This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ...the ace, partner must give you but one more, or no more. In exceptional cases your three trumps with the ace may be of such rank that you do not deem it safe to sacrifice the penultimate in taking the force, and partner will read your play subject to this possible contingency. When you hold four or more trumps, the highest being ace, and you are forced--partner having called, --you must lead the ace after taking the force. This under certain conditions renders echoing more difficult, or rather partner may not so readily read the play, for the echo may not be made evident until the second round. For instance, you hold ace, 8, 7, 6; partner has called; you are forced; you take the force with the 7 and then lead the ace; the fall may be such that partner is left in doubt. To illustrate: --+ B I This is the trump suit, A has called, B is forced and trumps with the 7, and B leads ace; D plays 3; A plays 4; C plays 2. There is nothing yet to show A that B has two more, as both the 8 and 6 could be with either C or D. B leads 6; D plays 9; A plays k; C plays qu. A can now count the hands; B must have the 8 and D the 10. A having asked for trumps, B's play is based upon the assurance that A has strength in trumps. Barring exceptional hands, a call for trumps is not issued, unless supported by four trumps--two honors, or five trumps--one honor. When A has called, and B is forced, holding ace and three small trumps, he should take the force with the penultimate, and lead the ace. The lead of the ace insures two rounds; beside the lead of the lowest will often lose a trick. When B has four trumps, A five trumps, there is a great probability of finding a high card unguarded with the opponents. Take, for example, this case: --B trumps with the 7, then--1.--B leads 5; D pla...