Friday, December 09, 2005 4:19 PM

Letting Sleep Dogs Lie

PITBULLS:

Penalty trump stack doubles means “bidding the table” . You do not double a contract just because it might not make. You must ask yourself some questions like do they have a better spot to play the hand ? Will your double push them into another contract that makes ? Trump stack doubles must be chosen with care.

I held xx AQJ109x xxx xx and Scott Brimsmead my partner opened 3♠ and they overcalled 4♥. With your trump there is a chance that 4♥ might not make. Unfortunately do you have defense against a grand slam in a minor ? I quickly passed and LHO went into the tank . Finally the green card came out and all passed. They went 3 down and we collected +300 . The field was in 6♣ for +1370 .

The following is a strory related by Susan Culham. “The cliche 'don't double the only contract you can defend' was applicable playing set against Steve Clements and Chris Saturday evening. Maurice opened 1NT, I Staymaned, Maurice bid 2 hearts and I had an easy bid of 4 hearts with my 10 count. This was quickly doubled by Steve and Maurice bid 4 NT. What is going on here... I had no idea so it seemed best to pass. We played 4 NT making 4 and took our $12 for the hand. Maurice had accidentally pulled out the 2H card instead of 2S and we would have played in our 4-2 fit going down. Steve doubled with 6 hearts and about 5 points! “

BJ Trelford had a hand with the same “trump stack” mentality. He held xxx xxx J1098x xx and they opened 1♦ and the opponents responded 1♥ so I doubled with AKJx Jx K QJ1098x and the opponents rebid 2♦ and around to me in the balancing. I balanced 3♣ as they passed it out in 2♦ so partner must have some values. They bid 3♦ so If BJ now makes the bad bid of doubling they could escape and get to their cold 4♥ or 3NT contract. BJ has no defense against 4♥ or any other contract for that matter. The field got to 3NT or 4♥ so doubling 3♦ is plain silly. You can beat 3♦ but it depends on finding a spade lead. Letting “sleeping dogs lie” gets you 10 IMPs and doubling gets you –2 as they make their doubled contract.