I agree West probably wouldn’t pass something like xxx A108xx x AKxx but surprises can occur. Some years ago I played in 2S after opening 1S in 4th after 3 passes. Late on I was reduced to Sx in dummy opposite SAQJ9x after ruffing once in hand and once on table, no trumps having been drawn. I led a spade from dummy and realised RHO had already shown 11 points so couldn’t have the SK. So I played the Ace then Q (the stiff K might have dropped) and RHO won with the K then promoted a trump for his partner’s 10xx by leading a suit in which we were both void. He had miscounted his 14 count so I made 8 tricks when Mrs. Guggenheim would have made 10. The post mortem degenerated into hilarity.
I apologised to partner (fortunately tolerant) and said I hadn’t placed him with a 14 count. RHO.said “neither did I” and I managed to see the funny side. There are worse things than getting hugely fixed by a weak but very amiable opponent.
Regards,
Iain
Jeff SDecember 12th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
The text gives the reasoning for how West concludes that South does not hold the AC, but it is a bit confusing as West himself holds the AC. Is it possible that he A and K of clubs were reversed between the defenders? It looks like the hand would play out the same.
Bobby WolffDecember 12th, 2022 at 8:52 pm
Hi Iain,
Yes, definitely the playing of bridge is quite subject to a comedian’s mentality for different types of humor, mostly concerning, as you suggest, situations, which are quite impossible by what is normally thought by all players, but instead does happen through forgetting what we all agree are 100% agreements.
However, while at the tournament or indeed, especially money bridge, when that occurs to any highly competitive player (and all of us on this site qualify) evil thoughts to even include physical responses (probably cancel the above qualification) have been known to happen, since no one (I think) will deny that in order to win, many need to have it hurt when that does not happen, sometimes allowing behavior never thought to have been possible to exist.
Bobby WolffDecember 12th, 2022 at 9:05 pm
Hi Jeff S,
Yes, you are correct as to that proofreading error, since West was thinking about the club king, not the ace. Thanks for calling it to our attention and apologies offered. Perhaps we may get in touch with you in the near future, if our proof reading continues to falter.
However, I should warn you that the pay for such things does not measure up to as much as is usually charged, but perhaps it should be, since it, like a number of other qualities in trying to be as good as one can be, is the exact thinking that the best
players need to strive to become.
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Hi Bobby,
I agree West probably wouldn’t pass something like xxx A108xx x AKxx but surprises can occur. Some years ago I played in 2S after opening 1S in 4th after 3 passes. Late on I was reduced to Sx in dummy opposite SAQJ9x after ruffing once in hand and once on table, no trumps having been drawn. I led a spade from dummy and realised RHO had already shown 11 points so couldn’t have the SK. So I played the Ace then Q (the stiff K might have dropped) and RHO won with the K then promoted a trump for his partner’s 10xx by leading a suit in which we were both void. He had miscounted his 14 count so I made 8 tricks when Mrs. Guggenheim would have made 10. The post mortem degenerated into hilarity.
I apologised to partner (fortunately tolerant) and said I hadn’t placed him with a 14 count. RHO.said “neither did I” and I managed to see the funny side. There are worse things than getting hugely fixed by a weak but very amiable opponent.
Regards,
Iain
The text gives the reasoning for how West concludes that South does not hold the AC, but it is a bit confusing as West himself holds the AC. Is it possible that he A and K of clubs were reversed between the defenders? It looks like the hand would play out the same.
Hi Iain,
Yes, definitely the playing of bridge is quite subject to a comedian’s mentality for different types of humor, mostly concerning, as you suggest, situations, which are quite impossible by what is normally thought by all players, but instead does happen through forgetting what we all agree are 100% agreements.
However, while at the tournament or indeed, especially money bridge, when that occurs to any highly competitive player (and all of us on this site qualify) evil thoughts to even include physical responses (probably cancel the above qualification) have been known to happen, since no one (I think) will deny that in order to win, many need to have it hurt when that does not happen, sometimes allowing behavior never thought to have been possible to exist.
Hi Jeff S,
Yes, you are correct as to that proofreading error, since West was thinking about the club king, not the ace. Thanks for calling it to our attention and apologies offered. Perhaps we may get in touch with you in the near future, if our proof reading continues to falter.
However, I should warn you that the pay for such things does not measure up to as much as is usually charged, but perhaps it should be, since it, like a number of other qualities in trying to be as good as one can be, is the exact thinking that the best
players need to strive to become.