We must have played this disastrous hand upside-down because I held the South cards.
Board #20
West dealer
Both sides vulnerable
| | North
♠ Q J 9 4
♥ 10 2
♦ A 6 4 3
♣ Q J 6
| | West
♠ 8
♥ A 8
♦ Q J 10 9 8
♣ K 10 4 3 2
| | East
♠ 7 6 5 3
♥ Q J 5 3
♦ K 5 2
♣ 7 5
| | | South
♠ A K 10 2
♥ K 9 7 6 4
♦ 7
♣ A 9 8
| |
|
| | | | |
| South | West | North | East |
| P | P | P |
| 1♥ | 2NT | Dbl | 3♦ |
| P | P | Dbl | P |
| P | P | | |
Some Young Turks would probably open West's hand, but at our table South started the auction with 1♥. West's 2NT overcall showed at least five cards in both minors. North's double is part of the “Unusual vs. Unusual” convention. It indicated at least ten points and the perceived ability to defeat at least one of West's suits. It also denied three hearts and five spades. North's hand met both requirements at a minimum level.
I had little choice in passing 3♦ before and after it was doubled. Unless I had something dramatic to say about my hand, my partner's doubles committed us to defending.
Before leading I tried to picture North's hand. I hoped that he had two honors in diamonds and shortness in one of the majors. I wanted to see West's hand before committing to a specific course, and so I led my ♠A.
It was not a surprise that West had a singleton and a doubleton in the majors. The diamond suit was not exactly dominant, but it was impenetrably chunky. It seemed to me that North could only hope for trump tricks with ruffing or one of the two high honors.
The first trick collected North's 9 and East's 3. Unfortunately, North's signal was ambiguous to me. It could mean that he wanted me to continue spades, but it could also be suit preference for hearts, which would indicate that he had the king or a singleton.
I cogitated about what to do. I finally decided to switch to a low heart. East allowed it run to his jack, and the rout was on. In the end he harvested nine tricks and all the matchpoints.
Several things bother me about this hand. We can theoretically make 4♠ if I play it, and 3♠ if North plays it. I could have bid spades after the 3♦ bid, but it is not my usual style to introduce a four-card suit at the three level. If I had it to do over, I would have. If partner has even three pieces, we will probably be OK. If not, he can correct to notrump. On the other hand, everyone with our cards who bid went down. So, maybe it was right to pass.
I really do not know what to say about my decision to switch to hearts. Because I did not give sufficient weight to the possibility that North could have such a balanced hand, I squandered a great opportunity. Deep Finesse says that we should set 3♦ by two tricks. That would have turned our bottom into a near top. In fact, if we beat it by only one trick, we would have had a much better score.
I also wonder what would have happened if my partner and I had switched seats. I don't think that I would have doubled. I opened 1♥ in the fourth seat. Using Pearson points, I could have had as few as ten hcp. If I did, it is doubtful that even best defense could have defeated 3♦.