Exercise: competitive balancing doubles
Colin Deheeger
How should you respond to your partner’s double?
Colin Deheeger‘s solution
This is the best chance to play in a low-level fit. If your partner only has 3 spades, you can ruff the diamonds in the short hand; if your opponents play a trump, you can establish your hearts. So the 2♠ contract seems relatively safe. You are maximum of your bid as you have 8 points. But if you didn’t double 2♦, it is because the hand is not extraordinary: the queen of diamonds is not worth much and you lack intermediates. If you win 4♠, then your partner should have something to bid on.
Score: 20/20 ✅
This time, you are almost certain not to play in the fit, but you are still at the 2-level. In addition, the opponents may find it difficult to have the long hand ruffed more than once thanks to your queen of diamonds (nothing is certain, of course). The 2♥ contract should make fairly often.
If partner bids over 2♥, then you know you have to bid game, either in spades if he says 2♠, or in NT if he says 3♦.
Score: 15/20
Partner, with 5 hearts and 4 clubs, can reopen with 3♣ because they denied a 5-5 on the first round. However, if they have 3 spades, they double to try to play at the 2-level and find a possible 8-card fit in ♠ or even ♥. So it is not impossible that they have 4 clubs. There are still some negative points to this bid. Partner will bid on much less often with a positive hand, there is a chance of missing the 4-4 fit in spades, and finally, there is no certainty of having any fit in this sequence. If, by chance, an opponent can double you at the 3-level, it will be easier for them than at the 2-level.
Score: 10/20
In theory, one might think that this is a good bid to reach 3NT. However, all of North’s hands with which one could win 3NT are those with which they should bid over another bid. So, in my opinion, 2NT has almost only disadvantages. You can easily be doubled by the opener, who may still have a good hand. You also risk missing a fit. Your diamond stopper is a little fragile, whereas you risk not taking nine tricks without giving up the lead. And even if you don’t have a fit, there is no guarantee that things won’t be better in 2♠ or 2♥.
Score: 5/20
Admittedly, if the contract makes, it is not as dangerous as 2♥ or 2♠ doubled. Nevertheless, you cannot double the opponents at the 2-level when they have a fit and you could be in the minority in terms of points. If, by chance, 2♦ were to go down, then that would mean that you most likely have a game contract to play in that would earn you more. If you had had five good diamonds, for example, you could have passed. Here, you only have four, and they are relatively small.
Score: 0/20
What did you think of Colin’s question?
Share your view and score in the comments!
2S,but why do you have 14 cards?
This is a logical problem with the rules of bridge.