WHIST.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10269, 11 February 1899, Page 2

WHIST.

"Weekly Press and Referee." THE MORAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE WHIST PLAYER. Ihe leading Whist instructors are very thorough in their instruction of the technical features of the game, but have neglected to impress on the student the peculiar moral obligations which the advanced player assumes. This obligation only applies to the player when his partner \s familiar with his knowledge of the gam«£,, It is of varying degrees of strength, according to circumstances, and of the greatest importance to the members of regular teams.' This obligation applies to two points of the game : . system he has agreed to memorise and follow in normal situations; second* tlie generally recognised axioms , and instructions with which iSe.is known to be familiar. 'The Whist player who agrees with his associates to follow such instructions and system should never allow himself to deviate from the agreed path, nor lose sight of the fact that he is not acting as an ! individual, but as one of a team of twcfcor I | more players. If he cannot control himself I sufficiently to be true to his word, he j should restrict himself to such amusements as do not require this characteristic. , The true enthusiast loves the game for the scientific features, which can be used successfully only by those who play together in perfect harmony, and this is based only on implicit confidence in one's partner. It is the absence of this feeling of responsibility which makes it so difficult to form a good team of four. This sense of moral obligation is lacking in the great majority of Whist players. Why is it ? Why will able Whist players allow themselves to be governed by an im- j pulse of the moment, which they know will I cause more or less confusion and discord ? Every Whist player has tin's experience in governing himself. There are times ! when considerable effort is required to refrain from doing or not doing certain things which are at utter variance with one's own ideas. Errors of judgment, perception and memory are generally owing to the physical and mental condition of the player, and are not sulject to proper criticism ; but an intentional violation of system should never be made by the Whist player who has any respect for himself or consideration for his partners. " VERiTAS."