If your partner announce that he will play alone, you cannot supersede him
and play alone yourself, but must place your cards upon the table face {78}
downwards, no matter how strong your hand may be.[25] In order to avail
yourself of the privilege of playing alone, it is necessary to declare your
intention of so doing distinctly, and in plain terms thus, "I play alone";
if you fail to do this, and the adverse side makes a lead, you forfeit all
claim to the privilege. You must also make the announcement in good time;
if you neglect to do so, and the adverse side make a lead, or if you
yourself lead before declaring your intention of playing alone, you lose
the right, and your opponents may compel you to play with your partner.
In playing a lone hand, it is a great advantage to have the lead. The next
best thing is to have the last play on the first trick. The elder hand or
the dealer may, therefore, venture to play alone on a weaker hand than
either of the other players.
When your opponent is playing alone, and trumps a suit led by yourself or
your partner, take every opportunity to throw away cards of that suit upon
his subsequent leads.
When, opposing a lone hand, you find that your partner throws away high
cards of any particular suit, you may be sure that he holds high cards in
some other suit; you should, therefore, retain to the last your highest
card of the suit he throws in preference to any other card, short of an
ace.
{79}