Suspicious Tails

Dealer: North
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: Pairs

  1. spade5 4
  2. heartK J 10 8 5
  3. diamondK J 4 2
  4. clubJ 9
  1. spadeA K J 8 7 6 3 2
  2. heart9
  3. diamond
  4. clubQ 7 3 2
club diamond heart spade NT
N 5 7 4 - -
S 5 7 4 - -
E - - - 4 -
W - - - 4 -
Green square in centre
  1. spadeQ 10 9
  2. heartQ 7 6 4 2
  3. diamond10 9 6
  4. club10 5

Contract: 5spadex
Declarer: West
Lead: diamond2

  1. spade
  2. heartA 3
  3. diamondA Q 8 7 5 3
  4. clubA K 8 6 4
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
2heart* Pass 3diamond~
4spade 5diamond Dble Pass
5spade Pass Pass Dble
End

* weak, could be 5 cards
~ forcing

At the table South doubled 5spade and netted merely 500.

Whether East's double was deliberate I know not, but let's assume it was. That being the case, it was an inspired example of a strip-tailed double - where a player doubles a five level contract knowing or suspecting that the opposition can make a slam. If the opposition redouble, the doubler turns like a stripe-tailed ape and reverts to partner's suit.
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