6th 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
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West:
S Q 10 9 6 4
H A 8 7 4
D 6 4
C 10 9
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East:
S A K J 3
H K 9 2
D 10 8 2
C K J 3
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South:
S 7 5 2
H 6 5 3
D A K Q 9
C A Q 7
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West
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North
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East
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South
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No
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1S
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Dbl
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2S
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Dbl
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No
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3D
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3S
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End
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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.
