[blml] claim

[Ed Reppert]

On Jul 1, 2006, at 11:07 AM, Manuela Mandache wrote:

> I don't speak (write, as it is) English well enough! I have improperly
> translated "les piques viennent" by "four tricks in spades". At the  
> table, it
> was quite clear that South had miscounted the spades and was sure  
> that once
> each opp had one, dummy's suit will provide the four remaining  
> tricks. Does
> this make you change your mind?

In English, if I'm not mistaken, "the spades are running." Doesn't  
matter. Once he plays the second spade trick, he will see the bad  
break. It would *not* be normal - it would be crazy - to keep playing  
on spades when you *know* that will lose at least one trick, and  
probably more. No, any sane bridge player will take his known top  
spades, switch to diamonds, and get his twelfth trick in that suit  
when the Jack falls.

The law does *not* say that a claimant must be held to his stated  
line of play when that line produces evidence, before it's too late,  
that it will fail, and there is a normal alternative line.

Hm. Is "sane bridge player" an oxymoron? ;-)