August 2021 - 42

exception when fourth-seat's call is a
natural 1NT; double by opener then is
penalty-minded.
So then, is failing to make a support
double with three-card support
a no-no, never-never? Is it absolutely
mandatory, or might it be optional to
temporarily hide the hearts on this
hand if, perhaps, a more descriptive bid
is available?
Molson: " We play support doubles. If
you don't double, you don't have three. "
Double by Sanborn. " I guess I'll
start this way, otherwise I deny heart
support. I will bid some clubs on the
next round of bidding if there is a next
round. "
Grossack: " Support doubles come
first, followed by club rebids. "
Meckstroth: " Double. Start by showing
my three-card heart support. "
Lawrence sees the drawbacks and
chooses to make a support double. " It's
dangerous, because partner may pass.
But it's the only way to show this hand.
I will follow up with more clubs. If I bid
3 now, I may never be able to show
my heart fit. "
Cohen doubles. " Right. I won't be
thrilled if partner passes, which is
quite possible. "
Korbel doubles, admitting, " If
the auction goes poorly for me, I
might regret this (including partner
passing). "
Suffice it to say that Donn doubles.
" Shows three-card heart support. But
what if partner passes for penalty, you
say? Then I say, 'Maybe we destroy
them.' "
Weinstein: " Bobby and I play a cool
treatment here where double shows
three hearts. " [Cute. No Congeniality
Award for you, Steve.]
Rigal chooses 3. " Support doubles
are all well and good, but this is a hand
about clubs in the first instance, and I
may be able to bid 3 over their 3
call. "
Meyers also prefers 3. " Although I
would love to let partner know I have
three hearts, I don't want to defend 2
42 | Bridge Bulletin | August 2021
doubled, which I am concerned could
be the final contract if I make a support
double. I do not want to defend. "
Anticipating the hand will play
awkwardly after a diamond lead,
Colchamiro joins them. " I prefer 3
now and either 3 or 4, as necessary,
later. Maybe partner will understand
my clubs must be mighty good to
have bid this way. Besides, if I double
now and get jammed later with diamond
bids, it becomes difficult to offer
clubs at a sane level. "
Robinson not only doesn't make the
major-suit support double [gasp!],
he sails right past 3 to bid 4. " I
thought about a support double, but
this hand may not play well in hearts,
or partner could pass the double. How
is partner going to play this hand on a
diamond lead:
A x x A x x x x J x x x x? "
4. Footloose
Matchpoints. All vulnerable.
9 A K Q 10 8 5 A K J 8 4 3
West North
East
2
Call
3
Dbl
4
3NT
Votes
7
3
2
2
South
3 ?
Award
100
80
70
70
Is 3 forcing? Reading between the
lines, most - but not all - of the panelists
seem to think (or hope) it is.
Meckstroth reaches for 3. " Just
about anything could be right here.
Double will be best if partner is short
in hearts. Could be right to bid 3NT as
well, but I think playing in hearts is the
best option. We can still get to 3NT if
partner bids 3 over 3. "
3 by Sanborn. " If partner bids 3,
I will try 3NT. It's possible double is the
winner. "
Cohen, same plan: " Sometimes partner
raises hearts. Double could work,
but this seems normal, no? "
" 3 is forcing, " insists Molson. " If
partner bids 3, I bid 3NT. A penalty
double could be the winner, but with no
club spots, I will go for normal. "
An apprehensive 3 by Weinstein.
" I hope partner doesn't pass, but if they
do, it might not be so bad. "
3 by Boehm, who says that at IMPs,
he would double and take the plus. " But
here, a vulnerable game - 4 or 3NT -
seems percentage. "
Donn bids 3. " Double is the most
likely plus score of reasonable size, and
for that reason I would probably do it
at IMPs. But scoring 500 into our side's
game seems too likely not to investigate
a bit. "
Lawrence scowls. Then doubles.
" 3NT is attractive. But I can't be sure
of a ninth trick. Pessimistic. I play 3
as invitational, which does not do it
justice. 4 could easily be down one
before I take a trick. Maybe even down
two. Nice headache. "
Matchpoint scoring compels
Grossack to double. " Could be a big
disaster if partner has zero or one club
and two or three hearts. But anytime
partner has two or more clubs, we want
to be defending. 4 might be tricky
to handle. I have a lot of club losers
and probably not much heart help
from partner. I'll double and take the
money. "
Rigal doubles. " This is a close call.
If partner has short clubs and heart
tolerance, this could be absurd, I admit.
But few people know that 'absurd' is
actually my middle name. "
Korbel, 4. " I believe 3 is not forcing,
and I am too concerned that we
can make game in hearts while we can
set 3 doubled only one (or zero tricks
on a bad day). This is an ugly hand and
probably why I don't win often enough
at matchpoints. "
Robinson bids the heart game. " If I
could bid a nonforcing 3, I would.
Because I can't play in 3, my choices
are to pass, double or bid 4. If I
catch three hearts from partner, I like
August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2021
