I don't often get emotional, but.

On this deal from the May, 2011 Team Trials, my teammate let me down. He held the West cards on this deal:

Vul: None Dlr: East	K 8 4 J 6 5 4 2 J 6 9 5 4
J 3 K 8 7 A 10 7 5 3 Q 6 3		10 6 2 10 9 K Q 9 2 A K J 7
	A Q 9 7 5 A Q 3 8 4 10 8 2

East dealt and opened 1 (systemically, 1 would have promised 5). South overcalled 1. What should West do? He could bid 2, but that would be forcing (showing 10 or more points) and might get the auction out of control. He can't make a negative double (not enough hearts). Raising clubs with only three also isn't great. Passing? I don't think so. So, he chose to lie about his spade stopper and he bid 1NT. I suppose I can live with that, though it would hardly be anyone's first choice. North raised to 2, passed back around to West:

West	North	East	South
		1	1
1NT!	2	Pass	Pass
??

Now, West said a dirty word. He passed! This, I cannot live with.

As I always preach: DO NOT LET THE OPPONENTS PLAY ON THE 2-LEVEL WHEN THEY HAVE AN 8-CARD FIT.

What should West have done at his second turn? Anything but pass. Double shouldn't be penalty (when they have bid and raised), so would be takeout. If he didn't want to double, he could try 3 of a minor. Maybe 2NT should be for takeout. Anything but PASS!

We can see that East-West do quite well in either minor (making 10 tricks for 130). Beating 2 a trick would yield +50--not the end of the world at IMP scoring; only a 2-IMP loss. But, things got worse.

West led a club and East won to shift to a trump. Declarer won the A and craftily led the Q from his hand. West won and (not realizing the heart threat) continued trumps. Declarer drew trump and claimed 9 tricks for +140.

I never complain or say much to my teammates, but I couldn't bear this -140. I gave West my usual line about selling out to 2: "Please balance--I'd rather you go minus 1100 than minus 110!"