MADEIRA
BRIDGE
Taking a risk
Andrew Robson
THE best partnership in the world is Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell of America. This week's hand from the 1981 World Championship final between America and Pakistan will give you an insight into their unique style. You will see new-fangled ideas in the bidding, coupled with great aggression and risk taking.
Dealer West Neither Side Vulnerable South West North East IV 3V dbl 3NT pass pass dbl pass pass redbl pass pass pass
North's actions in the bidding seem incred- ible and require explanation. His 3V bid showed a solid minor suit and asked part- ner to bid 3NT with a stop in Vs, the oppo- nents' suit. When doubled, his redouble, far from expressing confidence in the con- tract, expressed doubt — an increasingly popular treatment in tournament play. South stood his ground, despite knowing that the minor suit that partner did not have was likely to be unstopped. The spot- light turned to West. West had to choose an opening lead and 3000 points depended on his choice. Rejecting a •, clearly North's suit, and a V, which South presum- ably had stopped, he had to pick a black suit. Eventually he led a4, concluding that South was likely to have a single stop in both black suits to stand the doubt-showing redouble — perhaps 4K and +A. Declarer won East's 4J with 4K and quickly grabbed his nine top tricks — +800 to America. Had West led a 618, the defence would be in a position to take five tricks; furthermore, by East leading VJ through declarer's MK, the defence could also take five V tricks. Down six redoubled would have given India 2200 much needed points — they lost the final comfortably.
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