Too Good

2nd November – Board 9. East/west Game. Dealer North.

I can hardly remember seeing a hand as bad as West’s on the featured hand, yet strangely he had an important role to play.

	North: S K 10 7 4 H A K J D Q 10 9 4 C 6 2
West: S 5 3 2 H 8 5 4 2 D 6 3 C 8 5 4 3		East: S A Q J 9 H 9 7 D 5 2 C A K Q J 10
	South: S 8 6 H Q 10 6 3                    D A K J 8 7 C 9 7

West	North	East	South
	1NT	Dbl	Redbl
2C	No	No	2D
End

Of course at a lot of tables the contract would be 1NT X and West should be pleased that costs as little as -180, although East would have been slightly shaken at the outcome. However once South has redoubled West has to take action for the simple reason that if made, as likely, the opposition would have been redoubled into game. So 2C it is and fingers crossed and naturally East must understand that his partner is bidding from abject weakness, not strength. As an aside, many players cannot redouble for penalties in this position. Someone sitting not a million miles away from me now plays that redouble shows a long minor and asks partner to bid 2C which is either left or converted to 2D. 2C is Stayman and 2D and 2H are red suit transfers. As a further aside I see that East is too good. Give West the ten of clubs and he has an entry to push a spade through North.