The New York Times-20080124-Fourth Title Snatched From Fourth No-Trump

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Fourth Title Snatched From Fourth No-Trump

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It is unusual in any sport for a player to win an event three years in a row. To win four consecutive years is almost unknown. But last week Jay Borker of Greenwich, Conn., won the Friday Open Pairs at the District 3 Winter Regional in Rye Brook, N.Y., for the fourth straight year with his fourth partner. This time he played with Doug Doub of West Hartford, Conn. They finished nearly two boards ahead of Arch McKellar of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., and Warren Rosner of White Plains. Third were Richard Laufer of Hartsdale, N.Y., and Faye Marino of Greenwich.

The diagramed deal featured some interesting bidding.

Borker (North) and Doub were using the weak no-trump, opening one no-trump with 12-14 points. So North had to start with one club. South used an inverted minor-suit raise, promising at least four clubs and game-invitational or stronger values. South knew that if his partner had only three clubs, he would have 15 or more points, and they would presumably reach three no-trump.

Now West entered the auction with a two-diamond overcall, leaving North unsure what to do. He contemplated doubling, but was not certain how it would have been interpreted by his partner. (It ought to be for penalty.) He decided to make a natural rebid with two hearts, but I think a forcing pass would have been better. Then maybe South would have doubled because he had such a flat hand.

Two diamonds doubled can be beaten by three tricks for plus 800 if the defense takes two spades, three hearts, one diamond and two clubs. This requires keeping declarer out of the dummy, so that he cannot play a club toward his king. When West leads the spade king from his hand, trying to generate a dummy entry with the spade jack, North must duck.

After North rebid two hearts, South raised to three hearts to show where his values lay. Also, perhaps four hearts in the 4-3 fit would have been the best contract. North continued with three spades, nervous of bidding three no-trump with only ace-doubleton in diamonds. And South, feeling that he had denied a good diamond holding by not bidding no-trump earlier, converted to three no-trump. Whew!