The Buck Stops Here

Matchpoints, you (South) are the dealer. You hold
♠ K J 4    ♥ K J 9    ♦ 4    ♣ A K J 9 4 3

West	North	East	South
			1 ♣
1 ♦	1 ♥	2 ♠	3 ♥
Pass	4 ♥	Pass	Pass
4 ♠	Pass	Pass	??

The auction got crowded there for a moment, and West decided against letting you play 4 ♥. What now?

ANSWER: You must not pass. There are reasons to double, and there are reasons to bid higher, but you must not pass.

THE PRINCIPLE: When our side has freely bid a game, or even committed to a game-forcing auction, we will not let the opponents buy the contract undoubled. Either we bid again or we double them, period, full stop. In this auction, over 4 ♠ partner's pass is forcing you to either bid or double. If she had a particular preference for bidding on or doubling, she would have done so. Instead, she has a hand that has no clear indication either way, so she is leaving it up to you. Partner passed the buck -- well, the buck stops here.

So should you bid again (5 ♣ or 5 ♥) or double? You have values that are useful on offense or defense. I would double; if you play in hearts the defense can tap your hand with diamond leads and declarer could lose control of the trump suit. If you defend, you can get off to a good start by leading your singleton diamond.

A better reason to double, though, is that it smells like West has made a big mistake. West sold out to 3 ♥ instead of bidding 3 ♠. West doesn't think they can make three spades, much less four! Note that even 3 ♠ down one doubled (-100 EW) would be a better result for them than your 3 ♥ making (-140 EW). So if West thinks that they are down two (or more) in 3 ♠, then they must be down three or more in 4 ♠. Yippee, the opponents are handing out +500's, better get yours! 

This hand is from a Common Game session last February; +500 was worth 97% of the matchpoints. With absolutely perfect defense you would have done even better at +800.

We'll see more of this hand in the near future, so no peeking at the complete deal just yet...

-- Ray
Better Bridge in 5 Minutes  Guaranteed! (or the next one is free)