QUESTION

[sceptic]

Is a Peter the same as a smith echo?

[Walddk]

"To peter" in bridge terminology is another word for "to signal". Here is what the Encyclopedia of Bridge says about it:

 

A term used in Great Britain, but rarely elsewhere, to describe a high-low made in discarding, such as high-low in any given suit. Originally, in whist, the use of the term was restricted to a high-low in the trump suit only.

 

The reverse way of petering is also quite normal. "Double reverse Smith peters" for example: both defenders tell each other at the first given opportunity if they like the lead or not (low card = yes, high card = no). It only applies to defence against NT.

 

Roland

[hrothgar]

When you "peter" you play the cards in a specific order

 

A Smith Echo combines an ordering with a specific meaning...

[joker_gib]

This is a good day. I learned something because, of course, as french speaking, I never heard that word ! :)

 

Alain

[ArcLight]

>This is a good day. I learned something because, of course, as french speaking, I never heard that word !

 

In French it would be: Pierreant :)

 

Alain, what is the term in French to denote carding High-Low as a signal?

[joker_gib]

Alain, what is the term in French to denote carding High-Low as a signal?

In french we say "Pair-impair" (even-odd). High-low is even.

 

The term "écho" (as in english) is sometimes used.

 

Alain

[joker_gib]

Another interesting word in the french bridge glossary is "Texas" !

 

It applies to every transfer bid and not only on 1NT-4♦ ....

 

So, in french : 1NT-2♥ is a "Texas pique" (Texas (trf) for spades") :)

 

Alain

[Echognome]

My favourite in French is that "finesse" is not french word for finesse. Why are the english using a french word that the french themselves do not use?

 

Mysteries abound.

 

(My ears were burning with all this echo talk, so figured I better contribute.)

[joker_gib]

My favourite in French is that "finesse" is not french word for finesse. Why are the english using a french word that the french themselves do not use?

That's right ! :)

 

"Finesse" in french is "Impasse"

[mr1303]

To summise:

 

A Smith peter is the same as a Smith echo

A peter is the same as an echo.

 

Specifically, a Smith peter/echo is to play high low to suggest a liking for the suit led. You might want to peter for all sorts of reasons, and this is only one of them

[Walddk]

Interesting. "To finesse" in Danish is "at knibe", meaning "to pinch" (ouch). The origin is unknown, but maybe some take great pleasure in pinching the queen (woman) when she is on side.

 

Roland

[Gerben42]

But I think a finesse can be two ways right?

 

either this:

 

Qxx

 

Axx

 

small to the Q

 

or this:

 

AQx

 

xxx

 

small to the Q

 

Anyway, in Germany they use French words for this. The first is Impass the second is Expass. Is this the case in France also?

[joker_gib]

But I think a finesse can be two ways right?

 

either this:

 

Qxx

 

Axx

 

small to the Q

 

or this:

 

AQx

 

xxx

 

small to the Q

 

Anyway, in Germany they use French words for this. The first is Impass the second is Expass. Is this the case in France also?

"Expasse" is when you ruff out the honour like when you have for example :

 

AQJTX for a stiff

 

You play Ace and then Q discarding if the K doesn't appear or ruffing if he comes.

 

All this to say it's a ruffing finesse in English LOL :) :D

 

Alain

[ArcLight]

>Anyway, in Germany they use French words for this. The first is Impass the second is Expass. Is this the case in France also?

 

 

I find it very interesting to see all the specialized expressions to cover situations unique to Bridge. This specialized language is specific and useful becaus eof its clarity. But it can also be confusing when those words have different meanings in other languages.

 

 

> My favourite in French is that "finesse" is not french word for finesse. Why are the english using a french word that the french themselves do not use?

 

Wow. So how did the word "finesse" come to be used? Was it an old term from Whist, that was imported from France to England in the 1600's to incorrectly describe a situation?

[Chamaco]

But I think a finesse can be two ways right?

 

either this:

 

Qxx

 

Axx

 

small to the Q

 

or this:

 

AQx

 

xxx

 

small to the Q

 

Anyway, in Germany they use French words for this. The first is Impass the second is Expass. Is this the case in France also?

It is in italy:

 

"Impasse" (taken from the French, but then y mom is french, so at least I have an excuse ;) ) is leading towards a tenace with a supported honor. (AQ, or KJ or QT, or similar

 

"Expasse" is when you lead towards an unsupported honor, e.g. Kxx hoping that the higher outstanding honor (e.g. the A when leading towards Kxx) is onside.