SOUTH opens a 15-17 point 1NT and, sitting East, you double the Stayman 2C response. What is the meaning of such a double? Against a weak notrump it is better to play that a double of Stayman (or of a transfer response) shows a hand worth a penalty double of 1NT. In other words, it shows general strength rather than a strong holding in the suit bid artificially by the responder. Since you are much less likely to have a penalty double of a strong 1NT, it is better for such doubles to be lead-directing. Here your double of 2C suggests a club lead. Partner duly leads the queen of clubs against South’s spade game. You overtake and cash two more clubs successfully, West throwing a low heart on the third round. What now? It is not possible to score a further trick from the side suits. You should therefore lead fourth round of clubs. It makes no difference that this will give declarer a ruff-and-discard, since he has no loser to throw. You hope that partner can ruff with the 9, forcing dummy to overruff with the 10 or jack. Your Q-8-6 in the trump suit will then be worth a trick and the contract will go one down.
What will you say now?
Answer It is still possible that you can make game. 3NT may stand more chance than 4H, since you will need one trick from partner instead of two. If you rebid 3H it is unlikely that you will get to 3NT when this is the right spot. You could start with a (take-out) double, intending to correct any diamond response back into hearts. I like better a rebid of 2NT, showing where your intentions lie.
SOUTH opens a 15-17 point 1NT and, sitting East, you double the Stayman 2C response. What is the meaning of such a double? Against a weak notrump it is better to play that a double of Stayman (or of a transfer response) shows a hand worth a penalty double of 1NT. In other words, it shows general strength rather than a strong holding in the suit bid artificially by the responder. Since you are much less likely to have a penalty double of a strong 1NT, it is better for such doubles to be lead-directing. Here your double of 2C suggests a club lead. Partner duly leads the queen of clubs against South’s spade game. You overtake and cash two more clubs successfully, West throwing a low heart on the third round. What now? It is not possible to score a further trick from the side suits. You should therefore lead fourth round of clubs. It makes no difference that this will give declarer a ruff-and-discard, since he has no loser to throw. You hope that partner can ruff with the 9, forcing dummy to overruff with the 10 or jack. Your Q-8-6 in the trump suit will then be worth a trick and the contract will go one down.
Answer