Tuesday, July 20, 2004 7:24 PM
Hand Evaluation – Doubles ( Balance
of Power )
PITBULLS:
“Balance of Power’ is a hand evaluation concept. You most know when your side does not own the auction in a forcing pass sense but has the balance of power nevertheless. This balance of power is normally computed by just counting the HCP’s based on the bidding. If you have the balance of power , you should use the double to announce that fact. Do not restrict a useful bid like a double in competition to mean just a trump stack penalty double. Yech !!
There is an article in the Bridge Bulletin where the author is
describing “Balance of Power” penalty doubles. The author
stipulates that these do not have a trump stack but show a willingness to compete. In other words , Do Something Intelligent Partner. He advocates that
these doubles just indicate that the balance of power is in your direction. Your
subsequent doubles tells partner the nature
of your HCP’s. They are in quick tricks suitable for defense rather than soft
values. Here are some examples he gives :
1♦ X P
1♠
2♦ P P X ♠Kxxx ♥xx ♦Axx ♣J9xx (maximum for previous bid )
2♥ X
P 2♠
P P 3♥ X
♠Axxx ♥xx ♦Kxxx ♣Qxx ( maximum for previous bid )
1♦
1♥ P 1♠
2♦ P
P
X ♠AKxxx ♥xx ♦10xx ♣AJx D.S.I.P.
1♣ 1♠
X 2♠ ♠Kxx
♥AJxx ♦K10xx ♣xx ( good
negative double )
1♦
1♥ 2♣
3♥ ♠AKQ ♥Jxx ♦AKxxxx ♣x ( good hand
& no bid )
1♥
1♠ 1NT 2♠
♠x ♥AKxxx ♦AKxx ♣Axx ( D.S.I.P. )
The author insists
that the penalty double is a “depending on context bid “ and you should be able
to work out auctions that do not
promise a trump stack . He says if you are not
behind the suit , it is not a trump stack double. I go one step further .
Throw out the trump stack double
altogether in competition , so you will get these auctions right all the time !! Take
your plus with trump stacks & hope partner doubles ! I agree that balance of power doubles should
be included in the D.S.I.P. double
family.
The reason we do not make these “card showing” doubles now is that we are
afraid of partner leaving them in with unsuitable
hands fixed on the “never pull my
penalty double” platitude.
In fact , partners who made penalty doubles just based
on HCP’s were considered dangerous as the contracts made more often then not . These contracts will not make with D.S.I.P.
theory when partner converts
for penalty however. Use a double as a tool
to describe your hand not just
for penalty. If you do not use a
double in this manner , your pass becomes ambiguous either showing a bad hand or a good hand.
A Tormentee held a gilt edge 1-4-4-4 with controls & 15 HCP everybody vul. She opened 1♦ , they overcalled 1♠
& I freely bid 1NT which should show 8-10
HCP’s with at least one minor ( I did not make a negative double
showing hearts) . They bid 2♠ so with her 15 HCP & support for one of
partner’s minors , she doubles. This says
partner we have the balance
of power maybe up to 25 HCP near game so do something
intelligent. I bid 3♣ which is cold & they make 2♠ for a double
partial swing. Actually the Tormentee passed , not knowing how to inform partner that we have the balance of power so we lost a double
partial swing. Traditional Tormentee thinking is that
a pass shows a 15 HCP opener so
you figure it out. J
Another Tormentee
held a flat 10 HCP & they
opened 1♥ in 3rd
seat nv &
partner makes a vul T/O double. They pre-empt to 4♥ as a passed hand nv vrs vul
so the Tormentee doubles with her 10 HCP’s to announce
that her side has the balance of power.
If she does not , she loses 7 IMPS as they doubled
with the same auction at the other table. However , it
is more than that. You are
describing your hand to partner that you have “some cards.” Traditional T ormentee
thinking is that a pass shows exactly 10 HCP’s or zero , so you figure
it out. J