Lightner double in trouble again. Denouement.

The question was:

AJ1087
—
K43
J8742

West….North….East….South
………..2D*……Pass….2H**
2S…….2NT……4S…….5D
Pass….6D……..Dble?!…All Pass

*2D=weak major or 2NT opening.
**2H=pass or correct

So, okay, you’ve lightner doubled 6D. You are on lead. What’s it to be?

Victorian State Pairs Final
Bd 21
Dealer North
NS Vul

	NORTH K9 AQJ62 AQJ A96
WEST Q65432 10985 2 K10		EAST AJ1087 — K43 J8742
	SOUTH — K743 1098765 Q53

Well, I got it wrong: ace of spades. As it is, because partner happens to have the club ten, a club is okay. I don’t see, however, why a diamond isn’t a serious candidate. If, worst case scenario you are then thrown in with your king, are you any worse off? In retrospect, however, I have another idea about this hand.

I think that Bill (see yesterday’s comments) must be right unless your partner is a psychopath. Dummy must be void in spades as otherwise your partner has queen empty fifth for their overcall. Given that you know you hold a trick, you should lead a low spade. And, should it transpire that your partner is a psychopath, everybody following as declarer picks himself up off the floor in order to win his king, maybe this is a lesson that even a psychopath might heed. It’s his fault this has happened, not yours.