May 2015 - 63

Special Contributors

Dear Billy
BY BILLY MILLER

Hi, Billy,
Once again, your honor, I return to
your courtroom for judgment. Today,
my pard (with 3000 masterpoints)
made a bid which I disagree with.
North was dealer, and North-South
were vulnerable. Sitting West with:

dearbilly@aol.com

Dear Billy,
At a recent club game, I opened
1NT in second seat with:
♠A Q 3 ♥10 6 ♦A 9 5 ♣A 10 9 6 5.

the auction went Pass-Pass-1♣ to
me. I overcalled 1♦. Disgusting suit,
I agree, but it's matchpoints. After a
pass on my left, pard bid 2♣ with:

LHO doubled (Alerted as showing a long suit), and partner passed.
RHO bid 2♣ (Alerted). I doubled,
and LHO bid 2♥. Partner and RHO
passed. I doubled again, which was
passed out. They made the contract
with an overtrick for a top. Partner
had:

♠J 9 6 4 ♥A K 10 8 ♦10 9 ♣8 4 3.

♠8 7 4 2 ♥9 2 ♦K 8 6 4 ♣J 8 4.

I think that shows at least a
limit raise in diamonds. Why didn't
partner bid 1♥? Because he said it
guarantees five hearts. Either way,
2♣ seemed a gross overbid. What
say ye?
Throwing Myself on the Sword

I was hoping partner would bid
something, but she thought she had
shown her hand by passing and that
my double was penalty. Our 1NT
range is 15 to 17 HCP, so I did mislead partner a little. Would you comment on the bidding?
Too Little Too Late

♠Q 3 ♥J 7 5 ♦Q 8 7 3 2 ♣A K 7

Dear Court Jester,
You make a good argument on all
fronts. Perhaps you might consider
taking up law?
Who could disagree that your
diamond suit was pitiful or that your
partner's overblown 2♣ cuebid undermines his credibility when he claims
1♥ shows five. Can't trust a word he
says!
Judging from what I see, both of you
could learn to use a different call more
often. You know, the one that begins
with the letter P. The court stands in
recess.

Dear Trumpeter,
I'd say you stated (or maybe overstated) your values at least once or
twice. These days, it is very common
to open 1NT with a "good" 14 HCP. To
me, that is a 14-count that contains
a good five-card suit. On that front,
your hand qualifies. If you do this on a
regular basis, you really should change
your range on your convention card
to "14+ to 17." However, after doubling
2♣ for penalty (which I agree with),
you're done because your values are on
the low range of your bid. Had partner
been inclined to double 2♥ for penalty, she could have. Had she wished

to compete to 3♣, she could have.
Enough is enough! P.S. I do agree that
your second double should be for takeout, but your hand isn't good enough to
do that.
Dear Billy,
I have always tried to play the
takeout double "by the book," namely, that double shows shortness in
the opening bidder's suit, tolerance
for the other suits and at least an
opening hand. However, I have been
playing with people who double the
opening bid regardless of their distribution to show an opening hand,
and a lot of times it includes length
in the opening bidder's suit. Because
their double is asking me to bid, I am
not sure if they can support my suit.
Can you give me a short tutorial on
takeout doubles that I can print out
or tell me where I can buy a book
which explains them?
Unsupported in Utah
Dear Miss Jitters,
Your version of the takeout double
is how I play it, too. Your partners are
the ones who need the tutorial, not you.
With opening values but wrong shape,
it's better to pass.
I have heard of this malady going
around at local clubs. It can spread
faster than a nasty flu bug.
Tell your partners to pass with these
improper patterns and call me in the
morning!
◾

May 2015 Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2015