Double fits are doubly delicious

Gilda Radner said, “Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.”

In bridge, ambiguity is not delicious. Your bids and plays should be as clear-cut to partner as possible, and his to you. However, in today’s deal, South had a delicious feeling about his prospects.

West opened one heart, North overcalled two hearts (a Michaels Cue-Bid, showing at least 5-5 in spades and either minor), and East doubled to indicate values. What should South have done?

South felt optimistic because his side had a double fit — at least eight spades and nine in North’s minor. Double fits are doubly delicious — much tastier than even your favorite variety of ice cream. South jumped to four spades.

West thought about sacrificing in five hearts, but here that would have cost 800 when doubled by South. After West passed, East confidently doubled. What happened in the play of four spades doubled?

West led the heart ace and continued with a second round. East shifted to a low diamond, South winning with his ace.

If declarer had immediately played a trump, he would have gone down. But he was confident that East had at least king-jack-fourth for his double. So, South led a club to the king and ace, then played a low spade off the board and took the trick with his nine. Back to the board with a club, declarer led another low trump to hold East to one trick there: contract made for plus 790.