If this is a real hand, do you know if anyone got it right at the table? Still a great problem even if composed.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJanuary 4th, 2024 at 3:58 am
Hi Iain,
To answer your direct question, I do not know if this hand was real or, of course contrived,
but really in some ways, since the bidding and of course the spot cards played, seems to
direct a good, not necessarily needing to be a great declarer, to the winning answer. Any way anyone looks at our beautiful game he (or she) should realize that, after due consideration, that everything about this hand, up through the opening lead, figures to lead a perceptive medium, perhaps even somewhat inexperienced player, to the only logical way to bring home the bacon will do the job.
Of course, one has to take the game seriously, to achieve this result and a huge percentage of our players would not take the time to virtually know that, once the diamond finesse worked, he was likely on his way to a victory.
Yes, no doubt a classic hand, especially to teach with, but NO, it is not nearly as chancy to have to get involved psychologically with a very good player, when not enough almost certain facts do not appear early enough. Those, not this one, become, at least IMO much
more difficult to have an excellent success rate of just, guessing what to do.
Iain ClimieJanuary 4th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Hi Bobby,
Thanks for that and you’ll have gathered form the timing I was having an insomniac moment (!2:24 a.m. UK time).
Regards,
Iain
Iain ClimieJanuary 4th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Hi Bobby,
A tongue in cheek thought here. I think we can be sure that North hadn’t seen the hand records today as you said “he knows to play hearts as opposed to NT”, With the clubs blocked and East holding the HA, 3N presents no problems at all. The D finesse (if North had the nerve to take it) would also ensure a huge pairs score.
Regards,
Iain
bobby wolffJanuary 4th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Hi Iain,
Always thanks for your agreement which makes our togetherness on most all bridge playing
questions, stronger and thus much easier for the reader to accept, what is suggested and
thus (sometimes after some doubts) ready to adopt and then apply.
After all, since we agree that bridge is the greatest overall mind game, yet to be invented, we
sometimes need to shout from all nearby mountain tops the wisdom of taking up the game,
especially among those who appreciate logic in every way it may appear, in our daily lives.
Iain ClimieJanuary 4th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
Hi Bobby,
I put a comment on Bridge Winners last night in reply to someone wailing about the vagaries of pairs in small fields of mixed ability. I cheerily pointed out that bad luck stories are all part of the game, especially when we’re savaged by rabbits, and we can dine out on them. “Look what happened to me” and Maurice Harrison-Gray used to spin many a yarn about the devastating effects of LOLs (Little Old Ladies). I also explained why I don’t get that upset (having once given a guy CPR in a club) although I suspect if the fate that befell poor Bob Hamman (on lead with 2 Aces against a doubled grand slam in an Olympiad final, one cashes and one lets it through) happened top me in even a moderate tournament I’d not be quite so phlegmatic.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJanuary 4th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Hi again Iain,
Yes, and although bridge is only just a card game, especially compared to giving life saving CPR (he or she must really have received an unlucky layout at the bridge table) and whether you are completely aware of that Bob Hamman episode, I was his partner at the time, while at the table, and even immediately after swallowing that result, he didn’t even change expressions nor anything even remotely emotional, but very evenly continued his almost always flawless (except for that lead) play.
The big question may one day suggest that instead of discussing war, horrible relationships between people and nations, perhaps the newspapers will see fit, one fine day, to honor instead, bridge with their headlines, As the sayings go, but don’t hold one’s breath till it happens,
Iain ClimieJanuary 4th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Hi Bobby,
While bashing away, I did wonder (silently) what on earth his partner had bid or possibly led. I have seen a copy of the hand and can only send condolences and admiration for that level of sang froid. What he must have been feeling inside, of course, I don’t know but Kipling’s comment on triumph and disaster clearly applied.
