When a double shows a stronger suit but leaves your options open

Greenwich area players who placed in the overall rankings of a duplicate game at one of the local bridge clubs during the past week were:Bridge Deck, White Plains, N.Y. : April 5, Faye Marino, second; Faye Marino, April 8, third. April 9, Linda Otness, third; April 10, Linda Otness, fourth. Harte’s Club, White Plains: April 4, Vivian Wu, first. Bidding quiz:

Here is another in the current series of quizzes on overcalls and takeout doubles. In the following problem, what action (if any) would you take after your righthand opponent opens the bidding with one diamond? You hold:S KJ7 H AJ1083 D 5 C K742

Answer: Double. This hand is similar to one given a few weeks ago (where you had the A-Q of clubs instead of just the king), but it is not nearly as strong. The recommended action with that hand was to overcall with one heart and then double the next time around if partner didn’t support hearts, thereby indicating a strong hand containing support for the other two suits as well.With the given hand, however, you should not plan to make two bids (unless you enjoy living dangerously), and the double offers more options than a one heart overcall, which tends to put all your eggs in the heart basket.

A one heart overcall will work out only when your partner can support hearts, as it is unlikely he will be able to bid spades or clubs on his own. By doubling, though, you not only tell partner that you hold the values for an opening bid, but also give your side the chance to wind up in any of three possible suit fits.