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Daily Bulletin Number 5

Tiger Doubles

The late Jeremy Flint introduced the concept of the Tiger Double in one of his books.
The idea is simple - when the opponents reach game after a limited auction you should consider doubling if you have a nasty surprise for declarer.

Board 11
None Vul
Dealer South

You have the East hand:

	K J
	J 10 9 8 7
	J 9 6 4
	K J

and witness the following auction:

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Pass	2	Pass	2
Pass	2NT	Pass	3
Pass	3NT	?

Do you double? You know declarer's main suit is not breaking and your opponents appear to be limited. Are you a tiger?

You may have already guessed that our hero in the East seat doubled. Let's take a look at the full deal:

			A 9 7
			Q 3
			K Q 10 7 5
			10 5 4
	Q 6 5 3 2	N W E S			K J
	4				J 10 9 8 7
	8 3				J 9 6 4
	A 9 8 3 2				K J
			10 8 4
			A K 6 5 2
			A 2
			Q 7 6

The spotlight was now on West, who had to choose which five-card suit to lead.
Following sound general principles she led a spade, hoping that suit could be set up while she still had an entry in the shape of the ace of clubs.

It was spot on as a club lead might well allow declarer to make the contract!

After her actual choice declarer could only take seven tricks, so was -300. Of course if his hand had been:

	K J
	J 10 9 8 7
	J 9 6
	K J 2

our tiger, the Ivory Coast's Barthez, would have continued to hide in the bushes awaiting an easier victim!