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Today's deal was played in the 1997 European Championships in Vilamoura,
Portugal. The featured auction took place in the Open Series match between
strong teams from Germany (North-South) and Sweden.
When you finish giggling, assess the blame for the North-South "disaster
that wasn't" i.e. East could have passed out 4
and collected a series of 50-point undertricks. In an impressive array of
ignoble candidates, what was the worst call in the auction?
Neither side vulnerable
South deals
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J 7 5 4
9 8 4
A 9 5 4 3 2 |
Q 9 8
J 7 5
K 8 5 2
J 10 8 |
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A K 10 6 3 2
6 2
Q J 6 4 3
|
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A K Q 10 3
A 10 9 7
K Q 7 6 |
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West |
North |
East |
South |
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1 |
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Pass |
1 |
2 |
4(1) |
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Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
4NT |
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Pass |
5 |
Pass |
6 |
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Pass |
7 |
Pass |
Pass |
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Pass |
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(1) Intended as void-showing
Opening Lead:
A
East's natural 2 overcall triggered a chain of events that would have to be
considered anything but natural. South intended his 4 bid as a void-showing
splinter in support of ... all the other suits. Unfortunately for him, North
deemed a jump to game in his suit to be eminently natural, and passed. East, who
shared the screen with North, would have been told that 4 was natural... had he
asked, but in search of untold riches, doubled for penalty. When the dust had
cleared, North-South had scampered out to warmer climes and scored up a cold
grand slam.
Kraft: This would never happen to our home bridge enthusiasts. South would not
dare jump to 4 on this auction and assume his partner could read it as a fancy
splinter in support of persons unknown.
Kokish: Yes. Although logic dictates that 4 should not be natural after East's
natural overcall, it is always dangerous to make an out-of-left-field artificial
bid that partner, under battle conditions, might well misinterpret as natural. I
believe in treating an expert partner like an expert and I must confess that I
have some sympathy for poor South. But not enough sympathy to endorse his action.
Kraft: But 4 was not the worst bid in the auction, was it?
Kokish: Nope. The worst bid had to be East's double. The double he intended as
penalty worked nicely as a 'takeout' double ... for his opponents. Gilding the
lily, greedy, naïve - call it what you want....
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