Wednesday 1 January 2020

Pass, Bid or Double?

A hand from some holiday kitchen bridge:

All Vul, E deal
♠ K T x x x
♥ K
♦ x x
♣ Q T x x x
♠ x
♥ Q J x x x x
♦ T x x
♣ A J x
8
813
11
♠ A Q x x x
♥ A x x x
♦ x x
♣ K x
♠ J x
♥ x x
♦ A K Q J x x
♣ x x x
DannyAnna
WNES
1♠2♦
--2♥3♦
4♥5♦--
x---

Anna opened the East hand 1♠ and South made a good 2♦ overcall. I was tempted to bid now as West, but partner would expect 10 points and with a singleton in her suit I chose a cautious pass. When Anna rebid 2♥ I jumped straight to game, feeling confident. Then North threw a spanner in the works with belated Diamond support, and it was back to me at 5♦.

My thinking was this: there's no way I'm passing as 5♦ is obviously a sacrifice. Next, we have a 10 card (at least) Heart fit which argues for bidding on. But I also have a singleton in partner's suit which makes double tempting. I went for penalties and doubled 5♦.

As you can see, declarer is in trouble with 5♦x. Both North and South have pushed a bit and there is a danger that declarer might only make his six Diamond tricks.

In reality I lead a Spade to Anna's Queen, and she gave me a small Spade to ruff. At this point we're not likely to get a club ruff, but we should perhaps be able to draw dummy's trumps and prevent him ruffing a Heart. However I wanted another Spade through to try and promote my ♦T so lead to partner's ♥A instead. She played a trump but it was too late and declarer was able to ruff a Heart. He then draw trumps, making six trumps, one Heart and one Club for 5♦x-3. This is still a bit expensive vulnerable (-800), even if 4♥ does make (and in fact so does 5♥).

A good way to end the year.