I always try to use the LAW when determining whether to sacrifice. A peculiar bid by my partner alerted me to the possibility of a magical fit on this week's hand, but I came a cropper anyway. I learned a valuable lesson.
Board #1
North dealer
Neither side vulnerable
| | North
♠ J x x
♥ K 9 x x
♦ Q
♣ K J x x x
| | West
♠ K x x
♥ A x x x
♦ x x
♣ A Q x
| | East
♠ A Q x x x
♥ Q J
♦ K x x x x
♣ x
| | | South
♠ x x
♥ 10 x x
♦ A J 10 x x
♣ 10 x x
| |
|
| | | | |
| South | West | North | East |
| | P | 1♠ |
| P | 2♥ | P | 3♦ |
| Dbl | 4♠ | 5♣ | P |
| P | Dbl | P | P |
| P | | | |
I was sitting North. East-West were not playing 2/1, and so West's 2♥ bid was just a temporizing call. It did not guarantee five hearts. She always intended for them to play in 4♠ or higher.
I had to wonder at my partner's double on his second turn. Did it show diamonds or clubs? If it showed clubs, why did he not just bid the suit? Well, at that point he would have had to bid 4♣, which would certainly have been dangerous. Neither opponent was limited. I could have nothing.
On the other hand, if the double showed a diamond stack, what did it accomplish other than to tell everyone where the missing diamonds were? I was uncertain. I could not visualize a hand that would impel me to play the red card at that point in the auction.
When West took her partner to game, it became pretty clear to me that partner must have both diamonds and clubs. I visualized a cross-ruffing orgy for us if I bid my long suit, clubs. So, I did, and West doubled.
I found myself playing in our eight-card suit with only 15 HCP. They had 25 points and a fit. Surely they could make a game in spades or notrump. So, my objective was to hold it to down two.
East led the ♥Q, which West won with the ace. She returned a heart. I won with the king, and east played the jack. My hearts were set up! I did not expect that to be so easy.
I led the ♦Q, and East covered with the king. I pitched two spades on the good diamonds. West elected not to ruff the third round. I then ran the ♣10 and ended up losing the two black aces and the ♥A. I actually took ten tricks with that assortment of rags. I was very proud.
When I unfolded the traveler, however, the smug look was wiped off of my face. 4♠ went down twice. We got a cold bottom.
I let my imagination get away from me. We only had eight trumps, and I was reasonably certain that they also only had eight trumps. East gave me a trick by covering the ♦Q. I should have only made nine tricks. The LAW says that in that case they only have seven tricks! Evidently the best defense (passive) was difficult to find.
I fought the LAW. You (and Bobby Fuller) know the rest.
If I had read my partner's bid correctly, I would have doubled to tell him that I had all the missing points. If he was sitting on six clubs, he could bid them. If he passed, as he undoubtedly would have, we would have finished in first place.