[blml] claim

[Sven Pran]

> On Behalf Of Ed Reppert
> > 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? ;-)

According to the latest evidence (included in your comment above) Declarer
had miscalculated the spades and was convinced that the spades would run
when neither defender was void originally. 

A question is if he shall be allowed to notice that the ten has not shown up
after four spade tricks and then switch to Diamonds or if he shall be held
to his claim statement and be forced to run the last spade. I tend to rule
that having miscalculated the spades it is not irrational for him to
overlook that the ten has not shown up during the first four tricks and
still believe that the last spade is good; he can for instance very well
have thought that the ten must have been the spade discarded by West in the
first spade trick.

Anyway declarer must discard two cards on the third and fourth spade, and
with his demonstrated lack of interest for four tricks in Diamonds it is not
irrational for him to discard one small Diamond together with his remaining
either heart or club. Any of these three cards has potential to become a
winner, so I would not in any case give him the twelfth trick with the claim
statement he has presented.

My ruling is still contract just made with nine tricks. However I am willing
to discuss eleven tricks but definitely not twelve.

Regards Sven