Friday, January 30, 2004 6:59 AM

Hand Evaluation - Validation Part I

PITBULLS:

In my tenure as coach of the Pitbulls , I tried to pass on my ideas on the game of Bridge based on my experiences . It would be nice to know if world class pairs share some of my more obscure views & theories. To this end , I obtained convention cards of 12 World Class pairs & posted them on my site. I will compare some of my views to those of these 12 World Class partnerships

First my dislike of “trump stack “ penalty doubles in competition. I think trump stack doubles should be passed & instead doubles should be D.S.I.P. in competition . In addition , the WBF card makes you mention your forcing pass understandings especially if they vary from standard agreements. Lets examine the world class players & get their views on this subject.

Garozzo

Our doubles are generally all TO at all levels at least when doubler has not shown length in the suit. We use the Penalty Double at low levels only when one of us has shown given a penalty pass. In penalty situations when we know we have balanced hands and we hold a certain majority of the points we utilize the double to suggest partner pass with length in the suit. One doesn't make a double if one doesn't want partner to convert to penalty.

D.DE FALCO - B.GAROZZO Doubles Negative-Thru:7

B.Garozzo-Buono Doubles Negative-Thru:5S, Responsive-Thru:5S

Benito Garozzo - Lea du Pont Doubles Negative-Thru:5S, Responsive-Thru:5S

Meckwell

Negative doubles at lower levels . Card showing doubles at more cramped levels & at 2^nd round . X can ask for clarification of ambiguous bids . Support doubles and redoubles thru 4♥ .

Hamman-Soloway

Negative Double = take out . Opener shows good hand with Dbl . Most low level doubles are competitive – closer to take out . Ext–Max Doubles. ( not sure what that means - Bob ) Negative doubles thru 4♦

Lauria-Versace

After 1♣ opener negative thru 5♦ , after 1♦ neg thru 5♣ , after 1♥ neg thru 4♦ & after 1♠ neg thru 4♥ .

Robinson-Woosley

Negative doubles thru 3♠ . Most direct competitive doubles are take-out . Support doubles thru the 3 level. Special negative doubles ( see notes ) .

Churmski-Puczynski

Negative doubles thru 4♥ , card showing doubles at higher levels. Support x’s xx’s thur 3♠

Helgemo-Helness

Negative doubles thru 4♦ , Support doubles thru 2♥ , competitive doubles at higher levels .

Chagas-Assumpcao

Negative doubles thru 4♥ , “negative doubles” in competition , support doubles

Branco-Thoma

Negative Double thru 4♥ . 4♠ double is “optional” . Support doubles

Auken-Armin

Negative Double just points no shape , Most low level doubles=T/O , 2 Way Dbl , Competitive Dbls ,

Max Dbl MAX-EXT (? Bob )

Bocchi-Duboin

Negative doubles thru 7♥ .

Fantoni-Nunes

Negative doubles thru 4♥ . “two-way” doubles at higher levels. Translated from the Italian I think that means optional or co-operative.

Survey of the top players so it’s a clean sweep . Nobody plays direct trump stack doubles in competition period . Different names for the D.S.I.P. doubles ( card showing , takeout , competitive & optional ) but message is the same. Trump stack doubles are extinct in competition. They are handled by converting partners D.S.I.P. doubles.