psyching against bad players sporting or not?
#1
Posted 2016-January-19, 03:19
it's not a view i share. this was a national event, albeit not a very high standard one (it was a swiss running alongside a BAM, so all the good teams were in the BAM assuming they had qualified for the final). the opps were the perennial beginner types - played for a very long time without ever progressing. but anyway, i consider psyching to be an important part of the game. yes, it's very out of fashion compared to the early days of bridge (1930s and whatnot), but I don't think bidding fashion should be a factor in deciding how i play the game.
comments?
please don't send this to the laws forum. there is no doubt my actions were legal. it's an issue of taste.
#2
Posted 2016-January-19, 03:26
-- Bertrand Russell
#3
Posted 2016-January-19, 04:18
#4
Posted 2016-January-19, 04:35
There could be an issue with certain "baby psyches" which are expected by stronger players and but not weaker ones. If it is GBK at your level but not at opps' then maybe one could argue that it is a CPU.
#5
Posted 2016-January-19, 04:48
helene_t, on 2016-January-19, 04:35, said:
There could be an issue with certain "baby psyches" which are expected by stronger players and but not weaker ones. If it is GBK at your level but not at opps' then maybe one could argue that it is a CPU.
this was sort of an issue here. i opened a strong NT and passed stayman which is a pretty pathetic effort really. when the director came, the opp accused my partner of fielding the psyche. he being a good player, obviously pointed out that i had exposed it myself by passing stayman. this was beyond the opp who hadn't made any such connection.
#6
Posted 2016-January-19, 04:53
I was more thinking about bids like
3♣-(pass)-3NT which are understood by better players just to say "I am happy to play 3NT undoubled" while weaker players may assume that it promises values.
#7
Posted 2016-January-19, 05:57
All that I ask in return is some way that I can identify said bad players. Perhaps we can segregate them all into one section or, alternatively, make anyone who asks for such protection wear a large scarlet "B" on their clothing...
#8
Posted 2016-January-19, 05:58
Against you it wasn't an issue, because you obviously knew where you stood, and on the off chance they were entirely pleasant about it and just called the director to make sure, then kudos to them. But my guess is what actually happened is they got a bit flustered, started accusing you of cheating and either called the director to punish you or you called him to resolve their complaint properly - because that's how 98% of these disputes seem to go. If so, I'd say the director had an unofficial word with the wrong player.
#9
Posted 2016-January-19, 06:10
#10
Posted 2016-January-19, 06:38
eagles123, on 2016-January-19, 04:18, said:
Seeing as the numbers for this event have plummetted, it looks like most have decided not to. I don't think this is due to psyching by the stronger players, but I guess it will not be an issue next year.
#11
Posted 2016-January-19, 07:05
helene_t, on 2016-January-19, 04:35, said:
This is the heart of the matter. If it is part of the game, there is no reason for all this frowning and moralizing.
In fact it is perfectly okay for you to judge whether a certain psyche is likely to succeed against the opponents you are playing against before deciding what to do.
When I execute say a double guard squeeze I also do not make sure that my opponents will understand what is going on.
I could not care less
Rainer Herrmann
#12
Posted 2016-January-19, 08:17
eagles123, on 2016-January-19, 04:18, said:
Vampyr, on 2016-January-19, 06:10, said:
Agree with both.
-gwnn
#13
Posted 2016-January-19, 08:29
#14
Posted 2016-January-19, 08:58
-gwnn
#15
Posted 2016-January-19, 17:36
I have, on occasion, given "unofficial words" with both sides of such a situation (and other cases where skill level differences are large and cause "misunderstandings"). Of course, each side wouldn't see the discussion with the other side...
I have heard players, in similar situations asking if the psycher was proud of how they bamboozled the LNs? I wouldn't do that as a director, and I'm not sure I am happy with it happening, but from those doing it, the point gets across.
I think the best answer on this case is Vampyr's; otherwise known as "why would you randomize your results when you're booked for +2/board playing normally?"
Unfortunately, the most common answer - and I am NOT saying this applied in the OP case - is that the experienced players were drunk, or didn't care any more, and were having "fun" at the LN's expense. Happened to me in Chicago - our opponents for the last round thought they had been allowed to withdraw. When they were rousted out of the bar, they sat and played 7 of the frankly, most enjoyable hands of bridge I'd seen. But all their screwing around WORKED, and a team that probably would have beat us by 10 playing straight up won by 45. Even though it was fun; even though I knew what was going on; even though my team had the same zero chance of making day 2; it still hurt - and it still hurt that we could get crushed by players who were throwing cards because they were so much better than us (and got incredibly lucky).
And I'm sure I've done the same thing in my time at some time.
#16
Posted 2016-January-19, 18:35
Vampyr, on 2016-January-19, 06:10, said:
True, but the last time I was seriously tempted, I was playing as a guest with a club member. Opps were a pair of lols, and as we sat down, one said to the other "Watch out for <partner's name>, he psyches", unfortunately I got dealt bona fide bids on both boards.
#17
Posted 2016-January-19, 20:00
Vampyr, on 2016-January-19, 06:10, said:
Actually, the very high risk against bad players is to get averages when the field gets tops. You almost have to leave some tables with 75% to stay par. A psychic turning an average plus to a top is a hedge against the wall of 4H making 10 tricks on the first board.
-P.J. Painter.
#18
Posted 2016-January-19, 22:09
#19
Posted 2016-January-20, 00:09
kenrexford, on 2016-January-19, 20:00, said:
The field isn't getting tops against bunnies by psyching. They are just playing bridge and letting things fall into their laps.
I suppose if you knew that the board you were about to play was ridiculously straightforward then you might step out but it might backfire too.
My favorite kind of opponent to psyche against is someone good but not great. They can't untangle a phony 1N overcall or other assorted fun.
I also like to psyche against people I loathe and my record in this area is pretty good.
Winner - BBO Challenge bracket #6 - February, 2017.
#20
Posted 2016-January-20, 02:38