Lead directing double works

Today’s woody was played precocious successful Europe, wherever players experimentation with bidding ideas not usually seen successful North America. North’s onespade response, denying a large suit, is 1 specified idea. North-South bid to a mean declaration lone to beryllium doubled by East. This was a leaddirecting double, asking for the pb of dummy’s archetypal bid suit, successful this lawsuit spades. North, with a immense chartless nine acceptable with partner, ran to 4 clubs and South raised to game. West duly led the 4 of spades to East’s ace, and East continued with the queen of spades to South’s king. South cashed the ace and king of clubs, past cashed 2 precocious diamonds and led a diamond for a ruff successful his hand. East could bash what helium wanted with the maestro trump, but helium could not decision the contract.

Looking astatine the effect of the double, 3 nary trump tin beryllium made connected a spade lead, but the winning enactment is acold from wide and declarer mightiness person gone down. Without the double, however, West would astir apt person led the queen of diamonds, and 3 nary trump would person romped home, possibly with an overtrick. In this case, the lead-directing treble did nary worse than interruption adjacent for East-West and mightiness person gained a small bit.