call a lead from the adversary whose next turn it is to lead2 but a player is entitled to inquire1 at any time during the play of the hand1 what was the final declaration4 #eb4 ,a declaration legitimately made cannot be altered after the next player has passed1 declared or doubled4 ,prior to such action by the next player1 a declaration inadvertently made may be corrected4 ,,doubling ,,and ,,redoubling #ec4 ,the effect of doubling and redoubling is that the value of each trick over six is doubled or quadrupled1 as provided in ,law #d2 but it does not alter the value of a declaration--e4g41 a declaration of ,three ,clubs is higher than ,two ,royal ,spades even if the ,royal ,spade declaration has been doubled4 #ed4 ,any declaration can be doubled and redoubled once1 but not more2 a player cannot double his partner's declaration1 nor redouble his partner's double1 but he may redouble a declaration of his partner which has been doubled by an adversary4 #ee4 ,the act of doubling1 or redoubling1 reopens the bidding4 ,when a declaration has been doubled or redoubled1 any player1 including the declarer or his partner1 can in his proper turn make a further declaration of higher value4 #ef4 ,when a player whose declaration has been doubled wins the declared number of tricks1 he scores a bonus of fifty points in the honor column1 and a further fifty points for each additional trick4 ,if he or his partner has redoubled1 the bonus is doubled4 #eg4 ,if a player double out of turn1 either adversary may demand a new deal4 #eh4 ,when the final declaration has been made the play shall begin1 and the player on the left of the declarer shall lead4 ,,dummy #ei4 ,as soon as the player to the left of the declarer has led1 the declarer's partner shall place his cards face upward on the table1 and the duty of playing the cards from that hand shall devolve upon the declarer4 #fj4 ,before placing his cards upon the table the declarer's partner has all the rights of a player1 but after so doing takes no part whatever in the play1 except that he has the right3-- a ,to ask the declarer whether he has any of a suit in which he has renounced2 b ,to call the declarer's attention to the fact that too many or too few cards have been played to a trick2 c ,to correct the claim of either adversary to a penalty to which the latter is not entitled2 d ,to call attention to the fact that a trick has been erroneously taken by either side2 e ,to participate in the discussion of any disputed question of fact after it has arisen between the declarer and either adversary2 f ,to correct an erroneous score4 #fa4 ,should the declarer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play in consequence of which any penalty might have been exacted1 the declarer is precluded from exacting such penalty4 #fb4 ,if the declarer's partner1 by touching a card or otherwise1 suggest the play of a card from dummy1 either adversary may call upon the declarer to play or not play the card suggested4 #fc4 ,dummy is not liable to the penalty for a revoke2 if he revoke and the error be not discovered until the trick is turned and quitted1 whether by the rightful winners or not1 the trick must stand4 #fd4 ,a card from the declarer's own hand is not played until actually quitted2 but should he name or touch a card in the dummy1 such card is considered as played unless he1 in touching the card1 say1 ,i arrange1 or words to that effect4 ,if he simultaneously touch two or more such cards1 he may elect which one to play4 ,,cards ,,exposed ,,before ,,play #fe4 ,if1 after the cards have been dealt1 and before the trump declaration has been finally determined1 any player lead or expose a card1 the partner of the offending player may not make any further bid or double during that hand1 and the card is subject to call4 ,when the partner of the offending player is the original leader1 the declarer may prohibit the suit of the exposed card being the initial lead4 #ff4 ,if1 after the final declaration has been made and before a card is led1 the partner of the leader to the first trick expose a card1 the declarer may1 in addition to calling the card1 prohibit the lead of the suit of the exposed card2 should the rightful leader expose a card it is subject to call4 ,,cards ,,exposed ,,during ,,play #fg4 ,all cards exposed after the original lead by the declarer's adversaries are liable to be called1 and such cards must be left face upward on the table4 #fh4 ,the following are exposed cards3-- #ast4 ,two or more cards played at once4 #b;d4 ,any card dropped with its face upward on the table1 even though snatched up so quickly that it cannot be named4 #c;d4 ,any card so held by a player that his partner sees any portion of its face4 #dth4 ,any card mentioned by either adversary as being held by him or his partner4 #fi4 ,a card dropped on the floor or elsewhere below the table or so held that an adversary but not the partner sees it1 is not an exposed card4 #gj4 ,if two or more cards are played at once by either of the declarer's adversaries1 the declarer shall have the right to call any one of such cards to the current trick1 and the other card or cards are exposed4 #ga4 ,if1 without waiting for his partner to play1 either of the declarer's adversaries play or lead a winning card1 as against the declarer and dummy1 and continue 7without waiting for his partner to play7 to lead several such cards1 the declarer may demand that the partner of the player in fault win1 if he can1 the first or any other of these tricks1 and the other cards thus improperly played