Important article !
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 . 1NTX can be a horrible contract to play
so quite often is a fertile source of IMPS . We 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 or balancing double of any
NT bid is penalty. Just add up the HCP’s around the table using your abacus
. If they are badly outnumbered in HCP’s – double them. The reason why “modernists”
open bad balanced hands with queens & jacks is that people allow them
to get away with it. Do not rescue them by doubling their 1NT
resting spot for take out. Have a bid of a minor
for a T/O to the majors over their 1NT contract. A double describes your
defense measured in quick tricks or just HCP’s when NT has been bid.
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 in misfit
auctions when they are in a bad spot.
The
forcing NT is a common signal by the opponents that they are on the
start of a “misfit auction” . If you are entering this particular
auction without a single suited hand but with defense , do it
with a double . The double describes your hand better & leaves the
most options open for partner. Both vul , you hold ♠AJx ♥AKxxx
♦void ♣KQ109x & the auction goes 1♠-P-1NT-? . Bidding a
suit with this hand or trying a toy is just plain Bridge stupidity.
You are informing partner that you have a single suited hand without
defense as you did not double 1NT in a misfit
auction. Bidding a toy with this defense just rescues
the opponents from a misfit. 1NTX may be the best spot for your side with your 4
quick tricks ! If partner pulls the
doubled contract , you can equal level convert or even convert at a
higher level to show extra with two suits. You are describing your hand
to partner & not bidding a two suited hand as you would a one suited
hand. What a concept !! If
you overcall bid 2♥ initially , you play it
there down one , cold for
a vul 6♣ !
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 ! The modern concept of “shape
before strength” reverts to “ strength before shape” , to
allow penalties & to describe your defense. With the above auction holding ♠QJx
♥KQJ10x
♦void
♣KQ109x we
would bid a toy 2♠ Michaels as the hand type is offensive with soft values for
HCP’s. Doubles describe your quick tricks.
Say
the auctions went
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3♦ |
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3NT |
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DBL |
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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 contribute
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 inference “why did
partner not double 1NT “ when she 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.
Partner
held this hand ♠AJxx ♥Axx ♦Q10xx ♣xx &
in 3rd seat the opponents opened 1♥.
His LHO bid 1NT which was passed out. Do you balance & if so with what ?
The opponents have announced that your side may have over ½ the deck. A double
is out as partner will read you for a heart trap. There could be a spade
suit missing so if you are willing to venture a 2♠ bid that is your best bet
otherwise just pass. By the way,
if you do double 1NT & partner bids 2♣ , it is a start of a scramble.
Consider
these two balancing or belated auctions :
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West |
North |
East |
South |
Penalty - Either an initial major bid or minor , its penalty
. Partner has a very good opening bid in their suit.
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
Penalty with
spades – partner had a chance to double initially but 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.
When
the auction is most likely going to catapult to high levels , doubling their
NT contracts early 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..