Tuesday, July 05, 2005 2:15 PM

Hand Evaluation – Old Habits

PITBULLS:

There is an element of negative double theory associated with D.S.I.P. double theory. Since trump stack doubles are taken out of the equation in competition, converting partners D.S.I.P. double is the only way to extract a penalty as an initial action. This is where the similarity ends with negative doubles. Playing negative doubles , partner must re-open . In D.S.I.P. theory there is no such obligation. As we do not own the auction, with a lack of defensive tricks the green card is put on the table. This is one of the “costs” of playing D.S.I.P. theory against the obvious benefits. The opponents may go down undoubled when partner does not have enough controls to double. This is offset by doubled contracts making with traditional methods because of the single handed nature of penalty doubles. Since we do not own the auction , taking our plus can not be so bad. The duplication of value in their suit is no good for us anyway , so we can not make anything our way.

Re-opening doubles in D.S.I.P. should be based on hand evaluation. If I have opened , overcalled , or made a takeout double , all partner has done was competed with a limited bid , a D.S.I.P. re-opening double should have them nearly booked in quick tricks. A re-opening double or D.S.I.P. doubles should never have their suit. Showing a lack of duplication of value in the opponents suit, is what D.S.I.P. double theory is all about. You may have to take your fix once in a while by passing with a juicy trump stack double. Get used to it , as you can not reap the benefits of D.S.I.P. doubles otherwise.

The hardest element of D.S.I.P. theory is to reverse the notion of penalty doubles that you have had all your Bridge life. D.S.I.P. doubles are an offensive weapon saying I want to compete again unless partners hand is unsuitable. This goes against the grain of what you have been playing your entire Bridge life with a penalty double. Once you get used to this offensive weapon idea , D.S.I.P. competitive doubles are easy. Gone are the days of doubled contracts making because you have located trump for them with partner being trained to “never pull your penalty doubles”. Doubling the opponents are a joint decision by the partnership a la negative double theory. One partner shows the defensive tricks but the other partner converts with trump. This is a deadly combination. Since partner must double in order to compete again , you get them coming and going. The clockwise nature of the game of Bridge no longer means that partner “rescues” the opponents from a disaster because partner competes again with a good hand with you having their trump.

Old habits die hard, but removing trump stack doubles from competitive auctions should not be all that difficult. You do play negative doubles. You put the green card on the table & cheer for partner to re-open with a double. If that fails to materialize, at least you have the insurance against a doubled partial making withthe knowledge that you made the correct competitive decision. Duplication of value in their suit is pretty useless offensively.