An Instructive Hand
Playing in the final session of the Swiss Teams at the Chicago NABC, you hold the following: 
A K J 9 6, 
J T 8, 
J 5 4 , 
J 4. First to speak with both vulnerable, you elect to pass. (Would you? You had a Multi 2 opener available.) The auction proceeds 1 on your left, pass by partner, 1 on your right. You are now silenced and you listen to 1NT by lefty and 3NT by righty. What do you call?
This is an interesting ethical position, by the way. Most players are grabbing up their bidding cards as RHO bids 3NT. My partners know that I always give it a few seconds in this position, even with nothing to think about. I do it because I will have this hand some day, but I suppose you would still land in committee if you took 8 seconds, passed, and partner led a spade.
Your decision?
I double. If partner has two spades and an entry before they get to nine, they are going down (unless dummy has five spades and there was no checkback) Too many times I have seen this contract make without the lead of dummy’s suit when the defense can set the suit up (even if having to give declarer one trick in the suit) if it is sent at trick one.
July 28, 2006 Lee Prellwitz
Jeff’s ethical strategy probably makes his partners more comfortable. It is tough to find a strategy that plays well when the opponents, without benefit of evidence that occurs elsewhere, attack you when a slightly unusual action works against them.
I think this is a great double. You have to be alert and aggressive to come out of this passive situation with an attacking move that will cost you something if wrong. Also, this is an area that most partnerships have not developed confidence (ie. is rdbl strong, weak, or optional) so mishandling of the dbl by the opponents increases the odds of success (or decreases the cost of failure).
August 25, 2006 Phil Warden