Here’s another deal from a session I played at the Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club. I was South.
When East’s two-spade rebid came around, my partner stuck out his neck a mile to reopen with a double, risking a diamond response by me. I was tempted to pass for penalty, hoping for down one — plus 200 on a partscore deal — and I would have passed with better spade spots. As it was, I took out to three clubs, passed out. West led the ten of spades.
10 TRICKS
I could always have won 10 tricks with perfect play. As it was, I took 10 when the defense misfired. East took the K-A of spades before leading the king of diamonds. I won, led a trump to dummy’s queen (not best), took the ace and led the ten of diamonds. East played low for reasons unknown, and I lost only to West’s high trump.
Our plus 130 was a fair result, but we could have done better if North had passed out two spades or if I had passed his double. Matchpoints involves close competitive decisions.
Tomorrow: a disaster.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A K J 9 5 H J 6 2 D K Q 5 C 8 6. You open one spade, and your partner bids 1NT. East in today’s deal rebid two spades. Do you agree with that action?
ANSWER: East’s rebid was wrong. She should have passed. It is permissible but not desirable (especially here) to rebid a five-card suit. To pass was right in both theory and practice: West could take at least six tricks at 1NT, but East would go down two at two spades.
South dealer
E-W vulnerable
NORTH
S 4 3
H A 9 8 4 3
D 10 8
C A Q 5 3
WEST
S 10 6
H K Q 10 5
D 7 6 3 2
C K 10 4
EAST
S A K J 9 5
H J 6 2
D K Q 5
C 8 6
SOUTH
S Q 8 7 2
H 7
D A J 9 4
C J 9 7 2
South West North East
Pass Pass Pass 1 S
Pass 1 NT Pass 2 S
Pass Pass Dbl(!) Pass
3 C All Pass
Opening lead — S 10
