Come on in

Every so often you open your mouth then suddenly wish you didn't. Happens to me daily. Teams is much better at producing these situations than pairs because everything can go so much worse. Here's an example from the NZ teams qualifying.

Vul: NS Dealer: West	♠ T 9 7 6 4 3 2 ♥ A 6 ♦ A 8 7 ♣ 8
♠ Q 5 ♥ K T 8 2 ♦ Q J 9 5 ♣ K Q 9		♠ A K J 8 ♥ Q 9 7 4 ♦ T 2 ♣ 6 3 2
	♠ - ♥ J 5 3 ♦ K 8 4 3 ♣ A J T 7 5 4

West	North	East	South
1♦	Pass	1♥	?

The South hand doesn't look bad. Maybe a sneaky 2♣ overcall will secure the lead. Problem is partner might feel the need to show their spades. That will get doubled and you'll have to run back to clubs. Then you'll go for 500 when your opponents were about to stop in 2♥. Thanks guys, we needed the IMPs =)

Embarrassing stuff but there's worse to come on this deal from the Swiss Pairs...

The system I was playing contained a 2♣ opener that could be a weak two in diamonds. Over the course of the congress it was a game force more than three times as often as the weak two which seems counter-intuitive but I haven't worked out the proper expectation. The good thing is it raises the spectre in some minds that they're being swindled. Combine that with an inadequate system discussion and you get this:

Vul: Nil Dealer: East	♠ 2 ♥ T 7 ♦ A K J T 9 4 ♣ T 9 8 5
♠ T 9 ♥ Q J 8 5 ♦ Q 7 6 5 2 ♣ K 7		♠ A K Q 3 ♥ A K 9 ♦ 8 3 ♣ A Q 6 3
	♠ J 8 7 6 5 4 ♥ 6 4 3 2 ♦ - ♣ J 4 2

West	North	East	South
-	-	2♣	Pass
2♦1	X2	XX3	2♠
Pass	3♦	Pass	Pass
X	Pass	Pass	3♥
X	Pass	Pass	Pass

1. Passable by the weak two option
2. Explained as "Takeout"
3. 22-23 balanced with poorly contained grin

3♥ was not a success, ♣K lead followed by two rounds of hearts got the ball rolling. Four rounds of spades West ruffing were followed by three more clubs on the last of which West covered South's trump. That left my ♥9 clear to take an eleventh trick +1700.

2♦xx would have been an amusing challenge for partner. Too bad I'll never get to see that one played out.