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Two Wrongs do not make one right!

It is a sad tale today, a tale of probably one wrong bid and then panic set in. Although our Panel seem fairly united in what should have happened, the story is, I believe, worth telling in case others fall into the same trap. So, here is the problem:

 

Pairs. All Vul. 1 promises 3+ clubs. If relevant, the opponents are playing a Weak no trump opening.

So, before we hear the sad tale of what did happen, let’s hear from the Panel. There are a few options here of perhaps 1NT, Double and the Panel’s choice:

Nigel Kearney “Pass: It's usually best to pass with length in the suit opened, even if it might only be three. Here, we don't really have any reasonable alternative so pass is easy. Of course, we might have a problem on the next round.” 

Kris Wooles “Pass: I can’t see another sensible option. I’m hoping to be able to describe my hand later realising it may be a challenge depending on how the auction proceeds.”  

Stephen Blackstock “Pass: Easy for now, there is no suitable action and  if it unexpectedly goes all pass we will usually get a very good result. On a  good day it may even go pass, pass, double! Of the options, 1 is not only a misdescription but also leaves an impossible guess if partner raises to 2, and nothing else remotely fits.”

They thought passing was easy. Leon did think it was a problem:

Leon Meier “Pass: It's really difficult, but I pass and hope partner gets to reopen with x and I can pass. If not, I'll bid clubs later on.”

With similar intentions:

Andy Braithwaite “Pass: initially and be happy to defend 1 or bid them later if necessary.”

And loudest of them all:

Michael Cornell “ Pass: Would not take a bid with a gun to my head. At the moment I am getting about 300-500 and what can happen?

No doubt I will find out and then it will be time to take a bid.”

 I am not so sure you will get that rich from 1 were it passed out on this day. You are one little heart away from being end-played at trick 1.

 

Well, you can see that 1 might just get passed out. It would be interesting to know whether South would take a bid. If not, (and South must place a fair few hcps with their partner, North can draw trumps at the cost of 2 trump tricks and may well only score 4 trumps, 2 diamonds and a spade. If North leads 2 or switches to that card after cashing a couple of high diamonds, West will get a heart ruff and the defence may not be that much better off.

However, North did not pass 1 but doubled and South “rewarded” them with the bid they really did not want to hear, 4. Wonderful, the top spot thanks to a well-placed A and a club finesse, or the doubleton Q..making 10 tricks.

Alas, North was not so happy about this as the final contract and retreated to 5. 5 from South became a trick too far. It is a nice agreement to know that such a leap to game after a take-out double is a very long suit with little high-card strength. North should have passed 4 easily, if a little uncomfortably.

Never in doubt!

Perhaps 4 is a fortuitous make and is unlikely to be reached if North does pass initially. The Open bridge tournament where this deal occurred saw 10 results on this board. Only 2 pairs played in 4 while 2 more were a level higher. No-one defended 1.

Tomorrow will be the first of two days when we remember one of the most influential and hard-working contributors to bridge in this country over the last 40 years, Alan Turner.

Richard Solomon

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