Do you balance?

[Benoit35]

(...) but I haven't seen a vulnerable psyche like this. Never.

This was Love All.

 

 

i would let the result stand. But I would be very disappointed in you. Psyches against beginners, no matter how bright, seems unethical to me. I am certain others would consider it "sharp bridge"... sort of the Bridge World idea to do whatever is allowed by the rules of the game to increase your chance of winning. Now if you didn't have a clue about your oppnents skil level, then of course psyches are fine.

I didn't know the opponents' skill level beforehand. This was pick-up play and only the second time I ever psyched on BBO. I consider myself a good Intermediate at best so psyching is out of the question in serious play for me. You gotta try these things somewhere.

 

In the end I didn't learn much about what I did want to know - how could this psych have affected the scoreboard against capable opponents? I'm interested to know how a competent South would have handled the auction... Sitting in his seat, obviously knowing that East has psyched, I'm tempted to keep that secret to myself and pass partner's 2♦. Now West has to balance with 2♥ I presume - I double and he's likely to redouble. If partner pulls, we can always go for a slam but with the stronger opponent behind my three tenaces I like trying to punish East first.

 

I'll make a follow-up thread about it.