It is a close call between two calls

Plato said, “A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.” When you decide what to bid with a bridge hand, your point-count is usually relevant, but not always the only determining factor.

In this deal, South opens one heart, partner raises to two hearts, and righty overcalls three diamonds. What should South do?

First, let’s make sure we have the theory straight. What do the rebids of double, three hearts and four hearts mean?

When there is no room for a game-try (as there would have been if, say, East had passed or bid three clubs), double becomes the game-try substitute. It asks partner to sign off in three hearts if he is not fond of his hand, or to jump to four hearts if he likes it.

In contrast, three hearts by South would be purely competitive, expressing no interest in game. And a jump to four hearts shows game interest!

In this instance, four hearts is a slight overbid, and double a slight underbid. I would opt for four hearts; but if South doubles, North will bid game.

Then, how should South play? West leads a low diamond. East takes two tricks in the suit and shifts to the club jack. West wins declarer’s king with his ace and returns the suit to South’s queen.

Declarer must take these 10 tricks: one club, six hearts and three spades. He should cash the heart ace and spade ace, play a spade to the king, ruff a spade high, return to dummy with a trump, ruff another spade high, cross back to dummy in hearts (drawing West’s last trump) and discard his club five on the spade eight.