Page 9 - ABF Newsletter February 2025

Semi-final: Ashton vs Yoshka.
WEST NORTH EAST Harrison Hans Hung
1NT pass 3NT
SOUTH Smirnov
pass all pass
South led a diamond against 6[, and declarer had time to set up clubs for a spade discard (and a dia- mond discard) to score 1430 and 13 imps.
It’s hard to fault the diamond lead. South’s shock- ingly wild vulnerable 1] overcall set the defence up nicely: his partner had a chance to redouble 1] (which would show an honour in some partnerships) and also had a chance to double the 3] cuebid. In the absence of either of these encouraging efforts, the fatal diamond lead is perfectly reasonable.
My question is: is doubling 3] worth the risk? If you warn the opponents that they are getting a spade lead, they might decide not to bid the slam. This would mean that you aren’t at risk of scoring -1430, but it also means that you will never get +100 (in the cases where partner was planning to lead a spade against 6[ without your help).
At best, I think East’s 6[ was a gamble; East was hoping to find West with the ]K and {A ( just losing a spade) rather than the actual layout with a loser in each suit. A double of 3] from North would have been disconcerting for East, adding ]Ax with North as another danger in bidding 6[.
Is it better to scare the opponents out of the slam, and settle for a moderate -650, or let them bid slam and just hope that partner finds the right lead?
On balance, I think North’s priority should be to help his partner, as opening leads are one of the most difficult parts of the game. This is why lead-directing doubles are so prevalent in the USA.
This tricky subject was discussed in great detail in the June 2021 issue of Australian Bridge Magazine, in an article called Delayed Lead Directing Doubles. The article proposes a convention that allows you to keep your plans for the opening lead a secret until after the opponents have committed to a final con- tract.
In closing, I’d like to congratulate Laura Ginnan and her team on an extremely well-run Summer Festival with a pleasant and lively atmosphere. Using her considerable skills developed over years as conve- nor of Youth Week, Laura did a wonderful job in spite of the tragic loss of one of her close friends at the start of the event. Laura’s attention to detail was so great that when I spilled my partner’s coffee all over him at the start of play in the quarter-finals, Laura appeared seconds later with a towel, a phone with which to arrange a change of clothes, and a re- placement coffee. Truly a five-star event.
Yoshka (pictured on our front cover) won their semi-final with a one-imp win over Ashton, and beat Dalley in the final 133-102 to take the title.
Page: 9
With 25 HCP, East-West quickly bid to 3NT. This con- tract can be beaten on a spade lead (or a heart lead and spade switch) but North had no information from the auction and led his best suit, a club. The result was 600 to Yoshka.
At the other table:
WEST NORTH EAST Beauchamp Milne Ashton
pass 1] pass all pass
SOUTH Coutts
1[ 2]
With only 15 HCP between the two hands, as well as favourable vulnerability, North-South were strong favourites to win this board after finding their spade fit so quickly. 2] turned out to be unbeatable, for +110 and 12 imps. If East-West had somehow man- aged to get into the bidding, North would have had no trouble beating 3NT after this auction.
This deal illustrates an interesting point of bridge philosophy: is it better to find your spade fit, and possibly scare the opponents out of 3NT, or is it better to stay out of the auction, let them bid 3NT, and hope that partner can find the winning defence on his own?
Sartaj Hans faced a similar dilemma on this slam deal from the quarter-final.
Quarter-final: Ashton vs Doecke.
Board 23. Dealer South. Both sides vulnerable.
]Q6 [976
} Q 10 6 {A8532
]AJ75
[543
}K5 }A73 {KQJ7 {6
]K9842 [— }J9842 { 10 9 4
WEST Wiltshire
1{
dbl support
2NT
3] cue bid
5{ one or four
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: February 2025
NORTH Hans
EAST
M Smith
SOUTH Smirnov
pass 1] pass pass pass all pass
pass pass pass pass pass
1[ 2] 3[ 4NT 6[
] 10 3
[ A K Q J 10 8 2