J. B. Elwell

“ When the game is seemingly lost, take the one chance of finding in your partner's hand the cards that will save it.
It is surprising how often a desperate expedient will overcome a desperate situation.
To force luck is to attempt to make it—a most idle task.
Human nature tempts mortals to lose more than they can win, sometimes more than they can afford. ”

“ Pitfalls in the form of false leads, false cards and clever under-play should be dug for your adversaries at every opportunity.
Too much haste in showing ability to ruff in the weak trump hand frequently brings disaster.
When you are reasonably assured of every trick but one, lead your remaining trump.
As a rule avoid an inclination to ruff in the strong trump hand.
Remember that the partner who doubles usually has trump strength, and do not strew his pathway with obstructions by forcing him.
It is unusually bad play to double when you need only an odd trick to win the game. ”

“ Never call attention to the score after the cards have been dealt.
No matter how cleverly the cards are managed, the player who underestimates the attention the state of the score demands will unnecessarily lose many a rubber.
The necessity for keeping the score constantly in mind grows upon all players as their experience in Bridge increases.
Know the requisite number of tricks to be taken, both to win and to save the game.
When you are a game behind, do not hesitate to gamble.
When you are a game to the good, make none but a conservative and sound declaration. ”

“ A good player can take more chances with the make because of his ability to play the cards properly.
No-trump play is an effort to establish and bring in small cards of a long suit.
Many a hand is ruined by careless and hasty play at the first trick.
Do not play your adversary's game for him, lend him no aid in establishing his suit.
Take all your finesses against the player who holds an established suit.
If, as dealer, you wish to make four tricks in a suit with but three in sight, give the adversaries a chance to discard. ”

“ Unless a pack be imperfect, no player shall have the right to call for one new pack. If fresh cards are demanded, two packs must be furnished and paid for by the player who has demanded them. If they are furnished during a rubber, the adversaries shall have their choice of new cards. If it is the beginning of a new rubber, the dealer, whether he or one of his adversaries be the party calling for the new cards, shall have the choice. New cards must be called for before the pack is cut for a new deal. ”

“ When the original leader's partner has a great suit, one that is established or one that may be established by a single lead through the dummy hand, an echo should be made in the suit led by the dealer. ”

“ Should three players have their right number of cards, and should the fourth, not being dummy, have less than thirteen and not discover such deficiency until he has played any of his cards, the deal stands good; should he have played, he is answerable for any revoke he may have made as if the missing card or cards had been in his hand. The other pack may be searched for the missing card or cards. ”

“ Chicane (one hand void of trumps) is equal in value to three honours, i.e., if partner of player having Chicane scores honours he adds the value of three honours to his honour score, while, if the adversaries score honours, it deducts an equal value from their honour score. Double Chicane (a player and his partner both void of trumps) is equal in value to four honours, and the value thereof may be deducted from the total honour score of the adversaries.
The value of honours, Slam, Little Slam, or Chicane, is in no wise affected by doubling or re-doubling. ”

“ When there are more than six candidates, the right to succeed any player who may retire is acquired by announcing the desire to do so, and such announcement shall constitute a prior right to the first vacancy. ”

“ The lowest is the dealer, who has choice of cards and seats, and who, having once made his selection, must abide by it.
Six players constitute a full table, and no player shall have a right to cut into a game which is complete. ”

“ At the end of a rubber, should admission be claimed by one or two candidates, the player or players having played a greater number of consecutive rubbers shall withdraw; but when all have played the same number, they must cut to decide upon the outgoers; the highest are out. ”

“ Lost tricks yield a crop of experience attained at the expense of rubbers.
Inattention is a companion that will never travel alone.
People who find it easy to decide for friends find it hard to decide for themselves. ”

“ The prior right of playing is with those first in the room. If there are more than four candidates for seats at a table, the privilege of playing is decided by cutting. The four who cut the lowest cards play first. ”

“ The Change the Suit Call is a new convention designed to overcome this difficulty, one that will save countless tricks and rubbers, and one that will tend to minimise the dealer's acknowledged advantage in playing the two hands. ”