The 2009 Team Trials to select the U.S. representatives for the Bermuda Bowl in Brazil, took place this June. The Robinson and Nickell teams qualified.
Our team lasted 6 days, but were dispatched on the final deal of our match (with only six teams remaining). We trailed by a large margin entering the last segment of that match, so I was in "swing" mode when I picked up:
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With both sides vulnerable, my LHO opened 1![]() RHO responded 1 Of course, it is very normal to Pass and await partner's lead. |
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
David | Larry | ||
-- | -- | -- | 1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass | 2NT |
Pass | 3NT | Double! | All Pass |
However, you know what partner's lead will be. Surely, he will lead his best suit, and that is maybe 95% to be clubs (based on your singleton). Rather than be disappointed yet again by partner's lead, I took a chance. A big chance. I doubled. Such a double calls for the lead of dummy's first-bid suit--hearts. It's not like I had good enough hearts for this action (nor a good enough hand), but our team was in need of a swing. We trailed by 30 IMPs at the time late in the match. It seemed like a good shot. (Earlier in the match, this would be a poor action--on a bad day, the 3NT bidder has a 12-count and redoubles for some score you have to look up).
This was the full deal:
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David duly led the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
At the other table, my teammate was not doubled in 3NT (of course). He was treated to a low club lead, won by dummy's ![]() |