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Posted on Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, July 14: Even the one-level can be expensive

By Phillip Alder

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Ronnie Barker, who was perhaps Britain's best TV comedy actor, said, "The marvelous thing about a joke with a double meaning is that it can only mean one thing."

This deal from a social game featured two doubles with different meanings. What do you think of the auction? What happened to one spade doubled, West leading her singleton heart?

After East opened one heart, South made a modern-style takeout double with 4-3-3-3 distribution and minimum point-count. This was a poor choice, especially as partner was a passed hand.

West redoubled to show 10-plus points and fewer than four hearts. Now East-West had to buy the contract or double North-South for penalty.

North, with nowhere to turn, passed, and South ran to one spade. (One heart redoubled would have made with two overtricks on best defense, for a score of 920.) West was tempted to rebid two clubs, but with two spade honors, she decided to give partner a chance to describe his hand. East doubled, guaranteeing four spades, and that was passed out.

West led her singleton. East won with his jack and shifted to his singleton. South rose with his ace and played a trump. West took her ace, cashed the club king, and gave her partner a club ruff. East took two top hearts and led his last high heart, West overruffing declarer.

East-West still had to collect one diamond and one spade for down three, a score of 500. That was better than 400 for three no-trump by West, the only makable game.

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