Open Book

10th August – Board 24. Love All. Dealer West.

West should have had a pretty clear picture of his partner’s hand on the deal shown below making his final decision straightforward.

	North: S 10 4 2 H K Q 7 6 4 2 D 6 C 5 4 2
West: S Q 3 H 10 9 3 D A 4 2 C J 9 8 7 6		East: S A K 9 6 H none D K 10 9 5 3 C K Q 10 3
	South: S J 8 7 5 H A J 8 5 D Q J 8 7 C A

West	North	East	South
No	2H	Dbl	4H
No	No	Dbl	No
5C	End

South has an obvious 4H bid at his first turn, not knowing whether it will make or not, but certainly very close. When that bid comes back to East he should double again, still mainly for take-out but essentially showing high cards. Now West knows several things: 1) his partner has more than a minimum double, 2) he almost certainly has no hearts as the opposition are likely to have ten between them, 3) he probably has only a four card spade suit as else he might have bid 4S, and 4) must therefore be 4-0-4-5 or 4-0-5-4. Whatever the case it makes 5C easy to bid, and make too. If North manages a diamond ruff it will be at the expense of their natural trick in that suit.