Monday 13 January 2014

Deal of the Week #13

♠ T x x
♥ x x x
♦ A T x x
♣ A T x
♠ x
♥ A K Q J x x
♦ x x
♣ K Q x x
8
153
14
♠ x x
♥ T x x x
♦ K x x x
♣ x x x
♠ A K Q J x x x
♥ -
♦ Q J x
♣ J x x
TBJWAPNC
WNES
1♠
2♥--2♠
3♥3♠--
4♥x-4♠
---

Here's this week's Deal of the Week. North-South already had 40 points below the line, so were looking for another 60 here.

NC sitting South opened 1♠ with his monster hand. West has an even better hand. My choice of bid would be a double, then bid Hearts later (showing a very strong hand). However, the modern style is to show your suit early, and that's what TB did with a simple overcall of 2♥. JW passed in the North hand and AP passed with the East hand (good Hearts, but too weak).

South then rebid his Spades with 2♠, West rebid his Hearts with 3♥, and now North showed some support with 3♠, enough for game for North-South. The spotlight was then on East. He's still got a very weak hand, but I think with that amount of support I would have risked 4♥. As it happens West bid 4♥ himself, and North looked at his two Aces and doubled.

South then had a tough decision, to leave in the double, or bid on himself and risk going down? He went for 4♠, which was an excellent decision with nothing much in defence (he's going to win one Spade trick at most in defence) but lots of offence.

4♠ was passed out, and West lead a Heart. NC ruffed, drew trumps and finessed Diamonds. Even though the finesse lost he came away with eleven tricks. If West instead leads a Club the defence get three tricks, but there's still no beating 4♠.

How would East-West have done in 4♥x? They certainly lose three Aces, and should also lose another Club too, for 4♥x-1. If the defence is too keen to take the ♣A then 4♥ could even make. So looks like NC made a profitable decision to bid on with 4♠.

2 comments:

  1. I think 4H first time is right with the west cards. The opponents are clearly going to bid at least 3S, and you're not going to let them play it there, so make them guess at the four level.

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  2. The argument against that is that partner can't ever double an eventual 4S contract, in case you have nothing but nine hearts in your hand, and I like penalty doubles.

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