Dubious Logic

One good, one bad

It is tempting when the opponents are bidding away and our side has passed up the opportunity to get involved, to drift into reverie. They may be using conventional methods, artificial moves that are alerted, it seems an imposition to enquire. I've heard the less-experienced say, "We wouldn't understand anyway". Well, it's the opponents' duty to explain so you do understand. Those explanations shouldn't rely on knowing the names of conventions but be expressed in basic concepts, such as suit length and strength.

Assuming you are paying attention, what can you do? Firstly, I do think it helps to build a picture of the opponent's hands if you experience the same discovery they do. Secondly, if they bid a suit you'd like led, you can double. This is especially useful when their call doesn't relate to length or strength in the bid suit.

Two examples, one good, one bad: this was the first deal of a recent match,

1. 15-17
2. 5+Hearts
3. Artificial, invitational values
4. Balanced type

I was South and our system uses a 2NT rebid not as a balanced invitation to game but as something else (clubs, since you ask), requiring all invitational hands to rebid 2 after the transfer to hearts. But that's an artificial call and a weak spot; West doubled for a spade lead, East led the six and West ducked when declarer played the king. The contract collapsed to down three, EW +150.

In the other room, South rebid 2NT, played there, East led a diamond, North had no problems taking four hearts, one spade and three tops in the minors; NS +120 and 7 IMPs from nowhere. North's Pass without three hearts or a spade stop was sensible: I might have held a four-card minor.

The 'waiting move' after the double worked better here; from a recent international tournament.

1. Game forcing, clubs or balanced
2. Solid or semi-solid 6+
3. Control, 1st/2nd
4. Waiting
5. Not first round heart control
6. Asking for aces and K
7. Two of the above, no Q

I was East and expecting my partner to hold very little, wanted to help him out on lead. North's control appeared to be the king and to have a chance, it seemed we needed a heart lead from the queen. South passed to discover more and, paradoxically, that North didn't have the heart ace, was good news. Had a heart lead set up my king, South would need fast discards when a minor ace was missing. His possessing the heart ten was especially reassuring.

I didn't feel good about the double – and when the slam wasn't bid in the other room, worse – but took some consolation that almost all Easts did the same.

Published Saturday 1.Apr.2023