are exposed cards4 #gb4 ,if either or both of the declarer's adversaries throw his or their cards on the table face upward1 such cards are exposed and are liable to be called2 but if either adversary retain his hand he cannot be forced to abandon it4 ,cards exposed by the declarer are not liable to be called4 ,if the declarer say1 ,i have the rest1 or any other words indicating that the remaining tricks or any number thereof are his1 he may be required to place his cards face upward on the table4 ,his adversaries are not liable to have any of their cards called should they thereupon expose them4 #gc4 ,if a player who has rendered himself liable to have the highest or lowest of a suit called 7,laws #hj1 #hf and #ib7 fail to play as directed1 or if1 when called on to lead one suit he lead another1 having in his hand one or more cards of the suit demanded 7,laws #gf and #ic71 or if1 called upon to win or lose a trick1 fail to do so when he can 7,laws #ga1 #hj and #ib71 or if1 when called upon not to play a suit1 fail to play as directed 7,laws #fe and #ff71 he is liable to the penalty for revoke1 unless such play be corrected before the trick is turned and quitted4 #gd4 ,a player cannot be compelled to play a card which would oblige him to revoke4 #ge4 ,the call of an exposed card may be repeated until such card has been played4 ,,leads ,,out ,,of ,,turn #gf4 ,if either of the declarer's adversaries lead out of turn the declarer may either treat the card so led as an exposed card or may call a suit as soon as it is the turn of either adversary to lead4 #gg4 ,if the declarer lead out of turn1 either from his own hand or from dummy1 he incurs no penalty2 but he may not rectify the error after the second hand has played4 #gh4 ,if any player lead out of turn and the three others follow1 the trick is complete and the error cannot be rectified2 but if only the second1 or second and third play to the false lead1 their cards may be taken back2 there is no penalty against any except the original offender1 who1 if he be one of the declarer's adversaries1 may be penalized as provided in ,law #gf4 #gi4 ,if a player called on to lead a suit has none of it1 the penalty is paid4 ,,cards ,,played ,,in ,,error #hj4 ,should the fourth hand1 not being dummy or declarer1 play before the second1 the latter may be called upon to play his highest or lowest card of the suit played1 or to win or lose the trick4 #ha4 ,if any one1 not being dummy1 omit playing to a trick and such error is not corrected until he has played to the next1 the adversaries or either of them may claim a new deal2 should either decide that the deal is to stand1 the surplus card at the end of the hand is considered to have been played to the imperfect trick1 but does not constitute a revoke therein4 #hb4 ,when any one1 except dummy1 plays two or more cards to the same trick and the mistake is not corrected1 he is answerable for any consequent revokes he may have made4 ,when during the play the error is detected1 the tricks may be counted face downward1 to see if any contain more than four cards2 should this be the case1 the trick which contains a surplus card or cards may be examined and the card or cards restored to the original holder1 who 7not being dummy7 shall be liable for any revoke he may meanwhile have made4 ,,the ,,revoke#bg #hc4 ,a revoke occurs when a player1 other than dummy1 holding one or more cards of the suit led1 plays a card of a different suit4 ,it becomes an established revoke if the trick in which it occurs is turned and quitted by the rightful winners 7i4e41 the hand removed from the trick after it has been turned face downward on the table72 or if either the revoking player or his partner1 whether in turn or otherwise1 lead or play to the following trick4 #bg ,see ,law #gc4 #hd4 ,the penalty for each established revoke is3-- 7a7 ,when the declarer revokes1 his adversaries add #aej points to their score in the honor column1 in addition to any penalty which he may have incurred for not making good his declaration4 7b7 ,if either of the adversaries revoke1 the declarer may either add #aej points to his score in the honor column1 or may take three tricks from his opponents and add them to his own4 ,such tricks may assist the declarer to make good his declaration1 but shall not entitle him to score any bonus in the honor column1 in the case of the declaration having been doubled or re-doubled4 7c7 ,when more than one revoke is made by the same side during the play of the hand the penalty for each revoke after the first1 shall be #ajj points in the honor column4 ,a revoking side cannot score1 except for honors or chicane4 #he4 ,a player may ask his partner if he has a card of the suit which he has renounced2 should the question be asked before the trick is turned and quitted1 subsequent turning and quitting does not establish a revoke1 and the error may be corrected unless the question is answered in the negative1 or unless the revoking player or his partner has led or played to the following trick4 #hf4 ,if a player correct his mistake in time to save a revoke1 any player or players who have followed him may withdraw their cards and substitute others1 and the cards so withdrawn are not exposed4 ,if the player in fault is one of the declarer's adversaries1 the card played in error is exposed and the declarer may call it whenever he pleases2 or he may require the offender to play his highest or lowest card of the suit to the trick1 but this penalty cannot be exacted from the declarer4 #hg4 ,at the end of a hand