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BRIDGE
A bold bluff
Andrew Robson
THE COLUMN (August 17) in which East held all 13 spades (on a goulash deal) gen- erated considerable interest. After East had chosen to open 74, south had the wit to overcall 7NT and made it on normally insufficient values when East's hand had become frozen from the play. I commented that East would have done better to have opened 44 in 'an attempt to declare. But 44, as readers commented, may easily end the bidding — three levels too low. Per- haps it is better to open 14 or even to pass. However, opening 74 is not such a blunt sword if you are a poker player . .
The Bidding South West North East 74 7NT Double pass pass pass East's 74 opener was a brilliant bluff by advertising all 13 spades, South fell for the temptation to overcall 7NT. (West would not have a spade to lead and the contract may easily make if dummy tables a couple of useful honours). Guessing what had happened West doubled. You can imagine South's face when he saw West's opening lead — a spade! Not only did that mean that East's 74 contract was doomed to failure but worse — far worse — East reeled off the first 11 tricks and South lost a penalty of 3,200 points!
Sad to report, however, that Tony For- rester and I lost an even bigger penalty recently when playing an International match against Iceland — the 1991 World Champions. Tony had redoubled our 34 contract intending this to be an SOS for me to rescue the contract into another suit. He is still waiting! He played with great skill to garner three tricks given that his trump suit was 32 facing 8654, but that was 3,400 points to the opponents (needless to say we were vulnerable!).
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