Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Ignominious Defeat
S
-
H
95
D
AQ9632
C
A10965
S
A2
H
AQ742
D
10875
C
K2
N
W
E
S
S
QJ108753
H
1083
D
J4
C
3
S
K964
H
KJ6
D
K
C
QJ874
Ripley, as usual, were sliding to defeat in their match against Rolls Royce, when Jeff Calladine (South) at last managed to turn things round.

Steve Cave (East) opened a fairly normal 2S (some cavaliers might have opened 3S).

Jeff (South) and Derek Brooks (West) passed and Roger Eley (North) bid 2NT, showing the minors.

This somewhat unusual treatment had been agreed beforehand by NS, but aging Jeff's short term memory problems meant he forgot and he treated it as natural, bidding game.

Roger wasn't keen on this and bid 4D, intending to bid clubs later if things turned nasty.

Jeff thought this was a slam try and compounded his felony by bidding 6NT.

Naturally, Derek felt his two Aces justified a double and Roger now got round to mention his second suit.

At last, the penny dropped and Jeff passed. Derek of course doubled again.

Steve led the sensible Q spades. Roger ruffed this, crossed to the K diamonds, finessed the club, and set up his long diamond, allowing South's hearts to be discarded for 13 tricks and +2380.

This fully deserved success was rewarded by Ripley's 20-0 defeat being reduced to a 16-4 defeat.


Dealer: East
Vulnerability: Game All
West North East South
- - 2S Pass
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
Pass 4D Pass 6NT
Dbl 7C Pass Pass
Dbl Pass Pass Pass