In Round 9 of the Rosenblum, not for the first time in the history of bridge, the board carrying the number 13 was a dramatic one:
When South innocently doubled 2[C] West redoubled to offer it as a place to play. 2[C] redoubled is likely to make (declarer would have to be a little careless to go down) for +760 – hardly a disaster – but North’s decision to bid broke Burn’s Law of Total Trumps and turned a pinprick into a major wound.
East led the [D]A and switched to the [C]10, declarer winning with dummy’s ace and playing a diamond. East won and switched to the [S]3, West winning with the queen and returning the [C]J. East ruffed and played the [S]8, West winning and playing the [H]J. When it held he cashed the [S]A and continued with the six, East ruffing.
If East now plays a diamond the defenders will score three more trump tricks on a high cross ruff for six down and 1700,but when East played the [H]K declarer was given a thrid trick, -1400.
In the replay EW bid 1[D]*-2[C]*-2NT-3[S]-3NT for +660.
