BRIDGE

Some competitive bids will be described as “incredibly brave” when they yield a great result or in far less positive terms (“over the top” or maybe “lunacy incarnate” come to mind) when the perpetrators crash and burn.

When East’s weak twobid and West’s natural club response arrived at his doorstep, North might well have doubled to show his opening bid and support for the unbid suits.

Suspecting his heart King might not have a lot of value with the heart bidder on his left, North stayed on the sidelines, at least until East’s club raise was passed back to him.

Now the overall merits of his hand including the value or lack thereof of the heart King really hadn’t changed but North did earn his “incredibly brave” adjectives when he waded in with his takeout double at the fourlevel.

In favour: Something smelled a tad rotten when West made a forcing response to the opening, got his suit raised and quit at the four-level?

Maybe the non-vulnerable opponents were trying to steal the contract (they, especially West, actually were doing just that!).

South may have been surprised (more like “shocked”) to see the belated coming-to-life across the table but he regained his composure enough to takeout the double to four spades.

A move crowned with success when spades split 2-2, no defensive diamond ruff was forthcoming and even the King of hearts pulled full weight.

Contrast this table’s tale with what went on at the other table of a Junior match: Two hearts by East followed by three passes! Who saw that coming?