Lead Directing Doubles

There are so many helpful doubles to use.

Doubles convey information without raising the level of bidding. Lately there have been several occasions to use the “lead directing double” as a tactic to pick the best lead to defeat opponent’s contract.

If during bidding it becomes very clear that the contract belongs to the opponent, you could have an opportunity to give your partner a clue as to the most valuable lead. If during the bidding, RHO makes a bid in your best suit, you simply double that bid. Since your side has only passed, you know that the double is not for penalty. The only reason for the double would be lead directing.

Our featured hand, board #23 from the Friday, Sept. 28 game is an example of this tactic. Partner doubled RHO’s heart bid saying please lead a heart. When “doubler,” sitting West, was on lead and led a heart, his partner, knowing that his partner liked hearts, played his top heart, the Q, forcing out opponent’s Ace. Since opponent played the Ace, it could be inferred that the opening leader who liked hearts held the King. Since East held the diamond Ace, East kept a heart to return to partner when he got in with that Ace; contract set 1 trick. All other pairs were in 3NT making 6 or 6NT making.

All vulnerable   South dealer

NORTH:

S  A T 7 6

H  5

D  K Q

C  K Q J T 9 5

WEST:                  EAST:

S  J 3 2                  S  9 8 5

H  K T 9 8            H  Q 7 6 4

D  5 4 2                 D  A 8 7 6

C  8 7 2                  C  4 3

SOUTH:

S  K Q 4

H  A J 3 2

D J T 9 3

C  A 6

Friday, Sept. 28 Evergreen winners were: N/S First, Marie Pugh and Ruth Bowles; second, Wade Lowder and Georgia Sorensen; third, Pat Featherston and Dick Brisbin.

E/W First, Jan Glover and Andra Cozart; second, John and Myrnie McLaughlin; third, Harold and Carol Winecoff.

Tuesday, Sept. 29 Women’s Club Championship Game winners: First, Chuck and Margaret Rimer; second, Shirley Jeffers and Wade Lowder; third, Wayne Pegram and Everett Halsall, and fourth, Fern Albracht and Ron Jeffers.