All whist players are aware that it is advisable to get rid of the command of their partner's long suit. But no general rules have been laid down to further this end. It has been left, for the most part, to the ingenuity of the individual to decide for himself, on the spur of the moment, how and when unblocking should be attempted.
Assuming an original lead of a high card from a plain suit of four or more cards, the third hand may think fit to win his partner's trick in order to free the suit. With regard to knave led, the play of the third hand, holding ace, &c., is well known. And there are other cases, such as the play of the third hand, holding ace, knave only, when king is led originally; but these are too elementary for discussion here.
If the third hand does not endeavour to win the first trick in his partner's suit, he is instructed to play his lowest card. This is, no doubt, sound, except where the third hand holds four cards exactly of his partner's suit, and he may block it should the lead have been from more than four cards. Then he should sometimes retain in his hand the lowest of his four cards, and play the next higher one. It is theobject of the Plain-Suit Echo to determine the cases, in which this play is advisable.
The typical example is that of ace led originally by a strong suit player. The second hand follows suit. The third hand holds king, queen, knave, deuce of the suit. The lead was from at least five cards. If the third hand is not to block his partner's suit, he must play the knave to the ace. If the fourth hand follows suit, it is impossible to lose by playing as above proposed; and, even if the fourth hand renounces, it is only possible to lose when the lead was from five cards exactly, and the four cards accompanying the ace are all very small ones.
Again:—The original leader (a strong suit player), leads queen of a plain suit.
The third hand holds nine, eight, seven and a very small one. He may block the suit by playing the very small one; if the lead was from queen, knave, ten, he cannot possibly lose by playing the seven to the queen; and, if the lead was from more than four cards he may gain.
It would occupy too much space to detail all the cases in which it is advisable to follow the plan set forth in the examples, and to enter into all the possible consequences that may ensue.
[For a full examination of the working of the Plain-Suit Echo, and for Illustrative Hands, the advanced player is referred to "Whist Developments," by "Cavendish." London:Thos. De La Rueand Co.]
[For a full examination of the working of the Plain-Suit Echo, and for Illustrative Hands, the advanced player is referred to "Whist Developments," by "Cavendish." London:Thos. De La Rueand Co.]