Bridge - The Scotsman 10/06/13
The Harrison (Scottish and Life Masters) went to Iain Taylor from Mike Smith; the Shenkin (Masters) was won by Ann Gray (Dundee) from Junior international Abigail Wilson; Fairlie (up to District Master) by Gillan Godfrey Glasgow) from Mary Volume.
On this deal everybody played in a spade partscore. West led the obvious queen of diamonds, getting an encouraging signal from partner. When the queen scored he continued with the jack and a third diamond, ruffed by South. Alex Adamson crossed to the ace of heart to lead a club, ducked to West. At this point a trump switch is required. Declarer wins in dummy and leads a second club, and East must be awake enough to rise with the king – only he can play the second trump that holds declarer to eight tricks.
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Hide AdEverybody in the Benjamin made nine tricks: either West did not switch to trump, or East failed to rise with the king to lead the second trump. The Pairs double of 3S netted -730, but that was not the worst East-West score. At one table where West doubled 2S for takeout North passed, and East, unsure what the double meant, left it in. This was unwise with no semblance of a trump trick: the overtrick meant -870.
Some sound advice for those playing in an unfamiliar partnership: when in doubt, a bid is forcing; when in doubt, a double is takeout.