Is this a very obscure case of the rule of restricted choice here in terms of reading the trump lead? With H52 West might have led either small trump, whereas with HJ52 he is more likely to lead an honest card. The H5 from this holding would have been a really good false card I suspect.
Regards,
Iain
Bobby WolffSeptember 16th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Hi Iain,
Never till now, had I thought of you, as a subtle bridge giant, but your post has proven me wrong.
Yes, while playing against one who tries to match your secret talent, the lead of the 5, instead of the 2, might, in turn, lead the declarer astray.
My guess is that even at a very high level, not many extremely competent bridge players would pay much attention to the difference, (in this case) of the two low (and otherwise insignificant) cards, but if they do, at least with you as an opponent, will rue the day.
Taking advantage of the opponent’s careless habits might just be a new theme to explore, and, at the very least, deserves an important realistic mention.
From now on, you have now legitimately won a new bridge nickname, EE, (short for eagle eye) and no doubt, have struck a nerve for other highest-level players to consider.
Bobby WolffSeptember 16th, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Hi again Iain,
However, with East holding the nine instead of a smaller one, your clever ruse would not have worked, but doesn’t detract from the new subject you established. Sorry for my overlook.
Iain ClimieSeptember 16th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Hi Bobby,
More VV (vulture voiced) than EE I fear. Sounds like a new Mollo character – Vince the Vulture.
Regards
Iain
Jeff SSeptember 16th, 2022 at 11:12 pm
Hi Bobby,
As South had to contribute a high heart to the first trick, he could not have trumped two spades high later on. It seems that in view of the spade lead from South being an obvious singleton, West should have produced the QS at trick 2.
That gives his partner the opportunity to overtake if he sees a reason to. It also allows West to drop the AS on the second spade trick maybe introducing some doubt into South’s mind as the 3rd spade can be overtrumped by the jack. True, it should not influence South’s thinking, but stranger things have happened. In any case, giving East the option of overtaking does seem worthwhile at the least.
It just seems to be a bit more flexible and make South work a bit harder.
Bobby WolffSeptember 17th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
Hi Jeff S,
While what you say is undoubtedly 100% true, it is, while playing against above average players, a waste of time, since, in fact the declarer knows you not only have the right to false card, you will do so indiscriminately.
Therefore, it then becomes a “mind game”, based upon who is trying to fool whom.
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Hi Bobby,
Is this a very obscure case of the rule of restricted choice here in terms of reading the trump lead? With H52 West might have led either small trump, whereas with HJ52 he is more likely to lead an honest card. The H5 from this holding would have been a really good false card I suspect.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Never till now, had I thought of you, as a subtle bridge giant, but your post has proven me wrong.
Yes, while playing against one who tries to match your secret talent, the lead of the 5, instead of the 2, might, in turn, lead the declarer astray.
My guess is that even at a very high level, not many extremely competent bridge players would pay much attention to the difference, (in this case) of the two low (and otherwise insignificant) cards, but if they do, at least with you as an opponent, will rue the day.
Taking advantage of the opponent’s careless habits might just be a new theme to explore, and, at the very least, deserves an important realistic mention.
From now on, you have now legitimately won a new bridge nickname, EE, (short for eagle eye) and no doubt, have struck a nerve for other highest-level players to consider.
Hi again Iain,
However, with East holding the nine instead of a smaller one, your clever ruse would not have worked, but doesn’t detract from the new subject you established. Sorry for my overlook.
Hi Bobby,
More VV (vulture voiced) than EE I fear. Sounds like a new Mollo character – Vince the Vulture.
Regards
Iain
Hi Bobby,
As South had to contribute a high heart to the first trick, he could not have trumped two spades high later on. It seems that in view of the spade lead from South being an obvious singleton, West should have produced the QS at trick 2.
That gives his partner the opportunity to overtake if he sees a reason to. It also allows West to drop the AS on the second spade trick maybe introducing some doubt into South’s mind as the 3rd spade can be overtrumped by the jack. True, it should not influence South’s thinking, but stranger things have happened. In any case, giving East the option of overtaking does seem worthwhile at the least.
It just seems to be a bit more flexible and make South work a bit harder.
Hi Jeff S,
While what you say is undoubtedly 100% true, it is, while playing against above average players, a waste of time, since, in fact the declarer knows you not only have the right to false card, you will do so indiscriminately.
Therefore, it then becomes a “mind game”, based upon who is trying to fool whom.
No harm, really no foul, but sometimes overrated