Correct contract bridge / by E.V. Shepard ; including the official Laws of contract bridge adopted by the Whist Club, New York, and by all the leading clubs in America.

84 CORRECT CONTRACT BRIDGE

the run of the adverse suit, and four assisting tricks,
to allow the original bidder to return to his notrump if he thinks game is possible, or to allow the
double to stand for a penalty in case he thinks the
value of the penalty may be preferable to a part
game score. In case the partner of the no-trump
bidder holds an established minor suit or at least
five assisting tricks distributed among three or four
suits, he should bid 2-No Trumps in preference to
making an assisting double.
Suppose that you hold each of the three hands
shown below when 2-Hearts have been bid over
your partner's opening bid of i-No Trump; proper
procedure in each case is as indicated:
Double 2-Hearts
A AK7 v KJ IO8 4 986 0 Io62
Bid 2-No Trumps
A 7 3 K J Io 8 4 KJ 6 0 o62
Pass * 9 7 3 v K J Io 8 K 8 6 O Io62
The first of the above hands justifies bidding 3 -No Trumps in case your partner shifts your double
of 2-Hearts to 3-odd in either minor suit. The last
hand requires you to bid 2-No Trumps if your partner doubles the 2-Hearts.
If your partner's opening suit bid is overcalled by
a low suit declaration you may be able to employ to
advantage another species of assisting double. A
strictly business double of a low make seldom pays
well; unless you are prepared to double any shift
of call your announcement of ability to beat one
declaration ordinarily results in a shift of make, to