Little Chance

15th October – Board 15. North/South Game. Dealer South.

High level preempts are a nightmare to deal with as East/West found on the following hand.

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

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

North has an obvious four-level preempt and East can do little but double, for take-out ostensibly but showing a big hand at the same time. But what can poor West do? With his diamond honours likely to be waste paper he can do little but bid 5C making it almost impossible for his partner to bid on with any great assurance. (It is worth noting that West should bid 5C in tempo for if he thinks for some time and then bids it an unscrupulous East might take the view that he could upgrade his hand.) 6S is always cold if played by West and so is 6C although at first sight it might look as though two top diamonds from North will set up a trump winner for South. Not so as it happens, as I’m sure you can work out.