28th April 2021


Dealer North
S
A976543
   
Love All
H
A4
   
    D 9
   
    C 1065
   
S
KQ108
    S
2
H
9753
    H
QJ1062
D
QJ32
    D
K105
C
A
    C
KQ97
    S
J
   
    H
K8
   
    D
A8764
   
    C
J8432
   

South
West
North
East


3S Double
Pass
Pass Pass


South
West
North
East


4S Pass
Pass
Pass


This deal is from a Manchester online league match a few weeks ago.

It can be strange where imps change hands.

Here North opened a fairly normal three spade pre-empt in one room, East judged that he was barely worth a double and West sensibly passed to ensure a decent plus score, instead of guessing which, if either, of four hearts or three notrump would make.  In fact three notrump makes but four hearts is off with North getting a diamond ruff.

In the other room North opened an undisciplined four spades.  East felt that he didn't have enough to compete and there it rested.

In both rooms declarer lost three club and three trump tricks for -300 in the first room, but only -150 in the second room for a 4 imp gain.
(Declarer could have made eight tricks on any lead but a low club, shortening his trumps by ruffing diamonds and then endplaying West).