This freak deal features a high level penalty double, or should it?
Board 25 from Tuesday 2/07/24
Dlr North EW Vul
Preemptive bidding can lead to good or poor results, depending on how disciplined a pair is and what the respective expectations are from both partners. The first bidding problem in this deal arose when North opened 1S. What would you do if you were East? It is not an easy decision, because a simple overcall of 2H does not describe the hand at all. A 2H overcall would usually have fewer cards and far more high card points. A ‘weak jump’ overcall might be closer in terms of HCP but not reflect as many hearts. What about a jump to 4H? Despite only a four count, it is the ace of hearts, and it is an eight card suit. You can not make the same bid on different occasions and expect it to mean what you want it to, so it seems there is no good answer. Another consideration is, if you overcall either 2H or 3H, what will you do when opponents bid to 4S? A bid of 2H or 3H will certainly put paid to any bidding by partner if EW compete in spades. I would leap to 4H (and did at the time) because eight card suits are for the four level, especially when there is extreme distribution, as in this case. Admittedly the expected trick count is short (but not too short) of what partner might expect for such a vul vs not vul preempt. But you can’t have everything, and I believe 4H is the best option. Partner will know that you have at least an eight card heart suit (or, possibly a 7-5 hand).
Now let’s turn our attention to South and West. South has an easy decision: 4S. Not that easy for West. With all five missing spades, it is very tempting to double, clearly an intended penalty double. However, if West thinks it through, if East has the full value for a 4H bid, 5H should have chances, and 4S by opponents is not likely to fail, because they must have club strength, or even a second suit there, and after the opening lead and follow up, if dummy can ruff, all five trumps will be drawn and game claimed. The readers who have in the past followed my simple advice in respect to “TNT” will be able to diagnose that both 4S for NS and 4H for EW are likely to make. The significant cards in the West hand are the TWO hearts. In such high level competitive situations where one partner preempts with a very long suit, I tend to double for penalty if I have a void or singleton in partner’s suit and partner is on lead. In the deal in question, when West doubles 4S for penalties, East will surely lead the ace followed by another heart no matter whether West follows with the Jack or four but...careful here, do it in tempo or the sheriff will be called if East immediately switches to a diamond.
KQJT8
Q
Q98
JT73