East-West vulnerable.  
South deals.

            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q J 6                         S: K 10 8 3   
            H: A K 10 9 4 3                  H: Q J 8      
            D: 2                             D: K 8 6 5           
            C: A Q 7                         C: K 5         

          The Bidding:
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   Pass     1H      2NT      3D 
                   Pass     4H      Pass    Pass
                    5D     Pass     Pass      ?
     Decisions, decisions, decisions!  This one is not nearly as
difficult as it may first appear.  The competition is teams and
you have to decide whether to double, pass, or bid on.
     Let's examine the auction.  West opens one heart and North
bids two no trump.  This is called the "unusual" two no trump. 
The normal use of this bid is to show a hand with both minor
suits.  Theoretically, the bidder should have at least five
diamonds and five clubs and whatever honor count he has should be
in those two suits.  He could have a hand as weak as six points
or a hand with great playing strength.  The bidder will
differentiate at his next opportunity to bid.  If he holds an
intermediate hand it is more likely that he will try to bid both
suits naturally.
     Over the unusual two no trump, East bids three diamonds. 
Most partnerships play that a bid of one of the minors in this
sequence shows a limit raise of partners suit with a control in
the bid suit.  With this information, West jumps to game in
hearts.  South now decides to sacrifice by bidding five
diamonds.     
     The first thing East has to recognize is that "pass" is not
an option.  Partner has opened the bidding and then jumped to
game.  After South's five diamond bid, your partner did not have
a clear cut action and passed the final decision around to you.
     This is known as a "forcing pass".  Your side has bid a game
that should be easily made.  If you feel you have enough to make
an extra trick, bid five hearts.  If it is too close to call,
double.  It really doesn't matter if your opponents can make five
diamonds or not.  If they can, you should have bid one more and
your result will be minimally affected by the double.  If they
can't, you must punish them for taking away your vulnerable
game.
     Let's look at the math to validate the theory.  We will
assume that four hearts by East-West will make for a score of
plus 620.  If North-South make five diamonds for plus 400, your
team will lose 1,020 points or 14 International Match Points
(IMPS).  If they make this doubled it will be 1,170 points or 15
IMPS.  On the other hand, if you defeat them four tricks
undoubled the net result will be minus 420 which is still 10 IMPS
for them.  Doubled, the penalty becomes 800 for a net to your
side of 180, or plus 5 IMPS.
     Of course, you may not defeat them four tricks which will
not be particularly good, but if you can't make five hearts, any
plus you get will be better than the minus earned for being
defeated.
     Here is the entire deal:
                              NORTH
                              S: 9                 
                              H: 7 2       
                              D: A Q J 7 4   
                              C: J 10 8 6 2
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q J 6                         S: K 10 8 3   
            H: A K 10 9 4 3                  H: Q J 8      
            D: 2                             D: K 8 6 5           
            C: A Q 7                         C: K 5         
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A 7 5 4 2
                              H: 6 5      
                              D: 10 9 3    
                              C: 9 4 3
     In the actual play of the hand the defense took six tricks
against five diamonds undoubled.  They scored two hearts, three
clubs and the king of diamonds.  It turned out that South had
taken what is known as a "phantom sacrifice" and since he didn't
get doubled, he got away with the equivalent of "bridge
murder".
     When your opponent places his neck on the chopping block you
have to take a swing at him.  He will surely get away once in
awhile, but more often than not you will connect for a good
score.
     If you are still trying to figure out what sort of holiday
gift to get for your favorite partner, let me suggest a copy of
Matthew Granovetter's newest book, "Bridge Additions 96".  The
book is subtitled "New Age Inventions Tempered With Old Fashioned
Advice".  This book has clear, easily understood explanations of
some of the newer bidding and play ideas being discussed by the
top players and innovators of the game.  Granovetter discusses
frozen suits, launching pads, bidding buttons, best defensive 
agreements, improved opening leads and signals, and many other
items.  The best thing I can tell you about this book is that I
couldn't put it down, I enjoyed it that much.   
     Bridge Additions 96 is available for $12.95 per copy plus a
shipping/handling charge of $3.00 per order.  Orders can be sent
to Granovetter Books, P. O. Box 43579, Richmond Heights, OH
44143-0579, or you may call 216-446-9815.  If you mention this
column you will receive a complimentary issue of Bridge Today
Magazine (a $6.00 value) with your order.
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