March 2005 - 35

It's Your Call

to defend."
Boehm doesn't believe pass is
forcing, but "I have enough spade
strength (with a trump lead) to
achieve a set, even if declarer
catches a good dummy, which
won't always happen."
Meyers, Freeman, Carruthers,
Kennedy and Baze all double and
plan to lead trumps. "If partner has
two or three low diamonds, he will
not double so I have to," says Baze.
"After ace and another diamond, I
would expect plus 500, often with
no game for us, given that East appears to be 5-6."
The passers say double would be
penalty, but they're not sure their
pass is forcing.
Here's Lawrence: "Is passing
forcing? Or is this the real question
behind this problem? I will find
out. Pass."
Falk also passes. "Good question
whether this pass should be forcing.
I think my initial double was the
equivalent of redouble after a takeout double, so at least North knows
I have values.
"I hardly have enough to force to
game and I don't want to bid any
number of notrump myself so if
North passes, we'll get a small plus,
which is likely enough on a board
where suits are not breaking."
Soloway explains his pass: "If
partner passes, it should not be that
bad. I'll take my chances on getting
to the right game instead of guessing. Partner will know I have spade
length on the bidding."
Meckstroth agrees. "It seems clear
to leave it up to partner."
Sanborn passes, adding, "I can't
double directly on this sequence
as it is penalty for sure. We might
miss penalizing them when partner
has two diamonds, but we should
get the back-in double when he has
three trumps.
"I have a feeling that we are in
line for a penalty since LHO didn't
ask for the minor and rates to have
a shape such as 2-5-3-3. But I
can't double based on that feeling."
The Sutherlins says their pass is
"forcing to three of partner's opening bid - so you don't have to
March 2005

guess in situations like this. We are
unlikely to get rich by doubling,
since East has six diamonds and he
didn't even bother trying to escape
to 2."
5. IMPs. Both vulnerable.
A 8 9 A 9 6 5 4 K Q 7 5 2
West
North
East
1
1
3 (1)
4
Pass
Pass
(1) Weak.
(2) Other two suits.

South
Dbl (2)
?


Call
Dbl
4

Votes
13
5

Award
100
70

Whether it's doubling to show
extra strength or bidding 4 to
show minimum spade support (and
extra strength), our panel thinks
they're worth another call.
Double, says Montin, shows "extra
values. Partner may have six spades,
as it sounds like the opponents have
10 hearts, but I am not certain, so I
will just show my extra strength."
"Too much game chance to pass,"
says Meckstroth as he doubles.
Double, says Soloway. "Partner
will have a better idea where we
should play."
Double, says Gitelman, "shows a
good hand in the context of the auction. Partner won't always make the
right decision, but I expect him to
do so enough of the time that I am
willing to take my chances.

"There could be a double game
swing in the cards, so pass is out
of the question, while any other
call beside double is too unilateral
- my choice keeps all possible
final contracts in play."
Sanborn also doubles. "I am due
another bid with this hand. I won't
raise a one-level overcall to game
with a doubleton and won't force
a five-level contract. I should have
another spade but I don't. Partner
can still take out with shape. He has
heard the bidding, too."
Falk doubles, adding, "Bidding
4 seems ludicrous. I sort of have
three defensive tricks, and North
should have something besides
king-queen-fifth of spades, so I
have to bid again."
Double, says Freeman. "Partner
knows I have the minors, and now I
show high cards."
Rigal chooses double over 4,
adding, "There is no reason to assume we have a spade fit that can
withstand repeated heart leads."
The 4 bidders say their bid
shows honor-doubleton in spades
and extra values.
"Partner knows I have only two
spades, so if a minor is better, he
can bid it," says Baze. "Double
suggests West doesn't know what
he is doing, and I have no reason to
assume that."
4, says Robinson, "should
show minimum spade support and
both minors."
The Sutherlins agree. "Partner
already knows about our clubs
and diamonds."


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35
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2005
