November 1, 1889.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



19 



It is worth noticing that, if Z had led his lowest, or even 

 his iJenultimate, trump at Trick 2, Y coiild not have known 

 where the eight and nine were until three tricks later. 



Trick 4. — A's lead is in accordance with the American 

 code, which provides that, when ten, led from king, queen, 

 knave, ten, draws the ace, the original leader should con- 

 tinue with luiave if he opened from a five-suit, and with 

 queen if he opened from a four-suit. But, in the present 

 instance, as A is plajing a losing game, we should have 

 preferred to continue with the king, so as to keep Z in the 

 dark as long as possible as to the position of the queen. 

 As the cards lie, it does not matter which of the three is 

 led first. 



Trick 5. — It may be urged that, since there is nothmg to 

 show that Y has not another trump. A, by going on with 

 the tliamonds, runs the risk of enabling him to make it 

 separately. But this would, under the circumstances, be 

 an advantage, since Y would then have to lead up to A in 

 either spades or hearts. 



Trick 7. — A plays correctly, we tliink, in passing the 

 knave, for Z may not have another spade, and in that case, 

 if the knave wins, will have sooner or later to lead a heart. 

 This chance seems preferable to the chance of B's holduig 

 the ten twice guarded. Of course, if B holds either ace or 

 queen of spades, A's play is immaterial. 



Elementary Explanation of the Play. 



Trick 1. — The ten is the proper lead from a suit headed 

 by king, queen, knave, ten, or by king, knave, ten. 15 

 uifers fi-om this trick that Z has not the queen, but neither 

 B nor Z can at present tell whether it is with A or Y. On 

 the other hand, Y can place the queen with A, for if either 

 of the others had held it he would have played it. 



Tricks 2 and 3. — Z, of course, opens trumps; and Y, 

 equally of course, returns them. The student should 

 observe that Z, having led a low card, must have at least 

 three better ; and, therefore, after he has played the queen 

 and the other high cards have fallen, he must hold the 

 eight and nine, since these are the only two unplayed 

 trumps higher than the six (his original lead). A and B, 

 by playing the five and seven respectively, show each other 

 that they have not the two or three (the four was the 

 turn-up card), so that they know after Trick 3 that all the 

 trumps are against them. But they cannot tell fi'om Y's 

 lead of the ten whether he has one of the small ones or not, 

 for lie would return the higher of two remaining cards. 



It now appears that honours are " easy," and, therefore, 

 the score licing Love-all, YZ must make eleven out of the 

 thirteen tricks in order to win the game. 



Trick 4. — Clearly A can do no better than continue his 

 winning diamonds. 



Trick 5. — As a matter of fact, .\ would have saved the 

 game at this pomt it he had led a heart; but it was, of 

 course, quite impossilile for him to know this, or to foresee 

 that'witli king guarded in each of the other suits he would 

 be unable to make another trick. 



Trick 6. — Z has now drawn all the adverse trumps, and 

 is in possession of the lead. Me knows that diamonds are 

 against him, but has no clue as to his partner's strength 

 in the other two suits. His lead of a trump amounts 

 to asking his partner the question, " Wliat would you 

 like me to lead?" Y replies by throwing away a heart, 

 wliicii means to say, " My strong suit, wliidi I want you 

 to help nic to establish, is spades." This is confirmed 

 by B, who, in accordance with the principle explained 

 in our last article (see Knowledoe, vol. xii., p. 2.54) dis- 

 cards from his best-protected (i.e. strongest) suit. It is 

 practically certain, therefore, that whatever strength Y 

 has is in spades. 



Trick 7. — Z accordingly leads his best spade, so as to 

 assist his partner as much as possible. Y finesses against 

 the king, because this is the only possible way in which 

 the game can be won. 



Ctitss Column. 



By I. GuNSBERo (Mephisto). 



[Contributions of 

 Ciunsbcrg will be 

 tor his decision.] 



interest to chess-players are invited. Mr. 

 to give his opinion on any matter submitted 



1HE following interesting game was pltiyed in the Handicap 

 Tournament at Simpson's Divan last month : — 



White. 

 F. .7. Lee. 

 P to Qi 

 P to yBi 

 Kt to QB3 

 B to B4 (a) 

 Pto K3 

 B to Q3 

 Kt to K2 

 Castles (/() 



Black. 

 O. C. MiiUer. 

 P to yt 

 Pto K3 

 Kt to KB3 

 B to Kto 

 Castles 

 P to QB4 

 P to QR3 

 P xBP 



White. 

 F. J. Lee. 

 9. B X P 



10. B to Q3 



11. Bto B2 



1 :>. R to Bsq 



Black. 

 O. C. MuUer. 

 P to QKt4 

 Pto B3 

 B to Kt2 (c) 

 QKt to Q2 



13. Kt to Kt3 ((/) Q to Kt3 (e) 



14. B to Ktsq Kt to QB (/) 



15. Kt X Kt P X Kt 



16. Q to R5 (f/) 



17. Q to R6 (/() 



18. Q to K4 



H). Pto QR3 (/) 



20. Q to R3 



21. Kt to K2 



22. Q to Kt3 



23. Q to B3 



24. P to KKt4 

 2.1. Kt X Kt 

 2i;. P to R3 

 27. Kt to K2 



P to Kt3 

 KR to Ksq 

 QR to Qsq 

 B toK2 

 B to QBsq U) 

 Kt to B3 

 Kt to R4 

 B to B3 

 Kt X B 

 Q to y3 

 B to Kt4 

 R to K3 



28. Q to Kt3 



29. Kt to B4 



30. Kt to Kt2 



31. Q to Q5 (ch) 



(k) 



32. p X y 



33. KR to ysq 



34. P to B4 



35. B to B5 (0 

 30. B X B 



37. R to B2 



38. R (B2)toy2 



Q to K2 

 KR to Q3 

 K to Rsq 



QxQ 



R toK3 

 B to K2 

 P to Kt4 ! 

 R to QB3 

 R (B3) X B 

 P to QR4 



