“I should have known better,” Rose told me. Rose was today’s East in a penny game. Unlucky Louie was West. When North-south stopped at two clubs, Rose balanced with two hearts.

After two passes, North competed to three clubs, and after two more passes, Louie doubled firmly.

“He started by cashing his three high trumps,” Rose said. “Declarer won the heart shift and took the king and ace of diamonds. If the suit had split 3-2, he could have taken the queen and led the king of spades. Louie’s ace would win our last trick.

“When diamonds actually broke 4-1, South led a spade from dummy to his ten. Louie took the ace, but South ruffed the heart return, cashed the K-Q of spades, ruffed a spade, came to the queen of diamonds and took his good fifth spade for plus 670.

“That’s the last time I balance with Louie as my partner.” “Declarer played well,” I said. “Yes,” Rose agreed. “But Louie’s double had much more to lose than to gain. Moreover, he can beat the contract with different defense.”

Rose was right to balance. She could have won at least eight tricks at hearts, and North-south could have made two clubs. But Louie punished Rose’s enterprise.

When your partner balances, he acts on the assumption that you have strength, otherwise the opponents would have bid more. You must realize that he has bid your values. Don’t punish your partner. Don’t double the opponents or bid on unless you have values he couldn’t imagine.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable