Insurance Policy

22nd October – Board 22. East/West Game. Dealer East.

West was bold with his first bid on the featured hand but took out insurance later on to save against a possibly calamitous result.

	North: S 8 6 3 H K 10 8 6 4 D A K 8 C Q 9
West: S 10 9 7 5 4 2 H Q 3 D Q J 5 4 2 C none		East: S K Q J H A J 5 D 10 9 6 3 C A 8 3
	South: S A H 9 7 2 D 7 C K J 10 7 6 5 4 2

West	North	East	South
		1D	4C
4S	5C	Dbl	No
5D	End

That 4S bid might look bold but with such a fantastic fit for partner’s first suit game looks reasonable opposite only modest spade support and some values in hearts. North has a fairly obvious bid of 5C which would be a profitable save against the cold game and East will most likely double. Although this would be defeated by one trick it is hard for West to pass with zero defensive tricks and not support his partner’s first suit. I suppose North might double although he has no real reason for doing so but in any event all parties will have escaped from a death trap of a hand relatively unscathed.