the claimants of a revoke may search all the tricks4 ,if the cards have been mixed the claim may be urged and proved if possible2 but no proof is necessary and the claim is established if1 after it has been made1 the accused player or his partner mix the cards before they have been sufficiently examined by the adversaries4 #hh4 ,a revoke must be claimed before the cards have been cut for the following deal4 #hi4 ,should both sides revoke1 the only score permitted shall be for honors in trumps or chicane4 ,if one side revoke more than once1 the penalty of #ajj points for each extra revoke shall then be scored by the other side4 ,,general ,,rules #ij4 ,once a trick is complete1 turned and quitted1 it must not be looked at 7except under ,law #hb7 until the end of the hand4 #ia4 ,any player during the play of a trick or after the four cards are played1 and before they are touched for the purpose of gathering them together1 may demand that the cards be placed before their respective players4 #ib4 ,if either of the declarer's adversaries1 prior to his partner playing1 call attention to the trick1 either by saying it is his1 or without being requested so to do1 by naming his card or drawing it towards him1 the declarer may require such partner to play his highest or lowest card of the suit led1 or to win or lose the trick4 #ic4 ,either of the declarer's adversaries may call his partner's attention to the fact that he is about to play or lead out of turn2 but if1 during the play of a hand1 he make any unauthorized reference to any incident of the play1 or of any bid previously made1 the declarer may call a suit from the adversary whose turn it is next to lead4 #id4 ,in all cases where a penalty has been incurred the offender is bound to give reasonable time for the decision of his adversaries4 ,,new ,,cards #ie4 ,unless a pack is imperfect1 no player shall have the right to call for one new pack4 ,if fresh cards are demanded1 two packs must be furnished4 ,if they are produced during a rubber1 the adversaries shall have the choice of the new cards4 ,if it is the beginning of a new rubber1 the dealer1 whether he or one of his adversaries is the party calling for the new cards1 shall have the choice4 ,new cards must be called for before the pack is cut for a new deal4 #if4 ,a card or cards torn or marked must be replaced by agreement or new cards furnished4 ,,bystanders #ig4 ,while a bystander1 by agreement among the players1 may decide any question1 he should not say anything unless appealed to2 and if he make any remark which calls attention to an oversight affecting the score1 or to the exaction of a penalty1 he is liable to be called upon by the players to pay the stakes 7not extras7 lost4 ,,etiquette ,,of ,,auction ,,bridge ,in ,auction ,bridge slight intimations convey much information4 ,a code is compiled for the purpose of succinctly stating laws and for fixing penalties for an offense4 ,to offend against etiquette is far more serious than to offend against a law2 for1 while in the latter case the offender is subject to the prescribed penalties1 in the former his adversaries have no redress4 #a4 ,declarations should be made in a simple manner1 thus3 ,one ,heart1 one ,no-trump1 or ,i pass1 or ,i double2 they should be made orally and not by gesture4 #b4 ,aside from his legitimate declaration1 a player should not give any indication by word or gesture as to the nature of his hand1 or as to his pleasure or displeasure at a play1 a bid or a double4 #c4 ,if a player demand that the cards be placed1 he should do so for his own information and not to call his partner's attention to any card or play4 #d4 ,no player1 other than the declarer1 should lead until the preceding trick is turned and quitted2 nor1 after having led a winning card1 should he draw another from his hand before his partner has played to the current trick4 #e4 ,a player should not play a card with such emphasis as to draw attention to it4 ,nor should he detach one card from his hand and subsequently play another4 #f4 ,a player should not purposely incur a penalty because he is willing to pay it1 nor should he make a second revoke to conceal a first4 #g4 ,players should avoid discussion and refrain from talking during the play1 as it may be annoying to players at the table or to those at other tables in the room4 #h4 ,the dummy should not leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner's play1 neither should he call attention to the score nor to any card or cards that he or the other players hold1 nor to any bid previously made4 #i4 ,if a player say ,i have the rest1 or any words indicating the remaining tricks are his1 and one or both of the other players should expose his or their cards1 or request him to play out the hand1 he should not allow any information so obtained to influence his play nor take any finesse not announced by him at the time of making such claim1 unless it had been previously proven to be a winner4 #aj4 ,if a player concede in error one or more tricks1 the concession should stand4 #aa4 ,a player having been cut out of one table should not seek admission into another unless willing to cut for the privilege of entry4 #ab4 ,no player should look at any of his cards until the deal is completed4 ,,decisions ,,by ,,the ,,card ,,committee ,,of ,,the ,,whist ,,club ,,of ,,new ,,york ,since the adoption of the foregoing code1 the ,card ,committee of the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york has rendered the following decisions1 interpreting certain laws that have caused