Monday, July 10, 2006 4:24 PM

D.S.I.P. - Responding to Overcalls

 

PITBULLS:

 

          Another one of the many uses of a D.S.I.P. double is responding to overcalls. There are many auctions where a simple raise of partners overcall will just not do. You have too much defense for a simple raise & Q bidding brings you to an uncomfortable level. Also I am a strong advocate of differentiating between 3 card raise and a 4 card raise of partners overcall. With D.S.I.P. double understandings , a Q bid could tend to show a 4 card raise if we have a D.S.I.P. double available.

 

          Support doubles to overcalls have really not been invented but with D.S.I.P. doubles , we can have this flexibility. They can tend to be responsive or a fit for partner when clarified later.

 

          Here are some sample auctions.

 

  1. 1-1♠-3-?
  2. 1♠-2-2♠-?
  3. 1-1♠-2-?
  4. 1♠-2♣/-3♠-?

 

These doubles with the top of a responders range for a raise , obey D.S.I.P. theory. You want to compete but you have defense . The corollary of course is if you bid directly it just means that you have paid your card fees. The D.S.I.P. double is ambiguous in this auctions as you are just showing “cards” . However , you can clarify later by supporting partner. If the overcaller makes the “death response” by returning to her suit the auction quite often dies at that level.

 

“Playing the vulnerability” can mean some pretty light overcalls. Making a D.S.I.P. double in these auctions means you have done your duty. Do not punish partner by Q bidding and driving her to game. The D.S.I.P. double describes your hand within a pretty good range. Give partner a chance to bail out. A D.S.I.P. double is just not limited to the overcaller bur responder can use the tool also.

 

In hand 4 where you are making a D.S.I.P. double at the 3 level minor implied , quite often it will be a Western Q trying to get the hand to 3NT. The D.S.I.P. double serves as a Q bid when they have taken away your room. When 3NT can be to play , it usually is.