gwnn Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 I've seen quite a few times good players advocating crazy MP plays at trick two by declarer, i.e. the defense could get the contract (usually 3NT) beaten if it doesn't work out / we could look ridiculous in other ways, in order to get a very good score. When is the time for this? What else should I know about these plays? Does tempo count? Do I have to look very confident? Are these mannerisms considered cheating? Does this post make any sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtK78 Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 I can't cite a specific example of this type of play, except that one learns to recognize these situations as they come up. One should not vary one's tempo in order to achieve a particular result. One's tempo at the bridge table should be the same whether a hand is difficult or easy (in practice, this is a difficult feat to accomplish). That said, it is considered unethical to vary one's tempo in an attempt to fool the opponents. As for looking confident, one should always look confident. As a matter of tactics and bridge psychology, if one lacks confidence at the bridge table one's mannerisms and body language will convey that lack of confidence to the opponents. As strange as it sounds, this will affect your results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 The other day my partner, a Grand LM, was in 3N.. I forget the exact layout, but we clearly had 10 aces and expected to have 11. He held something like Kxx in spades in hand and xx in dummy, and had not denied 4 spades. He won the opening lead in dummy and led a spade to the K at trick 2. Cashing winners would have established at least one winner for the opps, while if the K held, he would be stealing 12. And the lead suggested that rho was not likely to hold a spade suit that he coluld readily cash. I had a partner do this in imps (he needed to induce an opposition error to come to 9 tricks in 3N): he led from xx in dummy towards his Qx at trick two. His expert RHO ducked smoothly with AKxxx. I think the key to success is to do it in tempo. This means developing the excellent habit of NOT playing to trick one right away, no matter how routine the play may be... even with stiff A in dummy, don't call for it until you know what you intend to do at trick 2. Then your trick 2 play will appear completely in tempo. BTW, Fred G got me in Hawaii the last Nationals I played.. he played towards a weak holding to persuade me against that switch when, as he knew I would, I got in next... sure enough, I didn't find the switch and he scored a top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenrexford Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 BTW, Fred G got me in Hawaii the last Nationals I played.. he played towards a weak holding to persuade me against that switch when, as he knew I would, I got in next... sure enough, I didn't find the switch and he scored a top. My favorite version of this was pulled off by a friend of mine. He also attacked the weak suit, with xx in dummy and 10x in hand. RHO held the KJxx and ducked smoothly. LHO held the AQxxx and ducked smoothly. Nice 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjames Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 I love those kinda plays, playing from x's up to Kx Qx etc, and have managed to pull them of a few times, and stuff like "setting" up your worst suit. You should read The Other Side Of Bridge by Victor Mollo for more of thos kinda stuff (not specifically MP's oriented), probably my favourite bridge book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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