Endangered species

In a deal on Bridge Base Online, neither side vulnerable, I watched an expert open one diamond on 4, 7 6, A K 10 9 6 5, A K Q 6. His partner bid one heart, the next player overcalled one spade, he tried two clubs, his LHO jumped to three spades and his partner doubled. He … bid five diamonds! That contract made, but three spades doubled would have been down a ton. He explained that he thought his partner’s double showed a good hand but no clear bid.

Bidding methods have evolved. One measure of “progress” is that every double now seems to have an arcane meaning. I predict that in 20 years, penalty doubles will be extinct.

In today’s deal from a team match, South opened one spade. West doubled, North’s three spades was preemptive and East’s double was one of those modern “you-figure-it-out” types. West thought it was for penalty.

West led a trump, and South won in dummy and led the singleton diamond. East put up his ace to lead a second trump.

South won, took the king of diamonds and ruffed a diamond. When West’s queen appeared, South lost two clubs, a heart and a diamond, plus 530. He might have been minus 300 if East had correctly ducked the first diamond.

In the replay, the auction started the same way, but instead of the nebulous double, East bid a straightforward and aggressive four hearts, passed out. South led the king of spades and shifted to a trump: five, jack, king. The contract was unbeatable with best play, and East duly took 10 tricks, plus 620. I am unsure what this deal may prove. It doesn’t increase my regard for hazy doubles. North dealer

E-W vulnerable