Board 7. Dealer South. All Vulnerable. | ||
♠ A K Q 8 2 ♥ - ♦ A K 7 6 3 ♣ K J 3 | ||
♠ - ♥ A 9 8 7 5 4 3 2 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ 8 6 | ♠ J T 7 6 5 4 3 ♥ K J ♦ J 4 ♣ Q 9 | |
♠ 9 ♥ Q T 6 ♦ Q T 9 ♣ A T 7 5 4 2 |
West opened 3♥ and Doug, North, bid 4♥ showing a strong 2-suited hand. I bid 4NT which I hoped showed some values. I planned on raising the expected 5♦ to 6♦. West passed and Doug jumped to 6♦. When East passed I was not tempted to bid a grand slam -- with a really strong hand and first round heart control Doug could have cue-bid 5♥. Now West doubled, asking for an unusual lead. East had no trouble working out that this requested a spade, but when the ♥A didn't cash Doug took the rest of the tricks for +1540. He set up the ♥Q for his thirteenth trick, but even if West had exited with a low heart Doug could ruff three rounds of hearts in his hand to get a complete count.
You can see the results from all 11 tables here. Apparently some Norths overcalled a 4H opening with 4♠, not a successful approach here. In most matches we'd have won 13 or 16 IMPs. At the other table in our match, though, our teammate opened 4♥ and then doubled 6♦ for a push.
Did I miss an opportunity? I could have redoubled, but then EW might have run to 6♥ which goes for only 1100. If West runs, though, and Doug makes a forcing pass, I might try 7♣! In practice West is unlikely to run, since for all he knows he's going for 1700. If he does run I'm unlikely to bid 7♣, since West's void could easily be in clubs.
I don't follow all that, but the picture of the board sure is pretty!
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