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
|