N-S vul, at IMPs scoring you hold as South: ♠K854 ♥AK74 ♦KQ32 ♣J

W      N       E       S

1♣     P       1♥     Dbl   

P       1♠      2♣     ?

What do you bid?

Here is another example of opponents not heeding the vulnerability, and bidding accordingly. Yes, South has a nice 15 HCP hand with a singleton. However 4-4-4-1 hands are quite often over-valued, and play relatively poorly.

Although 3♠ seems right on values, it went for -500 when West doubled. This is despite partner holding four spades (he could have had 3-2-3-5 shape, with dealer bidding 4-3-3-3) and an ace!!

2♠ was plenty. Opposite a potential zero counting, a free 2♠, vulnerable against not, shows a very good hand, around a strong no-trump range. South will likely compete with 3♣ If West has a little better hand he can compete to 3♠ and now you can raise to four. The full deal:

After a heart lead to the 9 and A, declarer reasonably tried a spade to the 9 and 10. After that he could not avoid losing three more trumps a club, and a hearts for +500 for E-W.

Lessons to Learn

1)    A bid by partner red vs white shows solid values. A raise to 2xSx on this deal with the unfavourable vulnerability shows a hand with the strength consistent with South’s actual holding.

2)    Remember North was forced to bid by your takeout double.

3)    Although at first glance West seems to have made an agtressive double. However, he has very good defensive hand. On repeated club leads he can expect declare to lose control and either score extra club tricks or all four of his trumps.