Chapter 11
When the original Third Hand returns a suit opened by his partner, he should lead the winning card, if he hold it. If without the best card, when the lead is against a No-trump declaration, it is far more important that a high card should be led through strength, and also that the holder of the length should be accurately advised as to his partner's high cards, than that he should be told the exact number of small ones. Therefore, when playing a No-trumper, the highest card should be returned from either three or two remaining. With four remaining (five originally), the holding may be longer than that of the original leader, and, therefore, the lowest should be led. If the partner be a keen counter of small cards, the next to the lowest is doubtless more informatory and just as advantageous as the lowest. When the original Third Hand returns a suit opened by his partner against a suit declaration, there is some difference of opinion among good players as to whether he should follow the Whist rule, which is the most informatory as to number, and lead the lowest of three remaining, the higher of two; or whether it is unwise to complicate matters by distinguishing between this case and the return when a No-trump is being played. The question is not very important as long as partners understand which convention is being used.
None of these rules applies in the case, readily distinguishable, in which the adverse strength in the suit is in the Dummy, and it is necessary to hold a high card over that hand; the play must then be made to fit the situation, and not according to any hard-and-fast principle.
THE FINESSE
The cards of the Dummy being exposed make it easy for the player sitting back of him to determine when to finesse. As the object of a finesse is to catch a high card on the right, it is folly to finesse against nothing--for example, the leader opens with Knave against a No-trump; the Third Hand has King and others; when the Dummy has the Queen, it is obvious the King should not be played unless the Queen cover the Knave, but when the Dummy holds only worthless cards, the Third Hand should play the King, as, should he finesse against nothing, he would allow the Queen to win. The leader has opened either from Ace, Knave, Ten, or a suit headed by a Knave-Ten combination. In the former case the play of the King insures every trick; in the latter, it helps clear the suit. It, therefore, is an example of the rule not to finesse when the Dummy has nothing.
An apparent exception to this rule occurs when the lead is made in answer to a declaration, or as an evident effort to find the partner's strength. For example, the original Third Hand, with six Hearts headed by King, Ten, and two reëntries, has called Hearts. The Declarer is playing a No-trumper, and the opening is the Knave of Hearts. The Dummy is without strength. In that case, the Declarer is marked with both the Ace and Queen of Hearts. The Third Hand should, therefore, play small. The play of the King cannot be of any benefit, and should the Declarer have the Nine, will be most expensive. This really is not a finesse against nothing, but, the position of the winning cards being marked, is merely a conservation of strength.
The same general principle applies in many similar cases; when, however, a small card is led, the Third Hand should not finesse, unless the Dummy contain some high card.
Playing No-trump, the following finesses are advisable over the Dummy:--
WHEN DUMMY HAS FINESSE King Ace, Queen Ace, Knave Ace, Ten
King, Knave Ace, Ten Ace, Nine
King, Ten Ace, Nine
Queen Ace, Knave Ace, Ten King, Knave King, Ten
Knave Ace, Ten King, Ten Queen, Ten
Do not, however, except with a fourchette, finesse against Queen or Knave singly guarded, when it is evident that the Declarer and Dummy hold only four cards of the suit, and the Ace or King is marked with the leader.
When playing No-trump, as a rule do not finesse if so doing will block the partner's suit.
X
SCORING AND SCORE-SHEETS
The score is a very important incident of the game of Auction, and to keep it properly requires considerable care and skill.
The figures frequently run into high numbers on both sides, and when the rubber continues during three hotly contested games, they become quite voluminous.
The score-sheet should be left on the table, and the writing on it should be of such size that it can be seen at a glance. This saves time and trouble, as it relieves the players from the necessity of asking the state of the score.
In some clubs two scores are kept, so that, in the only too probable contingency of a mistake being made, it may invariably be detected. This, however, is unnecessary, and at times confusing. The extra sheet is also apt to prove annoying, because of the space it occupies upon the table. One score is quite sufficient, if it be competently kept, and each entry, as well as the additions, verified.
There are two totally different types of Auction score-sheets. The one which is used in perhaps ninety per cent. of the private games, and, strange as it may seem, in many clubs, has absolutely no excuse for its existence, except that it was the first to be introduced and has the reputation of being universally used in foreign countries. It requires scoring above and below the line, which is a most cumbersome and dilatory proposition. Keeping tally by this method involves, at the end of a rubber, long mathematical problems, which, as the scorer is then in a hurry, frequently result in serious, and at times undiscovered, mistakes.
The modern system adopted in the up-to-date clubs, in which the game has received its most scientific development, and in the highest class of social games, does away with the antiquated methods and exacting mathematical problems of the above- and below-the-line system, by using a form of score-sheet which allows and encourages the scorer to mentally compute simple sums during the progress of the rubber. By the elimination of complicated figuring, it minimizes the opportunity for mistake, and delay at the end of the rubber.
All players are doubtless familiar with the old system of above-and below-the-line scoring, but only three classes now use it:
A. Those who have never had the modern system and its advantages called to their attention.
B. Those who believe that, having once become accustomed to any method, it should never be changed for a better.
C. Those who believe that, because foreign clubs adopt a certain method, we should do the same.
It is probably wasting time to attempt to convert any representative of either B or C, and fortunately for the intelligence of American card players there are comparatively few who deserve to be included in either of these classifications.
