BRIDGE

When the distribution runs wild and the bidding is hotly contested, experienced team players recognize that it’s often a good idea to make every reasonable effort to buy the declaration.

You might not always make what you bid but you will usually preclude a huge disaster if the other side is due to find a “lucky” lie.

In an early round of the World Mixed Teams in Wuhan, China, Team Canada did very well by following the when-in-doubt, bid-on strategy.

When Sandra and Doug Fraser (Victoria, B.C.) held the North-South cards, West intervened with a minors showing overcall but North persevered in hearts.

Back to West for a possible second kick at the can: this time a double to show extra values and seek partner’s input.

The Latvian East decided defending would be best and, looking at all the cards, that decision was accurate as South appears slated to lose two spades and the ace of clubs. Assuming, and it’s a very big assumption, that West choses a black ace for an opening lead.

But the strong three-card diamond sequence proved irresistible and on the lead of the King of that suit, away went a spade loser from the South hand and +850 was the Frasers’ reward for soldiering on in the auction.

The auction started identically at the other table but the veteran B.C. partnership of Rhonda Foster-Gerry McCully had seen too many ugly results accrue from choosing to defend with a big undisclosed fit for partner so East took out the cooperative double to six diamonds.

Down one when the club finesse failed but still a huge gain for Team Canada. It really is a bidder’s game!