BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

We LOOKeD at four of West’s five options yesterday. The last one is a penalty double.

Doubling is the most negative of all because it means that if you are to score better than those who are making a vulnerable game, you must take 4 ♠ four down.

And if you are going to take seven tricks in defence, your side can make a slam for an even better score. Additionally, when you double the opponents after partner has bid two suits, you should guarantee at least two tricks in the enemy suit (Axxx is not sufficient). The N-S hands were North: ♠ Jxx ♥ Qxx ♦ Jx ♣ Kxxxx. South: ♠ KQ10xxx ♥ Jx ♦ Qx ♣ Jxx. you can see that the red suits break favourably and so the slam would have made, but the defence allowed 4 ♠ to go only three down by opening up the club suit for declarer.