Help
lorserker, on 2024-November-28, 11:47, said:
About predictability and consistency I am a bit biased. I like a little randomness, because even when I am playing with my regular partner I am not 100% sure that he has what I think he has and that he would always do the same action. I think it is normal to take some reserve when you play. The robotic consistency which allows you to make inferences which are totally certain, are a bit unappealing to me.
Oh, by consistency I'm not talking about making inferences that are totally certain - you can't even do that with GIB. I mean consistency of methods / styles.
E.g., when my human partner leads against 1NT - 3NT, I make certain assumptions about their lead (often 4th best from longest + strongest), and defend accordingly. If GIB leads, I make different assumptions and defend differently (because I know it works via double dummy situations and is usually trying to avoid conceding a trick).
Likewise, I know what my human partners will lead from AKx against a suit by discussing this in advance (usually the Ace), and I know GIB will lead the K. Or a lead of an ace or king vs notrumps (one specifically should ask to unblock, but which?) - when this happens with a pickup partner, I'm typically guessing and will get a bottom board half the time - partnership agreements are pretty vital.
Sometimes I get it wrong when they each break their own rules, but I get a better and more satisfying result by knowing how partner thinks. I don't know how Ben thinks other than the earlier phrase that keeps coming back into my head ("Ben has no rules").