Bridge

Nowadays doubles have all sorts of names: negative, responsive, competitive, value-showing, support, game-try – but they are almost always takeout, one way or another. A regular partnership needs to know when a double is in fact that dying breed, a penalty double. Your system file should have a list of occasions when double is penalty.

The first item on the list will be the double of a weak no-trump, which carries the clear message: "I don't think they will make this." There are some conventional defences to a strong no-trump where double shows something else, and some players have adapted these to a weak no-trump, but most partnerships prefer to be able to double a weak no-trump for penalty.

Here West has an ideal double: 18 points and a good lead from his club suit. With a 4-3-3-3 distribution North has nowhere to run, and neither does South. East may be a little concerned, but he should trust his partner: with a weak hand he might consider removing to a five-card suit, but never to a four-carder.

West leads the queen of clubs, and South takes the king. All he can do is to try to limit his losses, so he may play a diamond. East has no idea what to do, and may duck. Now a spade to the queen and ace, and West cashes his clubs. After that a diamond to the ace and a spade through guarantees eight tricks for the defence, more likely nine, since declarer will have had trouble with his discards.