Close Call

21st September – Board 21. North/South Game. Dealer North.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned more that once that decisions at the five level are notoriously hard to get right and East might have faced such a problem on the featured hand.

	North: S 6 5 2 H A 10 8 7 D Q J 6 2 C K 6
West: S Q J 9 8 4 H 6 2 D 9 3 C 8 7 5 2		East: S A K 7 3 H 3 D A K 10 7 5 4 C J 9
	South: S 10 H K Q J 9 5 4 D 8 C A Q 10 4 3

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

I cannot see any point in South trying to show a two-suiter after his partner has already passed and his main aim surely must be to try and keep spades out of the picture, so 4H it is. East however should refuse to be silent and his double is essentially for take-out but showing a good hand. West has an easy 4S bid and likewise North has an easy 5H bid but things are not so easy for East. With three or even four prospective defensive tricks it might be tempting to pass or double but both those options would be wrong with 5S the winner. 5H is cold and 5S only one or two down but in either case a cheap save.