Friday, June 30, 2006 6:33 PM

D.S.I.P. - Negative Inference

 

PITBULLS:

 

          D.S.I.P. doubles assist competitive bidding in that there are many negative inferences to help you in the bidding. As discussed , only the first double in a competitive auction is D.S.I.P.  All subsequent doubles are penalty. If partner had a chance to make a D.S.I.P. double and did not , a logical inference is that she does not have the defense in quick tricks to do so. A pass in a competitive auction means that the fit , defense or distribution is not suitable for competing. Bidding means that I have the distribution to compete but not the defense.

 

          These D.S.I.P. understandings assist partner in making penalty doubles. Say partner has AJ109 Axxx xx Q109 and passed in 1st seat. LHO opens 1♦ and RHO bids 1NT so she doubles. They bid 2♦ and you compete to 2♥ and they bid 3♦ which partner doubles as D.S.I.P. saying she would like to compete to 3♥ with defense measured in quick tricks. The opener now Q bids 3♥ as a game try and they retreat to 4♦. Partner has announced defense so they are just too high and there is a good chance they may go two down. You hold xxx Kxxx KQ9 xxx for your 2♥ bid so IMPS or not this is penalty double on this auction as partner has advertised good defense with her D.S.I.P double. They lose 2♦ , 2♠ & and a ♥ trick and you pick up +500.

 

          What if partner passed 3♦ ? Your side could not have enough defense to beat this contract two tricks which is the IMP rule for doubling partials into game. With the D.S.I.P. systemic warning you pass and they make their diamond partial for +130. An example hand for partner would be J109x Q10xx xx AKJ in which she decided not to compete with a D.S.I.P. double.  In matchpoints ,  the thinking is quite different. If you feel they are stealing you from your rightful +140 in hearts , you double 4♦ for a one trick set. +200 compensates quite well for your +140 and if they are successful, it is only a zero and you were not getting many matchpoints for -130 anyway. In IMPS , a penalty double would never be made with this hand.