The practice of giving and receiving bisques is by no means a bad method of handicapping in match play because it gives the inferior player a chance of playing his opponent on even terms as long as he likes, and at the end of the game if he has won the match without the aid of his bisques he is entitled to all possible credit. The better player cannot then argue that the game had no interest for him, as he might if it were really played without odds at all. And from the expert's point of view it is by no means a bad plan; for he is forced to play the game from the very start. If he is giving his opponent half a stroke a hole, he is apt to play very carelessly in the holes where there are no strokes; but when he is giving bisques he cannot afford to throw away a single chance,because he must not only divide these holes, but must win them if possible with a stroke to spare. But whatever the system of handicapping may be, always take as much as you can get, and give as little as will be accepted, and you will still find that if there is anything at all at stake, you will have to play a good game to win. In that way you will soon become a good match player; otherwise you will probably improve more slowly, and in the meantime get much less enjoyment out of the game.