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Double or Bid?

How dare the opponents bid over yours or your partner’s 15-17 1NT opener. Not just that, but they often seem to bid without what you might call a bit of extra protection! We live in New Zealand. So, “she’ll be right”! Why she?

The annoying thing is that often they are but you want to be able to catch them when they are not, especially when they are vulnerable. Can you?

 

Your 1NT opener shows 15-17. 2 is alerted as a single-suited major with partner's double showing values, though not necessarily diamonds. 2 is "pass or correct" style...and there you are in the pass-out seat. What to do?

The answer to this could depend on your methods. The meaning of West’s double is relatively normal so that even if you wanted to, there is no guarantee that bidding 3 will be the right thing to do. Partner’s double did not promise diamonds, just values, maybe one or both 4-card majors.

I do like the concept that once one partner has made a penalty double, subsequent doubles are for penalties (this is not quite true where our side has doubled 1NT for penalties. It is wise there to play the next double of a natural (ish) suit as take-out). Therefore, we could not double 2 here for penalties. Nor could partner double 2. Nor indeed can we, with much certainty.

However, our panel disagree with my view and play take-out doubles in the above auction….and also disagree with our pass of 2 a round earlier:

Michael Cornell “3NT: I shut my eyes and bid the same 3NT I would have bid on the previous round. I would play x from partner as take-out here. So, he figures to maybe have a spade card.”

JTx, Michael? Almost a card but a second hold for you.

Nigel Kearney “2NT: Our doubles are take-out style. So, I expect partner has three spades as well. (indeed, correct) That means 2 will struggle but it's too hard to get them when we both have three trumps. I am not forced to bid but I have a nice maximum and even opposite a motley Jxx Axxx xx Jxxx,I can probably scramble eight tricks and 3NT should have some play if partner has enough to raise.”

Partner’s hand was indeed within one card of your “motley” example.

Matthew Brown “3NT: I have a maximum opposite partner's values, cannot make a take-out X nor a penalty X (nor penalty pass if partner had made a take-out double.).”

Nick Jacob “2NT: I assume both partners had take-out doubles available over 2 and 2. As a result, I don't believe we should have passed 2. Partner could be stuck and might pass and we could miss game. If we weren't planning to pass a take-out double, we should have bid 2NT over 2 which describes our hand type and values accurately.

We can double or bid 2NT now. I don't think there's much between them. Normally if we double, partner will not have four hearts (no take-out double from partner) unless also holding spade length and a minimum hand, in which case we will correct to 3NT and probably go down. Neither option is better than bidding 2NT the first time.”

 

So, to a man (where were you, Julie?!), the panel play take-out doubles and felt we should have bid 2NT or even 3NT a round earlier. Whether your doubles are for take-out or for penalties, it is hard to know it is right to be penalising the opponents when both defenders have three trumps.

Was the panel correct?

 

Against 3NT, and a low spade lead from South, the success of the contract appears to depend on which minor suit declarer attacks. They have 8 tricks were South to give East two spade tricks. A diamond to the 9 would be great for declarer as even if South goes passive by exiting a heart, they will soon be end-played with A and a second club into having to lead a diamond or a second round of spades.

If declarer plays a club at trick 2, South will score 5 tricks before East can get 9, unless declarer runs their heart winners before playing a second round of clubs. South must find three discards which must not be in spades or clubs. Three little diamonds? Can East pick the bare K? Even these days, the opposition must have some high cards to overcall a strong no-trump!

Thus, 3NT can be made. What about those who have a go at defeating 2 x?

West’s 2 seems a good place to start. A wrong deduction from East should give the easiest defence. That lead looks like it is away from the king. So, insert 9 at trick 1..and East will be surprised where the king is! What can South do? Either play A and another or just exit in diamonds. Either way, the defence will take 2 trumps and 3 diamond tricks either immediately or later along with a heart and if West can resist the temptation of leading K, even two club tricks. That is a best case +800, certainly +500.

Assuming your declarer play is up to it, it looks like the panel’s choice of bidding on is best, unless you can get full value of the doubled overcall. The key, though, is to know what your doubles mean after the opponents dare to bid after your no-trump opening, whether it is weak or strong.

A declarer play problem for tomorrow: Pairs

 

The bidding was all natural up until partner’s 3 stopper ask. You have a good one, albeit only one but 3NT it is.

After the opening lead of the K, there is already one unhappy player, West, who will bemoaning why whenever they lead the K from presumably a five card suit, dummy tracks with the jack and declarer the ace!

You do not want to be the one moaning at the end of the hand, do you? So, plan the play. Oh we do assume that you win the first trick with A. East plays 10. If you were to play clubs, both defenders follow with low clubs on the first round..and East on the second.

Richard Solomon

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