Wednesday, May 14, 2003 6:21 PM

Hand Evaluation – Sandwich Doubles

PITBULLS:

“Double , double , toil and trouble” McBeth .. When you double the opponents artificial bids is it conventional ? show the suit ? lead directing ? suggesting a sacrifice ? or takeout ? Skakespere was right – these bids mean toil and trouble . Partnership understandings are necessary again.

First the easy ones . Double of Stayman after a strong NT means lead a club, after a weak NT just general strength . Double of a transfer means lead that suit in NT but have some length in case it gets redoubled. If you bid the indicated suit of the transfer , it is a takeout double of that suit . After a NT opener with the opponents bidding an artificial 2♣ , double is Stayman and systems on. A double of a strong 2♣ or 2♦ responses shows the suit unless you have a convention. Double of a forcing club or diamond response shows the majors unless you have a toy.

Now for the more difficult ones . In the sandwich position , doubles are more iffy as the opponents have a number of artificial bids to show major raises , splinters , two suited fits etc . Therefore the “sandwich” position doubles should vary depending on the opponents meaning for the bids . If the opponents bids are natural & forcing , artificial & forcing , natural & invitational or splinters all change the meaning of your doubles . Lets make a table of possibilities of doubles in the sandwich position

Game forcing splinter	Sacrifice
Range showing – force artificial	Lead / Sacrifice
Range showing – limit artificial	Takeout
Range showing – weak artificial	Takeout
Fit showing	Takeout
Other artificial raise – Drury etc	T/O

When the opponents pre-empt & the responder bids a suit , a double is for takeout for the other two suits.. If the suit might be artificial & forcing , the double is a takeout of the pre-empt suit. If the opponents open a weak 2 & a 2NT response to the right , a double in the sandwich position is a takeout double of the pre-empt. A double of a forcing NT shows a good takeout double of the bid major or a strong two suiter.

The basic premise of these doubles is common sense . The opponents bid shows a lot of strength & artificial , the double is lead directing/sacrifice oriented. If the bid is fit showing limited or weak or natural , the double is take out.

More on common sense. If the opponents have indicated a misfit auction i.e. 1♠-P-1NT or 1♦-P-1NT a double can not be a shapely T/O double. I was vul holding ♠KQxx ♥K1098 ♦x ♣Kxxx & the auction went 1♦-P-1NT-? This is not a double in the sandwich position in a misfit auction. Partner will leave the double in with ♦KQ10x & nothing else. This could get xx’d for a disaster or -380 for less of a disaster. A young modern bidder said this was a clear T/O double. Maybe if you are into terrorism & wish to commit suicide vulnerable it may be. A misfit their way is quite often a misfit our way. Opener has a good hand with 4-4 in the majors behind you. Ugly , real ugly. Bridge is played in a clockwise direction so be aware that the opener’s HCP’s are behind you. If you are going to take action , a Q bid showing a lack of defense is a better bid ( matchpoints ? ) . A double of any NT bid is penalty orientated with defense measured in quick tricks. Shape is only one criteria for a double. Defense is another. Terrorists feel that a double just announces shape & “let them guess” about the strength of the hand , them of course includes partner.