Matchpoints. None vulnerable.
♠K Q 9 2 ♥Q 10 7 6 5 ♦Q 6 ♣8 4
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣ | Pass | 1♥ | |
| Pass | 2♥ | Pass | Pass |
| 2♠ | Pass | Pass | ? |
What’s your call?
| 2NT | ||||
| 3♣ | 3♦ | 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT |
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Dbl | Pass |
Scorer Falk describes the split vote. “The doublers — who might be right, but who also might be right only to the tune of plus 100 when plus 140 is available — tie the bidders — who might go minus 50 when a plus was available on defense.” Panelist Falk cast his vote for double. “In the modern style, I think double just says, ‘I have some extras; do something intelligent.’”
Boehm: “Double. Traditional.”
Meyers: “Double. I am going for it at matchpoints.”
Kennedy: “Double. A card-showing maximum.”
Walker: “Double. The fifth heart argues for offense, but my spades are just too good to let this one go. I’m expecting at least plus 300. West probably has a good four-card suit.”
Lawrence: “Double. North will not pass with just one spade. One thing in favor of doubling is that North will (our style) raise with three hearts much of the time, which makes my hand that much better on defense.”
Cohen: “Double. If not with this spade suit, then never. Partner doesn’t have to sit (but likely he has two spades or he wouldn’t have passed 2♠). Surely I can’t pass, since we were likely making 2♥, so it is double or 3♥. With 15 expected trumps (partner won’t sit with one spade), the LAW suggests defending (if we have nine tricks, they will have only six). I like that my stray queen is in diamonds (their possible side suit), not clubs (partner’s possible side suit).”
The Joyces choose to bid one more. “3♥. We don’t like getting pushed on this hand, but we are being LAW-abiding and not minus 470.”
Rigal: “A splendid problem. I think 3♥ at this vulnerability only is the right call; we may be fighting for 100 if we double. Passing is not an option, of course — it’s bid or double.”
Sutherlins: “3♥. On a good day we are plus 300 versus 2♠ doubled. On a bad day we are minus 470. Don’t feel like defending when partner is likely to have four-card heart support.”
Stack: “3♥ — taking the push to the three level in our nine-card fit. Hoping to catch them competing to 3♠, in which case we will spring a double upon them.”
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