Excerpt from The Game of Whist

II. Whist is really a new game. That is to say, it has been studied scientifically by capable persons only during a generation or so. And it offers a wide field for research and analysis. It has its disad vantages in the shape of stupid traditions. To which superfluous weight is lent by the fact that most players are tossed into playing, and graft on the natural, carnal man's inclination to make all his aces and kings first, and lead from his short suits so as to trump. Some superstition bequeathed by his earliest mentor.

The first step taken by the author of American Whist is excel lent and practical; he would sweep away the whole code and substi tute 14 laws, proceeding on the assumption that the whist-player is a gentleman who plays cards for intellectual pleasure. The game is to be played in silence; there are 7 points; honors are not counted. And the penalties are loss of deal for a misdeal, facing or exposing a card; forfeiture of a point for throwing 2 cards, exposing a card. Playing out of turn, etc., and of 3 points in the case of revoke. Much - near ly all - of this we approve. We object to honors because they are needless; one side will in the long run hold as many as the other. So that really there is nothing gained or lost. We may add that we are more completely emancipated from whist superstitions than our Boston friend and fellow-player. And that we believe in making the trump from the second pack. There is. Of course, the stock argument that by leaving the trump-card exposed, the calculations and combina tions of the players are facilitated, but there is nothing in this. Why should A. The dealer, see only the 13 cards in his own hand. While B, C, and D, see 14? It is contended that the exposure of the trump card is a sort of a penalty for the advantage of the deal. But as the deal comes round to each player in turn, the question of advantage may be eliminated from the problem. There is no reason why one of the 4 players should be guaranteed in advance the pos session of a trump. And as the whole beauty of the game con sists in the rapid adaptation of a general plan to the exigencies of the instant, the keener intellectual enjoyment must result when the un certainty is most complete. Every player on taking up his hand and acquainting himself with its character and strength, and the state of the score, forms a plan of campaign, which he may have to modify before the 2d or 3d round has been played. We believe that he will lay out such a plan more successfully. And with more pleasure to him self, when he is in ignorance of the position of the 14th card than when knowledge of its whereabouts affects his play.

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