Bridge

Any jump bid in hearts by North would be pre-emptive, based on distributional values rather than high cards. With a sound raise based on high-card points, North correctly launches his campaign with a cue-bid in the enemy suit. In this way the defenders can make both obstructive and constructive raises. How would you play 4H when West leads the queen of diamonds, East overtaking and playing two more rounds of the suit? What will happen if you ruff the third round of diamonds with the ace of trumps, to prevent West from overruffing? Most of the time you would survive. You would be able to draw trumps in two or three rounds and would lose just a club trick at the end. When the cards lie as in the diagram, you will go down! West will make a trump trick and you will still have to lose a trick in clubs. It costs nothing to guard against a 4-0 trump break. You must simply throw a club on the third round of diamonds, instead of ruffing. A fourth diamond from East poses no risk. You will ruff or overruff in the dummy, proceeding to draw trumps and claim the contract. The attractive thing about this safety play is that it costs you absolutely nothing! You were going to lose a club trick anyway.

Answer
If South had passed, you would have responded 1S. Now that South has doubled, you should make exactly the same response. Decades ago, players referred to this as a ‘free bid’ because your partner would have another chance to bid anyway and you did not need to struggle to keep the bidding open. Conse-quently a response of 1S would show extra values. This was always a poor idea. 1S will shut out a 1H response too.

Awards: 1S-10, 2D-5, Pass-3.

David Bird — Knight Features

HOME