[gwnn]

cherdano, on May 17 2007, 12:41 AM, said:

Well, once you bring game theory into it I will content that any serious opponents have an agreement what suit a lead-directing double of 7N after this auction asks for

Duh, that's easy, you just ask "does the double of 7NT ask for a diamond lead?"

[Foxx]

7♥, with 7NT a close second choice.

Even if my blast catches RHO with the ♦A, we might be able to make him fear that if led it will get ruffed.

[jvage]

Given as a problem it should come as no surprise that the ♦A was missing. My guess is 7NT will be laydown about 95% of the time, and I did not expect partner to cue the diamond Ace with his known minimum. I decided that if we really missed the Ace it was more likely with RHO, and it is fun to bid 7NT as your first bid after both opponents have bid

This board changed the luck for us, on a clublead there were 13 toptricks even if the spades had not broken (partner had 7 hearts). We had a difficult start on the tournament (49 of 52 after 5 rounds, when opponents had bid everything that made), but finished second, only beaten by my 2 regular partners who had paired up.

In the bar after play there were some discussions on wether RHO should double with the ♦A. At the moment I did not understand why he did not double (I knew he had the A before the lead, fortunately his partner did not notice his slightly surprised look). In practice a club was led, RHO's argument for not doubling was that partner should never lead a club here anyway. That also makes sense, does anyone have any opinions on this issue?

John

[FrancesHinden]

jvage, on May 18 2007, 12:24 PM, said:

In the bar after play there were some discussions on wether RHO should double with the ♦A. At the moment I did not understand why he did not double (I knew he had the A before the lead, fortunately his partner did not notice his slightly surprised look). In practice a club was led, RHO's argument for not doubling was that partner should never lead a club here anyway. That also makes sense, does anyone have any opinions on this issue?

John

I was vaguely thinking about this yesterday.
Double of 7NT should mean one of three things:

1. It's going off whatever you lead
2. I have an ace in spades or diamonds, please guess right
3. Please lead a heart, dummy's first bid suit

Whatever double means, it certainly asks for a non-club lead. But I don't agree with "partner should never lead a club here anyway". With a solid sequence the last thing partner wants to do is pick up your holding in a side suit so is quite likely to lead a club.

Meaning 2. above is the most likely to come up at the table.
Meaning 3. is probably the "systemic" meaning of the double, but you might decide that you don't believe it very likely declarer has 13 tricks without hearts.