Source: ACBL Bulletins
During each day of the NABC, Eddie Kantar, one of the best American bridge authors, explains one bridge hand, for players who want to improve their bridge.
This is the sixth hand of St Louis NABC 2013: Maintaining communications, responsive doubles.
|
9 6
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 |
||
| Dbl | 3 |
Dbl | Pass |
3 |
The End |
Opening Lead: Q
Bidding commentary:
As North, after an opposing takeout double, any jump by the responder (you) is preemptive. Don’t worry about partner
having three diamonds. That will be the case about 5% of the time. Do not play for exceptions! Would you rather be right 5% or 95% of the time? As East, your double, called “responsive,” is for takeout after partner makes a takeout double and the opponents support each other. Your double shows the ability to play in hearts and spades plus 7-10 high-card points. As West, after partner makes a responsive double, bid the full value of your hand. 3 is plenty. As East, you have told your story with your double and if all partner can do is bid 3, call it a day.
Defensive commentary:
As South, before blindly playing the 8 to encourage partner, check dummy to see if you want some other suit more than diamonds. Your eyes should come to rest upon your clubs. A club shift would be great, so play a low diamond asking for a shift, usually to dummy’s shorter side suit. If partner shifts to the 
J and declarer plays low from dummy, win the Q, cash the ace and lead a low diamond to partner’s known jack to get a club ruff. Nice defense.
Defensive commentary #2:
As West, if North shifts to the J at trick two, play low from dummy. The bidding marks South with the A Q, and it may be doubleton!