“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same …” – Rudyard Kipling

As I look back 12 years to our loss to the Robbins team in the 1996 Trials (from where this week’s deals come), I see where a few swing deals might have changed the outcome of the match.

Today’s disaster is an opening-lead problem for West. Both sides vulnerable, your partner opens two clubs, which shows 11-15 points with six or more clubs and a limited hand, and the next hand bids four spades. It looks sensible to try five clubs, and now you hear five spades on your left, a very surprising call of five no-trump from partner, and six spades on your right. You elect to double, and lead … what?

At the table West led a club. Unfortunately for him he got his trump trick, but nothing more.

With no void of his own, you can argue that Larry Robbins’ bid of six spades was aggressive, but he would point to the scorecard. On a nondiamond lead (and that thoughtful five-no-trump bid was surely intended to show diamonds, even if the message did not get through), Robbins made up for his aggression in the auction by getting the hearts right, taking ace, king, and a heart ruff, establishing dummy’s jack as a home for the diamond loser.

Because his opponents were in game in the other room, Robbins gained a huge swing instead of losing an equally big one.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Your hand is too good for a simple raise to two spades, but also it is not just about spade support. Start by doubling for takeout and raise spades at your next turn to show your extras. In all such sequences, when the opponents bid and raise a suit, a double is takeout.