Iain
Iain ClimieJanuary 4th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Sorry, the first and later sentences above apply to different situations.
bobbywolffJanuary 4th, 2024 at 8:04 pm
Hi Iain,
And, yes, and about treating both those disasters just the same, the only better advice the marvelous Rudyard could have given, was being as sure as possible, that you, not someone else, picks out the specific one which happens to you.
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Hi Bobby,
If this is a real hand, do you know if anyone got it right at the table? Still a great problem even if composed.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
To answer your direct question, I do not know if this hand was real or, of course contrived,
but really in some ways, since the bidding and of course the spot cards played, seems to
direct a good, not necessarily needing to be a great declarer, to the winning answer. Any way anyone looks at our beautiful game he (or she) should realize that, after due consideration, that everything about this hand, up through the opening lead, figures to lead a perceptive medium, perhaps even somewhat inexperienced player, to the only logical way to bring home the bacon will do the job.
Of course, one has to take the game seriously, to achieve this result and a huge percentage of our players would not take the time to virtually know that, once the diamond finesse worked, he was likely on his way to a victory.
Yes, no doubt a classic hand, especially to teach with, but NO, it is not nearly as chancy to have to get involved psychologically with a very good player, when not enough almost certain facts do not appear early enough. Those, not this one, become, at least IMO much
more difficult to have an excellent success rate of just, guessing what to do.
Hi Bobby,
Thanks for that and you’ll have gathered form the timing I was having an insomniac moment (!2:24 a.m. UK time).
Regards,
Iain
Hi Bobby,
A tongue in cheek thought here. I think we can be sure that North hadn’t seen the hand records today as you said “he knows to play hearts as opposed to NT”, With the clubs blocked and East holding the HA, 3N presents no problems at all. The D finesse (if North had the nerve to take it) would also ensure a huge pairs score.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Always thanks for your agreement which makes our togetherness on most all bridge playing
questions, stronger and thus much easier for the reader to accept, what is suggested and
thus (sometimes after some doubts) ready to adopt and then apply.
After all, since we agree that bridge is the greatest overall mind game, yet to be invented, we
sometimes need to shout from all nearby mountain tops the wisdom of taking up the game,
especially among those who appreciate logic in every way it may appear, in our daily lives.
Hi Bobby,
I put a comment on Bridge Winners last night in reply to someone wailing about the vagaries of pairs in small fields of mixed ability. I cheerily pointed out that bad luck stories are all part of the game, especially when we’re savaged by rabbits, and we can dine out on them. “Look what happened to me” and Maurice Harrison-Gray used to spin many a yarn about the devastating effects of LOLs (Little Old Ladies). I also explained why I don’t get that upset (having once given a guy CPR in a club) although I suspect if the fate that befell poor Bob Hamman (on lead with 2 Aces against a doubled grand slam in an Olympiad final, one cashes and one lets it through) happened top me in even a moderate tournament I’d not be quite so phlegmatic.
Regards,
Iain
Hi again Iain,
Yes, and although bridge is only just a card game, especially compared to giving life saving CPR (he or she must really have received an unlucky layout at the bridge table) and whether you are completely aware of that Bob Hamman episode, I was his partner at the time, while at the table, and even immediately after swallowing that result, he didn’t even change expressions nor anything even remotely emotional, but very evenly continued his almost always flawless (except for that lead) play.
The big question may one day suggest that instead of discussing war, horrible relationships between people and nations, perhaps the newspapers will see fit, one fine day, to honor instead, bridge with their headlines, As the sayings go, but don’t hold one’s breath till it happens,
Hi Bobby,
While bashing away, I did wonder (silently) what on earth his partner had bid or possibly led. I have seen a copy of the hand and can only send condolences and admiration for that level of sang froid. What he must have been feeling inside, of course, I don’t know but Kipling’s comment on triumph and disaster clearly applied.
Iain
Sorry, the first and later sentences above apply to different situations.
Hi Iain,
And, yes, and about treating both those disasters just the same, the only better advice the marvelous Rudyard could have given, was being as sure as possible, that you, not someone else, picks out the specific one which happens to you.