Neither side vulnerable. South deals. NORTH S: Q 4 2 H: A D: Q J 10 9 7 3 C: J 5 3 WEST EAST S: 9 7 S: J 10 5 3 H: K Q 10 9 4 3 H: J 7 D: K D: 6 5 4 C: K 8 7 4 C: 10 9 6 2 SOUTH S: A K 8 6 H: 8 6 5 2 D: A 8 2 C: A Q SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1NT Pass 3NT Pass Pass Double (All Pass) Opening Lead: KH This hand is a perfect example of the strange game we call match point duplicate bridge. If you saw all of the cards you could bid and make six diamonds. If all you could see were the North-South cards you might still bid six diamonds because you would only need one of the two minor suit finesses to work to make the contract. This would be a seventy-five per cent probability. The problem is that once you start investigating for the diamond slam you may decide that you want to stop in game and if you are beyond three no trump (in the bidding) you may wind up in five diamonds. If you can make twelve tricks in diamonds your score would be +420. If you make only ten tricks in no trump your score would be +430, so you are punished for winding up in a diamond contract. Because of this, it is very difficult to bid a minor suit game or slam when three no trump is even a slim possibility. In the hand shown, West decided to double three no trump. Barbara Greenspan of Beachwood was the declarer and the opening lead was the king of hearts. She won the opening lead in dummy and stopped to consider why West would double what appeared to be a pretty solid contract. The only logical conclusion was that West had a long heart suit and the two minor suit kings. If that was the case, there was only one way to play the hand. Accordingly, Greenspan called for the three of diamonds and when East played low she put the ace on the table. The king of diamonds fell under the ace and the contract was made with two over tricks for a top score. There are two important points here. 1. Do not double a contract when that double could draw a road map for declarer. The exception to this is that it is permissible to double when the road map doesn't matter. 2. As declarer, listen to the auction and read any road maps provided by the defense. At times, you may be required to determine if the road map provided was really a true map or a devious detour that should be avoided. ________________________________________________________________