discussion4 ,the cases in question have arisen in various localities1--,number #f1 for example1 coming from ,st4 ,louis1 ,number #g from ,northern ,new ,york1 and ,number #h from ,mexico4 ,,case #a ,a bids out of turn4 ,y and ,z consult as to whether they shall allow the declaration to stand or demand a new deal4 ,b claims that1 by reason of the consultation1 the right to enforce a penalty is lost4 ,,decision ,rule #di does not prohibit consultation4 ,it provides that either adversary may demand a new deal or allow the declaration to stand4 ,this obviously only means that the decision first made by either shall be final4 ,the old law prohibiting consultation has been stricken from the code1 and the action seems wise1 as such a question as1 ,will you enforce the penalty1 or shall ,i8 is really a consultation1 and consequently an evasion of the law4 ,there does not seem to be any sound reason for preventing partners entitled to a penalty or choice of penalties from consulting1 and as the laws at present stand1 there is unquestionably nothing prohibiting it4 ,b's claim1 therefore1 is not allowed4 ,,case #b ,a bids two ,hearts1 ,y bids two ,diamonds1--,b demands that the ,y declaration be made sufficient4 ,y says1 ,i correct my declaration to three ,diamonds4 ,b passes1 ,z bids three ,no-trumps4 ,a claims that ,z has no right to bid4 ,,decision ,law #ej provides that in case of an insufficient declaration 444 the partner is debarred from making any further declaration4 ,this exactly covers the case in question4 ,true it is that ,law #eb provides that1 prior to the next player passing1 declaring1 or doubling1 a declaration inadvertently made may be corrected4 ,the obvious intent of this law is that it shall apply when a player says1 ,two ,diamonds--,i mean1 three ,diamonds2 or1 ,two ,spades--,i mean two ,royals2 and that such correction shall be allowed without penalty if the declaration has really been inadvertently made and neither adversary has taken any action whatever4 ,we interpret #eb by reading into it the additional words1 or either adversary calls attention to the insufficient declaration4 ,the construction put upon #eb by ,y would result in nullifying a most important part of #ej4 ,the claim of ,a is sustained4 ,,case #c ,at the conclusion of the play the cards are turned face downward preparatory to the next deal4 ,it is then discovered that the pack contains two ,queens of ,clubs and no ,knave of ,clubs4 ,the score has been claimed and admitted1 but not recorded4 ,is the deal which has just been completed1 void8 ,,decision ,rule #ci provides that ,if1 during the play1 a pack be proven incorrect1 such proof renders the current deal void1 but does not affect any prior score4 ,current may be defined as in actual progress1 belonging to the time immediately passing4 ,it seems clear1 therefore1 that as the discovery of the imperfection did not occur during the current deal1 the result of it becomes a prior score1 which under the terms of the rule is not affected4 ,,case #d ,a player belonging to one table expresses his desire to enter another1 and cuts in4 ,at the end of the rubber he claims that he is not obliged to cut with the others4 ,,decision ,rule #bd provides that ,when one or more players belonging to an existing table aid in making up a new one1 he or they shall be the last to cut out4 ,this rule applies only when a player leaves an existing table to help make up another1 when1 without him1 there would not be four players for the new table4 ,when a player leaves a table and cuts into another1 his presence not being required to complete the table he enters1 he has the same standing as the others at that table4 ,,case #e ,a player belonging to one table expresses his desire to join another1 cuts for the privilege of entering in accordance with ,rule #bc1 and fails to cut in4 ,at the end of the rubber1 must he cut again8 ,,decision ,by his first cut he lost his rights at his former table and became a member of the new table2 at the end of the rubber he has the right to enter without cutting4 ,,case #f ,the bidding in an ,auction deal was as follows3-- #ast #b;d #c;d ,round ,round ,round ,north #c ,royals ,redouble ,double ,east ,no ,no ,no ,south #d ,hearts ,no ,double ,west ,double #f ,clubs ,claims new deal ,the deal was played and resulted in the ,declarer taking six tricks1 a loss of #fjj4 ,the question is whether ,west's claim should be sustained or this score counted1 it being a part of the case stated that the declaration which was the subject of complaint was made inadvertently4 ,,decision ,law #ed provides that ,a player cannot redouble his partner's double1 but does not penalize such action4 ,the prohibition is intended to prevent an increase in the value of the tricks and a penalty is not attached1 as the additional double is generally a careless act1 not likely to materially benefit the offending player4 ,it goes without saying that any such double is most irregular1 and any suggestion of strength thereby conveyed will not be used by an honorable partner4 ,the same comment applies to the remark1 sometimes made1 ,partner1 ,i would have doubled if you had not4 ,a player repeatedly guilty of such conduct1 or of intentionally violating any other law1 should be reprimanded1 and1 if the offense be continued1 ostracized4 ,in the case under consideration1 this question does not arise1 as it is conceded that the act was simply an inadvertence4 ,even1 however1 had its bona fides been questioned1 the decision would of necessity be that the score be counted1 as the