Action Double

16th October – Board 21. North/South Game. Dealer North.

Decisions at the five-level are the hardest in the book to handle, with experience playing a major role more often than not.

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

West	North	East	South
	No	No	4H
Dbl	No	4S	Dbl
No	???

Opposite a passed partner I don’t mind opening 4H on that South hand because the chances of making a slam are remote and you really do not want the opposition coming in with spades. As it happens it would be wet for West not to compete with a take-out double at favourable vulnerability, leaving East to bid the obvious 4S. Now South should double – the so-called Action Double – which merely states he has a better hand than might be expected, with some defensive prospects – and now North has to decide whether to pass or bid 5H, the latter being the winning action as although 4S will not make the penalty will be small. I would pass, the wrong action here, but give South a singleton in both black suits and now 5H has three top losers.