BRIDGE

Age-reveal quiz: who remembers Geraldine Jones, perhaps the most memorable creation of television comedian Flip Wilson? She of the famous catchphrase “the devil made me do it”!

Maybe the same devil was behind South’s motivation for fracturing one of competitive bidding’s almost-sacred guidelines: a preemptor should not bid a second time unless forced to do so by his partner (and not by the devil!).

The reasoning behind this classical prohibition is basically common sense: the preemptor’s partner will usually be able to judge his side’s offense versus defense prospects better than the holder of the long suit in a weak hand. North, given the opportunity, would have judged to defend.

Given the lie of the heart suit, East’s game contract was going to prove problematic to deliver but the friendly diamond layout would probably be helpful enough for declarer to prevail.

But we’ll never know as South bid again and the defense against five clubs, doubled of course, was decidedly less problematic as East won the King of hearts to shift to his lone spade.

In dummy for what was likely to be the last time, South tried a diamond to his King but no joy there as West produced the ace. To play back a spade for his partner to ruff. Actually a low spade as a suit preference signal to suggest another diamond play.

Diamond to the Jack for a second spade ruff with the club ace completing a six-trick haul and 800 points to East-West.

Unlike the reaction so often generated by Geraldine/Flip, North felt no humour or entertainment value in South’s “inspired” bid!

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