Darkner Pass

Pages: Page 4 of 4

Dealer: North
Vuln: E-W
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spade3
  2. heart8 6
  3. diamond10 8 7 5 4 3
  4. club10 9 5 2
  1. spadeK
  2. heartA J 10 4 3
  3. diamondQ 9 6 2
  4. clubJ 7 4
club diamond heart spade NT
N - - - 1 -
S - - - 1 -
E 5 5 7 - 7
W 5 4 6 - 7
Green square in centre
  1. spadeA 8
  2. heartK Q 9 7 5
  3. diamondA K J
  4. clubA K 3

Contract: 7heart
Declarer: West
Lead: diamond5
  1. spadeQ J 10 9 7 6 5 4 2
  2. heart2
  3. diamond—
  4. clubQ 8 6
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
Pass 2club 5NT*
Dble Pass 6NT Pass
7heart Pass Pass Pass

* single suited pre-empt

No doubt you see the dilemma: if you double asking partner to make an unusual lead the opponents will probably convert to 7NT, which will be impregnable. If you don't double, partner could be hard pushed to find the diamond lead. When the hand originally turned up, South said a little prayer and made a Darkner pass. That's the opposite of a Lightner double. The fairy godmother of defenders was obviously listening because North led a diamond to put 7heart one down.

At the other table it was East who bid 7heart and South made a good decision to sacrifice in 7spade. He was pleased with his result.

Until he scored up.
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