Thursday, August 29, 2002 3:36 AM


 Tactics - Maximal Game Try Doubles

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Game try doubles only apply after you and your partner have found a fit and the opponents have found a fit. They should also be played in overcall situations as long as these conditions are satisfied . Game try doubles should also be played when you and the opponents have an implied 2 suit fit with negative doubles and take out doubles . These doubles quite often apply when they bid in the sandwich position so they go hand in hand with the “good-bad 2NT” . Kokish game tries do not work well in competition . It is better to “show where you live”  and give leads. For those that insist on the Kokish 2NT in competition , that’s acceptable but drop the singleton showing part. Game try doubles are to be used when the opponents rob you of the space needed for your normal game tries however if they do not interfere that high  , a double is never for penalty. Lets go over the standard “game try” doubles :

 

             2♥

1♠                     2♠ 

That is the old fashioned 3♠ game try bid and  a direct 3♠ bid is making a nuisance of yourself

 DBL     3♥

 

 

Also used by the overcalling side

 

                1♠ DBL

1♥                            2♥

3♥         

                 2♠

 

 

  

            O.K. now the “implied” 2 suited fits

 

               DBL

1♠                         2♠                   Game try double

 DBL

               3♥

 

 

              1♠

1♦                     DBL                    Good hand of some sort ( balanced ) . Did not bid good bad 2NT or make a free bid.  

 

DBL

               2♠

 

 

               1♠

1♦                       DBL               

 3♥

               2♠                                xx AKxx AQJxx Qx       did not bid good-bad 2NT   

   

 

            I think these game try doubles are a great tool not just as a game try tool but the tactical advantage you have with the inference that you did not double ! or use the good-bad 2NT.  The good-bad 2NT does not apply when partner makes a simple raise of your major ( Kokish ? )  ..

 

           1♠ 3♠

1♥                     2♥

 3♣                                       xx Q1098x  xx AKQx                   You did not bid a

game try double – why not give a lead ?

 

             2♠                           xx Q1098x AJ AKQx          Game try double or 2NT instead

of 3♣

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              1♠

1♦                     DBL            x xx KJ10xxx AKxx                   This is not a game

try but the good bad 2NT . You did not double so get in there .

 2NT

              2♠

 

                                              x xx AKQxx AKJxx               Good bad 2NT inference so bid 3♣

 

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           Dbl

1♥                  2♥                  xxx AQJxxx Kxxx void              May as well get

partner off to a club lead or switch

 3♣

           2♠                              xx  AQJxx Kx  AKxx                  Game try double or 2NT bid,

not worried about leads with this hand

 

  

            Anyway in competitive situations when you had the chance to use a game try double and did not , partner should give you lots of leeway with your bids . These bids allow you to bid like Ray Grace and Last Word Larry except that partner is in the picture !!