Wednesday, May 14, 2003 6:21 PM

Doubles

PITBULLS:

“Double , double , toil and trouble” McBeth .. When you double the opponents artificial bids is it conventional ? show the suit ? lead directing ? suggesting a sacrifice ? or takeout ? Skakespere was right – these bids mean toil and trouble . Partnership understandings are necessary again.

First the easy ones . Double of Stayman after a strong NT means lead a club, after a weak NT just general strength . Double of a transfer means lead that suit in NT and have some length in case it gets redoubled. If you bid the indicated suit of the transfer , it is a takeout double of that suit . After a NT opener and the opponents bid an artificial 2♣ , double is Stayman and systems on. A double of a strong 2♣ or 2♦ responses shows the suit unless you have a convention. Double of a forcing club or diamond response shows the majors unless you have a toy.

Now for the more difficult ones . In the sandwich position , doubles are more iffy as the opponents have a number of artificial bids to show major raises , splinters , two suited fits etc . Therefore the “sandwich” position doubles should vary depending on the opponents meaning for the bids . If the opponents bids are natural and forcing , artificial and forcing , natural and invitational or splinters all change the meaning of your doubles . Lets make a table of possibilities of doubles in the sandwich position

Game forcing splinter	Sacrifice
Range showing – force artificial	Lead / Sacrifice
Range showing – limit artificial	Takeout
Range showing – weak artificial	Takeout
Fit showing	Takeout
Other artificial raise – Drury etc	Lead

When the opponents pre-empt and the responder bids a suit , a double is for takeout of the other two suits.. If the suit might be artificial and forcing , the double is a takeout of the pre-empt suit. If the opponents open a weak 2 and a 2NT response to the right , a double in the sandwich position is a takeout double of the pre-empt. A double of a forcing NT shows a takeout double of the bid major or a strong two suiter.

The basic premise of these doubles is common sense . The opponents bid shows a lot of strength & artificial then the double is lead directing/sacrifice oriented. If the bid is limited or weak or natural then the double is take out.