#12 Both Vulnerable
West North East South
Pass Pass 1NT Pass
2♣ DBL ???
East
♠ K Q 5
♥ A 6 2
♦ A 7 6 3
♣ K 9 6
North’s double of the artificial 2♣ response shows 5-6 clubs, typically head by three of the top five honors. It is a lead-directing penalty double, not a takeout double. East’s should PASS to deny a four-card major, but show a club stopper. With no four-card major and no club stopper, East bids 2♦. The idea is when the opening 1NT bidder doesn’t have a four-card major, the focus becomes the club stopper. The defenders have announced that a club will be led! When holding a four-card major, bid it! Share this with your partner!
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What’s Your Bid? 1-12
2 responses to “What’s Your Bid? 1-12”
Are the Pass and 2♦ bids by East alerted? Are they both forcing?
If East bids 2♦ denying both a four-card major and club stopper, I assume West must have a club stopper to bid some number of NT. Without a club stopper, what should West do?
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Hi Jo Ann, Yes. If you and your partner have this agreement, then pass and 2D would be alertable. If the auction passes back to West, a 2NT bid would show a club stopper. If West has no club stopper, then West can redouble to get East to start bidding four-card suits up the line. If West is holding a five-card suit (which would be unusual with the Stayman bid ~ but possible), then West should bid the 5-card sui. In theory West could pass and play 2Cx holding long clubs…this would be an alternative choice to 2NT depending on the vulnerability. Being vulnerable vs not, bid 2NT, if not vulnerable vs vul, pass and play 2Cx.
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