Double trouble

By Knut Kjaernsrod
Norway

Doubling a partscore contract often means a lot of trouble. You definitely run the risk of giving declarer guide to the winning line – a line he often would have missed without the additional information available Particularly risky it might be when you hold a balanced distribution and have to follow to a lot of tricks in the side suits.

In Sunday’s last sessions of the quarterfinals the Bulgarians went on two virtual landmines when trying to clinch the Norwegian lead. The first one was on board 22:

Board 22. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª A K Q 10 4 © 9 ¨ J 10 7 6 § 7 6 2
ª J 8 7 5 3 © 10 7 4 ¨ K Q 5 4 § 10		ª - © A Q 6 5 3 ¨ 9 3 § K Q 9 8 5 4
	ª 9 6 2 © K J 8 2 ¨ A 8 2 § A J 3

With Erik East and Boye West, vulnerable, the bidding went:

West	North	East	South
Brogeland		Saelensminde
		1©	Pass
1ª	Pass	2§	Pass
2©	2ª	3§	Pass
3©	Pass	Pass	Dble

The opening lead was a spade to the ten, ruffed, and Erik played a diamond to the king followed by a club to the king and ace. South exited with a second spade ruffed, a diamond was taken by the ace and a third spade ruffed. Club queen, club ruff and the diamond queen left this ending:

	ª A 4 © 9 ¨ J § -
ª J © 10 7 ¨ 5 § -		ª - © A Q ¨ - § 9 8
	ª - © K J 8 2 ¨ - § -

Now Eric simply played a diamond from dummy and threw one of his clubs and South was left with the agony of trumping and leading into declarer’s tenace.

The second explosion came on the penultimate board of the session:

Board 31. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª 10 3 2 © 10 8 4 3 ¨ Q 3 § A J 8 2
ª K Q J 4 © 7 5 2 ¨ A K 7 § 10 6 5		ª 5 © A K Q J 9 ¨ 10 9 6 5 § 9 7 3
	ª A 9 8 7 6 © 6 ¨ J 8 4 2 § K Q 4

Glenn Groetheim South and Terje Aa North, vulnerable and the bidding was brief:

West	North	East	South
	Aa		Groetheim
			1ª
Pass	2©	Dble	All Pass

You definitely must give some sympathy to West passing his partners take out double, but he deserves less of it for his opening lead and continuation: the ace of diamonds and a heart to his partners ace, he definitely should have led the king of trumps. Now came the trump shift, but it was to late, Glenn just had to pull the trigger. West won the knave of spades and continued a heart ruffed. A diamond to the king and another heart ruff was followed by three rounds of clubs leaving this ending:

	ª 10 3 © 10 ¨ - § A
ª K Q 4 © - ¨ 7 § -		ª - © A K ¨ 10 9 § -
	ª A 9 © - ¨ J 8 § -

The knave of diamonds and a diamond left West with only losing options