‘Greed is good,’ announced Gordon Gekko, in what became a definitive clarion call for the 1980s. But as we all regretfully know, greed often ends in disaster. Have you ever sat over a pint after the game with the hand records in front of you and said: ‘Jolly lucky I didn’t double that four spades. They could run to four no-trumps and make it!’
It’s true, they could, but in general they won’t. Successful run-outs occur rather seldom, but when they do they’re almost always spectacular. This hand from the World Bridge Tour in Copenhagen last month impressed.
West could have collected 100 in 5♥️ undoubled, but he understandably thought it could well be more and attached a double. Most players would shrug and pass this out, thinking they had done their best and it was bad luck if it went off. But Sweden’s Simon Ekenberg is not most players! He analysed the situation perfectly when he ran to 5NT, and West’s double was no surprise to anyone.
West found a decent lead when he selected the ♦️10, ducked in dummy and East’s King scored. He returned a heart and Simon let it run to West’s Queen, but that was the end for the defence. The next diamond was won in dummy and the ♠️10 finessed, bringing declarer’s total up to ten. With West in sole control of the three remaining suits, he gets well and truly squeezed even before the last spade is cashed. What a lovely and satisfying +870!
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