Unwise doubling
Last week I considered when to double and re-double, stressing that it doesn't pay to double close games but – perhaps paradoxically – it can pay to re-double them.
A doubled slam, cited last week, is a special case of low-reward; if the opponents go down then you surely have a good result anyhow. Another side of the risk-reward equation is the high-risk doubling of part-scores. You can easily turn the opponents' harmless score of, say 110, into 470 or 670 and, if you have enough strength to beat them, you are giving up on contracts you can make. But there are rewards, the first steps into the auction are the ones in greatest peril. So, let's say partner has an opening hand, perhaps better, 15 HCP or so, how do you fancy defending a spade contract with this hand:
- A97643
- 1065
- 732
- 6
Two spades? Four spades? I held those cards and couldn't defeat either. This deal featured in the Suffolk Knock-out semi-final in which Green (R. Green / C. Bamberger, J. Orton / G. Beeton) took on Sutcliffe (D. & P. Sutcliffe, M. Allnutt, P. Gemmell, J, Gobert, C. Chambers).
Dealer East
- 8
- 9743
- AQJ105
- 942
- ---
- KQJ82
- K94
- KQJ85
- A97643
- 1065
- 732
- 6
- KQJ1052
- A
- 86
- A1073
1. Weak hand with long spades or long hearts
2. Spades – in fact, he might have tried 3♠
3. To defend 2♠ doubled if partner has spades else to play hearts
West led the heart king and play was swift and successful for declarer Jeff Orton of the Green team; he won, took a diamond finesse and ruffed a heart, finessed again and cashed the ace of diamonds. A heart would have ensured ten tricks but South toyed with the defence by playing another diamond. As East I discarded (hoping partner had a trump) and declarer was back on track – ten tricks made and +670 for Green. In the other room East passed and kept his side out of trouble, South played tamely in two spades for a peaceful +140 but 11 IMPs to Green. The match was very tight but Sutcliffe edged ahead in the last quarter to reach the final.
Published Saturday 4.Apr.2009