Bridge

I always find it fascinating to look at a hand from match-play and try to decide which were the words bids. Try your luck on this deal from the Philip Morris European Mixed Teams Championship played in Monte Carlo in a match between two of the leading teams.

Open Room:

(NS: Italy; E-W: Denmark)

West North East South

Pass

1! 1NT 24 Pass

Pass! 32 Pass 3#

44! Pass Pass Pass

Closed Room:

West North East South

Pass

1H 1NT 24 3#

44 52 54 Pass

Pass Pass.

At both tables 10 tricks were made - a big swing to Denmark. Now which do your rate the worst bids?

Eliminating the 1NT overcall which we find at both tables - not everyone's choice - we are left with:

Open Room:

(1) West's pass of Two Spades. It worked out well (courtesy of North) but could have missed a vulnerable game.

(2) North's re-opening of Three clubs against a part-score.

Closed Room:

(3) North's plunge to Five Clubs.

(4) East's failure to double Five Clubs for a healthy penalty and, instead, choosing to wander on to a hopeless Five Spades.

I think that I would give (4) a slight edge on the horror scale, closely followed by (3) - which again worked well in practice - and (2). One thing is certain: everyone will have different views on the magnitudes of the various crimes.