Tuesday, May 18, 2004 2:38 AM

Hand Evaluation – Doubles as Q Bids

PITBULLS:

As anybody who follows the Bridge World Master Solvers Club knows, panelists always seem to Q bid when they have a good hand & do not know what to do. Playing D.S.I.P. competitive double theory , you have the luxury of using a double as a Q bid ! D.S.I.P. double theory replaces Q bids to describe the same hand types as these panelists were trying to do. You double to convey the same message of showing a good hand but you do not know what to do. The double is far more flexible , as a Q bid could rescue bad bidding opponents.

The way we play our Q bids after an opening bid or an overcall is fit showing , so Q bids show limit raise or better values. Since we do not know if the Q bid is the “better” , these Q bids do not turn on forcing passes. If the level of the Q bid is at the game level or forcing to the game level when you are vul or equal vul , forcing passes are turned on. Same idea with splinters. Splinters are fit showing limit raises or better. If splinters are bid at the game level vul or equal , forcing passes are turned on. Auctions in general , where bids force to game vul or equal vulnerability , turn on forcing passes . Auctions that invite to game do not. More leeway is allowed when you are not vul against vul ( terrorist ) as tactics enter into the equation. D.S.I.P. doubles quite often replace Q bids , so the thinking should be exactly the same as if a Q bid were made..

Forcing pass theory is very important because by default in all auctions where forcing passes do not apply , D.S.I.P. theory does apply. Trump stack doubles are only allowed in rare auctions like when captaincy considerations apply. Playing with Tom , I held ♠AKx ♥Kxx ♦J10xxx ♣xx , the auction went

1♦-1♥-p-2♦

3♣-P-P-? . I could just bid 3♥ now but that violates D.S.I.P. theory. What if Tom had clubs ? He is not allowed to double as that shows a 3♥ bid with defense . He could have a ridiculous hand like ♠xx ♥Q10xxx ♦x ♣AKQJx so by you bidding 3♥ you rescued them from a disaster. A double also describes your hand as a defensive hand with only 3 card support instead of an offensive hand with 4 cards , so partner can compete accordingly. If Tom bid 3♥ over 3♣ he is just being a nuisance as “free bids” do not apply when you have a D.S.I.P. double at your disposal. Competing becomes more “structured” with D.S.I.P. theory.

Do not forget that you have obligations after you Q bid to describe your hand & leave partner options. Say you had ♠Axxx ♥KQx ♦KQxx ♣xx , the auction went

1♥-2♣-3♣-P

3♥-4♣-? You should double saying you have a 4♥ bid with defense. Your Q bid described the fit so do not be redundant. Partners hand is ♠Kx ♥AJxxx ♦Jx ♣QJ10x so 4♣ x goes for a huge number. A D.S.I.P. competitive double can be thought of as a re-Q bid with defense.

Do not let a void deter you from making a D.S.I.P. double. You Q bid with a void so you can make a D.S.I.P. double with a void as the intended meaning is the same as the Q bid. Tom Gandolfo had ♠void ♥AJxx ♦Axx ♣AKJxxx & they opened 1♠ everybody vul. This is a T/O double as you have the other major , quick tricks & are strong enough to bid 3♣ over partners bid. Say you do overcall 2♣, they bid 2♠ with partner bidding 3♣ & them bidding 3♠. You would like to Q bid as you have 8 tricks in NT or a possible club slam. You do not want to bypass 3NT with your Q bid as you are jammed by the rank of the spade suit. You double instead & partner bids 3NT. This makes for +630 & 5♣ fails by one trick. You are not suggesting a penalty when you double. You are just clarifying the strength of your overcall measured in quick tricks & playability. Partner knows from the bidding that you extremely short in their suit.

D.S.I.P. theory demands that you know when forcing pass theory applies with Q bids . You are also keenly aware of the vulnerability. You can catch the opponents speeding from either side of the table instead of rescuing them by bidding from one side. D.S.I.P. double theory also describes your hand for sacrificing or for avoiding pseudo sacrifices. Trump stack doubles are virtually extinct in competitive auctions !! When you remove something as basic as trump stack doubles from your competitive system structure you need many treatments to compensate. D.S.I.P. theory has to be studied and understood. This is a non standard concept so only recommended for expert partnerships.