118 



KNOWLEDGE 



[June 1, 1891. 



There are iio very woll marked showers of shooting stars 

 in June. 



The Moon is now at 4h. 2Gm. p.m. on the 0th ; enters 

 her first quarter at Oh. 34m. p.m. on the 1 1th ; is full 

 at rih. llim. A.M. on the 22nd; and enters her last 

 (juarter at llh. IGm. p.m. on the 2Hth. She is in apogee 

 at midnight on tlie IHtli (distance from the earth, 251,225 

 miles) ; and in perigee at 5h. a.Ai. on the 2Gth (distance 

 from the earth 228,850 miles). The greatest western 

 libration takes place at 3h. Om. p.m. on the 7th, and the 

 greatest eastern at 3h. 17m. a.m. on the 20th. 



mxinnt Column. 



l!y W. Mu.NTAGu Gattie, B.A.Oxou. 



Declining to Dkaw the Losing Trump. 



THE situation in which it is bad play to draw the 

 losing trump is usually defined m the text-books 

 as that in which one adversary has a long suit 

 established, while his partner holds a card of that 

 suit and also the losing trump. Another and 

 somewhat mure complicated case arises when the holder 

 of the losing trump, although void of tbe estabhshed suit, 

 can lead another suit in which his partner has a card of re- 

 entry. This is illustrated by the following hand — 

 Hand No. 21. 



Score — Love all. 



Z turns up the seven of hearts. 



Note. — A and B are partners against Y and Z. A has 

 the first lead ; Z is the dealer. The card of the leader to 

 each trick is indicated by an arrow. 



TliICK 1 



Z 



o o 



Tricks- 







^^ 



Y 



-AH, 1 : 



YZ, 0. 



Tricks— AB, 2 ; YZ, 0. 



Note.— The only diamond Z can have is the eight ; A 

 has the rest, unless B has begun a call for trumps. 



Thick 4. 



YZ, ]. 



Note. — Trick 4. — With trumps declared against him, and 

 an adverse suit already established, Y prefers not to open 

 with his fourth best spade. The fall of the cards shows that 

 Y has the knave of spades. 



Tricks— AH, i; YZ, 1. 



Tricks— AB, 5 ; YZ, 1. 



Thick s. 

 Z 





Tricks— AB, 5 ; YZ, 



Tricks— AB, U ; YZ, ?. 



Note. — Trick 8. — Y retains his trump to ruff the 

 diamonds, in case A should have the ace of spades. After 

 this trick it is clear that A can only bring in the diamonds 

 by winning a trick in clubs. 



z 



Thick Hi. 

 Z 



/' 







1*7^ 



\±I*\ 



4> ^ 





o 



Tricks -AB. 6; YZ, 3. 



Tncks—AB. 7 ; YZ, 3. 



Note. — Trick 10. — If Y now draws the Irump, and A 

 should afterwards be found with the best club, he will 

 make that and the queen of diamonds, and A15 will win 

 the game. Z's only possible spade is the eight ; and, as 

 he can only have one diamond, he must have four clubs, 

 of which one must be either knave or ten. 



Thick II. Thkk 12. 



Z 



rncks~^.\B. S; vz, t. 



