cannot tell you are holding it up, and will probably ruff.

49. When your partner has led from two plain suits, it is unreasonable to expect strength from him in the third; but, when the adversaries have shown strength in two plain suits, it is a fair assumption that your partner's best suit is the third.

50. When a player shows weakness in two plain suits, the probability that he is strong in trumps is increased. If he be your partner, a lead from weakness in trumps becomes more justifiable; but if he be your adversary, you should endeavour to force him on the suit in which you or your partner are strong, in preference to leading the third suit, as he must be strong in it, or very strong in trumps.

51. When your right adversary shows strength in your long suit, it is often advis

able to lead the best of your weak suit for the chance that your partner may be strong in it and that you secure a double ruff.

52. When your left adversary holds many of your long suit, Hearts, it is probable your right adversary holds many of your partner's long suit, Diamonds, as must be the case when the other suits, Spades and Clubs (trumps), are together evenly divided, say six to each of them, beside two Hearts apiece; and a trump lead is indicated to prevent a double overruff.

53. Before trumps are out to lead cards, which you know the weak adversary may ruff and the other throw losing cards on, is seldom wise, unless you hold two small trumps against two which may be in the same hand. In that case you secure as many tricks as you have thirteenth cards.

54. When you hold a twelfth card with the thirteenth on your right, it is often best to

delay leading it until after your own and your partner's high cards have made, lest your left adversary, by discarding on it, be able to ruff one of them; but you should lead it before the adversaries' high cards have made, so that your partner—if not required to ruff, or unable to overruff-may, by discarding on it, be able to ruff one of them. Bear in mind that your right adversary will probably discard hisparticularly if not the best-on the first opportunity.

55. If against one trump-your partner having none-you hold the best and another, you should draw it; but, with only the best, it may be as unwise to draw it as it may be wise for the holder of the losing one to lead it, so that his partner's long suit shall not be ruffed.

56. It is unwise to spend your best trump, in drawing a single one from the adversaries, at the expense of another from your partner,

even if the long suit of yourself or your partner is established, unless it be the adversary's last one.

57. If your partner is void of trumps, to lead a losing one-to draw two of the adversaries' together is generally right; but you must be guided by the score and the state of the hand.

Coups.

58. When only one suit remains, and you hold fourth hand Ace, Knave, small one, if the trick be your partner's, win with the Knave, and lead the small one; but if the King be led from sequence, refuse to win; as by such play you may gain but cannot lose.

59. When holding the best and fourth best trumps and one other card, if your right adversary ruff with the third best holding

D

the second also, by refusing to overruff you may gain but cannot lose.

60. When you and your right adversary remain with two trumps each in position of tenace, that is, best and third to second and fourth, and only two other cards each of a suit led, by playing your highest of the latter, even on a better card, to avoid having the lead after the next trick, you may gain but cannot lose.

61. When you hold a small card and three trumps, of which the two best are tenace to your right adversary's only two, by playing your little trump, even if the trick be your partner's, to avoid having the lead after the next trick, you may gain but cannot lose. This is called the "Grand Coup."

62. When late in the hand, obliged to open a long suit headed by King, Queen, or Knave, which you cannot possibly bring in, you should