IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

with Larry Matheny

When playing in a team event you try to avoid going for a huge set and you certainly don’t want a double-game swing. I watched this one on-line and it was exciting.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#12-19
Dlr	S
Vul	BOTH

	Q64
	AQJ5432
	982

	K10743
	J10832
	10
	74

	AQJ9652
	AK75
	K
	Q

	8
	9
	9876
	AKJ10653

West	North	East	South
			4
Pass	5	5	Pass
Pass	6	DBL	Pass
Pass	Pass

BIDDING: South started this wild ride by opening a preempt at the 4-level. North raised to game and then East got involved. North chose not to defend and carried on to 6 and East ended the auction with a double.

Play: West led the ten of diamonds and declarer rose with the ace. It was now a simple task to draw trumps and claim all thirteen tricks. At the other table East bought the contract at 5. He lost only two tricks so this meant the team was +1740 at one table and +650 at the other for a 20 IMP swing!

Whose fault was this disaster? Should West have pulled the double to 6? Should East not double? I suspect they are still discussing it.

Copyright ©2012 Larry Matheny