[blml] A question of player ability

[Alain Gottcheiner]

Karel a écrit :
>
> (eg)  A really good player makes the only lead (say underleads an ace
> when they have QJTx or some other fairly standout lead) which beats
> the contract, for no good reason.  Or a really good declarer takes a
> very low percentage line risking going down in a stone cold contract
> making plus one, again for no good reason.  Or a 3rd example would be
> a player of any level making a bid which works out unbelievably well
> but which again there is no good reason for.
>   
I'd be very careful with all those examples. Plays and (mainly) bids 
that seem to verge on the irrational can be justified by bridge reasons 
that you can't prove, e.g. an opponent showed you his hand, nearly took 
another bid from his bidding box, or his questions gave you a hint about 
what his problem was. Still more difficult to prove : you opened light 
because 'you felt, from opponent's behaviour, that he had a strong hand'.

If a player, questioned about some play or bid, gives one of the above 
as an explanation, would you feel you're allowed to discard his claim ?

Best regards

   Alain