Monday, November 14, 2005 7:02 AM

Lead Directing Doubles - Invites

PITBULLS:

Invitational auctions and penalty doubles go hand in hand . From my rubber Bridge experience , I have made most of my rubber Bridge money doubling these “stretches” when the cards are lying unfavourably for them . Zia in his book “Bridge my way” gives countless examples of psychological doubles on these invitational auctions. He gives examples where on the bidding where they have stumbled into an excellent Moysean and he knew the trump were breaking 3-3 for them . So what does he do , he doubles to get them back into their minor which breaks badly and they go for a number . Unlucky !

An “ear to the bidding” is a common theme for lead directing doubles also. On invitational auctions , they do not have much extra so you should always be on the look out for a lead directing double. Lead directing doubles are one aspect of the game of Bridge that shows the difference between IMPS players and match point players. Match point players do not make lead directing doubles very often. If the opponents make their doubled contract , it is a cold zero. IMPS or rubber Bridge players make many more lead directing doubles as the punishment nowhere meets the crime. You lose 4 IMPS when they make their doubled contract. When you beat the doubled contract , the pay off is huge as you win 12 IMPS possibly more. This means you only have to be successful one time in 3 to break even in IMPS or rubber Bridge !

When the auction is invitational , Rubber Bridge players or IMPs savy opponents are like vultures circling . If the opportunity presents itself even marginally they pounce on invitational auctions. Every Bridge play knows how important opening leads are in contracts where there is nothing to spare. Susan Culham had an opportunity for a huge swing by making a lead directing double on an invitational auction. Axx xxx KJ9x Axx and the vul opponents open 1♣ and respond 1♦. The opener rebids 1♥ and the responder makes an invitational bid of 3♣ . They now bid 3NT so what do you do ? This is a clear lead directing double for a diamond lead. You know that the diamonds might be unfavourably located for them and it was an invitational auction. They are prepared for partners probable spade lead so time to pounce. You double and partner leads his 4^th best diamond.

The board hits with xxx K Q10xx KJxxx and declarer plays small . Using the rule of 11 there is only one higher than partners spot card so it must be the Ace. The stiff Ace wins and declarer attacks clubs you win the club ace and come back a high spade to discourage the spade return. Partner leads a high diamond spot and if declarer errs by not covering you can win 3 diamond tricks. This along with your spade AK and the club ace is +500. At the other table your teammates decided to treat a stiff king and 3-1 in the majors as a deterrent and showed his bad hand & +5 card support for partner by making a tactical 3♣ bid. This made for +130 and coupled with +500 you win 13 IMPS. By not doubling this close contract , they made +630 with the obvious spade lead and you lost 12 IMPS. The stakes are huge in these situations. This hand was a 24 IMP swing. Gambling losing –4 for them making 3NTX pales in comparison to with what you may be rewarded.