Doubling Dilemma

12^th April – Board 20: Game All. Dealer West.

For tactical reasons it is sometimes right to open at a high level even though by doing so you might be missing out on bigger things. The compensation of course comes when the opposition are left wondering whether to compete or not and thereby risk being ridiculed as either being too bullish or too feeble.

West	North	East	South
4S	??

The double of a four-level bid in a major is neither one thing nor the other – certainly not a ‘hands off’ call for a penalty but not a definite take-out bid either. North would have been faced with such a problem on the featured hand and there could be a case made for either competing or keeping quiet. Of course with perfect defence 4S will go clattering down if both North and South get their ruffs, but in the real world it will almost certainly make with just the loss of three aces. If North elects to double 4S South would most likely bid 5H (better than 5C because North must be able to cope with a 5H bid and one should always have at least tolerance for the other major when doubling), but 5H will not make with the defence taking at least one spade, one heart and a club.