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February 2006

 

PARTY  TIME

PART THREE

 
 The penalty double is a recurring theme in party bridge.  It offers multiple  chances to gain points at little risk.   Suppose you are dealt this attractive hand in the fourth seat (South as usual) . . .
 
ª A Q 10  
©  Q J 10 3
¨  A 7 6
§  K Q 8
 
. . . and the bidding goes:
West          North          East          South
1 ©            Pass             1 ª            Pass (1)
1 NT          Pass             Pass          Double (2)
 
(1)  Your 18 high-card points qualifies for a 1NT overcall.  However where can you go -  both opponents are bidding and partner passed?  The opponents are in a forcing situation (East’s 1ª is forcing on West).  Not having a long suit your best choice is to pass and see where the opponents are going.
 
(2)  In the second round of bidding, both opponents show minimum hands, no longer forcing .  What to do now?  As the bidding is about to die at 1 NT, now is the time to act.

Your only choices here are pass or double.  East-West does not have a running suit so your odds of setting are somewhat better than 50/50.  The strong recommendation is to double for penalty, even where the odds are only 50/50 more or less.  You will earn 100 or 200 points for a set verses a part-score if made.

Of course this double is for penalties - if you had wanted a takeout double, you would have doubled East’s one spade call. 

              

FOXI BILOXI

 

 At a national bridge tournament in Chicago some years ago, players at table eight finished their three boards early, East-West just making a 2 club contract on the third deal.

 

World-famous Barry Crane ask the lady who played this last board where she was from, to which she answered:  “I live in Biloxi Mississippi.” 

 

He though about that for a moment then playfully said: “So, you came all the way to up here to Chicago to play a 2 club contract?” 

 

Her reply: “Yes sir.  Down in Biloxi I would not have been able to make that contract.”    
 

(This is my favorite bridge story.  No doubt many of you have already heard it.  It is just as good the second time around.  Ed.)
 

BridgeSnaps newsletter is produced by John S. Thomas, author of Standard American 21.