Tuesday, February 04, 2003 1:12 AM

Hand Evaluation - Doubles of NT contracts

PITBULLS:

In the battlefield of Bridge , the most frequent source of extracting huge numbers is doubling NT contracts . 1NT X can be a horrible contract to play so quite often is a fertile source of IMPS . I object very strongly to any system that has a double of 1NT as non penalty . In fact , I go so far as saying a system should be built around the goal of doubling all NT bids for penalty . Even playing competitive ( D.S.I.P. doubles) , a direct double of any NT bid is penalty. Just add up the HCP’s around the table using your abacus . If they are badly outnumbered – double them.

The entire concept of trapping relies on the fact that you can re-open with a double of their eventual 1NT contract for penalty. You did you not double initially so why are you doing so now ? You have a huge hand but they stole your bid. Partner should leave the double in at almost all cost, otherwise use the scrambling 2♣ bid. Light or non openers by the opponents get punished this way. They are in a misfit auction which is why they eventually rest in 1NT . If the cards are sitting behind them with suits breaking badly , horrible sets can happen. Do not rescue opponents when they are in a bad spot.

Consider these two balancing or belated auctions :

West 1 ♥ P

North P Dbl

East 1 NT

South P

Penalty - Either a major bid or minor , its penalty . Partner has a very good opening bid in their suit.

West 1 ♣ 1 NT

North P P

East 1 ♠ P

South P Dbl

Penalty with spades – partner had a chance to double initially and did not .

These auctions are penalty for a reason. When the cards sit wrong over the suits , huge penalties can be extracted . In fact whenever any NT bid is doubled it should be for penalty . You can always devise Q bids for takeout bids or just bid a suit . Partner can infer that since you did not double a NT bid , you do not have the requisite HCP’s or suit distribution to do so . This inference is missed so many times at the Bridge table.

Generalizations are good in Bridge because they are easy on the memory. Try this on for size. All doubles of NT contracts are penalty orientated - period . Partner will choose another bid for takeout so that no mistakes can be made . A double of a NT bid is never for take out !

Say the auctions went

	?
3♦		3NT
	DBL

you hold ♠A10xxxx ♥void ♦Jxx ♣Q10xx . Do you bid 4♠ ? Why or why not ? Bidding 4♠ is an atrocious bid . Partners double is for penalty showing a flat defensive hand exposing a psych or maybe a hand that she felt she could beat 3NT because she is on lead . If partner was short in diamonds , surely she would bid 4♦ for takeout . Even with a good 4-4-1-4 she should bid 4♦ , because the 3NT bid should be based on a diamond fit or even a psych ! Bidding 4♠ over a double is a master minding bid saying that “partner you made the wrong bid , you should have bid 4♦ going in ! “

Partner should be allowed to double 3NT with ♠xx ♥xx ♦Ax ♣KQJ10987 so you have just changed a +1100 to a minus your direction. Your 7 HCP’s contibute nicely to the defense . If 3NT x is pulled to 4♦ , partner makes a forcing pass so you now can bid 4♠ . Partner can hold any number of hands to expose a psych . ♠J ♥AKQx ♦AKx ♣Axxxx or the like so why are pulling 3NT doubled with 7 HCP ?

Passing a NT doubled contract is a bid that conveys a message to partner . I have some HCP’s or a lot of HCP’s to contribute to the defense . Pulling 3NT X should only be done on rare occasions i.e. with no points with lots of distribution . When any NT contract is doubled , partner has an easy decision . 99 % of the time you just pass & ask whose lead it is .

Partner has inferences that you would always double NT contracts to show cards first. 1♣-1♥-1NT-? . You hold ♠AKQxxxx ♥xxx ♦Ax ♣x so you double 1NT but you never bid 3♠ or another number like 4♠ as that bid should show weakness. Why ? Because you did not double 1NT !! When the opponents play weak 2’s the opponents use 2NT as a psyche or an asking bid . This gives you a chance to show cards first so bidding your suit is based more on distribution . You hold ♠xxx ♥AKxxx ♦AQx ♣xx , the auction goes 2♠-X-2NT-? The opponents have been kind enough to give you a chance to show your strength. You double 2NT so they pull to 3♠ . You now bid 4♥ so partner knows that you do not have a distributional 4♥ bid. Partner with ♠x ♥QJxx ♦KJxx ♣AKxx makes a slam try . You are on for +1430 in hearts.

If you jump to 4♥ over 2NT with that hand , he will play you for distribution . Say AKxxxx of hearts & out or a 5-5 like ♠xx ♥AKxxx ♦Q1098x ♣x so you will never get near a slam. A Q bid would always be interpreted as less HCP with spade shortage as you did not double 2NT . Double NT to show your HCP strength first & distribution later ! This double puts partner in the picture which allows for future penalty conversions as well as describing your HCP strength.

You can use the “why did partner not double 1NT “ when he had the chance , to differentiate Q bids from natural bids. The auction goes

1♣-1♠-P-P

1NT-2♣

In the CNTC zone finals in Red Deer, Maurice bid 2♣ so what does it mean ? It can not be a Q bid showing a strong hand as he had a chance to double 1NT. Susan rightly passed 2♣ & they made +90 .

Maurice had a hand this shows this principle very well . ♠x ♥xx ♦KJ109xx ♣AKxx it went 2♠-x-2NT-x , he correctly doubles first to show his HCP strength & turn on forcing passes. The opponents bid 4♠ so partner doubles with a flat 16 HCP ♠xx ♥AKQ ♦Axx ♣QJxxx . He doubles to show a good defensive hand ( 2NT overcall without a spade stopper ) , two losing spades & to warn partner that he has only 3 hearts. Say Maurice bid 3♦ or 4♦ over 2NT . Is this based on strength or distribution ?? Does it show 2 suits or one ? You can never find your club fit . The double followed by 4NT over the expected 4♠ by the opponents describes your hand perfectly. A good hand with the minors so you used the opponents as a stepping stone to show your HCP strength & turn on forcing passes. Partner will always assume you are weaker & more distributional when you fail to double any NT contract when you had the chance . Even if they never intended to play it there.

When the auction is most likely going to catapult to high levels , doubling their NT contracts turn on forcing passes saying we own this hand. Just bidding a suit in these competitive auctions , makes the auction ambiguous . For example , a jump to game on equal vulnerability does not turn on forcing passes. When they are not vul , they will probably bid again to mess up your auction . The fact that you turned on forcing passes with a double early of their NT bid , simplifies the auction when needed , at the higher levels..