Much has been said about growing number of conventions entering into bidding process in bridge since the last four decades. And no doubt, these conventions have inducted sophistication in communicating the type, strength and distribution of card holding with desired exactitude than it was possible in their absence. The playing techniques have also vastly improved over the years. In fact, a perfect combination of relevant convention and good technique produce successful bridge play.

The following deal, which was played between the teams of Greece and Holland in the European Open Team Championship in 1971, in Athens, reflects the conventional bidding in vogue in Europe at that times which was fairly illustrative of the shape of the hand but lacked intended message.

West lead heart Q

On the lead when the dummy came down, the Dutch declarer realized the partnership had gone overboard by one trick as he could count 11 top tricks only. Six clubs, 2 hearts,1 diamond and the Ace of spades and one spade ruff in the dummy. The twelfth trick to come from a successful finesse of queen of spades, which the double of 4 spades by West was bound to fail. But the fighting spirit of the Dutch declarer did not surrender until he exhausted his playing technique to bring about the contract and in trying to compensate for a slight lapse in bid.

Having won the first trick with the dummy's ace of hearts, he played the ace of diamond at trick 2 and ruffed small diamond in hand. Then crossed to the dummy twice in trumps and ruffed two more diamonds. Now dummy had more trumps than in hand, so after cashing the ace of club went over to the king of hearts and played of the 7 5 of clubs discarding last two hearts and leaving this position:

With the result, the double by west went by default and guided the declarer to resort to dummy reversal, which also applied squeeze on the west. Thereby, the urge of the west to double was a technical fault as the cue-bid in spade by south was mere control-showing, which should not have been doubled to alert the declarer that he may have gone wrong on presuming the finesse in spades might have worked.

The technique of play amply paid off which made up for the dubious bidding and the contract was home with the pat on the back of the Dutch player.

A double of a slam contract was, however, honest and rewarding often guide the discerning declarer to properly adjust the line of his play.

Dealer South:

Vulnerable both sides:

The bidding:

====================================

South      West      North      East

Dutch      Greek     Dutch     Greek

1 C        Pass       1 D       Pass

3 C        Pass       4 C       Pass

4 D        Pass       4 H       Pass

4 S        Db l       5 D       Pass

7 C        Pass      Pass       Pass

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North

S 2

H 3

D -

C -

West

S K

H 10

D -

S -

East

S 10 8

H -

D -

C -

South

S AQ

H -

D -

C -

Golden Tip: The doubling of the contract for gaining a trick or two is better to be avoided.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004