That is really a diabolical duck. I don’t see any way for South to get it right other than a pure guess. What does he know at this stage? He suspects West started with (at least) five hearts and knows he started with the AJH. If anything, both those factors would make him lean towards East having three to the KC, but it is hardly enough to form a basis for a sound guess. And he has no real way to gather more information before making the crucial play.
I’d say he is favourite to get this guess wrong. Mrs G might get it right, but I think all of us “scientific” types would say we don’t have much to go on, but what little we have points to running the finesse again unless East helpfully shows out on the second club.
Cheers,
Jeff
bobbywolffOctober 3rd, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Hi Jeff,
Please excuse me if I use dynamics with my discussion.
Yes West made a diabolical duck, with, at least to me, possibly only because
declarer gave him too much time before playing to trick two. Thus, we all get a significant uplift to view such a well-timed diabolical duck, we need to, at the very
least feel South was responsible, for not playing relatively quickly to trick #2, allowing West (unless he was instead a bridge machine, dressed as a human being). One thing to be pretty sure in determining human kind, “yes, they like
unfortunately all of us, need to think long and hard when necessary, AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO DO IT”.
No way in the world have I met (and I am very old) any living organism who would be capable of making such a play if not given a significant time to think and then very likely not make it, since he, or maybe even she and I am not being ugly.
Leaving the only salvation for the defense are the partnerships who announce to their opponents every round, we are herky jerk with our time in that before playing (“always early during the play”) as defenders we always take our time,
so try not to be misled.
Yes, if you or anyone would be unlucky enough to be
playing against opponents who would have done exactly that, then you can truly
feel unlucky and have that as a very valid excuse.
Superhuman is exactly that, to which in all of my 200 years of playing bridge
I’ve never come close to making such a triumphant defensive gambit as is pictured here, and I, no doubt, like many, would like to claim, such a wonder!
Jeff, please understand what I am trying to say which in other words might be,
tell me if that happened at your table, I, then, would forever think that you lied to me, and from your writing and what I suspect is that you are forever a truth
teller. ‘Nuff said “and thanks for listening”. Strong letter not to have to follow!
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Hi Bobby,
That is really a diabolical duck. I don’t see any way for South to get it right other than a pure guess. What does he know at this stage? He suspects West started with (at least) five hearts and knows he started with the AJH. If anything, both those factors would make him lean towards East having three to the KC, but it is hardly enough to form a basis for a sound guess. And he has no real way to gather more information before making the crucial play.
I’d say he is favourite to get this guess wrong. Mrs G might get it right, but I think all of us “scientific” types would say we don’t have much to go on, but what little we have points to running the finesse again unless East helpfully shows out on the second club.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Please excuse me if I use dynamics with my discussion.
Yes West made a diabolical duck, with, at least to me, possibly only because
declarer gave him too much time before playing to trick two. Thus, we all get a significant uplift to view such a well-timed diabolical duck, we need to, at the very
least feel South was responsible, for not playing relatively quickly to trick #2, allowing West (unless he was instead a bridge machine, dressed as a human being). One thing to be pretty sure in determining human kind, “yes, they like
unfortunately all of us, need to think long and hard when necessary, AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO DO IT”.
No way in the world have I met (and I am very old) any living organism who would be capable of making such a play if not given a significant time to think and then very likely not make it, since he, or maybe even she and I am not being ugly.
Leaving the only salvation for the defense are the partnerships who announce to their opponents every round, we are herky jerk with our time in that before playing (“always early during the play”) as defenders we always take our time,
so try not to be misled.
Yes, if you or anyone would be unlucky enough to be
playing against opponents who would have done exactly that, then you can truly
feel unlucky and have that as a very valid excuse.
Superhuman is exactly that, to which in all of my 200 years of playing bridge
I’ve never come close to making such a triumphant defensive gambit as is pictured here, and I, no doubt, like many, would like to claim, such a wonder!
Jeff, please understand what I am trying to say which in other words might be,
tell me if that happened at your table, I, then, would forever think that you lied to me, and from your writing and what I suspect is that you are forever a truth
teller. ‘Nuff said “and thanks for listening”. Strong letter not to have to follow!