Bridge

IF THEY OFFER, DO NOT BE SHY

Anthony J. D’Angelo, an education entrepreneur, said, “If life doesn’t offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one.”

But life does -- bridge. Also, if the opponents offer you the chance of a sizable penalty, take it.

This deal was played on Bridge Base Online. East was definitely worth a one-spade opening; that hand was too good for a weak two-bid. South would have been better advised to make a takeout double, especially given that his partner was a passed hand and he had no flexibility with his spade stopper. Agreed, he did not have four hearts, but if partner advanced in that suit, maybe he would have had five, or perhaps the 4-3 fit would have played all right.

After South’s one-notrump overcall, though, West was delighted to double. At three tables, East passed, but four times East ran to two spades, worried that he had opened a tad light.

If everyone had played perfectly, one no-trump doubled would have gone down three. Twice it escaped for down two, but at the last table it was even more expensive.

West led the spade jack, ducked to South’s king. Declarer played a diamond to dummy’s eight and East’s queen. East cashed his five spade winners. South retained three hearts and three clubs; West kept two hearts, three diamonds and one club; the dummy had three hearts, two diamonds and one club.

East shifted to a heart. South took the trick, cashed the club ace and exited with his low heart. West won the last four tricks with his heart king and three diamonds. That was down four, plus 800 for East-West.