Set One 12 April 2017 Hand 4

Board 4 East Deals	♠ A 10 ♥ A K Q 9 5 ♦ 10 4 ♣ A 8 5 3
♠ 8 ♥ 10 8 7 4 ♦ Q J 5 3 ♣ Q 10 9 7	N W E S	♠ K 7 6 5 3 2 ♥ J 3 2 ♦ 7 ♣ J 6 2
	♠ Q J 9 4 ♥ 6 ♦ A K 9 8 6 2 ♣ K 4

NS 5♥; NS 4N; N 4♠; NS 5♦; S 3♠; N 4♣; S 3♣; Par +450

West	North	East	South
		2 ♦	Dbl
2 ♠	Dbl	All pass

2 ♠× by West

Lead: ♥ A

Down 5 — EW −1100

Here is another hand with a minor overcall that starts with a double. West with four hearts and only one spade bids 2 ♠ to show a willingness to compete if partner has hearts. Actually with only 4 hcp it is dubious whether that is wise. 

North's bid over 2 ♠ is slightly more problematic than over 2 ♥. Over 2 ♥ if you double and partner has four spades then 2 ♠ can be bid and you can pass or scramble to another spot as appropriate - knowing that south has only four spades as with five spades and a minimum hand a 2 ♠ overcall would have been preferred. Over 2 ♠ because an economical bid in hearts is not available it is harder to scramble to the best spot. Therefore we recommend doubling only with heart tolerance and around 8+ hcp or a game going hand. Here there is no problem with north having hearts and strength.

When east passes showing spades south may chose to pass and collect a nice penalty. 

Alternatively south could bid 3 ♦ and then north would bid 3 ♥ which is strong and forcing as hands that double 2 ♠ with a five-card major are usually good hands - we may see some exceptions later.

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