Wednesday, April-01-09

Hand Evaluation – Off Shape T/O Dbls

PITBULLS:

        Off shape T/O doubles are standard in the game of Bridge in three particular circumstances. We all play negative double theory where we make a re-opening double not for T/O but to protect partner's penalty pass. The double shows defense measured in quick tricks but has no particular shape requirements. Do not forget that a direct double is only one part of negative double theory. The re-opening double is the 2^nd part. The 2nd standard situation for "off shape" T/O doubles is balancing. Again partner can be "trapping" with a stack in their suit so you stretch in the balancing spot to double regardless of your shape when you have quick tricks. The double allows partner to convert for penalty . The 3rd situation for off shape T/O doubles is when the opponents are pre-empting you. They have taken away your space so a double describing your defense gives partner the most options. 1♦-P-3♦-X does not mean you have the perfect 4-4-4-1 pattern. Nor does 3♠-X promise all 3 unbid suits. Being jammed by the opponents simply does not allow that luxury.

        What if you cannot convert for penalty in all the above situations ? You play equal level conversion whether you have bought into the Meckwell equal level concept or not. You scramble to next available suit so that simply does not show extra or a single suited hand but just denies the suit you have bid. Equal level conversion is these standard auctions above are merely a scrambling technique.

2♠-P-P-X

P-3♣-P-3♦        Simply means I do not have clubs , nothing more nothing less. Partner is allowed to make an off shape double both after a pre-empt & in the balancing or re-opening chair.

D.S.I.P. competitive double theory brings in the concept of off shape T/O doubles as the double just shows "cards" not a perfect shape T/O or trump stack double. If you do not have support for partner nor can you convert for penalty , you scramble to your best spot via a 2NT bid or equal level conversion. Same idea applies with your overcall style of “shape before strength”. You overcall with strong one suited hands & double later to announce your strength not the fact that you forgot to make a T/O dbl earlier. You may need equal level conversion to scramble to your best spot here also.

      One "quasi standard" situation for off shape T/O doubles recommended by the Bridge World magazine is when the T/O doubler is missing the lowly club suit. You make an off shape T/O double & convert partners club bid to your next lowest ranking suit at the same level. This simply shows that you do not have clubs just like Mama used to bid it at the kitchen table ! ♠AKJx ♥xx ♦AJxxxx ♣x is a T/O double of one heart , not a 2♦ overcall.

Meckwell love to get into the auction quickly & often. They do not like to trap without values in the opponent’s suit just because they do not have the correct shape for a T/O double. They double a minor as long as they have the unbid majors & double one major as long as they have the other major. They convert at the same level so they call this "minimum equal level conversion" so the bid does not show extra or definitely not a single suited hand. Single suited hands are shown by overcalls rather than doubles almost regardless of the strength of their hand. This lack of "one suited T/O doubles" means the equal level concept can work. They can also show two suited intermediate hands via a double & a jump conversion. This equal level conversion concept allows strong overcalls to be single suited hands & two suited toys to be weak or very strong. I concur with Meckwell whole heartedly on this philosophy. Getting in there early instead of trapping , when you do not have duplication of value in their suit makes a lot of sense to me. Especially in IMPS when you can get jammed from finding your major suit fit for the 10 trick games.