The 2009 Team Trials to select the U.S. representatives for the Bermuda Bowl in Brazil, took place this June. The Robinson and Nickell teams qualified.
Our team lasted 6 days, but were dispatched on the final deal of our match (with only six teams remaining). We trailed by a large margin entering the last segment of that match, so I was in "swing" mode when I picked up:
| West | North | East | South |
|---|
| David | | | | | Larry | | | | |
| -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| Pass | 1 | Pass | 2NT |
| Pass | 3NT | Double! | All Pass |
However, you know what partner's lead will be. Surely, he will lead his best suit, and that is maybe 95% to be clubs (based on your singleton). Rather than be disappointed yet again by partner's lead, I took a chance. A big chance. I doubled. Such a double calls for the lead of dummy's first-bid suit--hearts. It's not like I had good enough hearts for this action (nor a good enough hand), but our team was in need of a swing. We trailed by 30 IMPs at the time late in the match. It seemed like a good shot. (Earlier in the match, this would be a poor action--on a bad day, the 3NT bidder has a 12-count and redoubles for some score you have to look up).
This was the full deal:
Vul: South
Dir: Both |  Q 10 9
K J 8 5
8 5 3
 8 6 5
| | | |
| |
8 7 3
Q 9
J 9 4
K J 10 3 2
| | | | | J 6 5 4
A 10 6 3 2
K 10 6
4
|
| | | | A K 2
7 4
A Q 7 2
A Q 9 7
| | | | |
| West | north | east | south |
|---|
| David | | | | | Larry | | | | |
| -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| Pass | 1 | Pass | 2NT |
| Pass | 3NT | Double! | All Pass |
| David duly led the Q instead of a disastrous club. I allowed dummy's K to hold the trick. Declarer decided to work on his best minor--clubs (note the spots). He finessed the queen and David won the K to play another heart. Declarer covered with the jack and I won the ace. I exited safely in spades and we ended up 500 (declarer laid down the A next--he wasn't happy). |
| At the other table, my teammate was not doubled in 3NT (of course). He was treated to a low club lead, won by dummy's 8. Declarer set up the diamonds (with a finesse) and guessed the hearts for 9 tricks and a 15-IMP gain. Unfortunately, we then went on to lose the match on the final deal. Instead of a trip to Brazil to represent the United States, we earned a trip home. |