BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

SouTH opens 1 ♦ , and my somewhat naive question is: would you ever consider intervening with this hand? I SINCeRely hope not! However, West at the table did bid 2 ♣ , and the consequent penalty of 1,100 cost his team very dearly, when the opponents held — North: ♠ Q 10 7 5 ♥ K J ♦ 943 ♣ Q J 8 2 and South: ♠ AK3 ♥ A85 ♦ AKJ72 ♣ 4 3. The reason for West’s aberration is still obscure, because he is a competent, reliable and normally sound performer.

The conclusion has to be that even experienced campaigners can be subject to psychological pressure in the tight tournament situation of a ‘needle match’.

Presumably, his intervention was intended either to prevent the opponents from finding a major-suit fit at the one-level, or to direct a lead from partner when North became declarer. Alas, he did not consider the consequences!