laws do not provide a penalty for the offense4 ,,case #g ,the bidding in an ,auction deal was as follows3-- #ast #b;d #c;d #dth ,round ,round ,round ,round ,north #a ,club #a ,heart #b ,hearts ,no ,east #a ,diamond ,no ,double ,no ,south ,no ,no #c ,clubs ,west ,no #b ,diamonds ,no ,south claimed that his partner1 having abandoned the ,club declaration1 he 7,south7 became the real ,club bidder1 and1 having made the final declaration1 was entitled to play the combined hands4 ,,decision ,rule #df provides that when the winning suit was first bid by the partner1 no matter what bids have intervened1 he shall play the hand4 ,this rule decides the case4 ,,case #h ,at about the seventh or eighth trick1 the left-hand adversary of the ,declarer remarks1 ,if you have all of the tricks1 lay down your hand4 ,the ,declarer does not answer1 but continues the play in the usual manner4 ,one trick later the same adversary says1 ,lay down your hand1 whereupon almost simultaneously the ,declarer and the adversary who has done the talking place their hands face upward on the table4 ,the ,declarer then states that he can take all the tricks4 ,the play is not completed1 but examination shows one trick may be taken by the adversaries of the ,declarer if he do not finesse in a certain way4 ,under these irregular circumstances1 should the ,declarer lose the trick8 ,,decision ,law #gb provides1 ,if either or both of the declarer's adversaries throw his or their cards on the table face upward1 such cards are exposed and liable to be called2 but if either adversary retain his hand1 he cannot be forced to abandon it4 ,cards exposed by the declarer are not liable to be called4 ,if the declarer say1 ',i have the rest1' or any other words indicating that the remaining tricks or any number thereof are his1 he may be required to place his cards face upward on the table4 ,his adversaries are not liable to have any of their cards called should they thereupon expose them4 ,section #i of ,etiquette provides3 ,if a player say1 ',i have the rest1' or any words indicating the remaining tricks are his and one or both of the other players expose his or their cards or request him to play out the hand1 he should not allow any information1 so obtained1 to influence his play1 nor take any finesse not announced by him at the time of making such claim1 unless it had been previously proven to be a winner4 ,the case under consideration is covered by the first portion of ,law #gb4 ,the latter portion of that law does not apply1 as the opponent did not place his cards on the table after a claim by the ,declarer4 ,the law seems clear1 the cards of the adversary are exposed and subject to call--the cards of the ,declarer cannot be called4 ,the etiquette of the game1 however1 must not be disregarded4 ,the plain intent of ,section #i and the justice of the case is that1 if the ,declarer place his hand on the table claiming the remaining tricks1 he should not receive a doubtful trick unless1 when he made his claim1 he contemplated any finesse necessary to obtain it4 ,if he did not intend to finesse that way1 or did not then realize that a finesse would be necessary1 he should1 under these circumstances1 voluntarily surrender the trick4 ,the reason for this is that1 should a ,declarer claim all the tricks1 the opponent who requires the hand to be played out would naturally hold the strength2 the locus of the request1 therefore1 suggests the way to win the finesse4 ,it is most advantageous for the interest of ,auction that1 when no real play remains1 time should not be wasted1 but neither side should in any way benefit by an effort to avoid useless delay4 ,in the case under consideration1 however1 the adversary suggests that the hands be placed on the table1 and the ,declarer may naturally expect that the only card which might take a trick will drop4 ,there is no reason to assume that the ,declarer will not finesse correctly1 and it is not just that the act of his opponent should deprive him of the opportunity of so doing4 ,the decision1 therefore1 is that the ,declarer is entitled to the disputed trick4 ,,case #i ,dummy leaves the table to get a glass of water4 ,as he returns to his seat1 he sees his partner's hand and notices that he is revoking4 ,has he1 under these circumstances1 the right to ask him whether he has any more of the suit8 ,,decision ,law #fj gives the ,dummy the right to ask this question1 and does not specify that he must be in his seat to avail himself of the privilege4 ,section #i of ,etiquette provides that ,dummy shall not leave his seat for the purpose of watching his partner's play2 but even should he do so1 his breach of etiquette would not deprive him of the rights given him by law4 ,an adversary may unquestionably object to the ,dummy watching the play of the ,declarer4 ,that1 however1 is not the case under consideration4 ,the penalty for the revoke is the most severe in ,auction1 many think it unreasonably so1 and a player is unquestionably entitled to every protection the law affords him4 ,the decision1 therefore1 is that1 under the conditions named1 the question may be asked4 ,,case #aj ,with three tricks to play1 the ,declarer throws his cards face upward on the table1 claiming the remaining tricks4 ,his opponents admit his claim1 and the score is entered4 ,the ,dummy then calls the attention of the table to the fact that1 had a certain lead been made1 the ,declarer could not have taken all the tricks4 ,query3 ,under the circumstances1 is the ,declarer entitled to all the tricks2 first1 viewing the