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Hey, Bridge Guy - Help!
Double or Bid?

Hey Bridge Guy,

 

My LHO opened 1 diamond, my partner doubled and my RHO bid 2 clubs.  I had 5 spades (KQxxx) and 5 little hearts and a total of 7 HCP.  I doubled the 2 clubs and the opponents ended up in diamonds.  

 

My partner had the Axxx of spades and 4 small hearts.  She lead the 8 of hearts.  Our question is, what should she lead in this situation?  She contends that she doesn’t want to lead the Ace from nothing, so she led a heart, they had all the heart honors.  We could have taken two spade tricks, Ace and King, the declarer held only two spades.  

Declarer was able to throw his two losing spades.

 

Our question is “How does she find the spade lead?”

 

Thanks,

 

Bewildered

 

 

Dear Bewildered,

 

When partner makes a takeout double, bid the major suit you want led.  Doubling 2 clubs is confusing and ambiguous.  You should have bid 2 spades and partner would have lead your suit.

 

The Bridge Guy

When not to use a Michaels bid.

Hey Bridge Guy,

 

This situation came up at our sectional.

My LHO opened 1 club, my partner doubled, my RHO bid 1 diamond.  I held 5 spades to the Queen, Jack, 5 hearts and 3 baby diamonds, 3 HCP.  I bid 2 diamonds, thinking I was bidding Michaels and was told  that was not correct.

Help!  What should I have bid in this situation?

 

Thanks,

 

Whoops

 
Dear Whoops,
 
I would bid 1 spade since I want to compete with 5-5 shape.  A bid at the 1-level is weak.  A cuebid of the opponent's suit shows 10+ points and invitational strength.
 
The Bridge Guy

Opening Lead - Ace of spades

The lead of an ace in the suit that you overcalled carries a specific meaning: unblock any honor you hold in this suit, or give count.  After West led the ace of spades, East played the 4 of spades, indicating an odd number of spades.  West reasoned South had 3 spades to the queen.  West switched to a high heart (the 8).  This meant he had no interest in hearts.  If East could gain the lead he wanted spades returned.  East won the ace of hearts and returned a spade.  South was down two tricks, -100 was a zero.  Only one pair out of six was able to defeat 3NT.

Hey, Bridge Guy!

Hey, Mr. Bridge Guy

I’m confused about guidelines in doubling for penalty using the Rule of 9. Thanks for your help.

In My Opinion: The Rule of Nine

 

Before I received this question, I had never heard of the Rule of Nine. I had to look it up. It says that if partner opens one spade, and there is an immediate overcall of two hearts, how do you determine if you have the right trump holding to pass for penalties if partner reopens with a double?

 

So suppose you hold KQ874 of Spades. The Rule says that you add three numbers:

  The level you are at – 2

  How many trumps you have – 5

  How many honors you have in the trump suit – 2

Since the total is nine, you may pass for penalties.

 

I see some problems with this rule. For example: AQ97 and J1042 both have 4 trump and 2 honors. The AQ97 is worth 3 tricks on defense, while the J1042might be worth only one trick. They both add up to six (counting the 10 as an honor).

 

Second, vulnerability is never mentioned. It is more tempting to double vulnerable opponents if they step out of line.

 

Third, if the opponents have located an eight-card major fit and are at the two level, a penalty pass may tip off declarer how to play the trump suit.

 

I believe that using good judgment is better than relying on the Rule of Nine.

Hey, Bridge Guy!

Hey, Bridge Guy,

How should this hand have been bid?  It makes 3 hearts West and 4 clubs East , but goes down 3 in diamonds in the East!!!

Thanks,

Praying for Spring

I think the auction should go like this:

East       South         West         North
1 Club    1 Spade     2 Hearts    2 Spades
Pass       Pass          Double      Pass
3 Clubs   All pass

4-5 minor hands are difficult to bid. East should open 1-Diamond with strong diamonds and weak clubs; for example, A K J 9 of Diamonds and Q 10 6 4 2 of Clubs. This hand has a much stronger club suit, so I would open 1-Club.

Once East opens a 12-14 point hand, he should pass at his next bid unless he has extra values or a fit with partner.

When West wants to compete and he has no clear bid, he should balance with a double.

East has a choice of bids. He can bid 2NT with a Spade stopper, support Hearts with three, or in this case, East should rebid his strong 5-card Club suit.