This deal is from a
first round Crockford's match earlier in the month.
Psyching has long gone out of fashion as it tends not to be profitable and is bad for partnership trust. Here East's psyche of a one heart overcall after North (Tom Slater) had opened one club backfired in an unusual way. South (Alec Smalley) now bid two hearts to show a club raise to three or more and West's double showed moderate heart support and the other suits. If North South had managed to play in two hearts redoubled making twelve tricks that would have scored 2440. However, after a lot of control bids North cooperated with 5N over five spades and South, expecting two aces, the queen of clubs, another high card from North and a heart ruff bid the grand slam. This was a poor contract, but with everything lying well seven clubs rolled home. In the other room a more normal auction led to six clubs. Thanks to Alec Smalley for reporting this deal |