Monday, August 19, 2002 11:09 PM

 TACTICS - Opposition Doubles

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Tactics by the opponents include the same weapons that we use : negative doubles , responsive doubles & penalty doubles. Good partnership understandings include how to use these doubles to our advantage .

 

            I strongly feel that since the opponents are in the bidding it is best to think “prevent defense” . The negative double by the opponents give us a chance to have special understandings to help our opening leads . We have had previous E-mails on this subject but lets review our own counter measures against the negative double .   The redouble should be lead directing in partners suit . The redouble to “punish” the opponents after partner has just made a mere overcall is too rare to keep  the bid for that purpose . May as well put it too good use and help partner with her opening lead . You also have the 2 suits that the negative double is attempting to announce . If you bid these suits ,  it should be a lead director with support for partner or tolerance for partners suit in case the doubling starts.

 

                2♣  

1♠                       DBL

 

               ?                xxxx xxx AQ10 109x            If you wish to compete

to 3♣ , bid 2♦ as a lead director !!

 

                  1♠

1♦                             DBL

 

                   ?                           10xx  AQ10x xxx xxxx             Yes bid 2♥ . If you pass and the auction takes off 2NT by LHO and 3NT by RHO you will wish you did

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                             A 1NT bid is not an especially useful bid over a negative double, but we do have all the support bids covered . Therefore I would play it to show the old fashioned redouble . About 9-11 HCP and natural since passing with a flat 10 HCP when partner has overcalled does not appeal to me.

 

 

Negative doubles at the 3 & 4 level are usually made when partner has pre-empted .  Lead directing bids are a must here . LHO will probably be playing the hand and partner will be on lead so the time to strike is now .

 

             3♥

1♣                       DBL

 

           xx Jxx AQJ  xxxxx      Bid 4♦ for a lead

 

 

            Responsive doubles by the opponents occur when you and partner have established a fit . I think the usual game try bids should be off in these auctions . The opponents with their overcall & double have given you enough information that the “normal” game try bids are not needed . The redouble of the responsive double should show a good defensive hand . A re-raise should be pre-emptive but what should a suit bid mean ?  Again I feel that this should be partnership defined but I favour a prevent defense type of bid . I would prefer the bid to be lead directing ( even bidding your void ) might work out .

 

         2♠

2♥             DBL

 

        1♠ ?              QJ10xx xx xx AKQx     You were only going to compete anyway so lets tell partner what to lead if they attempt a 4♥ bid . Partner may sacrifice with club length which will work out well also .

 

            3♥          xx Qxxxx xx Q10xx

 

DBL                  DBL

          

 1♥

 

                          xxx KJ10xx AQJ10 x               You are not buying this hand , so

lets get partner off to a diamond lead …

 

 

            O.K.   Penalty doubles by the opponents . When the opponents have made a penalty pass or double the redouble is always SOS . The NT bid is always a rescue bid which initiates scrambling . i.e. bidding your 4 card suits up the line even if the opponents have bid the suit .

 

                1♠                        KJxxxx Kx 1098 Ax     The S.O.S redouble says I do

not have a clue where to escape but  I ♠ doubled is not a good idea

1♦                        DBL

 P 

                  P

 

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                1♠  1NT                     QJxxx Ax KQx Jxx       The 1NT scramble is different then the S.O.S. redouble as it suggests the minors even if the

opponents have bid it

 

1♦                         DBL

 P               P

 

 

 

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2♣  P

 

1♦                   P Pass

 DBl

             P ?                               xxxx xxxxx xxxx void         S.O.S. redouble

 

means pick a suit even if its theirs  Bidding the opponents suit in penalty double escape situations is natural .

 

                                                  xxx xxx QJ10xxx x    bid 2♦

 

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           1♥  Pass

 

1♣                  pass pass

 

  Dbl           P ?                           xx x J10xxx J10xxx        Bid 1NT for the minors