BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

After two passes, North opens 1 ♥ and east, for some reason, decides to pass. South now raises to 2 ♥ and West doubles. After North passes, what would east do next?

East should have bid 1Nt over 1 ♥ , but in practice, many people get the urge to lie in wait on hands like this, hoping for a penalty. this is a very bad habit and usually gets one’s own side into trouble.

East’s problems start when he hears partner’s double. West is interested in competing at the favourable vulnerability, and his partner has concealed 15 points, which he doesn’t know about. East has got to find a bid now which West will believe, and which will produce a good result. It is obvious that the double has to be based on distributional values; it promises a spade suit (the other major) with a probable void in hearts and not more than eight honour points.

From this information, East’s action is still bound to be a shot in the dark; he'll feel that a minor suit game might be possible, or even 3Nt. a forcing bid of the opponents’ suit (3 ♥ ) would probably be the most constructive, asking West to describe his hand. He would then still have a problem in deciding whether to stay out of game.