THE classical meaning of a double by North in this auction is that it is for penalties. There is nothing at all wrong in playing a double this way. An alternative is for a double to mean ‘I have extra values but no good bid to make’. In other words, it is for take-out. Yet a third meaning is currently very popular in the tournament world: when the opener might have made a single raise of responder’s suit, but chooses instead to double, he shows a hand with three-card support for responder. This convention is known as the Support Double. The hand may be of any strength. That will become apparent on the next round. On the present deal South jumped to 4H and West led the spade kin. How would you have played the contract? Keen to keep East off lead (because he would be able to play a club through the king), declarer ducked the spade kin lead. He won the spade continuation with dummy’s ace and turned his mind to drawing trumps. Since, again, he had no wish for East to gain the lead, declarer cashed the ace of trumps and finessed the jack in the South hand. As it happens, the finesse succeeded and declarer made twelve tricks. Even if the finesse had lost to a doubleton queen, the contract would still have been guaranteed. With West on lead, the defenders could take only one trick from the club suit.
What will you say on the West cards?
Answer When you respond to a take-out double you have two responsibilities. You must choose trump suit, or notrumps. You must also give some idea of your strength. If you respond 2D on this hand you will have performed one of your duties (choosing a trump suit) but fallen down on the other. The correct response is 3D, non-forcing but showing worthwhile values. You hope that partner can rebid 3NT.
THE classical meaning of a double by North in this auction is that it is for penalties. There is nothing at all wrong in playing a double this way. An alternative is for a double to mean ‘I have extra values but no good bid to make’. In other words, it is for take-out. Yet a third meaning is currently very popular in the tournament world: when the opener might have made a single raise of responder’s suit, but chooses instead to double, he shows a hand with three-card support for responder. This convention is known as the Support Double. The hand may be of any strength. That will become apparent on the next round. On the present deal South jumped to 4H and West led the spade kin. How would you have played the contract? Keen to keep East off lead (because he would be able to play a club through the king), declarer ducked the spade kin lead. He won the spade continuation with dummy’s ace and turned his mind to drawing trumps. Since, again, he had no wish for East to gain the lead, declarer cashed the ace of trumps and finessed the jack in the South hand. As it happens, the finesse succeeded and declarer made twelve tricks. Even if the finesse had lost to a doubleton queen, the contract would still have been guaranteed. With West on lead, the defenders could take only one trick from the club suit.
Answer