What’s your call?
| 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT | ||
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass | Dbl |
“Oh dear,” sighs Rigal, who bids 3♥. “Double rates to go all pass if partner holds a balanced hand such as:
♠Q x ♥A x x ♦ K 10 8 ♣A x x x x.
I know that is a selected hand, but I can’t afford to double facing a partner who is overly prone to teach someone a sharp lesson, and this time that someone would be me.”
It is Lawrence’s observation that with some balanced hands, partners these days are leaning more toward passing negative doubles. “I don’t want that to happen here. Over my 3♥, partner can still bid 3♠. If partner bids 3NT, I will bid 4♣.”
Cohen bids 3♥. “I’m afraid a negative double could get left in. Also, we could miss a 5–3 heart fit if partner bids 3NT over my double holding, say:
♠A x x ♥Q 10 x ♦ K 10 x ♣A x x x.
My bid is game forcing, but counting the diamond void (their suit) and the great clubs (partner’s suit), I am willing to go high with this hand.”
3♥ by Falk. “If partner raises hearts, good. If he tries 3♠, good. Anything else, I will support clubs – except I will pass 3NT.”
The Sutherlins bid 3♥ hoping to uncover a 5–3 fit. “If we double, we would probably miss such a fit. Partner has the opportunity to bid spades over 3♥.”
While Korbel says his initial impetus was to double, “the dual chance of either missing a crucial 5–3 heart fit or partner leaving the double in with a flat hand swayed me to bid 3♥. Yes, this is a slight overbid, but with three strains in which to play, it is usually good policy to take the high road and hope that even if you end up too high, you get a little racing luck and make your contract anyway. We can still get to spades over 3♥, although I admit partner may feel his first priority without a heart fit is to confirm diamond stoppers via 3NT, even with four spades in his hand.”
Robinson makes a negative double. “I don’t worry about partner passing it.”
Sanborn’s double: “At least if I hear 3NT, I know we probably don’t have a major-suit fit. What to do then is a guess, though – probably 4♣. If I bid 3♥ and get 3NT from partner, there could still be an eight-card spade fit lurking. As far as cuebidding or raising clubs, neither feels right.”
Double by Hampson, who says: “I don’t want to trap partner into deciding between 3NT and 3♠ with a diamond stopper and four spades, so I will try to show both majors with one call.”
Boehm is a doubler. “Partner knows the vulnerability and form of scoring and will try harder for a game than a one-trick set.”
Handley doubles. “I will not be too thrilled if partner sits, but no other choice appeals.”
Double by Stack: “This is not a classic negative double because of the fifth heart, and we may lose a 5–3 heart fit. If partner bids 3♥, 3♠ or 4♣, we will raise to game in that denomination. If partner bids 3NT, we will pass.”
