Hidden Assets
by Mark Horton
As we are in Rome I can’t resist the temptation to
suggest that on this deal from Round 3 the East players faced
an ’eternal problem.’ Should you reveal your assets,
or keep everyone in the dark?
At high levels an awful lot of points may be resting on your
decision.
|
Board 18 - E/NS
|
| |
ª -
© K Q 8 7 5 3
¨ K 10 7 6
§ 5 4 2 |
ª Q J 7 6 3 2
© J 9 6
¨ 9 4 2
§ 7 |
 |
ª A K 8 5 4
© 10
¨ A Q J 8 5
§ 9 |
| |
ª 10 9
© A 4 2
¨ 3
§ A K Q J 10 6 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Nystrom |
Fantoni |
Bertheau |
Nunes |
| |
|
1ª |
2§ |
| 4ª |
5§ |
5ª |
6§ |
| 6ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
When North bids Five Clubs East is faced with a classic problem;
should he bid Five Diamonds, helping partner to judge what
to do if the opponents bid on, or should he keep the diamond
suit hidden?
This may not seem to be important, but imagine North had
bid Seven Clubs? Would West find a diamond lead? It is also
possible that showing your second suit might persuade North/South
to go quietly when you can make eleven tricks in spades but
not twelve.
You can readily make an argument for either action –
this time West was not tested. South led the ace of hearts,
and switched to the ace of clubs, +100.
You might ask what was so difficult, but then you may not
have noticed the results in the match between Haifa and Rotterdam.
Here are the auctions:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Westra |
O. Herbst |
Ramondt |
I.Herbst |
| |
|
1ª |
2§ |
| 4ª |
5§ |
5ª |
6§ |
| 6ª |
Dble |
All Pass |
|
The auction here was the same as on Rama, but the outcome
of the board was different when South, holding two aces which
both would have survived, led his singleton diamond instead.
De Lombard +1740.
At the other table:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| D.Yadlin |
Drijver |
I. Yadlin |
Schollaardt |
| |
|
1ª |
3ª |
| 4ª |
5§ |
5¨ |
Dble |
| 5ª |
6§ |
Dble |
All Pass |
This needs some more explanation. One might think 3ª shows
a solid suit and asks for a spade stopper, but in Rotterdam,
other ideas galore. The latest state of affairs seems to be
that 3ª now shows a spade stopper and requests partner to
bid 3NT if he holds any solid suit. If you don’t believe
this we can tell you that this alternative convention has
been spotted in Rotterdam not too long ago and, what is more,
it worked! The double of 5¨ also needs some explanation, as
it definitely was not meant for penalties, but instead conveyed
the message that South wanted NS to play a contract themselves.
Like South at the other table, East at this one believed his
two aces rather than the opponents’ frivolities. He
was soon to regret this as tjis slam proved really unbeatable.
So the Dutcvh recorded a fully legitimate +1210 to add to
the 1740 for a huge swing of 2950 or a rarely seen 21 IMP’s.
By the way, there was far less excitement at the other table
in my featured match:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Angelini |
Sylvan |
Sementa |
Sundelin |
| |
|
1ª |
2§ |
| 4ª |
5§ |
All Pass |
|
That rather unenterprising effort cost the Italian club 11
IMPs.
|