question solely from a strict interpretation of the laws2 and second1 from the standpoint of good sportsmanship8 ,,decision ,section #aj of ,etiquette provides1 ,if a player concede in error one or more tricks1 the concession should stand4 ,there is no law affecting this situation1 and1 therefore1 the section of ,etiquette above quoted clearly covers the first portion of the query4 ,as to whether good sportsmanship would require the ,declarer1 under such circumstances1 to voluntarily surrender any of the tricks to which he is entitled by law1 does not seem to produce a more serious question4 ,it is true that the adversaries1 by overlooking a possible play1 made a concession that was not required1 and that the ,dummy noticed the error of the adversaries4 ,why1 however1 should the ,dummy be obliged to correct this error any more than any other mistake of his opponents8 ,it is perfectly clear that1 had a similar error been made by the ,declarer1 the ,dummy could not have saved himself from suffering by reason of it1 and1 whether the question be either a strict interpretation of law or of sportsmanship1 it is a poor rule that does not work both ways4 ,both parts of the query are1 therefore1 answered in the affirmative4 ,,case #aa ,the ,declarer leads three rounds of ,trumps1 on the third an adversary refuses4 ,later in the play the ,declarer leads a winning card which is trumped by the adversary who has refused ,trumps4 ,the player who trumped the trick gathered it4 ,the ,declarer said1 ,how did you win it8 ,the player answered1 ,i trumped it4 ,the ,dummy then said1 ,who trumped it8 ,after this remark by the ,dummy1 the ,declarer claims a revoke1 the claim is disputed upon the ground that the ,dummy called the revoke to the attention of the ,declarer4 ,the ,declarer states that he would have made the claim1 regardless of ,dummy's remark4 ,query3 ,should the revoke be allowed8 ,,decision ,law #fj prescribes explicitly the privileges of the ,dummy after he has placed his hand on the table4 ,there are exactly six things which he may do and no more4 ,law #fa provides1 ,should the declarer's partner call attention to any other incident of the play in consequence of which any penalty might have been exacted1 the declarer is precluded from exacting such penalty4 ,inasmuch as asking ,who won the trick8 is not one of the six privileges allowed the ,dummy1 such action is irregular1 and must1 of necessity1 call attention to the revoke4 ,had the ,dummy actually claimed the revoke1 it would preclude the exaction of a penalty1 even had the ,declarer been about to claim it4 ,it is1 therefore1 immaterial whether the ,declarer would have noticed the revoke had the ,dummy not made the irregular remark4 ,the question is decided in the negative4 ,,case #ab ,the adversaries of the ,declarer take ten tricks1 but revoke4 ,under these conditions1 can either side score except for honors or chicane8 ,,decision ,law #hd provides that a revoking side cannot score1 except for honors or chicane4 ,it also provides3 ,if either of the adversaries revoke1 the declarer may either add #aej points to his score in the honor column or may take three tricks from his opponents and add them to his own4 ,such tricks may assist the declarer to make good his declaration4 ,it is evident that the ,declarer is given the option of either scoring #aej points or taking three tricks1 should he prefer to make good his declaration rather than receive the bonus4 ,in the case cited1 three tricks could not fulfill the contract1 but should a thoughtless or generous ,declarer elect to take a penalty which would not benefit him1 in preference to #aej1 he would be acting within his rights4 ,the rule clearly decides this case4 ,the adversaries cannot score except for honors or chicane1 and the ,declarer can add #aej to his score in the honor column if he elect so to do4 ,acknowledgment is made of the courtesy of ,the ,whist ,club of ,new ,york in permitting the publication of its code of laws and of the decisions of its ,card ,committee4 ,,summarized ,,penalties ,for the benefit of those who wish to hastily ascertain the penalty for an offense or to refer to the law upon the subject1 the following table of summarized penalties has been prepared4 ,it does not include every possible penalty1 but merely those of most frequent occurrence4 ,,offense ,,penalty ,,law ,revoke by ,declarer #aej points #hd a ,revoke by ,adversary #aej points or #c tricks #hd b ,revoke by ,dummy ,none #fc ,second revoke in same hand #ajj points #hd c ,lead out of turn by ,declarer ,none #gg ,exposed card ,lead out of turn by ,adversary or #gf ,called lead ,card exposed during deal ,new deal #cg c ,partner cannot bid nor ,card exposed after deal and lead suit of card and card #fe before end of bidding may be called ,may be called and if exposed ,card exposed after end of by ,third ,hand that suit #ff bidding and before lead not be led ,card exposed ,declarer ,none #gb during play by ,adversary ,may be called #fg #gb ,two or more cards played at ,all may be called #gj once by adversary ,not playing to trick ,new deal #ha ,playing #b cards to trick ,liable for revoke #hb ,playing with less than #ac cards ,liable for revoke #ch ,holding #ad cards ,new deal #cg d ,misdeal ,new deal #cf #cg ,dealing out of turn or with ,may be corrected before #dj wrong cards last card is dealt ,declaration out of turn ,new deal #di ,double out of turn ,new deal #eg ,pass out of turn ,none #di ,insufficient declaration ,made sufficient and partner #ej debarred from bidding ,impossible