What should I bid? (November 2015)
The best submission for November came from Margaret Foster. She wins a voucher of $30 funded by TBIB, toward any purchase made at the Bridge Shop or Paul Lavings Bridge Books.
I am the dealer at West, all Vulnerable holding:
♠ A10752
♥ AK98
♦ –
♣ KJ98
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠ | 2♦ | Pass | Pass |
| X | Pass | Pass | 2♥ |
| X | All Pass |
We play standard with 5 card majors. My partner had
♠ Q43
♥ –
♦ QJ9862
♣ AQ42.
We took 2♥ doubled off only one for +200 but we can make 4 or 5 spades for +620 or +650. Should I not double with a void in diamonds? Should my partner support my spades with a void and 3 card support? Should my partner pull my double of 2♥? I thought she would be short in spades. I would be grateful for your advice.
With thanks,
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
Sometimes it is not a good idea to double with a void mainly because you won’t be able to play a trump through declarer. However, sometimes doubling and defending the opponents contract doubled is the best possible score that you can achieve, so it can also be the right action.
Here, doubling 2♦ is certainly fine. If partner has a trump stack (and spade shortness), you will have ♥AK as additional entries (plus the possible ♣K too) to give partner ruffs.
Once your RHO runs out to 2♥, I think doubling this is also OK – I mean, it can’t be all that bad when you know the diamonds are badly placed for declarer, plus you have AK98 of trumps! However, once you doubled 2♥ for penalties, this doesn’t mean that partner must always pass – in fact, your partner should definitely remove the double and probably jump to 3 or 4♠. Your partner knows of your spade fit, and also that when you double 2♥, you are very likely to have only four trumps so the opponents have found their saving grace of a 9-card fit in 2♥, thus it won’t be profitable enough to defend 2♥X. Whilst it’s true that you may still have a five-card heart suit, I would imagine it would be quite rare.
I think your partner’s pass of 2♦ was reasonable, trying to defend 2♦X and collect a large penalty, but once the opponents run out to hearts, you partner should now remove it and jump in spades.
Hope that helps,
Andy
