Bridge

"They sprang another new convention on me," Cy the Cynic said gloomily. "Penalty doubles are going the way of the dinosaur." North's double conventionally showed three cards in spades. With four-card support, he'd have raised to two spades.

"If South knows the degree of North's support," I said, "it'll help him judge the bidding."

"I'd rather be able to double for penalty," the Cynic said, "especially the way people overcall on cheese." LAST TRUMP

Against four spades Cy, West, led the king of diamonds, and South won and cashed only the Q-J of trumps. He next took the K-Q-J of hearts. If hearts had split 3-3, South could have drawn the last trump with the king and cashed the ace of hearts. As it happened, Cy had only two hearts, but since he'd also held only two trumps, South made his game.

Many experts use "support doubles." The consensus is that doubling low-level overcalls for penalty is a losing strategy. Still, I sympathize with Cy's views about "progress" in bidding.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S 8 4 H 7 3 D K Q 10 9 6 2 C A Q 5. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two diamonds and he rebids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have 11 good points and a stout suit, but game chances are uncertain. Bid three diamonds, showing long diamonds but minimum values for a response at the level of two. If partner has a hand such as A K J 9 5, J 6 5, J 3, K 7 6, you'll be high enough. If he has A J 9 5 2, A 5, A 3, J 7 6 4, he may try 3NT.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

NORTH

S K 6 2