Monday, August 21, 2006 8:09 PM

The Penalty Double

PITBULLS:

As anybody that has researched D.S.I.P. theory knows , I strongly detest trump stack penalty doubles in competition. Even if they work , the IMP scale robs you of your winnings. When your penalty double fails , the consequences are very severe. I advocate trump stack doubles only by converting partners competitive double or in situations where you own the hand ( forcing pass theory , or after pre-empts) .

Here is the folly of penalty doubles in action in a recent semi-final of a KO match. Tom Gandolfo got a little frisky and balanced 2♣ against the Flock/Smith pair. They got him for –500 two down vulnerable doubled ( a mere mortal would have gone for –800 ) . A good result for them yes ? Not really, as they going to get +200 anyway and coupled with our partners –100 they were about to win +300 which is 7 IMPS. The double got them +600 which is 12 IMPS so they won 5 extra IMPS for their trouble. This 5 IMPS is barely a partial swing.

The psychological effect of penalty doubles make some pairs “blood thirsty” . A few hand later , I overcalled a strong NT and they doubled Tom in 2♥ vulnerable . This is the same player who just went for –500 a few hands earlier so this a good bet right ? Wrong ! Tom only made one doubled vulnerable overtrick for +970 and a 14 IMP loss for them . Without a word of a lie , the very next hand in a competitive auction , Tom bid 2♥ nv and they doubled. This time Tom only made one nv overtrick for +670 and a 12 IMP loss for them .

One success for +5 IMPS and two failures for –14 & -12 for a net loss of 21 IMPS and there goes the match . Penalty doubles are playing with fire . The opponents in this match got burned pretty badly. D.S.I.P. doubles in competition anybody ??