BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x J 8 6
u 9 7 6 4
v J 8 2
w 8 7 2
WEST EAST
x 10 9 7 5 x A K 4 3
u A 3 u K Q J 2
v 5 3 v 7 6
w A K 10 5 4 w J 9 6
SOUTH
x Q 2
u 10 8 5
v A K Q 10 9 4
w Q 3
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass Pass Dbl
Pass Pass Rdbl Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: ?
One might expect the level of bridge in the finals of the Life Master Pairs to be the highest. Once in a while, something occurs that qualifies a hand for one of the worst all-time disasters. This one is amongst the latest to challenge for the title.
It all started when South, rather than starting with a sensible bid of one diamond, elected to open with an off-kilter one no trump. East backed in with a balancing double, and prudence might suggest that South should run to two diamonds. However, our South elected to pass and West was delighted to convert to penalties. Why North elected to redouble for rescue with a balanced hand and not even a five-card suit is a mystery that still has not been explained. And even if South thought it was because North was happy with the contract, there is no reason why South should be.
It might seem that, with the ace of hearts as a side entry to the clubs, West might have elected to lead a top club. With that lead, or indeed with any card other than a low club or a diamond, the defenders would have been able to take the first 11 tricks for a 1,400 penalty. Instead, declarer won the first trick with the queen of clubs and rattled off six diamond tricks for a score of plus-760. Looking at all four hands, who would have thought that North-South were going to rack up a vulnerable game?
XThis column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680
& copy;2003 Tribune Media Services