High Level Judgement Required

Pages: Page 4 of 5

Dealer: East
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeA Q 5 3 2
  2. heart—
  3. diamondA J 10 9 4
  4. club10 9 6
  1. spadeK 8 7 4
  2. heartA 10 7 4
  3. diamond7
  4. clubA Q 4 3
club diamond heart spade NT
N 1 3 - 4 -
S 1 2 - 4 -
E - - 5 - -
W - - 6 - -
Green square in centre
  1. spade—
  2. heartK J 9 8 5 3 2
  3. diamond8 6 3 2
  4. club5 2

Contract: 5heartx
Declarer: East

  1. spadeJ 10 9 6
  2. heartQ 6
  3. diamondK Q 5
  4. clubK J 8 7
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
3heart Pass
4heart 4spade Pass Pass
5heart Pass Pass Dble
Pass Pass Pass
As my esteemed correspondent points out, to double with North's hand on the first round is somewhat a ducking of responsibility. I'm not sure that I entirely agree with him - certainly any partner of mine who passed a double of 4heart at this vulnerability with South's hand ought to be having his life cover reassessed as a matter of urgency. Nevertheless, I think he's probably right on balance - as he points out "How can partner be expected to dredge up 4spade on three or four small?"

West's problem is all the more difficult to judge - it's hard to know how good East's pre-empt is likely to be at this vulnerability and West's decision will probably end the bidding anyway. .
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