Page 18 - ABF Newsletter August 2025

BRIDGE INTO THE
21st CENTURY
Paul Lavings, plavings@gmail.com
Hand One
WHAT DOES THE LAST DOUBLE IN THESE AUCTIONS MEAN? Hand Six
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1[ dbl
Hand Two
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1[ pass 2[ dbl
Hand Three
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1[ pass 1NT dbl
Hand Four
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1NT pass pass dbl
Hand Five
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1[ pass 2[ pass pass dbl
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1] pass 1NT pass 2] dbl
Hand Seven
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 3[ pass 4[ pass pass dbl
Hand Eight
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ 1[ pass pass dbl
Hand Nine
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1] 2[ pass pass dbl 3} dbl
Hand Ten
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ 1] pass 2} 3{ pass pass dbl
SOLUTIONS
Hand One
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1[ dbl
Shows four spades and is for takeout. It is better to show four spades and get into the auction rather than wait until you have both spades and diamonds.
Hand Two
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1[ pass 2[ dbl
Takeout, with heart shortage. Why else would you not double 1{ for takeout? Despite what some believe, most doubles have very precise meanings.
When your RHO opens 1{, what would you bid holding ]AK64 [3 }QJ83 {AQ54?
If you double partner will almost surely bid 1[, and if you overcall 1NT partner will likely bid 2}, a transfer
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to 2[. Your logical move is to pass and wait to double hearts for takeout as you did in this auction.
Hand Three
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1[ pass 1NT dbl
As question 2, takeout with heart shortage. Logic is the glue that keeps a partnership on the same page. Why pass 1{ and double later after they bid hearts? You must have heart shortage, and perhaps a good hand.
Hand Four
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 1{ pass 1NT pass pass dbl
A good hand sitting over the clubs, suggesting penal- ties. You refused your chance to make a takeout double over 1{ so you probably have good clubs but not enough to overcall 1NT first time:
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: August 2025