declaration ,made #g tricks and partner #ej debarred from bidding2 or new deal2 or previous declaration may be made final ,dummy's calling attention to ,penalty for offense #fa eliminated any offense ,dummy's suggesting a play ,it may be required or #fb prohibited ,declarer's naming or touching ,may have to play it #fd card in ,dummy ,adversary's calling attention ,partner may be required to #ib to trick play highest or lowest card or win or lose trick ,giving information about ,called lead #ea bidding after final bid ,fourth ,hand playing before ,second ,hand may be required #hj ,second to play highest or lowest card or win or lose trick ,cutting more than one card ,must take highest #af ,,appendix ,,queries ,,and ,,answers ,the introduction of the count now in use has produced so radical a change in the game of ,auction that of necessity innumerable differences of opinion have arisen among individual players4 ,many questions have been submitted to arbitrators for decision4 ,in some cases the author of ,,auction ,,of ,,to-,,day has been complimented by being called upon for his opinion1 and a few queries that seem to be upon points of general interest1 with the answers given1 follow4 ,,query ,what is the correct original bid of the ,dealer in the following cases8 #a4 ,seven ,diamonds1 headed by ,knave1 ,ten2 ,ace of ,spades2 ,ace of ,hearts2 ,ace and three small ,clubs4 #b4 ,the same hand1 except that the ,clubs are ,ace1 ,king1 and two small4 #c4 ,the same two hands1 with the ,diamonds headed by ,queen1 ,knave1 ,ten4 ,,answer ,these hands are evidently conceived for the purpose of proving vulnerable the rule that a suit should not be called without the ,ace or ,king4 ,they doubtless never did and probably never will occur in actual play1 but most aptly illustrate a point of declaration1 and are1 therefore1 worthy of consideration4 ,it must be remembered that in the extraordinary case any convention of declaration may be varied to suit the hand4 ,undoubtedly1 the last rule to permit exception is that above mentioned4 ,for the purpose of emphasis it may properly be said to be without exception1 and yet1 if any such holding actually happen1 it may become necessary for the ,declarer to take a little leeway4 ,it cannot affect the confidence of the partner if a player1 only under such extraordinary circumstances1 departs from the conventional1 and the remarkable character of the hand guarantees that harm will not result in the particular instance4 ,all of the above hands contain three ,aces1 yet a ,no-trump should not be bid1 as it would probably be left in1 and with two singleton ,aces they are dangerous ,no-trumpers1 but strong ,diamonds4 ,the hands are much too strong to call one ,spade1 as that also might not be overbid4 ,two ,spades followed by ,diamonds would be quite satisfactory1 would avoid breaking the rule1 but would not include the effort to eliminate adverse bidding which1 with a hand of this character1 might be desirable4 ,two ,diamonds is not permissible1 as that is the conventional call for a solid ,diamond suit4 ,there is no reason1 however1 that three or more ,diamonds or ,clubs should not indicate a long weak ,trump suit with such additional strength that one ,spade is an unsafe call4 ,such a bid would suggest that a game is probable in the suit named4 ,it is not a recognized bid and would rarely be used1 but an intelligent partner would at once grasp its meaning4 ,the answer to the above1 therefore1 is #a4 ,three ,diamonds4 #b4 ,three1 or even ,four1 ,diamonds4 7,the bid of one ,club might be left in47 #c4 ,three or #d ,diamonds in first2 #d in second4 ,,query ,would it not improve the game of ,auction and increase the amount of skill required in the declaration if the value of ,royal ,spades be altered from #i to #e8 ,,answer ,the basic theory of the present count is to equalize1 as nearly as possible1 the value of the five declarations1 in order to produce the maximum amount of competition in bidding4 ,this has proved most popular with the mass of players1 and has been universally adopted not only in this country1 but also in ,england1 ,france1 and ,russia4 ,to decrease the value of the ,royal ,spade from #i to #e1 would be a distinct step backward4 ,in that case it would take #d1 instead of #c1 ,royal ,spades to overbid two ,no-trumps2 and #f1 instead of #d1 to overbid three ,no-trumps4 ,it is not likely that any change1 which diminishes the ability of the holder of ,spades 7or of any suit7 to compete with a ,no-trump1 will ever appeal to ,auction devotees4 ,the greater the possibility for competitive bidding1 the greater the opportunity for displaying skill in that branch of the game4 ,,query ,should the ,dealer bid one ,club1 holding ,ace and ,king of ,clubs1 four small ,spades1 four small ,hearts1 ,ace1 ,queen1 and one small ,diamond8 ,,answer ,no4 ,one ,club deceives the partner4 ,it indicates length in ,clubs1 and may induce him to advance that suit too far4 ,in the event of an adverse ,no-trump1 it will probably result in the lead of the partner's highest ,club1 which is apt to prove extremely disastrous4 ,one ,no-trump is far safer than one ,club1 and might be defended on the ground that with four cards in each of the two weak suits the danger of a long adverse run is reduced4 ,one ,spade1 however1 places the ,dealer in a splendid position to advance any call his partner may make1 and is doubtless the sound bid4 ,,query ,is it not an objection to the count now in use that the ,spade suit is given two values1 and would it not be wise to make ,spades #i1 