Double Swing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32072, 21 August 1969, Page 8

Double Swing

optimistic contract. If for instance West makes the natural lead of a club, the declarer will put up dummy’s jack to win the trick. He will then knock out the ace of diamonds, to make four tricks in that suit Three in clubs and the ace of hearts brings the total to eight, and either the king of spades or the queen of hearts may provide tile ninth trick.

Conventional Double Any such possibilities were rudely shattered when East doubled the final contract. In the best bridge circles it is not expected that opponents will bid hopeless three notrumps contracts so a penalty double is a conventional call instructing partner to lead the first suit bid by dummy. While East certainly wanted a spade lead, the double would strike most players as being over-aggressive in view of the over-all weakness of the hand, but one cannot argue with success.

West duly led the jack of spades, and the declarer was faced with the unrewarding task of making the best of a hopeless prospect. He covered the jack with the king, allowing East to make five spade tricks, on which South discarded a heart, a club, and two diamonds. East switched to the jack of hearts, but the declarer put on the ace to lead diamonds. West could take the ace and cash the king of hearts, but South made the rest. In all he took two tricks in clubs, three in diamonds and the ace of hearts for six in all and three down doubled. The double had been very profitable for East, enabling his side to collect 800 rather than concede the 150 scored by South in the other room.