Monday, August 05, 2002 10:37 AM

Hand Evaluation - Lead Directing Doubles

PITBULLS:

  Long IMP matches favour the aggressive game & slam bidders. The mathematics of the IMP scale work in their favour . They lose a small number of IMPS by blowing their partials & in the long run making lucky games or slams they win big . One lucky game will compensate for 3 previous overbids , if the opponents have not doubled . If the opponents are known to be extremely aggressive , you must have counter measures or you will not win .

 Statistics show that many many games can be beaten by the correct opening lead . I am not sure of the exact percentages but it is quite phenomenal how many games are made with wrong opening leads . The best counter measure against aggressive bidders are lead directing doubles & overcalls . We will discuss overcalls first .

I had a previous article that I described a concept of "prevent defense" . One aspect of this concept is to ensure that they do not make a NT contract off a suit or partner getting off to the wrong opening lead to give them their games . In other words , think opening lead when you are bidding in prevent defense mode . If you overcall in their forcing auctions , it is for a lead & not just to mess them up or get doubled . Make your overcalls & third seat openers disciplined for opening leads . If you have a fit for partners suit in a competitive auction , bid another suit if it is of lead directing value .  Bidding discipline for opening leads will keep the opponents out of "lucky games" that make because partner led 4th best from longest & strongest. Bend over backwards to make lead directing doubles of their Q bids or Blackwood responses . Anything to help partner out in opening leads .

Lead directing doubles are a must . Good Bridge is intelligent risk taking. Lead directing doubles are risk taking actions but in IMPS they should be done more often. In matchpoints , the opponents making a doubled game is a disaster. In IMPS its “lose 4” . Get out of the match point mentality. The greatest risk with lead directing doubles is not taking one !! Have all your understandings with partner worked out & put them to practice. Opponents seldom re-double so if they do make their contract doubled even with the best opening lead it is no disaster . Just say "lose 4" when doing the comparison or "win 12" if you have succeeded. .

Lead Directing Doubling rules :

Lead directing doubles should be based on “not waking the baby” . If the obvious lead is going to beat the contract , do not double. The lead directing double should “negate” the obvious lead. This of course begs the question what is the obvious lead ? Playing 5 card majors , a minor opening is not an obvious lead. If I open a minor , a double of their 3NT contract asks partner to lead my minor. If I open or overcall a major , I expect that suit to be led . Therefore , a double negates the obvious