BRIDGE

Overcalling with a fourcard suit may not be for the faint of heart, but when the suit is as robust as West’s heart holding, there’s a certain degree of safety built in. Who’s going to double for penalty without a high heart or two? Further, the results of the artful intervention will often be very gratifying in semi-unpredictable ways!

West did wade right in, and East contributed to the smoke-screen with a truly anemic raise. South doubled to show an extra-strength opening bid and followed up by rebidding diamonds to show that was the suit his hand was all about.

North saw no future in going any higher with his few bits and pieces and if that “higher” had been in diamonds, the early play proved North had made the right decision by passing at his third turn as West took the first three tricks with high hearts.

The predictable reaction was several raised eyebrows — where did all those hearts come from?

As you can see, the one makeable game for NorthSouth was three notrump since the defenders could grab the first four heart tricks and declarer would claim the rest.

But that overcall had done the dirty work: Which of North or South could dare to bid notrump without at least a semblance of a stopper in the suit West had advertised length and strength in?

No overcall at the other table of this match so there was not the same “heart fear” and North-South blithely sailed into three notrump. No refunds if you try this tactic, and it crashes and burns when you do!