Sunday, July 09, 2006 2:01 AM

Slam Undoubles

PITBULLS:

Playing the vulnerability nv vrs vul , your bidding could mean nothing even at the rarified slam level. You need a tool to clarify things at the slam level at this one vulnerability only. At 4♠ and lower , D.S.I.P. theory is that tool in competitive auctions. At the 5 level , good old fashioned penalty doubles & the green card are the tools of choice in competitive auctions. At the slam level , double/undouble theory must be fully adhered to when you are competing at the 6 level nv vrs vul where forcing pass theory does not apply. On the other vulnerabilities at the 6 level, old fashioned Bridge applies. You double if they are going down and pass if they are not. Sacrificing should not be an option.

Why play slam undoubles on this one vulnerability only ? It’s the same thinking as D.S.I.P. theory as you bring both partners in on the decision. Instead of single handedly bidding a sacrifice and finding out later that partner could have beat it , you double to suggest a sacrifice. This double transfers the decision to her. The decision to sacrifice becomes a partnership decision. Somebody told me Bridge is a partnership game.

Here is an auction from the Spingold where the opponents took a pseudo sacrifce to 7♣ when 6♥ was going for –500. Vul vrs not Hammon opened 1♠ on ♠KQJxx ♥KQJxxx ♦x ♣ x and Wolfe bid 1NT . The opponent bid 2NT on ♠A10 ♥ void ♦ AJxxx ♣K10xxxx and Hammon bid 3♥ . The other opponent leapt to 4NT on ♠ Jxxxx ♥xx ♦ KQx ♣ Axx Wolffe came alive with 5♥ so they upped the ante to 6♣. Playing undouble theory, it is impossible to take a pseudo sacrifice. A pass by either partner shows a defensive trick or more. At one table LHO bid 6♥ and at this table RHO bid 6♥. In either case , the pass means defense so the other partner could just pass. 7♣ went for –300 at both tables against 6♥X which goes for +500 . Even if they just passed it out +200 +300 at the other table is a 10 IMP pickup.

The key is the pass showing defensive tricks. The 2NT bidder never had a chance to describe the defensive nature of his hand. The pass at the 6 level was his first & only opportunity. Forcing pass theory , of course , does not apply as nobody really owns the hand. A penalty double by partner is not compulsory on this type of auction but you do not take out insurance & bid when undouble theory points to you beating this slam. Change the 2NT bidder’s hand to ♠xx ♥void ♦J1098x ♣KQJ10xx & he would double. Bidding 7♣ by the other hand is taking out insurance now.

Judgment is required to decide if you have defensive tricks. Since the stakes are high , I believe it works out in the long run to trust the vulnerable opponents. BJ Trelford had ♠x ♥x ♦xxxx ♣AKQJ10xx and Tom Gandolfo & Kiz Fung voluntarily bid up to 6♥ vul vrs not with you and partner bidding clubs. The auction is passed around to you in the re-opening position. Do you have a defensive trick ? Unless the opponents are insane , there is a club void. I would double asking permission to sacrifice at the 7 level. Partner will bid 7♣ unless she has 2 defensive tricks.

In competitive auctions where forcing pass theory does not apply , 3 different types of thinking with doubles depending on the level of the auction . 4 level and below D.S.I.P. theory. 5 level old fashioned penalty doubles. 6 level & above double/undouble theory on one vulnerability only. If you own the auction at any level , forcing pass theory applies. So you want to be a Bridge expert ?