–
IMPs. Both vulnerable.
♠K 8 4 2 ♥Q J 5 4 ♦Q 7 6 5 2 ♣—
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| 3♣ | Dbl | 5♣ | ? |
| 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT | |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass | Dbl |
What’s your call?
When the opponents preempt, you will frequently face a guess. In this case, the bidding is at the five level and you likely have a fit, but how do you find it? Half the panel doubled.
“Double for takeout,” said Lynn Deas. “If partner passes, that is okay. I don’t want to bid a suit, though, because who knows whether we even have an eight-card fit. Double is the most flexible call.”
“This is the toughest problem this month,” said Jill Meyers. “I don’t love it, but I double. This is responsive, and partner should pull with a long suit.”
“I double, although I hate my choice,” said Allan Falk. “No, this is not a penalty double. It just says, ‘Partner, you played me for 6 points, but I have a bit more than that. Everything else is too big a gamble. It is quite possible that we can’t make anything at the five level, or we might find the wrong fit if I guess which suit to bid. I’m not strong enough for 6♣ to ask partner to pick a suit.”
“Double is responsive, regardless of the level,” said August Boehm. “I have useful cards in partner’s suits. With only club values, you must pass and hope partner can reopen with a double.”
“Double,” echoed Karen Walker. “Making anything at the five level is far from a sure thing. Double shows some values, and if partner has a monster, he can bid on. If not, I’ll settle for plus 500.”
“I need to show some stuff,” said Kerri Sanborn. “I don’t want to choose a suit myself.”
“Let partner pick where to play,” said Kitty and Steve Cooper.
“I think double is the best of a bad lot,” said Mel Colchamiro. “5*D* might be called the worst (because it’s the most committal), 6♣ might be called the investor, and Pass might be called the chicken.”
There were five chickens.
“Pass,” said Don Stack. “Am I entitled to bid at this level? I don’t think so. Partner should know that I have a few values and act accordingly.”
“Pass,” agreed Jeff Meckstroth. “If partner can double again, then I will act.”
“Pass, which is unequivocally forcing facing a passed hand on my right,” said Barry Rigal. “A better question is if I pass and partner doubles, would I pull it. I’m glad you didn’t ask.”
“I want to bid, but whichever suit I pick could be ridiculously wrong,” said Larry Cohen. “Pass has to be forcing because there is a preempt opposite a passed hand. Pass is encouraging partner to bid. With garbage, I’d double. Once you realize that pass is forcing, it’s a standout. Let’s hope my fellow panelists see the light.”
One man’s chicken is another man’s standout.
Four panelists neither doubled nor passed.
“5♦,” said Fritzi and Paul Gordon. “We would like to double for takeout with the presumption that East is preempting and the hand belongs to North–South. I don’t think we have that agreement, so we have to contest the auction with our five-bagger.”
“Double could result in a minus score,” said Peggy and John Sutherlin. “Bidding 6♣ will get us to the right suit, but possibly at the wrong level. We like bidding 5♦ — the middle ground.”
“6♣,” said Steve Robinson. “Might as well get to the best strain. Double shows values, but partner can never expect me to be void in clubs.”
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