Webmaster's note: Luis Nunes is a savvy 42 player in South America (Brazil). He participated in a narrative exchange that was advertised at this site in late January 2019. Thank you for sharing, Luis. - PP
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Narrative on Indicating by Luis Flavio Nunes
Living outside USA, I can only play 42 online. In this ambience, with all benefits that it has, though, we can agree that nothing may inhibit the players to collude with one another and sharing their hands, by instant messaging or phone. It’s also very hard to prove a case of collusion, perhaps only with help of some statistical method.In live games or tournaments, this certainly won’t happen, but the players can always find some ‘creative’ ways to share subtle signals, indicating which dominoes or doubles/trumps he may have.
In Bridge, this problem has been posed here, for example, here and more recently here.
I believe that a fair game should give all the players the same conditions to play and win. If the game is ‘unbalanced’, because some players are more capable to share their data with a partner, or if one team is exchanging information about their hands, then it’s not fair to the other team. And for me that’s not 42 anymore, but a “new” variant of the game. In an extreme example, we could then consider a new game where 2 players are dealt 14 dominoes altogether, and try to win tricks from the other team. That’s simply not 42 as we know.
In a game where indicating is tolerated, in reality, the players compete for the ability to build a system, which allows one team to have a greater advantage over the other. And where skill becomes of minor importance.
Thus, should acceptable indicating practices, e.g., indicating doubles or lack of, be defined in the written rules for sanctioned 42 tournaments? I agree that it’s better if so, than allowing this practice to be loose, and an instrument for the smartest team. Otherwise, 42 changes into a game of who communicates their hands better, instead of a game of skill.
However, even if it’s part of the rules, and all players have a fair chance, it still makes 42 more complex, and less attractive, to me at least.
I still prefer the “classic” pure 42, with the simple set of rules and no extra complications. Moreover, a team who plays 42 without any indication takes the game to a higher level, as they have much less information to make their bid, and ultimately, they are better players than those who benefit from that practice.
Luis Nunes
March 2019
