9 to 8, or rather 8 to 9, is about three and a half in the hundred in favour of 8 with the The odds of the game, calculated for betting througs the whole rubber, with the deal. If the first game of a rubber is won, with 9 love of the second, on the same side, the odds of the rubber are nearly Ditto, the first game, and 8 love of the second, are rather more than . Ditto, and 7 love of the second, nearly 13 to 1 13 to 1 The odds of the game, calculated for betting through the whole rubber, against the deal. With the first game, and 9 love of the second, about 11 to 1 Ditto, and 8 love of the second, rather more than 11 to 1 Ditto, and 7 love of the second Ditto, and 6 love of the second 9 to Ditto, and 5 love of the second Ditto, and 4 love of the second Ditto, and 2 love of the second Ditto, and I love of the second, nearly 13 to 4 MR. PAINE'S MAXIMS FOR WHIST. Leader. 1. Begin with the suit of which you have most in number. For when the trumps are out, you will probably make several tricks in it. 2. If you hold equal numbers in different suits, begin with the strongest. Because it is the least liable to injure your partner. 3. Sequences are always eligible leads. Because they support your partner's hand, without injuring your own. 4. Lead from a king or queen rather than from an ace. For since the adversaries will lead from those suits which you do not, your ace will do them most harm. 5. Lead from a king rather than from a queen, and from a queen rather than a knave. For the stronger the suit, the less is your partner endangered. 6. Lead not from ace queen, or ace knave, till it becomes necessary. For if that suit is led by the adversaries, you have a good chance of making two tricks in it. 7. In all sequences to a queen, knave, or ten, begin with the highest. Because it will frequently distress your left hand adversary. 8. Having ace, king, and knave, lead the king. For if strong in trumps, you may wait the return of that suit and finesse the knave. 9. Having ace, king, and one small card, lead the small one. For by this lead your partner has a chance to make the knave. 10. Having ace, king, and two or three small cards, play ace and king, if weak in trumps, but a small card if strong in them. For when strong in trumps you may give your partner the choice of making the first trick. 11. Having king, queen, and one small card, play the small one. For your partner has an equal chance to win the trick, and you need not fear to make king or queen. 12. Having king, queen, and two or three small cards, lead a small card if strong in trumps, and the king, if weak in them. For strength in trumps entitles you to play a backward game, and to give your partner the chance of winning the first trick; but if weak in trumps, it is necessary to secure a trick in that suit, by leading the king or queen. 13. Having an ace with four small cards, and no other good suit, play a small card, if strong in trumps, and the ace if weak. For strength in trumps may enable you to make one or two of the small cards, although your partner should not be able to support the lead. 14. Having king, knave, and ten, lead the ten. For if your partner holds the ace, you have a good chance of making three tricks, whether he passes the ten or not.. 15. Having king, queen, and ten, lead the king. For if it falls upon the return of that suit from your partner, by putting on the ten, you have the chance of making two tricks. 16. Having queen, knave, and nine, lead the queen. For upon the return of that suit from your partner, by putting on the nine you will probably make the knave, Second Hand. 1. Having ace, king, and small ones, play a small card if strong in trumps, but the king if weak in them. For otherwise your ace or king might be trumped in the latter case, and no hazard should be run with few trumps but in critical cases. 2. Having aoe, queen, and small cards, play a small For upon the return of that suit you will probably make two tricks. one. 3. Having ace, knave, and small cards, play a small one. For upon the return of that suit you will probably make two tricks. 4. Having ace, ten, or nine, with small cards, play a small one. For by this method you have a chance of making two tricks in the suit. 5. Having king, queen, ten, and small cards, play the queen. For by playing the ten upon the return of the suit, you will probably make two tricks in it. 6. Having king, queen, and small cards. play a small card if strong in trumps, but the queen if weak in thein. For strength in trumps warrants playing a backward game, and it is always advantageous to keep back your adversaries' suit. 7. If you hold a sequence to your highest card in the suit, play the lowest of it. For by this means your partner is informed of your strength in that suit. 8. Having queen, knave, and small cards, play the knave. Because you will, in great probability, secure a trick in that suit. 9. Having queen, ten, and small ones, play a small one. For your partner has an equal chance to win the trick. 10. Having either ace, king, queen, or knàve, with small cards, play a small one. For your partner has an equal chance to win the trick. 11. Having either ace, king, queen, or knave, with one small card only, play a small one. For otherwise the adversary will finesse upon you in that suit. 12. If a queen is led, and you hold the king, put it on. For if your partner holds the ace, you do no harm; and if the king is taken, the adversaries have played two ho nours to one. 13. If a knave is led, and you hold the queen, put i on. For, at the worst, you bring down two honours for one. 14. If a king is led, and you hold the ace, knave, and small ones, play the ace. For it cannot do the adver saries a greater injury. Third Hand. 1. Having ace and king, play the ace, and return the king. Because you are not to keep the command of your partner's strong suit. 2. Having ace and queen, play the ace, and return the queen. For although it may prove better in some cases to put on the queen, yet, in general, your partner is best supported by the above method. 3. Having ace and knave, play the ace, and return the knave The knave is returned in order to strengthen your partner's hand. 4. Having king and knave, play the king; and if it wins, return the knave. Because it will strengthen your partner's hand. 5. Always put on the best when your partner leads a small card. Because it best supports your partner's hand. 6. If you hold the ace and one small card only, and your partner leads the king, put on the ace and return the small one. For otherwise your ace will be an ob struction to his suit. 7. If you hold the king and one small card only, and your partner leads the ace; if the trumps are out, it is good play to put on the king. For by putting on the king, there is no obstruction to the suit. Fourth Hand. 1. If a king is led, and you hold_ace, knave, and a small card, play the small one. For supposing the queen to follow, you will probably make both ace and knave. 2. When the third hand is weak in his partner's suit, you may often return that suit to great advantage. But this rule must not be applied to trumps, unless you are very strong indeed. Cases in which you should return your Partner's Lead immediately. 1. When you win with the ace, and can return an honour. For then it will greatly strengthen his hand. 2. When he leads a trump. In which case return the best remaining in your hand (unless you hold four ori ginally :) an exception to this arises if the lead is through an honour. 3. When your partner has trumped out. For then it is evident he wants to make his great suit. 4. When you have no good card in any other suit. For then you are entirely dependent on your partner. Cases in which you should not return your Partner's Lead immediately. 1. If you win with the king, queen, and knave, and have only small cards remaining. For the return of a small card will more distress than strengthen your partner. 2. If you hold a good sequence. For then you may show a strong suit, and not injure his hand. 3. If you have a strong suit. Because leading from a strong suit is a direction to your partner, and cannot injure him. 4 If you have a good hand. For in this case you have a right to consult your own hand, and not your partner's. 5. If you hold five trumps. For then you are warranted to play trumps, if you think it right. |