Bridge - The Scotsman 03/08/12

A penalty double can be rather expensive if it tells declarer how to play the hand.

On this deal from the European Championships West made an aggressive raise to game, apologising when dummy went down. But the double strongly suggested a 5-0 trump break, and when South did not lead a diamond, there was an inference North had a top diamond as well. That meant South’s double was thin, making a heart void even more likely.

South led the three of spades, and North carelessly wasted the jack. Declarer won the king and finessed the nine of spades, then led the ace from dummy. North ruffed with the six, overruffed with the jack. Declarer’s next move was to lead the jack of clubs. South had to take the ace on this round, or the next. She led another spade, ruffed with the eight and overruffed with the queen. Now declarer finessed the ten of clubs and cashed the king, discarding a diamond. She played another club from dummy, and North ruffed again, overruffed, to reach this position:

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Declarer has made seven of the first eight tricks, and can play a heart to the seven and ace. She ruffs the second round of diamonds in dummy, draws the last trump, and cashes a club. Perhaps not a line you would find without the double!

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