The Last Rites Of Spring

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday November 8, 2008

Ron Klinger

Try this problem:

West North East South

Pass Pass 1D 1H

1S 3H(1) Pass 4H

(1) Pre-emptive

What would you do as West with:

` AJ104

e 7

f KJ2

c J9832

With one board to go on the BBO broadcast of the final of the Spring National Open Teams, HORWITZ led HAUGHIE by 135  128. HAUGHIE needed anything but a flat board for the final deal and the cards obliged:

West dealer : Nil vulnerable

NORTH

` Q765

e Q1043

f 9854

c 10

WEST EAST

` AJ104 ` 32

e 7 e A2

f KJ2 f AQ10763

c J9832 c KQ6

SOUTH

` K98

e KJ9865

f ---

c A754

West North East South

Gaspar Gill Richman Horwitz

Pass Pass 1C (1) 1H

2D (2) 2H 5D 5H

Pass Pass Dble All pass

(1) Artificial, 15+ points

(2) Three-suited, short in hearts

Lead: DK

The George Gaspar  Bob Richman methods (the 2D bid here) made it easy for them to reach 5D. Helen Horwitz did very well to take the sacrifice by bidding five-over-five, since 5D is unbeatable.

The DK lead was ruffed and South played the CA, followed by a cross-ruff in the minors. After the third club ruff, a spade to the king lost to the ace and back came the SJ. South erred by ducking this and the next spade was ruffed. Declarer still had to lose to the HA for two down 300 to East-West.

This result was already in when the deal appeared on BBO in the other room.

Since a difference of 300 translates into 7 Imps, Braithwaite-Haughie needed to go plus. Any N-S minus and HORWITZ would win, any N-S plus and HAUGHIE would take the title.

This is what happened:

West North East South

Gosney Bwaite Green Haughie

Pass Pass 1D 1H

1S 3H!(1) Pass 4H

Pass? Pass Dble All pass

(1) Pre-emptive raise

Lead: H7

East won and tried to cash the DA.

South ruffed and played a spade to the queen, which held. South cashed the CA and cross-ruffed the minors. Declarer lost two spades and had the rest for ten tricks and +590. That translated into 13 Imps, so HAUGHIE had won by 6 Imps. BBO is rarely more exciting.

Some thought that East should return a trump at trick 2, but given Wests 1S response, declarer was safe. Win the heart return in dummy and play a spade to the king. West takes the ace, but South wins any return. A diamond ruff to hand, if necessary, and then lead the S9, running it if West plays low. Even if this lost to the S10 or SJ, South can run the S8 next time.

As long as West began with four spades, declarer can ruff two clubs in dummy and pitch one on an established spade winner in dummy.

At this table the board was won and lost in the bidding. Had West made a takeout double of 4H, East would have a routine 5D bid to win the match. When East doubled 4H, West needed to take it out. This would have been successful:

West North East South

Pass Pass 1D 1H

1S 3H! Pass 4H

Pass Pass Dble Pass

4NT (1) Pass 5D . . .

(1) Pick a minor

High-level competitive bidding is a tough area and the meanings of a highlevel double can be murky. It certainly warrants close attention by any serious partnership.

Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. (Thomas Huxley, 1870)

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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