BRIDGE

Advocates for the weak one notrump opening (usually 12-14 high-card points but, as here, maybe a “good” 11) claim they virtually never suffer a big minus score attributable to their favoured opening.

But they may have selective memories as disasters like today's do seem to occur with some regularity and, when they do, they can be very expensive indeed!

This one came up during the tightly contested semifinal of the 2020-21 Canadian Online Team League and it's on the record that East-West's team used the big swing on this deal as part of their winning margin.

After South deemed his modest eleven-pointer to be “good” enough for one notrump, West doubled and the only real question was in what strain would the North-South partnership land for the blood to be drawn.

North's initial rescue attempt (redouble) showed two unmatched suits (spades and diamonds or hearts and clubs) and his side did well to wiggle into their best fit.

But possession of eight combined trumps wasn't nearly enough to overcome East-West's overwhelming superiority in the high card department, not to mention the ideal placement of all of their assets. Final result? Three spade tricks (one via a third-round club ruff ), one heart, three diamonds and two clubs for down four and the dreaded sticks and circles, 1100 for East-West.

A huge advance on the

620 the other team's EastWest scored for bidding and making four hearts after an uncontested auction.

In my brief forays with weak notrump systems, one thing I really hated was to be in North's position and have partner open a weakie and have the next hand double: serious pain was sure to follow!