Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:24 AM

D.S.I.P. - Scope

 

PITBULLS:

 

          Critics of D.S.I.P. doubles are afraid that these doubles take away a favourite weapon from them in the form of the “trump stack penalty double” . This is only partially true. Trump stack penalty doubles are still made as the initial action when you own the auction ( forcing pass theory ) , negative doubles up to 4♦ ( converting partners mandatory re-opening double) , initial action after partner pre-empts , initial action after partner makes a T/O double ( penalty) and initial action when they balance and you are behind the suit. The 5 level and higher are still reserved for the trump stack penalty double.

 

          In all other competitive auctions , penalty doubles do not apply as the initial action. However they do apply as a subsequent action. Even if the double is only a subset of a D.S.I.P. double i.e. conventional doubles like responsive or maximal doubles . Once partner has heard you describe your hand , the 2nd double is penalty. Only one D.S.I.P. like double allowed per round of bidding.

   1♠-2♣-2♠-X 

   3♥-X           is penalty as you have described your hand as responsive and holding some “cards” .

 

          1♠-2♣-P-P    

           2♠-X-3♦-X    this double is penalty as I heard partner make a D.S.I.P. double already. Also the negative inference when partner did not make a D.S.I.P. double but bid instead,  allows penalty doubles.

 

1♠-2♣-P-P

 2♠-3♣-3♠-X             Partner said she did not have a D.S.I.P. double and just competed to 3♣. I heard that and still doubled so it is penalty.

 

          The pass by partner in a competitive auction can be thought of as “turning on”  D.S.I.P. doubles as an initial action. 1♠-2♣-P-P

                         2♠-P-P-X               In light of my original pass , I am doubling to compete somewhere. Probably do not have too many clubs but I do not want to sell out. You could hold a trump stack in spades so I am giving you the option of converting as I have some defense consistent with my original pass. Your pass did not give me any real information to work with so my double is D.S.I.P. 

 

          1♠-2♥-2♠-3♥

           3♠-X-P-?             This is an initial action as I have not described the strength of my overcall. This is D.S.I.P. saying I have defense and I want to bid 4♥. You only nix the request if you feel 3♠X is the place to play the hand.

 

            Actually D.S.I.P. double theory gives you an extra chance for a penalty double conversion.

 

P-P-1♦-2♠

3♣-3♠-P-P

X                     A double by either hand is D.S.I.P. saying I have defense and I want to compete. Therefore either partner can convert for penalty and the opponents do not escape a trump stack penalty double.

 

          Obviously when you make a D.S.I.P. double at the 4 level or at the 3 level vrs the spade suit , these are game try doubles. More specifically they are game try doubles in their suit. if you have duplication of value in their suit , you nix the game request. At all other levels we are just asking permission to compete at that level or the next higher level. D.S.I.P. doubles can be thought of as applying splinter theory in the opponents suit. The D.S.I.P. double denies any values in their trump suit.

 

          D.S.I.P. doubles among other things are based on frequency. It is more likely in competitive auctions that you have “cards” and no way to describe them rather than a trump stack in their suit. We take away the penalty double as we feel it is a wasted bid in competitive auctions ( nobody owns the hand) . Either partner can convert for penalty so we only lose on one instance. We do not get a penalty bonus against very bad bidders when our side is weak and can not make anything anyway. We are not strong enough to make a D.S.I.P. double when partner was about to convert for penalty.  A small price to pay as we still get a plus.