We all know that sinking feeling when you "achieve" a truly awful result. The opponents were going down in their contract - and you "save", instead going for a number yourself. Or you pull out a wrong card and fail in a cold contract. Or you don't see partner's bid and miss a game. We've all "been there and done that" - and it's never fun.
Still, I would bet that none of us have experienced a horror like this one. And - in a world championship!
Check out this true story about a hand in the Venice Cup between the Dutch and Moroccan women.
This deal set at least two new world records. The penalty from four hearts redoubled was 3400 when the contract went six down, the largest recorded in world championship play. Moreover, North in effect made six consecutive calls that were transfers to spades, something no one has ever seen in any bridge tournament, whether a world championship or not. The swing to Morocco was 21 IMPs, which must have been a bit of a disappointment to the Dutch East-West.
Whatever your "worst" is - odds are high that this "worst" is far worse!
Not quite the worst I have seen. In a team game at the TCBC my RHO opened 2S in 1st chair, caught me with a balanced 25 HCP including AQJTX of spades. I doubled and LHO raised spades (RHO, a good player, had psyched, white vs. red)! Well, it rolled around to me, I X'ed again, RHO XX'ed (SOS holding only 1 spade, not picked up by his partner who had 4 small spades), and it was passed out. Down 8 - 4000! We made 12 tricks on defense. At the other table our opponents got into the wrong slam and went down 1, -100. +4000 and +100 = win 24 (the max).
Posted by: Steve Gaynor | Thursday, November 03, 2011 at 11:09 AM