Fools Gold

It can be very tempting to double when you have a lot of trumps, but sometimes appearances can be deceptive, as on this deal from the Senior Teams:

Dealer South. All Vul
	ª A 8 6 © K J ¨ 7 5 3 § K Q J 9 7
ª - © 9 7 6 3 2 ¨ A K Q J 10 § 8 4 2		ª J 10 9 3 2 © 10 4 ¨ 9 6 4 § 10 5 3
	ª K Q 7 5 4 © A Q 8 5 ¨ 8 2 § A 6

West	North	East	South
	Humburg		Mattsson
			1ª
Dble	Redbl	Pass	Pass
2¨	4ª	Dble	All Pass

East thought he was on to a good thing, but declarer soon proved otherwise. West started with three rounds of diamonds and declarer ruffed. He knew the trumps were 5-0 so he cashed two hearts and then set about the clubs, discarding a heart on the third round. When he played another club East had no answer.
Declarer can even take out insurance, cashing a high spade at trick four.

At the other table, declarer contrived to go one down.

Thrust and Parry

In the first session of the Power Rosenblum match in the round of 16 between Schwartz and Maas both sides played well on this deal, but the palm went to Larry Cohen.

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

West	North	East	South
Berkowitz	Maas	Cohen	Ramondt
1©	Pass	2§*	2©*
3©	4ª	Pass	Pass
5§	All Pass

East's Two Clubs was forcing to game. When South came in to show his two suiter North was not put off by the vulnerability and took a pot at game. Larry Cohen though it was just about possible that his side might have a slam, so he passed, intending to remove partner's possible penalty double. However, when West showed some support for clubs he realised that it might be a good idea to play from his side, so he simply passed and Five Clubs became the final contract.

South's opening lead was a brilliant four of spades, but it was dummy who produced the king and that card won the first trick. Declarer was not yet out of the woods, but he asked himself why South had underled the ace of spades? A heart void was possible but much more likely was a vital diamond holding, so backing his judgement Larry cashed the queen of clubs and then played a club to the ten for a brilliant +440.