A witty, opinionated examination of the changing game of whist, arguing that modern conventions and rigid rules have displaced earlier judgment and skill. The author traces the game's rise and decline, lampooning innovations such as signal systems like the peter and echo, artificial discard rules, particular leads, and other prescriptive devices, and analyzes how these affect play. Interleaved are illustrative hands, mathematical asides, and practical advice defending older principles of card play. The work combines satire and technical commentary to advocate a return to flexible, reasoned play rather than mechanical conventions.