Unauthorized information
Let me tell you a bridge fairy tale. I have 2 imaginary partners, Donald and Hillary. Donald is an outspoken guy, can think for himself, and says it as it is. Hillary on the other hand, doesn't know what is, is, and listens to other people too much.
Donald and I play at the highest levels, play Acol with weak NT and a 5 card Spade suit, have played that system for over 40 years, and when putting in our system to a major event, Edgar Kaplan commented, "That is an excellent compromise". (Remember it is a fairy tale).
Hillary has never played in any "A" point tournament, but we play regularly at her small local club. She has been playing for a long time, well over 10 years, but has no "A" points. When we play she insists we play Acol, weak NT and 4 card suits. As I have been married a long time, I just say "Yes Dear" and play her system.
Donald hates teaching as he has no patience with people who don't get it the first time. Hillary on the other hand loves teaching, but with little firsthand experience herself, depends on the NZCBA teaching lessons, has also written her own notes, and even has her own PowerPoint presentation, all based on those lessons.
When I play with Donald and he opens 1 Club, I have to announce 3 Plus. Because I am a mathematical genius I actually know that 997 times out of 1,000 he will hold 4 or more clubs, and only when he is 4-3-3-3, with 15-19 points, will he have only 3 Clubs. (Which is the other 3 times)
When I play with Hillary and she opens 1 Club, I have to announce 4 Plus. When she opens 1 Spade however, I don't have to say anything. However because I am a mathematical genius I actually know that 997 times out of 1,000 she will hold 5 or more Spades.
Interestingly Hillary has never commented when she is the declarer in 2 Spades, 3 Spades or even 4 Spades, when I sometimes put down the dummy with only 3 card support.
Now for my questions:
1. I only play with Hillary about once a month, so I know that only about once a year, when she bids 1 Spade, she will not hold 5 Plus Spades. This is information that I have that the opponents don't have. Is it unauthorized?
2. If asked how many Spades she holds when she opens 1 Spade, should I just state we are playing 4 card suits, or should I try and be more ethical and state this is very, very likely to be 5 Plus? (And which will probably surprise Hillary!)
3. How is it that when I play with Donald, no-one is even slightly interested that I know he has the same odds of holding 4 Plus Clubs?
I will be extremely interested in any comments.
Latest Posts on this Thread
- BARRY JONES16 Jun 2016 at 07:17PM
Hi Stanley,
Here are my answers, on average I am right 997 times out of 1000 (Just ask my Mum).
1) No, there are probably a lot of agreements between you and Hillary that the opps won't know about unless they ask.
2) Yes, Why not, they asked and full disclosure never hurt anybody (e.g. Hillary and the FBI)
3) I'm guessing most are not that interested in whether Donald has more than 3 clubs or not as it wouldn't affect their bidding, play or defence either way. Also the sooner we get away from Donald's table the better !
Cheers,
Barry.
- GILES HANCOCK22 Jun 2016 at 12:40PM
It's not Unauthorised Information. Possibly an undisclosed partnership agreement.
When you sit down to play you are supposed to tell your opponents your basic system. So, if you say, "Hi, we play Acol" then they know your 1S opening is only promising four spades, but 997 times out of 1000 it is five. This is just bridge.
- STANLEY ABRAHAMS22 Jun 2016 at 02:30PM
Giles, how would a beginner, or an improver, or a novice, call them what you will, possibly know that 997 out of 1,000 it will be a 5 plus Spade suit, when you have gone out of your way to teach them it is only 4? First you call it an abomination, now you expect them to know, "Its just bridge" When will you admit that you agree with me, instead of teaching one thing, and saying another?
- GILES HANCOCK23 Jun 2016 at 12:11AM
I don't agree with you Stanley.
- 12 Jul 2016 at 02:26PM
Hi Stan
Long time no see, hope all is well. I came across this surfing and saw your name, so here is my two cents worth...
1. No. I don't think it is unauthroised information because the percentage is not a matter of partnership agreement, is it just bridge knowledge and good on you for working it out. I didn't know the percentage, other than that it was extremely unlikely, yet have played that convention and other versions of it regularly. If it is unauthroised information it is information you also hold when the opponents (playing the same agreement) open 1S - should you announce it from the oppsotion's chair?
2. A complete explanation might be "It can be four card, but only if she is 4333 and is too good for 1NT". That is plenty ehtical enough for me. I don't think you need to, or should, state the probability. Any more is starting to sound like a lawyer and I would not wish that upon you.
3. For most people it is probably ignorance or arrogance, but I agree "three plus" is a partial explanation at best and a full explanation would be like that for (2) above "I can be three but only if he is a 4333 on spades and is too good for 1NT".
Regards
Scott
- DOUGLAS RUSSELL13 Jul 2016 at 05:51PM
Gday all
This particular discussion has been running for some time on another thread, but what has been ignored in its reincarnation here is the veracity of the statistics. It is true that the 4333 hand with 4 spades and 15-19 points will occur 3 times in every 1000 deals. However, that is emphatically NOT the same thing as saying that when partner opens 1 spade, 997 times out of 100 s/he will have 5 of them, because you do not open 1 spade all of the other 997 times! 1 spade will be opened on about 69 out of 1000 hands (assuming that you always open the lower of two 4 card suits, and that balanced hands containing 4 spades in the 12-14 range and 20+ range will be opened something else). Thus when partner opens 1 spade he could have a 4-card suit about 3 times out of 69; it becomes higher than this if you ignore the rule about opening the lower 4-card suit first, as many players do.
I am all for adducing statistical arguments to support a particular viewpoint, but it is pretty important to get them right.
Cheers
Douglas Russell
- DOUGLAS RUSSELL13 Jul 2016 at 05:59PM
Sorry, a small typo in my earlier post. In the 3rd line, it should read "997 times out of 1000", not "997 times out of 100".
Douglas
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