Is a comm needed?

[Wreckage]

Most experienced players only use comm to tell a “problem”, or a “solution”. But lately I’ve had a couple discussions about whether a third comm is required as well, a “response” comm.

So, let’s say my task is g5. I have g82 in my hand, so I intend to win with g8. Another player comms a single g9. Am I required to respond with a comm of g8? Or, should players know that when green plays, they should hold the 5 until the following turn?

Since I haven’t already commed another color, I must intend to win with a 7 or 8 or a rocket. I haven’t done the math, but on the first turn a color is played, it’s a lot more often that a player is winning with a 7 or 8 than with a rocket. So, I think we should assume that they have 7 or 8.

Also, on missions 35+ our comm tokens are more likely to be needed for other issues when we have 7-10 tasks. Just because a player hasn’t spent their comm early, doesn’t mean they don’t need it later. Spending a second comm to tell the same problem that’s already known seems a bit wasteful.

I’m curious what others think.

[AHaeu]

Hi, if u dont comm the players think you dont have a green at all and that you can rocket the trick...
So from my point of view you should comm highest 8g.

[popcorn_sioaji]

I also think it's a rocket.
So I think the green comm is necessary.
Especially if the green 5 is single.

[Marieakabob]

It depends on who starts. If its your turn and you start with the 2, then you don't need to comm the 8. (Whoever has the 5g has to comm if its a single g)
But if someone else starts and you don't comm the 8 then I go by the principle of "no comm no prob" and assume you rocket

[robinzig]

I don't understand why this is even a question. What need is there to communicate your green 8? You'll be assumed to have a high enough card in the suit (8 or 7, maybe 6 at a push), and with the single 9 being known to all players then the player with 5 will know full well not to play it on the first round of the suit. It's a complete waste of a token to communicate that you have an 8 (even though you'll also be telling everyone it's a guarded 8), there's no actual problem here. (If the player with the 5 has it as their only green card, then that is now a huge problem that they should let everyone know about - but with 8 and at least one other you have absolutely nothing that needs communicating here.)

[robinzig]

I'm very curious about the other replies, who seem to justify this waste of a token by "if you don't communicate everyone will assume you have no greens and can trump it". Why would you assume that? Being void of a suit at the start is relatively rare, and the natural assumption if someone took a 5 task is that they have a high enough card in their hand to beat it. Of course, they might be planning to trump it, but if so that's their own business and it will become clear really soon - but you can't assume it. So, if I'm player A, holding a green 5 and at least one other (non-task) green card, and I see player B communicate a singleton green 9 while player C needs to win the 5, I am absolutely not playing that 5 on the first round, and it wouldn't occur to me to do so.

[Katt83]

I think it depends on the level of players you're up against. And there's a risk to not comm'g if someone's not analyzing the game that closely

[tt_doc_txt]

I would think a comm is needed as instant answer since the no comm=no problem convention.

but if we analyze closely of the situation, I suggest to adjust that to
"an immediately responding comm is not needed and g5 should not be led right away"

if green has not been played yet, a solo g9 comm means 3 players share 8 greens, with this in mind odds of a void green is quite low. so if we ask an immediately responding comm of g8, we are not using comm most efficiently.

I think there is no harm, if all player agree, to hold the responding comm of g8 for maybe 1 or 2 tricks, and that g5 should not be led right away if possible. In 1 to 2 tricks that g8 comm could be not needed any more.
1) g9 could drop during process of other tasks
2) g5 task holder could show no problem by certain move, such as dropping a non green or a high green when have chance.
3) a situation could be created, that player holding g5 have choice to drop g5 or not drop g5 depending on a sub in front of his/her table position.

But I don't think it worth to waste unnecessary tricks just to save one comm. so I would comm the g8 when
1) if g5 is the very next task, I would respond g8 right away after g9 comm (unless I have g5 in hand)
2) if there is no other meaningful tricks to be played (player in lead cant lead to another meaningful task suit), I would comm g8 at that time point
3) if its been already 1 or 2 tricks after the solo g9 comm and the solo g9 still stands (I think 2 tricks is the max I could wait for a responding comm)

[Rohcz]

I agree with katt83. It depends on the level of player.

Low level players - nah u dont need to com cus they'll never throw your card. They're too scared to

Good players - com if needed to win in same suit and not com if trump.

Players above good - read doc txt

So it really depends on the level of the group u are playing with

[Ahthat1]

A, comm is only required if 5 is only single. I agree very wasteful to comm you have a 8. If 5 is also then you need to comm a solution. Or someone could just flush out the 9.