Hand of the Fortnight
Number 18
Theme: Lead directing doubles
Dealer: South. You are sitting North. The bidding has gone
S W N E
/ 1D / 1S
/ 2H / 4NT (1)
/ 5H (2) / 5NT (3)
/ 6D (4)
X (5) 6H/ / //
(1) Roman Key Card asking for Aces + Trump King (here HK)
(2) 2 Aces but not HQ
(3) Asking for Kings
(4) 1 King (apart from Trump King)
(5) This is a "lead directing double". You are asking partner to lead a Diamond when/if on lead. To take this action you are usually behind the Responder to the Slam invitation.
It is preferable to use it only over an unbid suit as it can backfire in some situations
(as shown in Ex. 2).
It is likely that East is angling for a Heart contract but if No Trumps is the final contract, a Diamond lead immediately establishes a threat.
This also helps partner to AVOID A POSSIBLE FREE FINESSE by their leading Clubs, Spades or Hearts.
What type of hand would one have for this action?
Ex. 1: S: 8 4 3
H: 5
D: K Q J 7C: J 6 4 3
Note: It is probably best not to use it at the 5 level unless you think you have only 1 chance to make a trick based on that lead ... esp. in a suit contract. But it can backfire if the opponents are thus talked out of a slam that - if it was bid - would have been defeated.
Ex. 2: S: 9 7 5 4 3
H: T 3
D: -
C: T 7 6 5 3 2
A 5 level double of Diamonds only works here if the opponents end up in Hearts. Against No Trumps or even 5DX, you don’t want a Diamond lead!
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