6th January – Board 8: Love All. Dealer West.
I imagine many people were disappointed in the outcome of this hand both from the perspective of declarer and the defence. The West hand does not lend itself to any degree of subtlety and I would have though a fairly straightforward auction would be somewhere along the lines of:
West
|
North
|
East
|
South
|
1S
|
No
|
2H
|
No
|
4S
|
End
|
|
|
Even if West is over-cautious and just rebids 2S then East will introduce the diamond suit and now West will surely jump to game in his seven solid card suit. Of course East could chuck his diamond suit out the window and the result would – should – still be the same but surprisingly several pairs were allowed to get out for one down. It is hard to see why. Surely after cashing the two top clubs North will switch to a heart and then they can take three tricks in that suit with a ruff. One pair managed to get to 6S - but only went one down! – and one pair played in 3NT from the East hand. South led a MUD club and North mistakenly took the ace and the king, allowing declarer to throw the queen from hand thus ensuring a route to dummy. After running the spades a heart was led and all South could do was to cash the ace and the king and concede defeat. If North ducks the first or second club then lines of communication are maintained between the North and South hands and the defence will take three clubs and two hearts.
As one of the pair that bid and made 3NT, I am not disappointed at all by the result. However, I am disappointed that no mention has been made on the blog of 6NT redoubled bid and made for 1620 points. Or is this rather embarrassing little episode to be air brushed from the history books? The truth will out, I fear!
ReplyDeleteKP
If I remember rightly the double of 6S was a clever ruse to keep you out of the grand slam in clubs which was absolutely laydown. I fear that this side of the story has been lost in translation somewhat. And as I recall it was a kibitzer who advised you to redouble as well, thus putting my side somewhat at a disadvantage.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand you did do exceptionally well to bid and make 3NT on the featured hand. ;-)
I guess you're right about 7C. I did think of it, of course, but decided 6S was easier, particularly as I knew you would double and, after all, 1620 is better than 1440!
ReplyDeleteThe bidding was all my own work - the kibitzers only arrived after the deed was done and word had spread around the room like wild fire.
I shall maintain a dignified silence about a hand that has forever left my memory banks.
ReplyDelete