Few NS pairs managed to buy this contract in 5C, which sometimes made with an overtrick (or two!). The problem was that for some reason, the NS pairs did not have a good understanding of their own takeout double methods. Most Souths opened 1D and most Wests overcalled 1H. This presented North with a problem that should not have been there. Why? Because it seems that the ‘expert’ Norths could not double because that would show four spades! So, the only options remaining would be 1NT without a heart stopper, or an overbid of 2C which many other ‘expert’ pairs even play as game forcing. The ‘modern’ way seems to be that a double shows four spades and a bid of 1S shows five. I find that incorrigible and in fact have persuaded all my partners that this is a total waste of bidding space when one can always bid 1S with four spades and double to show the other MINOR. Let’s take a look at the full deal:
Board 6 from Thursday 27/01/22
Dealer E EW Vul
When the NS pairs did play in 5C it was because North chose to overbid when West overcalled 1H. East might have bid 4H but South would then have an easy decision to bid 5C, whether to make or as a very cheap sacrifice. Only a few Souths played in 5C, which would have been automatic for the “evil” pairs who would double with the North hand. But now try bidding the North hand if West jumps to an ‘intermediate’ 2H. What can North do? Double would this time show four spades (for logical reasons) so the only option for North is an overbid of 3C. Personally, I would prefer to overbid with 3C with this hand than make the free bid of 2C over 1H, but as they say ‘you pays your money and takes your choice’!
AJ9
T75
T
KT8743