Answer to

Hand of the week commencing Sunday 2nd December   2007  

 

 

Dealer West

ª

A J 10 3

 

 

 

Neither Vulnerable

©

5

 

 

 

 

¨

J 9 5 3

 

 

 

 

§

 A 9 6 4

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

 7 2

 

 

ª

Q

©

 7 6 3

 

W                          E

©

K Q J 10 9 8 4 2

¨

 A 8 6 3

 

 

¨

K  Q 7 4

§

 K 10 7 5

 

 

§

 

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

ª

K 9 8 6 5 4

 

 

 

 

©

 A

 

 

 

 

¨

 10

 

 

 

 

§

Q J 8 5 2

 

 

                           

W

N

E

S

NO

NO

4©

4ª

5©

5ª

DBL

NO

NO

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this auction what should West now lead ?

 

It is absolutely vital that you and your partner know what these doubles are and that you both agree to do the same thing. Without the double the only indication you have is to leading partner’s suit and you would be leading a heart. However, the double shines a different light and partner is trying to wake you up and tell you to lead something strange. This is called a Lightner double and is a wake up call to the unusual. Presumably partner wants you to lead a Minor because he has a void somewhere. But which one do you choose. You do not choose, you merely lead your Diamond Ace and see if partner discourages or does not follow. You lead the Ace and partner discourages with the 4. You now dutifully switch to a low club which partner is able to ruff. Partner will still have a natural club trick some time later and the contract goes one off.

 

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