The Art of Practical Whist. By General Drayson. (R.ontledge and
Sons.)—This "fifth " edition of a useful book contains some additions and improvements. The author, in a new appendix, shows the advantages of American leads. He pleads for a return to the old practice of leading king, ace, from a suit of five, instead of the new fashion of ace and king. The reason he gives is certainly a good one. One must often have regretted that there is no way of signalling for trumps in the lead. If, however, one could, on occasion, reverse the usual practice, and lead the ace first, when trumps were wanted, this might be done. Another suggestion relates to the discard in the case of tramps. If the adversary begins the trump lead, but the partner continaes it, then discard from the weakest snit. Probably, in this cape, trumps are not against the discarding player. General Drayson very properly protests against the pedantic adherence to the rule, ",Do
not force your partner if you are weak in trumps." Such an adherence is the cause of losing robbers without number. It is right to force him, unless he has shown strength in trumps.
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