IMPs. N-S vulnerable.
♠K 5 ♥A 8 7 5 ♦A Q 9 5 ♣A Q 10
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | 1♦ | Dbl |
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♠ | ? |
What’s Your Call?
| 2NT | ||||
| 3♣ | 3♦ | 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT |
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Dbl | Pass |
Should we bid again? It sounds like partner is broke. Half the panel chooses to pass.
Walker: “I pass and hope for a small plus. Partner won’t enjoy playing at the three level in a 4–3 fit.”
Joyces: “We don’t have enough shape to bid again. If partner is 4–3–3–3 with a Yarborough, we would be in a lot of trouble.”
Coopers: “This is not a pinochle deck, so we are not going to have a game if partner couldn’t bid over 1♠. A notrump bid was the plan when we doubled. At pairs, we might still do that, but at IMPs, it is way too dangerous for not enough gain.”
Robinson: “I don’t believe in making takeout doubles when I’m short in an unbid major, unless there is no alternative. I would have overcalled 1NT. Now I have no choice but to pass. Partner does get another chance to bid, so if he has six low clubs or four low hearts, maybe he’ll balance.”
Lawrence: “My good hand does not have tricks, making another bid dangerous.”
Falk: “Partner rates to be broke, so why force him to bid a suit when we may only have a seven-card fit? They charge extra for vulnerable undertricks.”
Seven experts choose to double a second time.
Kennedy: “Partner could have a four- or five-card heart suit. Also, the opponents might take the push to 3♠.”
Sutherlins: “Partner holding ♥K 10 6 4 3 would be enough to make game. If we pass, partner is unlikely to balance.”
Stack: “I cannot give up with such a great hand. There is no reason to believe that we can’t make a partscore or game even though partner can’t have many HCP.”
Boehm: “Double is risky if partner has a flat Yarborough. Non-vulnerable opponents don’t always have full values these days.”
Colchamiro: “Double should be unanimous.”
Cohen: “We could still have game if partner has:
♠8 7 6 ♥K 9 6 4 3 ♦6 3 ♣J 4 3
What about notrump?
“2NT,” says Sanborn. “I don’t want to sell out to 2♠, and I don’t want partner to bid 3♣ on a four-card suit, something that could happen if I double again. I don’t expect to make anything, but maybe I can do a little pushing.”
Sometimes you have to pass with a good hand. As the Joyces point out, bidding again could cause trouble.
Want to receive the retro “It’s Your Call” by email?
Click here to subscribe.