Claim
Hello ,
I will be very pleased if you share your thoughts with regard to the following claim.
N is in 5cl
N holds xx
A
ARDx
ARDxxx
S holds xxx
xxx
xxx
Vxxx
E draws two rounds of Sp and plays a small h to A . N claims tabling his hand;
a) N does not make any explanation regarding his line of play bu just says " I win the rest " 5cl made.
W calls the Td and says he gets 1 trick in d ( he has Vxxx in d) The TD rules 1 off due to no explanation made )
b) After winning the hA only says ; "I am drawing trumps". ( says nothing about ruffing the 4th d )
W calls the TD. Td tells N to draw six rounds of trumps . ( no trumps left in dummy to ruff the fourth d .)
1 off. (W wins a d trick with the dJ )
Do you agree with the TD 's decisions in both cases ? or
Considering L70A and L70C2 can we say that the declarer has an obvious intention regarding the apparent line of play ?
(cash the outside trumps and after cashing 3 rounds of d, ruff the 4th d from dummy)
Regards.
Secaaddin Özdeniz
Comments
ARDV = AKQJ
I am very sorry .
Here is the translated hand
xx
A
AKQx
AKQxxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
Jxxx
I would allow the claim in either case.
Declarer miscounts the trumps and believes he has to play four rounds to draw them . . . (If trumps are 3-0) (or even plays an extra round to check for lurkers). I have seen players do such, forgetting that there is a loser in dummy or hoping the diamonds split 3=3 (or a squeeze but if a player is so bad to think that they should play four rounds of trumps they are unlikely to think of a squeeze). I think ability of player is pertinent.
Amazing how many , when they claim, cannot be bothered to make a decent statement. They often allege they are claiming to save time, a laudable motive, but when all they have to do is say, draw trumps and ruff the long diamond instead of draw trumps............... I have little sympathy. If they were seeking to save time they failed miserably!
Thank you very much for your comments.
Great help.
Regards.
Hi Jeremy69
In many respects I agree with your conclusion. However, I think we have to take into account how many times someone in the "know" has explained to players how to make a claim, and why they need to take care. Don't forget they have probably only seen someone more experienced show their cards and say "I make the rest". They have also probably been told, when starting at a bridge club, that they shouldn't worry about the laws as they will "pick it up as they go along". So maybe some need a bit of sympathy and a bit more knowledge. In many respects this is a failure of teaching bridge due to omission.
It is only when you direct reqularly that you realise that many players do not have the wherewithall to protect themselves when things go wrong. Many still don't call the director imediately there is an irregularity! For instance I have heard "that's an insufficient bid" followed by "you can't do that", then "director please". How I wish to hear "I think we need the director for an irregularity" and "director please". Many do not take on board the brief explanation of calling the director early (even the more experienced players seem to baulk at calling the director immediately).
I will continue explaining, as does "Sisyphus" with the boulder.
I think poor and also inexperienced players don't like claiming. Hands played to the bitter end even when only trumps are left and the opponents have shown out on BBO, for example, perhaps indicate that.
Some claims are, accidentally, deficient but whether online or F2F it isn't hard to make a statement that covers what you expect to do. I have a couple of partner's who don't claim as early as they could not because they are wasting time but because they wish to avoid the argument or rejection of a claim that will go away if they wait a couple of tricks. If you claim and forget to say you are finessing or drawing trumps then you should not be surprised if your claim is contested and you are ruled against whatever your experience. Maybe you are right that this might feature in a lesson not least because if done properly/well claiming does save time. Those who make deficient claims which are, rightly,contested, of course, waste rather than save time.