Tuesday, January 03, 2006 9:52 AM

Artificial Bids - Lead Directers

PITBULLS:

Everybody knows the value of a lead directing double against a slam. The double usually calls for dummy’s first bid suit or an unusual lead to hit partners void. What if your double could specify the exact opening lead ? I think when dummy’s first suit is a splinter , Stayman , artificial waiting bid or a transfer , a partnership should have a pre-arranged rule for a lead directing double.

The splinter is the first case. You would never want the splinter suit led against a slam. Why not key off the splinter suit for a lead ? Just arbitrarily define a double to mean lead the suit that is higher ranking above the splinter suit unless of course that is the trump suit then we default to the next suit.

1♠-P-3♣-P

6♠-P-P-X xxx xxx AK xxxxx The double calls for a diamond lead , the suit above the splinter.

You normally double artificial bids like transfers and Stayman for leads . What if you do not and double the final contract ? You can not want the artificial suit led or you would have doubled earlier. Why not key off the suit and define the double for the suit directly above the artificial bid ? I held KQJ10x void AKJ10xx xx and partner opened 1NT and I bid 2♥ and partner bid 3♠. I leapt to 6♠ as I wanted to them to guess on the opening lead. Everybody in the field was in slam making except for one who had the opponents cash the club AK. Define a double as showing the next higher suit above the transfer suit. In this case it is the trump suit so it rolls over to clubs. My LHO held the AK of clubs and did not double for an unusual lead nor did the field.

Doubling a Stayman bid for a lead is very common. What if you keep quiet and double the final contract ? Keep the rule consistent and say the double calls for the next higher ranking suit diamonds unless that is the trump suit. In that case it rolls over to the next suit.

1NT-P-2♣-P

2♦-P-4NT-P

6NT-P-P-X xxxx xxxx AKx xx

You can generalize and say if you failed to double any artificial bid initially , the double calls for the suit higher ranking than the artificial bid. 2♣-P-2♥*-P

3NT-P-6NT-X This calls for a spade lead as you did not double the artificial 2♥ bid for a lead earlier.

2♣-P-2♦*-P

2NT-P-6NT-X This calls for a heart lead the suit above diamonds.

If the dummys first bid suit is not artificial the double calls for that suit of course.

2♣-P-2♠-P

2NT-P-6NT-X You have AQx xxxx xxxx xx and are doubling for a spade lead.

The negative inference that partner did not double the artificial bid nor did she double the final contract crosses two suits off the “killing lead” list. All help is very much appreciated for leads against slams.

Even if you did double the artificial bid earlier and subsequently double the final contract this rule should apply. You negate your previous double and you want the suit above the artificial bid.

They are in 6♠ and they transferred to spades and you doubled for a heart lead. They get to 6♠ so you double again. You have xxx AJ1098 xxxxx void so your double says do not lead a heart . The suit above that is trump so partner leads a club.