Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:25 PM

Hand Evaluation – Check Back Doubles

PITBULLS:

What’s in a name ? We named our competitive doubles as D.S.I.P. as per a suggestion by Gordon Campbell . However, if I had a chance to rename these doubles after the fact , I would call them “check back” doubles. You are checking back for partner’s permission to bid again. You want to bid again very badly but you still need partners input into the decision. Why ?, because you are trying to ferret out duplication of value in their suit. Duplication of value is a killer in all competitive auctions. If you are playing the hand , you do not want values in their suit. If you are defending , a trump stack is nice for us & ugly for them. I used to believe that partner should not even compete with your suit if he had their suit . I now feel that this is unrealistic. However , you need a way to “check back” with partner ,just not assume no wastage because the opponents are bidding their heads off. You can have it both ways with D.S.I.P. doubles. Pseudo sacrifices & bad competitive decisions should be a thing of the past.

What about duplication of value in one of their suits other than trump ? I think this depends on how long you are in their suit. Tom Gandolfo had a hand online where “checkback doubles” apply. I held ♠xx ♥AK1098x ♦xx ♣AJx , the auction went

1♦-P-1♠-2♥

2♠-3♥-3♠-X Tom held ♠xx ♥Jxx ♦AKQ10x ♣xxx so with the bulk of his points in their diamond suit , should he convert ? I do not think so as they are too long , transferable so they are valuable offensively also. I should hold 3 ½ or 4 defensive tricks for my double. ♠xx ♥AK1098x ♦xx ♣AKx is a typical hand. They still make 3♠x on this hand as they have a stiff heart on the board with a stiff diamond in declarers hand. I make 5♥ as the diamonds are a source of tricks. Length in a combined fit is a detriment to defense. Therefore , if you have a 6^th trump , you should have an extra ½ trick elsewhere to compensate when you make a D.S.I.P. double.

What if Tom did have duplication of value in their trump ♠KQx ♥Jxx ♦QJxx ♣10xx ? I cannot make 4♥ with my 1^st hand , they go for +300 or more in 3 spades doubled. What a difference trump or non convertible values make in converting doubles. Do not forget that a D.S.I.P.double is in effect inviting to bid again when you have a fit . The double is checking back with partner for duplication of value in their trump suit. The D.S.I.P. double is a game invite or an invitation to compete again unless you have a very good reason not to do so.

The 2^nd type of D.S.I.P. doubles , Non fit doubles are the true co-operative or optional doubles. We are doubling them due to the balance of power in HCP’s but not a trump stack. Since you may have no fit with me , you can bid or pass depending on the defensive nature of your hand. In other words – Do Something Intelligent Partner.