and allow the ,dealer to pass the original declaration8 ,,answer ,the advisability of this plan was thoroughly considered before the present count was suggested4 ,it would make a pass by the ,dealer equal to the present declaration of one ,spade1 and in the event of the four players all passing1 presumably would necessitate a new deal4 ,it would eliminate two1 three1 and four ,spade bids by the ,dealer and ,second ,hand1 and the double of one ,spade by the latter4 ,it would relieve the ,third ,hand from determining whether to take his partner out of one ,spade1 and take from the ,fourth ,hand the decision of whether to play for a penalty of #ajj or try for game4 ,it is evident1 therefore1 that it would take a great deal out of the bidding of every one of the four players1 and it is hard to believe that any scheme tending to decrease the variety of1 and amount of skill required for1 the declaration1 is to the advantage of the game4 ,the objection to having two ,spade values is purely theoretical1 as players are not in the least embarrassed thereby1 nor is the number of declarations at present a part of the game cumbersome or confusing4 ,the argument1 that if there be two ,spade values there might equally well be two values for each of the other suits1 almost answers itself4 ,having more than one ,royal declaration would of necessity result in complications1 and1 of course1 only one defensive call is needed4 ,with the advantages of the ,spade bid so numerous and evident1 and with no real disadvantage apparent1 there does not seem to be any sound reason for abandoning it4 ,,query ,dealer bids one ,royal4 ,second ,hand holds ,ace1 ,king1 ,queen1 ,knave1 and ,ten of ,clubs2 ,ace1 ,king1 and two small ,diamonds2 ,ace and two small ,hearts2 one small ,spade4 ,what should he bid8 ,,answer ,three ,clubs4 ,the holding thoroughly justifies a ,no-trump1 as the hand contains eight sure tricks4 ,if1 however1 the partner cannot stop the ,spades1 the adversaries will save the game at once1 while eleven ,club tricks is not an impossibility4 ,furthermore1 the partner may have the ,spades stopped if led up to him1 but not if led through him4 ,the ,declaration of three ,clubs 7one more than necessary7 tells the partner the situation1 and accomplishes two purposes3--if the partner have not the ,spades stopped1 the game is still possible2 if the partner have the ,spades stopped1 if led up to him1 it instructs him to call two ,no-trumps1 whereas a ,no-trump bid by the ,second ,hand1 with the same cards1 might fail to produce game1 because the position of the opening lead would then be reversed4 ,,query ,dealer bids one ,no-trump2 ,second ,hand1 two ,hearts4 ,third ,hand holds ,spades ,knave1 ,ten1 and three small ,hearts ,one small ,diamonds ,two small ,clubs ,ace1 ,queen1 ,knave1 and two small ,what should be bid8 ,,answer ,two ,royals4 ,this hand1 especially with an adverse ,heart call1 is much more apt to go game at ,royals than at ,no-trump4 ,two ,royals asks to be let alone2 three ,clubs practically commands the partner to bid two ,no-trumps if he have the ,hearts stopped4 ,this is but an expansion of the principle that the original call of one ,club or one ,diamond suggests a ,no-trump1 while one ,heart or one ,royal indicates a desire to try for game in the suit named4 ,,query ,is it fair for partners to agree that the bid of one ,spade shall mean weakness2 one ,club1 general strength2 and two ,clubs1 strength in ,clubs8 ,,answer ,it is perfectly fair for players to use the above-described1 or any other convention1 provided their adversaries understand its meaning4 ,conventions are an essential part of ,auction4 ,the lead of a ,king to show the ,ace is a convention--so is every informatory play or declaration4 ,when plays or bids are generally understood1 it is unnecessary for players to explain their significance1 but the adversaries should have all the information upon the subject possessed by the partner1 and nothing approaching a private understanding should exist4 ,,query ,the ,dealer bids one ,no-trump1 holding ,spades ,ace1 ,queen1 ,ten1 and three small ,hearts ,ace1 ,queen ,diamonds ,ace1 and one small ,clubs ,ace1 and two small ,second and ,third ,hands pass2 ,fourth ,hand1 two ,diamonds4 ,what should the ,dealer declare on the second round8 ,,answer ,two ,royals4 ,the hand is far too strong to pass1 while to bid two ,no-trumps is foolish1 as1 unless the partner hold the ,king of ,spades1 it is almost certain that the contract cannot be fulfilled4 ,two ,royals is safe and presents a good chance of game4 ,a game in ,royals is far more valuable than #ajj for ,aces1 which may be reduced1 if not wiped out1 by penalties for under-tricks4 ,,query ,score1 ,love4 ,dealer bids one ,spade2 ,second ,hand1 one ,diamond2 ,third ,hand1 one ,royal2 ,fourth ,hand1 two ,clubs4 ,second round1 ,dealer bids two ,royals2 ,second ,hand1 three ,clubs2 ,third ,hand1 three ,royals2 ,fourth ,hand1 four ,diamonds4 ,dealer holds ,spades ,knave1 #aj1 #g ,hearts ,king1 ,knave1 #h ,diamonds #g1 #d1 #c ,clubs ,king1 #g1 #f1 #c ,should he double the four ,diamond declaration8 ,,answer ,a bid of four ,diamonds should never be doubled at a love score unless the ,doubler be reasonably sure of defeating the declaration4 ,in this case he may expect to win one ,club1 and possibly one ,heart1 although that is not sure4 ,either the ,declarer or the ,dummy may be without ,spades4 ,the double does not seem reasonably safe and may keep the partner from a successful bid of four ,royals4 ,the ,dealer1 therefore1 should pass4