[mtvesuvius]

I WANT to DEFEND this hand. There is no WAY to make 5 CLUBS after the SMALL diamond LEAD.

[PFormaini]

IdiotVig, on Jul 14 2009, 09:45 AM, said:

PFormaini, on Jul 14 2009, 04:58 AM, said:

SPELL THE LINE OUT PLAY BY PLAY..and I will point out the error. The line is not only 'cold', but doe not even attempt to overcome the main problem of the hand - EAST getting the lead and giving partner a diamond ruff.

It seems inherently incongruous that someone who implies to have more knowledge than the collective requires a line-by-line explanation of all attempts, for the sole purpose of shooting them down.

t is not incongruous if the 'solution' is not only hidden for some reason, but wrong as well.

You see, not having reason to use the 'hidden features' of the software, why would I spend time looking for them? Why not make it easier on everyone and spell out ones line in the first pace?
(Thanks to the poster who explained the magic of 'hidden text'.

Actually, the whole point was to point out a rarely-discussed phenomenon in bridge akin to 'blinders' - wherein a declarer becomes so fixated on one problem that, finding a solution, they do not then extend the play forward to discover any new problems their solution raises.

IN this problem (covered in detail in the Editorial of the August 2002 BRIDGE WORLD, declarer (as well as several editors and thousands of subscribers who missed the problem with the Cutoff Coup) ended up falling into the syndrome. The problem with the 'Cutoff Soup" was not spotted for many months after the problem was first presented.

modbells's solution is, indeed, an apparent way around the problem of the diamond ruff - but only because nearly everyone stops there - failing to think that a 5-5 trump holding could be exhausted, leaving declarer right where they were at the beginning. The fact that it took so long for ANHONE to catch the problem and report it speak volumes - both as to the cleverness of the solution - and the solution's ultimate failure once the rest of the defense is considered.

It is - in short - a fascinating problem AND example of a common problem for many of us when trying to solve difficult problems. WE don;t reconsier what NEW problems our solutions raise.

[jdonn]

So the lesson here was that we fail to take off our blinders and consider that the best possible attempt at making won't make, even though all other lines are even worse and there is no way at all to make?

Btw, since apparently the frequent sarcasm from so many escapes you, could you show your appreciation of being taught about hidden text by laying off the caps lock key? Thanks!

[Apollo81]

The lesson here is that bridge is an interesting game.

[aguahombre]

Or the lesson might be that if the poster is that insistent, in the face of all the adversity, maybe it is time to rethink....he might be right. I suspect that is why Mtvesuvious and others did not commit to the "solution" early.

[Phil]

Jeez, we introduce a LAWS section to the forums and SUDDENLY we get ALL KINDS of ANNOYING posters.

I will defend 5♣. It is an interesting hand. I can't find a way around getting boardlocked in the endgame.

However, my gut is it is the hand appears in a BOOK somewhere.

If you pulled it out of a BOOK, please do us all a favor and CITE the publication.

[vuroth]

PFormaini, on Jul 14 2009, 12:26 PM, said:

IN this problem (covered in detail in the Editorial of the August 2002 BRIDGE WORLD...

Citation was given above.

...

As for hidden text, it's generally used to avoid spoiling the thread for everyone else. The idea is that you post your own answer, but nobody can accidentally peek it while they're working through the problem themselves. If they actively try to read it, then that's different.

V

[PFormaini]

vuroth, on Jul 14 2009, 02:00 PM, said:

PFormaini, on Jul 14 2009, 12:26 PM, said:

IN this problem (covered in detail in the Editorial of the August 2002 BRIDGE WORLD...

Citation was given above.

...

As for hidden text, it's generally used to avoid spoiling the thread for everyone else. The idea is that you post your own answer, but nobody can accidentally peek it while they're working through the problem themselves. If they actively try to read it, then that's different.

V

vu:

I can understand not wanting to SPOIL a thread if one has asked for multiple answers oropinions - but I asked for answers up frint so that they could be discussed.

So no need for hiding the text.

But I unerstand the impetus for doing it - and now I know how to handle it.

[Jlall]

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...32112&hl=cayuga

[mtvesuvius]

Jlall, on Jul 14 2009, 05:51 PM, said:

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...32112&hl=cayuga

Cayugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[jdonn]

omg no way, they are SO the same person!

[TimG]

mtvesuvius, on Jul 14 2009, 06:55 PM, said:

Jlall, on Jul 14 2009, 05:51 PM, said:

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...32112&hl=cayuga

Cayugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Well done. PFormaini registered a day after that other thread died (just in case there was need for any more evidence).

[Phil]

And will probably appear under another alias soon.

[mtvesuvius]

I have confirmed, they are the same Peter J Formaini.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Edit: LMAO now.

Reedit: ROFL.

[aguahombre]

peter j of Ithica, NY --near cayuga lake. Probably just a coincidence.

[Jlall]

Btw I didn't mean to take credit for this piece of detective work, 655321 figured it out in a different thread that nobody read.

[aguahombre]

After you guys found him out, i did some simple snooping on the regular yahoo search, and found several other blogs and chats he has "worked"

[zasanya]

Thank you for the interesting problem.Please bear in mind that setting a problem inviting clever answers and then posting cleverer flaws is unlikely to make you popular.Keep them coming anyway .

[Mbodell]

It was an interesting play. FWIW, I posted right before going to bed and while falling asleep thought that maybe there was a problem with forcing the dummy but then couldn't remember the number of hearts and clubs in my head right to tell for sure (I kept forgetting if I could ruff in hand by the time the last forcing heart is played).

It is confusing though when OP disagrees with a line FOR THE WRONG REASON with lots of SHOUTING for no good reason.

[G_R__E_G]

We can now add a new play to the lexicon of bridge - attempting to switch cards in your hand without anyone noticing - the Cayuga Coup!!