Two court cards usually form a good "assisting" hand, but where the game is
very close it is advisable to assist, even upon a lighter hand. If, for
instance, the game stands four and four, the first hand will naturally
order up if the suit turned is the best in his hand. The fact of his having
passed is, therefore, an evidence of weakness.
When, as dealer, and assisted by your partner, you hold a card next in
denomination to the card turned up (whether higher or lower), play it as
opportunity offers. If, for instance, you turn up the ace, and hold either
the Left Bower or king, when a chance occurs play the Bower or king, and
thus inform your partner that you have the ace remaining. The same policy
should be adopted when your partner assists {75} and you have a sequence of
three trumps, the trump card being the smallest of the three. In such a
situation, play the highest card of the sequence; this will inform your
partner that you hold the remainder of the sequence, and enable him to
shape his play accordingly.
As a general rule, always assist when you can win two tricks.