Monday, March-02-09

Hand Evaluation – Defining the Double

PITBULLS:

        In my mind , the greatest disparity between an average player and an expert is understanding the double. When a double is not defined in the auction as the archaic meaning of imposing a penalty due to a trump stack , the double has one main definition . A double describes a defensive hand as opposed to an offensive hand. We have had many articles on this concept but one more time for old times sake. A defensive hand is described by its hand pattern & the nature of the HCP's the hand contains. If the hand is 4-4-4-1 , 4-4-3-2, 4-3-3-3 , 5-3-3-2 , 5-4-2-2 etc with controls or HCP's in quick trick combinations , the hand is defensive in nature . You describe these defensive hand types in competition with a double. I repeat with a double. Offensive hands are hands with soft values for its HCP's with offensive hand patterns so are described by bidding . A very simple basic Bridge concept based on hand patterns & the quality/quantity of your HCP’s.

         You think this way in all aspects of competitive bidding including T/O doubles. You have ♠AKx ♥Qxx ♦Jx ♣AQxxx & RHO opens 1♦ nv vul vrs not. You decide to make a T/O double & partner bids 1♠ & they bid 2♦. You could have a shapely offensive hand for your double or a defensive hand with 3 1/2 quick tricks & 16 HCPs as with this particular hand. Which bid describes your hand better ? A bid of 2♠ showing 4 trump usually with a distributional hand or a double which probably only announces 3 trump with a defensive hand type. You can now make a subsequent competitive double to clarify your original T/O double  . Partner holds ♠Qxxx ♥xx  ♦Qxx ♣K10xx  so hearing your double now bids 3♣. LHO competes with 3♦ so partner is "all in with her two doubles " so around to you in IMPs. In matchpoints , I would make a penalty double because they are stealing our club contract .You get rewarded with +300  but in IMPS , I would just give up & pass 3♦. This wins the KO's for you as 3♠ went one down vul while 3♦ goes two down nv.

        Lets back up & have partner misdescribe her hand by competing to two spades & they bid 3♦. What would you bid ? Now it’s time to look at your hand . You have a balanced defensive hand with 2 of your 7 HCP's wasted in their suit. You have essentially a flat 5 which Goren says is not even worth a response. Do you expect to make 3♠ vulnerable vrs not ? Of course not , so you pass or make a ( balance of power ) competitive double  if you play that tool. In matchpoints , you might gamble 3♠ in hopes that the opponents do not double you for the "magic 200" , so -100 might get some matchpoints when 3♦ is lucky enough to make. Allow your hand type , either defensive or offensive to guide your bidding judgment. A double clarifies the nature of your HCP’s when you wish to compete again. The original 1♦ opener held 4 quick tricks

♠xx  ♥AKx ♦AK1098x ♣xx . So after opening 1♦ & competing to 2♦ , she can bring partner into the picture with a double of 2♠ to show the quick tricks.. She cannot have a super strong hand as she did not double at the one level nor jump to the 3 level on her own originally. She can now clarify her 2♦ bid as being rich in quick tricks.  Partner will bid 3♦ but with a slightly different hand could be converting the double for penalty . Bidding 3♦ is repeating yourself ( single handed )  & not announcing your defense to partner. Bidding again should show a more offensive hand than you have described by rebidding 2♦ on your own. Partner could be void in diamonds with ♠QJ10x of their trump with an outside trick so you have rescued them from disaster with your 4 defensive tricks. Doubling is asking partner’s permission to compete again at the 3 level . Two heads are better than one with competitive decisions. 

         The double as a descriptive clarifying bid has a multitude of uses in the game of Bridge. If you have opened the bidding , a subsequent double shows extra with a defensive hand not T/O . If you have overcalled , a subsequent double describes your hand as defensive in nature with extra HCP’s not penalty or T/O . When you have made a T/O double ,a subsequent double shows extra defense & clarifies your original double. If you make a balancing double , the double shows defense measured in quick tricks , not the ideal classic 3 suit T/O double. Competing  in Bridge is greatly enhanced by throwing out trump stack doubles altogether thereby having doubles show defense with a willingness to compete again. None of the preceding doubles have penalizing the opponents as their primary purpose or as a T/O to unbid suits. These doubles are just clarifying the nature of the beast. Doubles “showing cards” rather than penalty or T/O are the basis of D.S.I.P. competitive double theory . Tune into this concept for more accurate & effective bidding  !!