If anyone West, but really I think this is "one of those things." Why West? Because looking at his hand, it seems there's a good chance both sides have a double-fit... at the very least, the 5th spade and the diamond fit are completely unknowable to East.
To put it differently: East knows there is at least a 4-3 spade fit but that's all he knows. West is the only one with reason to suspect that N/S might have a lot of tricks in the rounded suits combined.
I cannot blame East for passing the double. He's looking at two aces including trump control, and the 1♠ bid could be a bad 4-carder (or spades could be splitting 1-5). Might easily be worth -300 with no game on for E/W.
I can't see a double on this hand by West, at all. But it will happen at the table from time to time. Reverse West's minor suit holdings and to me the double is clear-cut.
Nevertheless I don't see any truly "bad" calls let alone egregious. Difficult choices, and this time it worked out poorly. My vote is unquestionably "No blame" but if I had to assign it with a gun to the temple, it'd be West.
ATB for EW
#21
Posted 2014-March-19, 14:02
There is a big difference between a good decision and a good result. Let's keep our posts about good decisions rather than "gotcha" results!