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"Gentlemen", announced the TD, "welcome to the 18^th annual Melton Grammar men's individual. There are 32 players and you will play 31 boards, one with each of the other competitors. The stipulated system is Standard Acol, Stayman and Blackwood. Epsilon asking bids are optional. The boards on your table should be dealt, played and recorded. Then follow the movement cards on your tables as directed. Good luck!"

Jim began inauspiciously. He doubled the opponents' freely bid 6NT and felt reasonably confident on lead with AK964 8 J973 Q85, but partner had ideas of his own and promptly made the opening lead. Declarer accepted the lead out of turn, and 10 tricks later Jim had a choice of how to concede the overtrick.
In the second round, an opponent found an inspired defence to defeat Jim's partner's 1NT contract. Only as the play unfolded did Jim realise that the killing lead has been the 6 from A K J 6 4. This found his partner with Q x and declarer with 10 9 x x.
"Well it was my 4th highest".
After his awful start Jim had begun to score more heavily and reckoned himself to be running at about 50%. As he approached the table for round 6, he saw that his partner would be Bill Williams, a player who had done for underbidding what Henry VIII had done for anorexia.

Jim sat down, exchanged pleasantries, looked at his South cards and watched the bidding unfold. What should he bid over his partner's double?
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