Class A, however, comprises the vast majority of Auction players, who have either never had the modern system of scoring called to their attention, or, if they have seen it, have not thoroughly grasped its numerous advantages, and have continued the old method merely because they were more familiar with it and did not perfectly understand the new. It is not putting the matter too strongly to assert that every intelligent scorer, who gives the new plan a thorough test, never returns to the trials and vexations incident to keeping the tally above and below the line.
Sample sheets are appended, showing the up-to-date scoring-blank as it appears at the beginning of the rubber; the same sheet with a rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each game; and also with the same rubber scored, the net totals being computed at the end of each deal. One scorer will prefer to make up his totals at the end of a game, another will elect to compute them at the termination of each deal; but either way the advantages of the score-sheet are apparent.
It goes without saying that any system which allows a player to see at a glance, not only the score of the game, but also the exact status of the rubber, is more advantageous than one which, until some time after the rubber is completed, may leave him in the dark as to whether he is ahead or behind. Some players allow, whether they or their opponents are in the lead upon the total score of the rubber, to affect their declarations and doubles. This practice cannot be enthusiastically commended, but all must admit that for such players the new scoring system is most essential.
It is, however, mainly as a labor- and time-saving device that the new plan is advocated. If any one doubt, 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 new. The result is sure to be most convincing. Under the new method, the short sums in addition or subtraction are mentally computed, during the deal of the cards, etc. This occupies waste time only, and at the end of the rubber, leaves a very simple, frequently nothing more than a mental, problem.
It has been estimated that during an evening's play, at least one more rubber can be completed when the scoring is conducted under the new method.
The various score-sheets, all showing the same rubber, follow.
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 =======+========+========++========+========+======== 16 | 32 | || | 18 | 72 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 100 | || | | 30 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 60 | 60 | 268 || 120 | | =======+========+========++========+========+======== | | (148) || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 216 | 266 || | 27 | 18 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 20 | 30 | 414 || 145 | 48 | 52 =======+========+========++========+========+======== | | (269) || | | 200 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 64 | 249 || | | 100 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 36 | 518 || 356 | 24 | 32 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 21 | 56 | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 36 | 36 | || | | =======+========+========++========+========+======== | | (162) || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | 250 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | 412 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -----------------------------------------------------
The score included in the circle is the _net_ total at the end of each game. It is obtained by subtracting the smaller score from the larger; as, for example, in the first game above, 120 from 268, which leaves a net of 148. If a scorer find it more satisfactory to subtract when the figures are in line, he can always write the smaller amount under the larger; as, for example, the 120 under the 268.
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 =======+========+========++========+========+======== 16 | 32 | 48 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || 42 | 18 | 72 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 100 | 28 || | | 30 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 60 | 60 | 148 || | | =======+========+========++========+========+======== -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- =======+========+========++========+========+======== | | 103 || | 27 | 18 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 216 | 319 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 20 | 30 | 369 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | 269 || | 48 | 52 =======+========+========++========+========+======== -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- =======+========+========++========+========+======== | 64 | 133 || | | 200 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | 36 | 69 || | | 100 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | 13 || | 24 | 32 -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 21 | 56 | 90 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- 36 | 36 | 162 || | | =======+========+========++========+========+======== | | 250 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | 412 || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -------+--------+--------++--------+--------+-------- | | || | | -----------------------------------------------------
All figures under the head of totals are net, and show at the end of each deal the exact status of the rubber. It is also possible, when the above method is employed, to further reduce the amount of bookkeeping by making only one entry whenever one pair scores honors and the other a penalty. This method could have been employed above, deal 3 of game 1, by merely entering 70 under "Our Score" Honors, and also in deal 2 of game 3, by entering 64 under "Opponents' Score" Honors.
SAMPLE SHOWING SAME RUBBER SCORED UNDER OLD SYSTEM WITH LONG ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTION AT END OF RUBBER
WE | THEY -----------+----------- 36 | 56 | 36 | 32 64 | 100 30 | 200 216 | 52 60 | 18 100 | 30 32 | 72 ===========+============ 16 | 18 60 | -----------+------------ 20 | 27 | 48 -----------+------------ 21 | 24 36 | ___ 250 | 621 ____ | 1033 | 621 | ____ | 412 | ===========+============
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 |2| |||2| ||| |2||| |3||| |3||| |2 | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | Jones | |2||| |2||| |6||| |5||| |5||| |6 | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | Brown |2| |||5| |||5| |||4| |||6| |||6 | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | White | |2|||1| |||1| |||2| |||X|X|||X |X | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | Green | | ||| |3|||1| |||1| ||| |1||| |2 | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | King | | ||| |3|||1| |||1| |||3| |||4 | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | | | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | | | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | | | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | | | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | | | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | | | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | ||| | | | ------------------+-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++-+-+++--+--| | TOTAL |4|4|||8|8|||8|8|||8|8|||9|9|||10|10| ---------------------------------------------------------
It is always well to total at the end of each rubber and to note the size of the rubber. These precautions make it easy to correct mistakes, should any occur.
XI
THE LAWS
In 1902, some years before Auction had been heard of in the United States, a number of the best-known clubs of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, 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 country. The so-called "American Laws of Bridge" were adopted, and duly published. It was then expected that they would be universally accepted.