Realizing that this hand doesn’t offer much to add, my feeling is that this specific hand reminds me of a glorious ballet, where the play of the cards (and, of course, the lucky defensive distribution) allowed the declarer, free rein to glide his way to a fulfilled contract with nothing more than careful timing, side suit establishment, and a happy and graceful landing.
Call it bridge grace or whatever may even sound better, but to be the declarer in such a position is, in itself, certainly worth the price of entry (but probably not to the unlucky opponents).
Iain ClimieJanuary 26th, 2021 at 6:04 pm
HI Bobby,
Credit to EW for not doubling 5C to be fair. West isn’t likely too with such a minimum but we all know East players who would add up their points, realise partner opened, reckon the CK could ‘be over the Ace and reach for the big stick. Any excuse for it, especially at pairs?
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJanuary 26th, 2021 at 6:56 pm
Hi Iain,
No doubt in a normal game between two above average pairs, 5 clubs would be doubled.
Why?, one may ask and, as well described by you, it sounds as if NS are taking a sacrifice (an advanced one at that, particularly on that specific vulnerability) but if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is one, only this time (with the column), the opponents ducked out (by not doubling) by either getting a few matchpoints, losing fewer IMPs or less money, but still being on the receiving end of a poor result, by, shall we say, by not ducking out, a distance away from that hand.
In answering your question about blame for doubling, no, methinks it normally should be whacked, and then after the result, quietly waddle away from what appeared to be a duck soup event, but turning out to be a ducking exception.
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Hi Everyone,
Realizing that this hand doesn’t offer much to add, my feeling is that this specific hand reminds me of a glorious ballet, where the play of the cards (and, of course, the lucky defensive distribution) allowed the declarer, free rein to glide his way to a fulfilled contract with nothing more than careful timing, side suit establishment, and a happy and graceful landing.
Call it bridge grace or whatever may even sound better, but to be the declarer in such a position is, in itself, certainly worth the price of entry (but probably not to the unlucky opponents).
HI Bobby,
Credit to EW for not doubling 5C to be fair. West isn’t likely too with such a minimum but we all know East players who would add up their points, realise partner opened, reckon the CK could ‘be over the Ace and reach for the big stick. Any excuse for it, especially at pairs?
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
No doubt in a normal game between two above average pairs, 5 clubs would be doubled.
Why?, one may ask and, as well described by you, it sounds as if NS are taking a sacrifice (an advanced one at that, particularly on that specific vulnerability) but if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is one, only this time (with the column), the opponents ducked out (by not doubling) by either getting a few matchpoints, losing fewer IMPs or less money, but still being on the receiving end of a poor result, by, shall we say, by not ducking out, a distance away from that hand.
In answering your question about blame for doubling, no, methinks it normally should be whacked, and then after the result, quietly waddle away from what appeared to be a duck soup event, but turning out to be a ducking exception.