BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

♠ AKQJ ♥ AKQJ ♦ AK ♣ KJ8 EAST plays in 7 ♣ which, unsurprisingly, South doubles. tHis is the full deal from yesterday’s hand, which i’ve featured previously to illustrate there can be no safe double of a suit contract — unless one holds the necessary trump controls.

Admittedly, this is a freak layout, but it shows admirably how a balanced hand with 31HCps cannot cope with 8HCps plus distribution. While there is no defence to 7 ♣ , N-s have no slam available!

My advice is not to double for penalties, unless you can see the contract at least two down. the reason for this is that the double will have alerted declarer to the position of outstanding values, and this will invariably gain him a trick in the play. Note that it would not be unreasonable for east to be declarer in such an exalted contract, when West bid 4Nt (asking for minors) over the presumed 2 ♣ opener.