Double Trouble
by Ron Klinger
Round 2 - Japan v Norway
The double and the failure to double provided the major swing boards in this encounter:
| Bd 5: Dealer North: N-S vulnerable |
| | ♠ 5 4
♥ A K J 9
♦ J 6 3 2
♣ 9 5 3 |
♠ A K 7 6
♥ 8 7 4 3
♦ A 8
♣ K 6 4 |  |
♠ 9 8 3
♥ 6 5
♦ K Q 9
♣ A Q J 7 2 | | | ♠ Q J 10 2
♥ Q 10 2
♦ 10 7 5 4
♣ 10 8 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Lindqvist | Shiga | E. Eide | Yokoi
|
| | Pass | 1♣ | Pass
|
| 1♦* | Pass | 1NT | Pass
|
| 3NT | All pass
|
*Shows hearts
The ♠Q was led and declarer made ten tricks.
| West | North | East | South
|
| Tanaka | Livguard | Ikemoto | P. Eide
|
| | Pass | 1♣ | Pass
|
| 1♥ | Pass | 1NT | Pass
|
| 2♠ | Pass | 3NT | Pass
|
| Pass | Dble | All pass
|
North doubled for the heart lead, which would have saved the overtrick. South chose the ♣10 and declarer had ten tricks for +650, + 6 Imps to Japan.
| Board 11, Dealer South: None Vul. |
| | ♠ K
♥ Q J 8 4
♦ A J 7 4 3 2
♣ 6 3 |
♠ Q 4 3
♥ A K 10 7
♦ 10 6 5
♣ A Q 8 | |
♠ 10 9 8 7 2
♥ 6 5
♦ 9
♣ J 10 9 7 4 | | | ♠ A J 6 5
♥ 9 3 2
♦ K Q 8
♣ K 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Lindqvist | Shiga | E. Eide | Yokoi
|
| | | | 1♣
|
| 1NT | Dble | 2♠ | Dble
|
| All pass
|
North doubled 1NT for penalties and so South doubled 2♠ with like intent. With a very shapely hand and knowing East-West had an 8-card spade fit at least, North might have chosen to remove the double. N-S might possibly then have reached 3NT for a much better result.
The lead was the ♥2, taken by the ace, and the ♠3 went to the king. North shifted to ♦A and another diamond, but declarer ruffed and took repeated club finesses. He emerged with nine tricks for +570. At the other table:
| West | North | East | South
|
| Tanaka | Livguard | Ikemoto | P. Eide
|
| | | | 1♣
|
| 1NT | Dble | Pass | Pass
|
| Rdbl | Pass | 2♣ | Pass
|
| Pass | 2♦ | All pass
|
Lead: ♣J
E-W could take five tricks, but no more. N-S +90 and 12 Imps to Norway. After 19 boards Norway was leading by 36-15, but they suffered a huge reverse on Board 20:
| Dealer W: All Vul. |
| | ♠ K J 7
♥ Q
♦ A Q J 9 3 2
♣ 10 6 3 |
♠ A Q 10 9 8 5
♥ A 3
♦ 10
♣ A J 9 8 | |
♠ 6 4
♥ K 7 6 5 2
♦ K 8 7
♣ K 7 2 | | | ♠ 3 2
♥ J 10 9 8 4
♦ 6 5 4
♣ Q 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Tanaka | Livguard | Ikemoto | P. Eide
|
| 1♠ | 2♦ | Dble | Pass
|
| 3♣ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass
|
| 3♠ | Pass | 3NT | Pass
|
| 4♠ | All pass
|
This was a sensible auction (although I confess I would have chosen 3♠ rather than 3♣. Declarer lost two spades and a club, but that was still +420. At the other table:
| West | North | East | South
|
| Lindqvist | Shiga | E. Eide | Yokoi
|
| 1♠ | 2♦ | Pass | Pass
|
| Dble | Pass | 3♥ | Pass
|
| 4♥ | Pass | Pass | Dble
|
| All pass
|
East’s failure to make a negative double over 2♥ is mysterious. When he later jumped to 3♥ in reply to West’s re-opening double, West assumed more hearts and fewer points. Many thought South should pass this pleasant turn of events, but South doubled and West declined to run.
South led a diamond and declarer might have held the loss to 500 after ♥A, ♥K by playing on clubs. When he chose to try the double finesse in spades, the cost was 1100 and 17 Imps to Japan to bring the final outcome to 15-15.
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