Responsive Double

6^th June – Board 1: Love All. Dealer North.

‘Double’ is the most common bid in bridge but perhaps the least well known is the so-called ‘responsive’ double.

	North: S 8 H Q J 10 D J 7 5 3 C 8 6 5 4 2
West: S Q 10 9 6 4 H A 8 7 4 D 6 4 C 10 9		East: S A K J 3 H K 9 2 D 10 8 2 C K J 3
	South: S 7 5 2 H 6 5 3 D A K Q 9 C A Q 7

West	North	East	South
	No	1S	Dbl
2S	Dbl	No	3D
3S	End

There are a number of close decisions here starting with South’s decision to enter the bidding at all, but I think it is right to do so despite being a little bereft in the heart department. Playing pairs it is mandatory to enter the bidding whenever possible and I just couldn’t bear to stay silent with that South hand. Then West has to decide whether or not to bid a pre-emptive 3S or go slowly. I would choose the latter route for the moment because with spades being the major major so to speak I can always bid again later and in any event I am not so worried if they bid to a high level heart contract. You might imagine that North would remain a silent partner but with a certain fit in one of the minors he is right to bid and ‘double’ is the answer. What does that mean? Well with hearts he would bid the suit so it is a take-out bid with both the minors – obvious when you think about it. Now South will bid the makeable 3D and West will compete further and par is more or less obtained when that contract suffers a one trick defeat.