Important article !
Tuesday, February 04, 2003 1:12 AM
Hand Evaluation – Misfits ( Doubles of NT contracts )
PITBULLS:
In
the battlefield of Bridge , the most frequent source
of extracting huge numbers is doubling NT contracts in misfit auctions .
1NTX can be a horrible contract to play so quite often is a fertile source of IMPS . We object very strongly to any system that has
a double of 1NT as non penalty . In fact ,
I go so far as saying a system should be built around the goal of doubling
all NT bids for penalty. Usually a 1NT contract defines a misfit auction . Even
playing competitive ( D.S.I.P. doubles) , a
direct double or balancing double of any NT bid is
penalty. Just add up the HCP’s around the table using your abacus
. Note how the suits are going to break for them , due to their bidding & clockwise nature
of the game. If they are badly
outnumbered in HCP’s – double them. The reason why “modernists” open bad
balanced hands with queens & jacks is that people allow them to
get away with it. Do not rescue them by doubling their 1NT
resting spot for take out. Have
a bid of a minor for a T/O to the majors over their 1NT contract. A
double describes your defense measured in quick tricks or just HCP’s when NT
has been bid.
The
entire concept of trapping relies on the fact that you can re-open
with a double of their eventual 1NT contract for penalty.
You did you not double initially so why are you doing so now ? You have a huge hand but they stole your bid.
Partner should leave the double in at almost all cost, otherwise use the scrambling 2♣ bid or
bid your long suit. Light or non openers by the opponents get punished
this way. They are in a misfit auction which is why they
eventually rest in 1NT . If the cards
are sitting behind them with suits breaking badly , horrible sets can happen. Do not rescue
opponents in misfit auctions when they are in a bad spot. If
you want to compete in a misfit auction , do it by bidding
their suit. Give up the option of bidding their suit as natural. Reserving
a dbl as T/O is silly as partner will never convert holding dummy’s bid suit in
front of the suit. If partner does not have their suit ,
they will wrap 1NTX. You now have an option , if you
feel the cards are sitting right for them you Q bid for T/O or pass. If they
are sitting very wrong for them , you double. You have
the best of both worlds.
We
play the vulnerability by trapping.
We feel overcalling 1NT with a huge stack in their suit just rescues them in 3
of the 4 vulnerability scenarios. I pass & they bid 1NT .
Around to me so I double. I am essentially bidding a belated 1NT bid. Partner is
now in charge of the auction so she sets the contract. Sometimes you get
partner into trouble this way so bite the bullet & take your -180. If you
can contribute , leave it in otherwise bid something.
The
forcing NT is a common signal by the opponents that they are on the
start of a “misfit auction”
. If you are entering this particular auction without
a single suited hand but with defense , do it with a double . The
double describes your hand better & leaves the most options open for
partner. Both vul , you hold ♠AJx ♥AKxxx
♦void ♣KQ109x & the auction goes 1♠-P-1NT-? . Bidding a
suit with this hand or trying a toy is just plain Bridge stupidity. You are
informing partner that you have a single suited hand without defense
as you did not double 1NT in a misfit auction.
Bidding a toy with this defense just rescues the opponents from a misfit. You are describing the strength of your hand while
an overcall does not. 1NTX may be the best spot for
your side with your 4 quick tricks ! If partner pulls the doubled contract , you can equal level convert or even
convert at a higher level to show extra with two suits. You are
describing your hand to partner & not bidding a two suited hand as you
would a one suited hand. What a concept !! With this actual hand ,
if you overcall bid 2♥ initially , you play it
there down one , cold for
a vul 6♣ !
Generalizations are good in Bridge because
they are easy on the memory. Try this on for size. All doubles of NT
contracts are penalty orientated - period . Partner will choose another
bid for takeout so that no mistakes can be made .
A double of a NT bid is never for take out ! Misfits are to be played by the
opponents. The modern concept of “shape before strength” reverts to “ strength before shape” , to
allow penalties & to describe your defense when they bid NT. With the above
auction holding ♠QJx ♥KQJ10x ♦void ♣KQ109x we
would bid a toy 2♠ Michaels as the hand type is offensive with soft values for
HCP’s. Doubles describe your quick tricks .
Say
the auctions went
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? |
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3♦ |
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3NT |
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DBL |
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you hold ♠A10xxxx ♥void ♦Jxx ♣Q10xx
. Do you bid 4♠ ? Why
or why not ?
Bidding 4♠ is an atrocious bid . Partners double is for
penalty showing a flat defensive hand exposing a psych or maybe a
hand that she felt she could beat 3NT because she is on lead
. If partner was short in diamonds , surely she
would bid 4♦
for takeout . Even with a good 4-4-1-4 she
should bid 4♦ , because the 3NT bid should be based on a diamond fit or even a psych !
