The choices we make

When I used to play bridge a lot more (and a lot better) than I do now I used to think about the choices that I was making. I would have a decision to make and I could go one way or the other. On a good day I went the right way most of the time.

This is a deal from the Spingold Semifinal match Grue versus Schwartz. North is vulnerable against not and West passes in first chair.

 

What do you do?

One could come up with an argument for 1♠ , 2♠  or 3♠  or even pass. Of course partnership agreements affect your decision. I remember losing a board when an opponent opened 2♠  on a hand like this and stayed low when the field got too high. Her argument was that 7-2-2-2’s should be downgraded. The diamond QJ doesn’t look particularly attractive either.

Have you picked your poison?

In the Open Room Bessis opened 3♠  which I personally like. The spades have good texture and while the ♣ A is a surprise, partner would expect a hand as good as this, in playing strength, at this vulnerability.

Lindqvist, East passed and so did Betheau, South. Now it was up to Brogeland. He held:

 

Would you bid now?  Partner isn’t going to expect too much because you are a passed hand and he knows you are protecting. This choice seems easy to me, probably because a) I am not at the table and b) I am looking at all the hands. I would pass. It might be wrong some day, I do have that stiff spade but it might be right to pass in several ways. 

When you bid at imps you aren’t really fighting for the partscore as you might at matchpoints. Your concern is more that your side is missing game and if your partner has the right hand (say a decent opening bid with good hearts) he would already have bid.

But I know Brogeland. He is a very thoughtful player and I am not really trying to second-guess his thought process. He made his choice and doubled and I know he had good reasons for it.

Lindquvist, facing a passed partner, had nothing sensible to do but pass.

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Now the third big decision on the deal. What do you lead? Hands up anybody who lead a heart. I don’t think even David Bird’s  magic lead program would find a heart lead. Anything else lets it make.  If you lead a spade honor you will hold it tight and any other lead allows an overtrick.

 The whole hand was:

In the Closed Room Graves chose to open 2♠  and Moss with the West hand doubled. Is it more obvious or more “right” to double over 2♠ ?  I think the double of 3♠  is more likely to be left-in (although as a passed hand it is clearly protecting partner). Anyway Grue, East, wasn’t tempted to sit and he bid his four card suit, 3♦ . I think all of us would have made this choice.

3♦  drifted off one but 3♠  doubled making an overtrick was worth 930 and a big 13 imps.