A bidding disastor.
Bridge Column for May 9, 2003, Harvey Bernstein
North-South vulnerable.  West deals.
                              North
                              S: Q J 6            
                              H: Q J 4       
                              D: A K Q 8 6 5 
                              C: 9       
            West                             East
            S: A 9 2                         S: 10 4         
            H: 6                             H: K 8 7 3    
            D: 4 3 2                         D: J 10 9            
            C: A K Q 8 7 5                   C: J 10 6 2    
                              South                         
                              S: K 8 7 5 3 
                              H: A 10 9 5 2 
                              D: 7         
                              C: 4 3      
          The Bidding:  
                   West   North     East   South                  
                    1C     Dbl       1NT    3C  

                   Pass    Pass     Pass
     Thanks to Barbara Klempner Greenspan of Beachwood for this
interesting hand from her recent vacation.  She met up with
Joanne Antoniou of Shaker Heights and the decided to have an
afternoon of bridge at a club called Jourdan's in Del Ray,
Florida.
     Antoniou, sitting West, opened one club.  The player in the
North seat decided to double.  Greenspan, in the East seat helped
to muddy the water by bidding one no trump.  South was in a bind. 
She only had seven high card points but she had five cards in
each major.  I would bid two spades with the South cards but this
player's choice was a "jump cue bid".  
     West passed.  I think that North should now bid her diamonds
but she was confused by South's bid and she passed. Greenspan,
having already done as much damage as possible, passed and the
final contract was three clubs.  This was defeated four tricks
while game was available in either major.
     The disastor was caused by poor bidding judgement.  North
has a good enough hand to double, but if that is the action
selected, North must bid again to show those values.  South does
not have a good enough hand for any type of cue bid.  The best
action would be to bid spades and then rebid hearts if given the
chance.  Try to keep the bidding simple and easy for partner to
understand. 
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.