Bidding 4♠ over a double is a master minding bid saying that “partner you made the
wrong bid , you should have bid 4♦ going in ! “
Partner should be allowed to double 3NT
with ♠xx ♥xx
♦Ax
♣KQJ10987 so
you have just changed a +1100 to a minus your direction. Your 7 HCP’s
contribute nicely to the defense . If 3NT x is pulled
to 4♦ , partner makes a forcing pass so
you now can bid 4♠ . Partner can hold any number of hands to
expose a psych . ♠J ♥AKQx ♦AKx ♣Axxxx or the like so why are pulling 3NT doubled with 7 HCP ?
Passing a
NT doubled contract is a bid that conveys a message to partner . I have some HCP’s or a
lot of HCP’s to contribute to the defense . Pulling
3NT X should only be done on rare occasions i.e. with no points with lots of distribution . When any NT contract is doubled
, partner has an easy decision .
99 % of the time you just pass & ask whose lead it is .
Partner has inferences that you would always
double NT contracts to show cards first. 1♣-1♥-1NT-?
. You hold ♠AKQxxxx ♥xxx ♦Ax ♣x so you double 1NT but you never bid
3♠ or another number like 4♠ as that bid should show weakness. Why ? Because you did not double 1NT !! When the
opponents play weak 2’s the opponents use 2NT as a psyche or an asking bid . This gives you a chance to show cards first so
bidding your suit is based more on distribution . You
hold ♠xxx ♥AKxxx ♦AQx ♣xx , the auction goes 2♠-X-2NT-? The opponents have been kind enough
to give you a chance to show your strength. You double 2NT so they pull
to 3♠ .
You now bid 4♥ so partner knows
that you do not have a distributional 4♥ bid. Partner with ♠x ♥QJxx ♦KJxx ♣AKxx
makes a slam try . You are on for +1430 in
hearts.
If you jump to 4♥ over 2NT with that hand , he will play you for distribution . Say AKxxxx of hearts & out or a 5-5 like ♠xx ♥AKxxx ♦Q1098x
♣x so you will never get near a slam. A Q
bid would always be interpreted as less HCP with spade shortage as you did not
double 2NT . Double NT to show your HCP
strength first & distribution later ! This double puts partner in the
picture which allows for future penalty conversions as well as describing
your HCP strength.
You can use the inference “why did
partner not double 1NT “
when she had the chance , to differentiate Q bids
from natural bids. The auction goes
1♣-1♠-P-P
1NT-2♣
In
the CNTC zone finals in Red Deer, Maurice bid 2♣ so what does it mean ?
It can not be a Q bid showing a strong hand as
he had a chance to double 1NT. Susan rightly passed 2♣
& they made +90 .
Maurice had a hand this shows this
principle very well . ♠x ♥xx ♦KJ109xx ♣AKxx it went 2♠-x-2NT-x , he correctly doubles first to show
his HCP strength & turn on forcing passes. The opponents bid 4♠ so partner doubles
with a flat 16 HCP ♠xx
♥AKQ
♦Axx ♣QJxxx . He doubles to show a good defensive hand ( 2NT
overcall without a spade stopper ) , two losing spades & to warn
partner that he has only 3 hearts.
Say Maurice bid 3♦ or 4♦ over 2NT . Is
this based on strength or distribution ??
Does it show 2 suits or one ? You can never find your
club fit . The double followed by 4NT over the expected
4♠ by the opponents describes your hand perfectly. A good hand with the minors so you used the opponents as a stepping
stone to show your HCP strength & turn on forcing passes.
Partner will always assume you are weaker & more distributional when you fail
to double any NT
contract when you had the chance . Even if they never intended to play it
there.
Partner
held this hand ♠AJxx ♥Axx ♦Q10xx ♣xx & in 3rd seat the
opponents opened 1♥. His LHO bid 1NT which was
passed out. Do you balance & if so with what ? The
opponents have announced that your side may have over ½ the deck. A double is
out as partner will read you for a heart trap. There could be a spade
suit missing so if you are willing to venture a 2♠ bid that is your best bet
otherwise just pass. By the way, if you do double 1NT & partner bids
2♣ , it is a start of a
scramble.
Consider
these two balancing or belated auctions
:
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penalty -
Either an initial major bid or minor , its penalty . Partner has a very
good opening bid in their suit.
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penalty
with spades – partner had a chance to double initially but did
not . With
a weak hand with the unbid suits ,
she would make a sandwich NT bid.
These
auctions are penalty for a reason. When the cards sit wrong over the suits , huge
penalties can be extracted . In fact whenever any NT bid is doubled it
should be for penalty . You can always devise
Q bids for takeout bids or just bid a suit . Partner can infer that since
you did not double a NT bid , you do not have the requisite
HCP’s or suit distribution to do so . This inference is
missed so many times at the Bridge table.
When
the auction is most likely going to catapult to high levels , doubling their NT contracts
early turn on forcing passes
saying we own this hand. Just bidding a suit in these competitive
auctions , makes the auction ambiguous . For example , a jump to game on equal vulnerability does
not turn on forcing passes. When they are not vul , they will probably bid
again to mess up your auction . The fact that you turned on forcing passes with
a double early of their NT bid , simplifies the auction when
needed , at the higher levels..