The opposition open the bidding 1H - you need to choose should you make a takeout double ('X')? or overcall (2C). A takeout double says you hold 3 cards in all the unbid suits which you do, you can save into the club suit if partner passes. Don't be tempted to keep bidding after partners pass, partner would bid if he had cards or points to support you. All Pass
Acol Bidding
The opposition open the bidding 1H - you need to choose should you make a takeout double ('X')? or overcall (2C). A takeout double says you hold 3 cards in all the unbid suits which you do, you can save into the club suit if partner passes. Don't be tempted to keep bidding after partners pass, partner would bid if he had cards or points to support you. All Pass
Plan Before You Play
Opening lead choices are the heart singleton (E/W have a lot of them so maybe you can get a ruff, or 4th highest from longest and strongest suit (8C) or top of a sequence (QC, JC, 10C) . If you can ruff hearts and maybe partner can ruff clubs (since you have so many of them).
The Play
Lead a club (top of a sequence) which is an attacking opening. Declarer wins and starts drawing trumps , you play low on the first round and partner wins with JD, returning your club lead which dummy also wins. you win the second round of trumps, lead your singleton heart which declarer also wins and he draws another round of trumps which you win. Lead out your AS before declarer discards his losing spades in hand. After that it doesn't matter what you play, your partner wins the KH and declarer has all the rest of the tricks.
Comment
Even if you disobey the rules and bid 3C after partners pass of your takeout double, the opposition still bid up to 3D. Either lead gives you 50 points by taking opposition light. If you make a penalty double after the 3D bid you can double your points
The above commentary is intended as a guideline only. As with any Bridge hand there are many ways to bid and play any hand.
