Short Suit Double Muffin Top - 21st January, 2012

County Pairs Qualifying - Session 1

 21st January, 2012.

Board 18
East Deals
N-S Vul		 ♠  K J 10 9 8 3 2
♥ A J 3
♦  A 8
♣ 5
♠ A 5
♥ Q 7 6
♦ Q 10 9 5 4
♣ K 8 3
N
WE
S
♠ Q 7 6
♥ K 8 4
♦ K J 7 3
♣ Q J 9
♠  4
♥ 10 9 5 2
♦ 6 2
♣ A 10 7 6 4 2
West North East South
McEwan Lomas Edwards Wright
- - 1NT (1) Pass
3NT (2) Dble Pass Pass
Pass - - -
  1. 12-14
  2. Poor bid - should have made an invitational raise at pairs.
  3. Asking partner to lead his shortest major.

3NT  by West - 4S  lead!!!
Three Down for -500


 For the 2nd time in the Pairs qualifying, Ron suffered from a singleton lead against his 3NT (see Howard's Ghost by clicking here ).

Ron's 3NT was a result of playing too many teams events. At teams, it is usually sound strategy to bid game at every opportunity. Because of the extra length in diamonds he promoted his hand to a 12 count and punted the game.

At pairs, the pay-back from bidding game is not quite so good and it pays to be more cautious; so Ron should have asked Richard to bid game if he was maximum.

Judy and David had agreed that a double of a freely-bid 3NT showed this very kind of hand, asking partner to lead shorter major. David duly led his spade and Ron had to go 3 off again - this time doubled!

The eventual Pairs winners, Don Smedley and John Griffin mentioned that used a similar double asking 'Partner, try to find my suit'.

If Ron had gone through the motion of raising Richard's 1NT, Judy almost certainly would have bid some number of spades (only 8 tricks on normal defence) and got doubled in turn (losing 22 MPs instead of gaining 22 MPs).