German
Disaster
By Mark Horton
Do you like using complicated
bidding systems? Or do you prefer to KISS? (keep it simple,
stupid!) Although today's experts spend many hours discussing the
meaning of their bids, they can't cover everything, and the more
complicated the methods, the more likely it is that the proverbial
wheel will come off.
Take a look at this deal from the
semi-final of the 1989 Venice Cup in Perth between the Netherlands
and Germany.
Dealer
East.
North-South Game.
|
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|
J
6 4 3 |
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|
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|
A K 9 3 |
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Q 5 4 2 |
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|
J |
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A Q 10 7 |
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K 9 8 5 2 |
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J |
|
6 |
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K J |
|
9 8 3 |
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K
Q 9 7 5 4 |
|
A
8 6 2 |
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- |
|
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Q
10 8 7 5 4 2 |
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A 10 7 6 |
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10 3 |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| van der Pas |
Zenkel |
Schippers |
von Arnim |
| - |
- |
Pass |
3
|
| Double |
4
|
Double |
All Pass |
Three Hearts was a two way bid,
promising either a preempt in hearts or a solid club suit. When
West doubled for take out of hearts, Sabine Zenkel
(now Auken) bid Four Clubs. She knew that if West had passed, this
would have asked her partner to pass with clubs, or otherwise correct
to hearts. When East doubled, Daniela von Arnim, imagining
that in view of West's double, her partner's bid was natural, passed.
North now assumed South had clubs,
and she too passed. If a trump had been led, declarer might have
been restricted to one trick, but East preferred a spade, and Auken
was able to scramble four, via two ruffs in dummy, and two aces.
In the cold light of day, West had made a take out double of hearts,
and East had doubled clubs for penalties. Was it still possible
for South to have a solid club suit?
Both the German players regard
this deal as their worst moment, and the bridge Gods took their
time before forgiving them. They had to wait until 1995, when they
were members of the team that captured the Venice Cup
in Beijing.
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