Source: 14-28 June 1997 43rd GENERALI EUROPEAN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
What will surely be remembered as the most dramatic deal of the Championships took place in the Open series encounter between Germany and Sweden.
In theory North-South can take the first six tricks against Four Spades doubled, but only if the opening lead is a double dummy diamond. In practice it was even worse, as the defenders failed to find even one diamond ruff,so declarer was able to claim 10 tricks. +590 to Germany In the replay Four Spades also became a possible contract, but this time South would have been declarer! This was the remarkable sequence produced at the table:
West’s Two Spades was natural,so North thought it would be clear that he was making a cue bid when he leapt to Four Spades. South didn’t see it in that light, but West came to the rescue with a double that will surely cause him to have many sleepless nights. His double was for penalties but North promptly took it out! West could scarcely believe it when his opponents bid on to the cold Seven Clubs for +1440 and 19 IMPs.
In desperation he called for the Tournament Director.
Alas, all we could offer him was sympathy and a wry smile!
