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N/S vulnerable, pairs, dealer South.
You are West. Your partner is a reasonably strong player. Your left-hand opponent is a keen sort who has not been playing for very long, but has regrettably absorbed much of the latest theories on competitive bidding. Your right-hand opponent has represented England in the not-too-distant past.
You are West. Your partner is a reasonably strong player. Your left-hand opponent is a keen sort who has not been playing for very long, but has regrettably absorbed much of the latest theories on competitive bidding. Your right-hand opponent has represented England in the not-too-distant past.
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
1 1 | |||
| Pass | 1 | X | 2 |
2 | X2 | Pass | 3NT |
| Pass | 4 | X | 6 |
| Pass | Pass | X | AP |
| Notes | |
|---|---|
| (1) | Four-card suits, weak no trump, 2 only strong opening. |
| (2) | Ostensibly "takeout", though into what is far from clear. |
Your hand is:
| 7 3 2 |
|---|---|
| 7 4 3 2 |
| 7 2 |
| A 4 3 2 |
What is your opening lead?
From my point of view as South, this was what was happening:
| 8 6 |
|---|---|
| Q 8 6 |
| A K Q 9 8 6 5 3 |
| — |
I decided to open 1 rather than some pre-empt, or 3NT. When it went pass — 1 — double, I thought I would bid only 2 to see what developed (moreover, I wasn't sure whether North would think 3 was strong or pre-emptive, since I have no idea how trendy people play such sequences nowadays).
rather than some pre-empt, or 3NT. When it went pass — 1 — double, I thought I would bid only 2 to see what developed (moreover, I wasn't sure whether North would think 3 was strong or pre-emptive, since I have no idea how trendy people play such sequences nowadays).
I nearly passed out 2 doubled, since it can't logically be for takeout. But partner had been producing a load of intellectual nonsense during the evening, so I thought better of it, especially in view of my own heart length. Of course, I didn't have much of a club stop, but no one had bid clubs.
doubled, since it can't logically be for takeout. But partner had been producing a load of intellectual nonsense during the evening, so I thought better of it, especially in view of my own heart length. Of course, I didn't have much of a club stop, but no one had bid clubs.
When partner removed 3NT to 4, I thought the opponents were messing around with some shape and not many high cards. In fact, they had plenty of high cards and my partner was barmy, for the full deal was:
, I thought the opponents were messing around with some shape and not many high cards. In fact, they had plenty of high cards and my partner was barmy, for the full deal was:
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N/S Vuln
Dealer S |
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Still, the opening lead was the ace of clubs, so I scored one of the more unlikely 1540s in the history of bridge. East, who had doubled 6 with ace-king ace-king king, and seen his partner lead an ace, did rather well in the circumstances. "Sorry, partner", he said. "These light doubles don't always pay, even at matchpoints."
with ace-king ace-king king, and seen his partner lead an ace, did rather well in the circumstances. "Sorry, partner", he said. "These light doubles don't always pay, even at matchpoints."