Myopia

A column a few weeks ago considered the premise 'They never run'. Pertaining to the observation that thought it might be in their best interests, the side that finds itself in a doubled contract seldom seeks a better spot – even when one is available. I found myself on the wrong end of such an episode in the last county match – though not in typical fashion.

Dealer East,
EW Vul.
  • J63
  • K2
  • KQ852
  • A95
  • KQ85
  • J87
  • 7
  • J8732
N
W
E
S
  • 2
  • AQ10864
  • 1063
  • 1064
  • A10974
  • 53
  • AJ94
  • KQ
West
North
East
South
Cambs
Chambers
Cambs
Colley
—
—
2*
X
2*
X
Pass
4
!!
??

East's artificial opening included a weak two in either major and West bid two hearts 'pass or correct' – happy to play in whichever long suit his partner held. South's initial double showed some weak no-trump hand, say 13-15 HCP, or a 19+, mine was for take-out. I was wondering if the leap to four spades denoted the strong hand. So much so that I failed to see West's bid (in diagrams I usually employ the double question mark to indicate a problem – here it would be better used for uncertainty). In fact he had doubled and presumably everyone thought I was pondering a rescue when if fact I was thinking of a possible advance toward slam. In the end I passed – partner could have cue bid with the strong type I thought – and only at the end of the round when comparing scores found out about the double.

What would I have done with a smidgen of table awareness? With lots of high cards, West's double can only be based on trumps so I think it is very tempting to run here – redouble looks unwise, save that bid for distributional surprises. Escape but where to? Four no-trump looks quite a decent shot. It's a pity I didn't try Blackwood in my reverie for as my partner has 20-20 vision and had seen the double (bidding cards in use) he would have passed – it may have been quite a success for myopia.

Four spades was attempted at ten of the twelve tables, once six no-trump undoubled (!) down three, once two spades plus one. Of the ten, North made it once (ace of hearts lead) the remainder were defeated one or two yet we were the only pair doubled. Is the double so hard to find? West led his singleton diamond and got three trumps and two hearts for +300, pretty good reward for a little vision.

Published Saturday 21.Jul.2001