BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

EAST opens 1♥ and his partner raises to 2♥, which your partner doubles. East now bids 4 ♥. What action would you take on this South hand? EAST’s jump to 4♥ has made life very difficult for you. If he had passed, or bid only 3♥, you would have had no problem in bidding 3♠. East’s bid is pre-emptive and probably means that he does not have many defensive values outside of hearts to prevent you from making game if you can find the right suit to play in.

Here, you have two reasonable courses open and your choice will depend on your partnership understanding. If, as I have always recommended, your partner’s double of one major guarantees a good holding in the other, then you should bid 4♠ – a contract you will expect to make after partner’s vulnerable intervention.

If, on the other hand, partner’s double could be made on a strong hand with unspecified distribution, you should double for penalties. Partner can always take this out if he doesn’t fancy your chances, or feels a better score will come from you making a vulnerable game.

On balance, it is wiser to bid 4♠ in this instance.