Intended audience: Intermediate and up

Neither vul, matchpoints, as south you hold: ♠K1032 ♥QJ1094 ♦4 ♣QJ3

West     North    East     South

1♠       -        1NT        P

2♦      P        2♠          P

2NT    P       3♥          ?

What do you bid?

Don’t double!! This is what the actual south did last night in an online game. First, if they play 3NT you will be on lead. Secondly, the opponents are about to bid 4♥! How do you know?

West has 5-2-4-2 shape with 17-18 HCPs. Why? First they have that number of points as they are inviting game knowing east has at most 9 (or a bad 10)HCPs. You know their shape as they have read my books and they know to pattern out with either 5-1-4-3 or 5-3-4-1 shape.

East has accepted the game invitation, showing hearts, at least five good ones, and giving West a chance to pick the final contract.

Here is the full deal (hands rotated):

♠Q 6 

♥3

♦A 10 8 6 5 3  

♣10 8 6 4

♠A J 8 7 4                                                  ♠ 9 4

♥K 5                                                           ♥ A 8 7 6 2

♦K Q J 3                                                    ♦ 9 7       

♣K 4                                                          ♣ A J 10 6

♠K 10 3 2

♥Q J 10 9 4

♦4 

♣Q J 3

You lead a heart and luckily nip 3♥ one trick, risking -730. Had you passed West would have bid 4♥.

Lessons to Learn

1.Don’t double a part score when the opponents are in a game forcing auction.

2.This is one of the rare times that it is best to lead a high trump and not a singleton.

3.Make sure you understand the opponents’ auction.

4.Don’t make a lead directing double when you are most likely going to be on lead. All you are doing is helping the future declarer use this information to play the hand better.

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