Cavendish Teams Round 8.

Zimmermann butchered Diamond with a 52-0 win over nine board. Still the board I picked was a push. Not gaining IMP is the same as loosing except of course for the psychological value (yes, when you are ahead in a short game its’ quite different).

Board 16 started the same way at both tables. 1 spade was passed to South who doubled. Meckstroth bid two notrump while Helness was content with one. No difference since both played 3 notrump and made eleven tricks.

I think it was a good opportunity for both players to earn a handful of IMPs. Passing 1 spade doubled doesn’t look evil to me. Of course, from time to time they will make it with 3NT on. But usually you will collect enough to compensate for the game bonus which you might not bid or make. Even if they make 1 spade it’s just 180. This time on every normal defense declarer goes four down for an abysmal -1100 and 12 IMPs. Even if they manage to get to 2 clubs (seems impossible) at least 800 can be collected for 8 IMPs.

I think pass should be nearly automatic in this vulnerability while really bad in reversed (though this time it would pay as well). In equal vul seems a close decision (better in vul-vul than none).

East may have responded 1 notrump to make life harder for North-South yet it’s more likely to loose in this vul.