The Lederer
BEST DEFENCE
Howard Melbourne & Gary Hyett, Gold Cup Winners
Hand 10 Game All Dealer East
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Bidding |
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ª A 5 3 2 © A Q 10 9 6 3 ¨ 8 § A Q |
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W
1¨ 3NT |
N
1© Dble |
E P 1NT All pass |
S P 2§ |
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ª Q 4 © J 7 ¨ A K Q 7 5 3 2 § 7 2 |
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ª K J 9 © K 8 5 4 ¨ 9 6 4 § 9 5 3 |
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ª 10 8 7 6 © 2 ¨ J 10 § K J 10 8 6 4 |
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At several other tables North South bid to a major suit game which they had little trouble making (though 4 © can go off on accurate defence). But Howard Melbourne of the Gold Cup Winners team doubled 3NT and the defence were under pressure to defeat the contract.
The opening lead was the © 2 to the ace and Melbourne could see that the wrong switch could be very costly. If partner held, for example, ª KJxx © x ¨ xx § J10xxxx, then playing clubs would be very wrong. But he bravely played § A followed by § Q and Hyett remembered to overtake! Six clubs and two aces produced an 1100 penalty and the London team-mates who made 4© +1 were doubtless disappointed to lose 10 IMPs.