Reverse, III?

Question

• Alice clues number 3 to Bob, which touches one card on slot 2.
• Bob writes a card note with the identity of the card.

1. What card note does Bob write?
2. What action should Bob perform?

Solution

1. Bob writes "r3, b3, p3 if purple 2 f".
   • Bob knows that this must be a Play Clue on his 3, since it is not on chop. It could be an immediately playable red 3 or blue 3, but it could also be a Reverse Finesse on a purple 3.
2. Bob must entertain the possibility of a Reverse Finesse. For now, Bob needs to clue green to Cathy, which would be a Critical Save on the critical green 3.
   • If Cathy blind-plays the purple 2, Bob will update his note to "r3, b3, p3 if purple 2 f | purple 3".
   • If Cathy does not blind-play the purple 2, Bob will update his note to "r3, b3, p3 if purple 2 f | red 3, blue 3".
   • (This cannot be a Self-Finesse on Bob, since he knows that Self-Finesses cannot be given if a Play Clue interpretation is possible. In this case, the clued card could be an immediately playable red 3 or blue 3.)