Bridge

North-South game; dealer North East was distinctly greedy on this deal: the fact that his opponents were vulnerable tempted him to make a close penalty double rather that try for a thin game or a safe part score. What was worse, his partner mistimed the closing stages of the defence.

North opened One Spade, East passed, and South decided to do the same. West’s reopening of One No-Trump in the protective position suggested 11-14 points and East chose to pass. He was convinced that he had done the right thing when South now tried Two Hearts which, when it came round to him he was eager to double. West led the ace of clubs against Two Hearts doubled and switched to a trump. East took his ace and returned the diamond king, which was allowed to hold. Declarer won the diamond continuation with the ace and ruffed a diamond in hand. Next he cashed the heart queen and exited with a club. West took his king and, possibly fearing that declarer might get a spade discard on the now established queen of clubs, cashed his spade ace. He continued with another diamond and declarer ruffed. This is just what South had hoped for. was now able to cash both the king of spades and the queen of clubs, and follow with a spade from dummy.

East with 108 under South’s J9, was helpless and South ended with eight tricks.

There were a number of ways in which the defenders could have done better. Even at the end, when West led his last diamond, a lead in either black suit would have defeated the contract. If declarer cashes the spade king and the club queen, he is left lead at trick 12, while if he shortens his trumps immediately by ruffing East can discard his remaining card in the other black suit.