Friday, February 13, 2004 4:31 AM
Pulling Doubles
PITBULLS:
The
Bartons have an understanding about pulling high level doubles that I like. If
partner doubles 4♥ or 4♠
with any bidding sequence either directly
, belately , balancing or whatever then Lebensohl comes into effect. It
makes perfect sense. If you have a flat weak hand you pass and leave the double
in hoping to beat it. If you have a flat defensive good hand you leave the
double in and collect your telephone
# . There are only three types of hands that you would pull the double 1) you
have a weak distributional freak that that might make your way or “taking out
insurance” in case they make it. 2) you have a good distributional hand that
you feel will make and the penalty will not offset your game and 3) you wish to
make a slam try.
I
had a hand tonight with Maurice that fits the system . xx Qxx xx QJ1098x . Everyone vul and
Maurice opened 1♦ and RHO overcalls 1 ♠ . I pass and LHO bids 4♠ which Maurice
doubles. Around to you so now what
? You are not going to get rich in
4♠ doubled ,
in fact they might make it. Why not take out some insurance and pull the double
? You do not want to convey to
partner that you are bidding this to make or suggesting slam so you bid 4NT .
Partner bids 5♣ & gets doubled and goes one down . –790 for 4♠ doubled making was the
popular result.
Maurice’s
hand x A9xx AQJ10x AKx and if the ♦ King was on
side he would have been +750 !!
O.K. modify my hand slightly and give me the ♦ king. xx Qxx Kx QJ1098x . The auction would have
gone the same way as I have no bid over a ♠ overcall and this time I would pull the
double to 5♣ suggesting that I can make game. Maurice could bid 6♣ and we would
be +1370 .
It does
not matter how the auctions progress , the rules for pulling the double remain
the same . You hold xx Q10xxxxx xx xx and
partner opens a ♦ and the spade overcall
again . LHO bids 2♠ and partner
doubles and RHO bids 4♠ . Pass around to partner who doubles again. You bid 4NT
, partner bids 5♣ ( he does not have to with a solid ♦ suit ) and
you bid 5♥ . Partner is x Axx AKxxx Axxx and
you have a chance at your contract. With the same auction you could have had xx AQ10xxx
xx xxx and you would pull the double to 5♥ suggesting
that you can make game on the auction.
The
reverse should also be true . If responder doubles the 4 of a major and opener
wants to pull. Pulling the double is not a sign of weakness . If you opened on
a distributional dog, pull to 4NT
and convert partners 5♣ bid. Pulling the double directly is encouraging and a
mild slam try. Remember Lebensohl applies in all
situations when you are pulling doubles at a high level – no
exceptions.