Saturday, March 19, 2005 12:13 AM
D.S.I.P. - Passed Hands
PITBULLS:
When
partner has pre-empted a weak two or made a weak jump overcall or even a
pre-empt at the 3 level with the opponents intervening , an initial double is
obviously penalty. You know partners hand within a tightly defined range so it
is easy to determine the fate of the opponents. What if you are a passed hand and partner pre-empts ? Well you would not be doubling very
often you say. Not so . We do not open bad defensive 12 HCP or even 13 HCP
hands . Partners 3rd seat pre-empts are quite variable in strength
so opponents can get into trouble especially if they bid NT. You also want to
differentiate between a competing
hand and a suggestion to sacrifice.
Why not interpret a passed hand double after
partner’s pre-empt as D.S.I.P. rather than penalty ?
This
hand came up . Kxxx AQx xxx K10x and partner opened a weak 2♥ in 3rd seat . The opponent
overcalled 2NT so what do you do ? If partner has a healthy weak two , they get
murdered . If not , you want to compete to 3♥ . A double must show a fit as a passed hand
on this auction and in effect is asking partner to leave it in with a maximum
and pull with a minimum. Just common sense Bridge.
Vulnerability
of course is a consideration with D.S.I.P. doubles after partner has pre-empted
. I was a passed hand with Axx QJ10x K109x xx and
the auction went 1♦
to my left (vul)
, 2♠ (nv)
by my partner and 3NT to my right . I want to sacrifice if partner has a
weakish hand and want to defend if he has a maximum. A D.S.I.P. double gets the
best of both worlds. As a passed hand ,
the double must show a fit. Never pull my penalty doubles can not
be applicable when I am a passed hand. Do Something
Intelligent
Partner.
I
see no reason to have this passed hand
understanding with any pre-empts by partner ( jump overcall , weak
2, 3 or 4 ). This D.S.I.P. double is a cousin of the D.S.I.P. double called an action
double. Partner in
3rd seat opens 3♣ and they overcall 3NT . You have Kxxx
Axxx xx Kxx so you double saying you
want to bid 4♣ but with defense. Partner was making a tactical 3rd
seat pre-empt with xx xx AJx QJ109xx
and 3NT gets murdered. Change the hand to x x
xxxx QJ109xxx and we bail to 4♣ and the
partnership can judge whether to sacrifice from here on in. The pre-empter can
also get into the act with a 3rd Case D.S.I.P. action double. A
double says I have defense but I want to create some action so leave in the
double or pull .
I
can never see a situation where partner pre-empts and you double a suit for
penalty as a passed hand. This is idiotic
with a trump stack as you just helping them escape to a better spot. Why not
play the double as D.S.I.P. with a fit ?
You have defense with a fit rather than just being a nuisance . P-P-2♠-3♥
X . it
makes no sense for a passed hand to be doubling
them into a game when partner has
pre-empted. Playing it D.S.I.P. now lets partner into the picture for
sacrificing purposes. If you bid 3♠ directly you are suggesting
a sacrifice as you do not have defense. A D.S.I.P.
double says you do and want to compete to 3 spades. Being a passed hand
gives you more D.S.I.P.
double inferences. Its almost like having two convention cards . One for passed
hand doubles and one for not.