NORTH's double on the second round was a Support Double, showing three-card heart support and a hand of any strength. The convention is quite popular in the tournament world. Had North bid 2H, 3H or 4H instead, this would have shown four-card heart support. South signed off in 2H and was raised to game by North. How would you play 4H when West begins the defence with three top spades? If you ruff the third spade, you are almost certain to go down unless trumps break 3-3. Since you will have an eventual diamond loser anyway, it makes good sense to discard this on the third spade. What is the point of such a move? You can then use the short trump holding, in dummy, to deal with any further spade attack. West in fact switches to a diamond. What now? You must deal with the blockage in the club suit. After winning with the diamond ace, you should draw two rounds of trumps with the ace and king. You then play two of dummy’s top clubs, both defenders following. Two more rounds of trumps are played and on the second of these you discard the blocking queen of clubs from dummy. The way is then clear for you to score three club tricks in your hand. The play is similar if West persists with a fourth spade. You will ruff low in the dummy, not minding whether East chooses to
overruff.
What will you say next on the West cards?
Answer With 10 points, opposite a reverse, you have enough for game. Indeed, for that very reason a reverse facing a two-level response is forcing to game. Since you do not know which game will be best, you should bide your time with 3C, a bid in the fourth suit. You hope that partner can show a club stopper by rebidding 3NT. Since the bidding is forced to game, it is also satisfactory to rebid 3D.
NORTH's double on the second round was a Support Double, showing three-card heart support and a hand of any strength. The convention is quite popular in the tournament world. Had North bid 2H, 3H or 4H instead, this would have shown four-card heart support. South signed off in 2H and was raised to game by North. How would you play 4H when West begins the defence with three top spades? If you ruff the third spade, you are almost certain to go down unless trumps break 3-3. Since you will have an eventual diamond loser anyway, it makes good sense to discard this on the third spade. What is the point of such a move? You can then use the short trump holding, in dummy, to deal with any further spade attack. West in fact switches to a diamond. What now? You must deal with the blockage in the club suit. After winning with the diamond ace, you should draw two rounds of trumps with the ace and king. You then play two of dummy’s top clubs, both defenders following. Two more rounds of trumps are played and on the second of these you discard the blocking queen of clubs from dummy. The way is then clear for you to score three club tricks in your hand. The play is similar if West persists with a fourth spade. You will ruff low in the dummy, not minding whether East chooses to
overruff.
Answer