FRONTISPIECE.
[Illustration: RUFF and HONOURS (from the Compleat Gamester 1680).
"Lastly, observe the Women with what grace
They sit, and look their Partners in the face,
Who from their eyes shoot Cupids fiery darts;
Thus make them lose at once their Game and Hearts."]
[Illustration:
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| THE |
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| LAWS AND PRINCIPLES |
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| OF |
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| WHIST |
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| STATED AND EXPLAINED |
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| AND ITS |
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| PRACTICE ILLUSTRATED |
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| ON |
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| AN ORIGINAL SYSTEM |
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| BY MEANS OF |
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| HANDS PLAYED COMPLETELY THROUGH. |
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| BY |
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| "CAVENDISH." |
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| EIGHTEENTH EDITION. |
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| LONDON: THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. |
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| 1889. |
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]
PRINTED BY
THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNHILL ROW,
LONDON.
DEDICATION TO THE NINTH EDITION.
JAMES CLAY, ESQ., M.P.
(Chairman of the Whist Laws Committee of the Arlington Club, 1864,)
This Book
IS
CORDIALLY DEDICATED
BY
HIS SINCERE FRIEND,
THE AUTHOR.
DEDICATION TO THE TENTH EDITION.
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| To the memory |
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| OF |
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| JAMES CLAY |
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PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
It has often occurred to the Author that there are two principal
defects in the existing treatises on the game of Whist--the one that
the principles of play are, in general, laid down as so many isolated
and arbitrary conventions, the reasons upon which such principles are
based being seldom, if at all, and scarcely ever fully, stated; the
other, that suitable illustrations, by which alone the principles can
be brought forcibly home and fixed in the memory, are almost entirely
wanting. The present work is an attempt to supply these deficiencies.
With regard to the latter, the Author feels that nothing, in point
of illustration of principles, can be so instructive as a selection
of hands played completely through, and accompanied by copious
explanations. The idea, it is believed, as applied to Whist, is a new
one, though a similar plan has long been in use in treatises on Chess.
It has not been deemed necessary to occupy space by detailing the mode
of playing and of scoring, as this information can be readily acquired
at the table. The reader is, therefore, credited with this elementary
knowledge, and is conducted at once to the General Principles, which he
is advised to consider carefully before proceeding to the Hands.
PREFACE TO THE SIXTEENTH EDITION.
The attention of the Reader is particularly directed to Appendix A,
explanatory of American Leads. The Author is firmly convinced that
American Leads are founded on true principles of whist play, and they
therefore have his hearty approval. But, he hesitates to insist upon
these leads in the body of the "Principles," as they have not yet met
with universal,--and, perhaps, hardly with general,--acceptance.
The advanced player is also invited to consider, with care, Appendix B,
which treats briefly of The Plain-Suit Echo.
PREFACE TO THE EIGHTEENTH EDITION.
The advanced player is invited to consider, with care, Appendix C,
which treats of the leads from ace, king, and from king, queen suits.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE LAWS OF WHIST 1
ETIQUETTE OF WHIST 19
CASES AND DECISIONS 22
HISTORICAL 31
PART I.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
THE FIRST HAND OR LEAD.
ORIGINAL LEADS 56
LEADS FROM STRONG SUITS 56
" FROM SEQUENCES 62
" ANALYSIS OF, IN DETAIL 64
" FROM WEAK SUITS 72
" AT ADVANCED PERIODS 74
RETURNED LEADS 79
THE SECOND HAND.
PLAY OF THE SECOND HAND 82
" " WITH STRONG SUITS 82
" " WITH SEQUENCES 83
" " ANALYSIS OF, IN DETAIL 85
THE THIRD HAND.
PLAY OF THE THIRD HAND WHEN THE LEAD IS FROM
STRONG SUITS 92
PLAY OF THE THIRD HAND WHEN THE LEAD IS FROM
WEAK SUITS 93
FINESSING 92
THE FOURTH HAND.
PLAY OF THE FOURTH HAND 96
THE COMMAND OF SUITS 96
UNDERPLAY 101
DISCARDING 104
THE CONVERSATION OF THE GAME 108
TRUMPS.
THE MANAGEMENT OF TRUMPS 119
LEADING TRUMPS 120
ASKING FOR TRUMPS 125
TRUMPING 129
FORCING 131
PLAYING TO THE SCORE 134
DRAWING INFERENCES 134
COUPS 141