Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:40 AM

Hand Evaluation – Dbls ( Pass & Double )

PITBULLS:

When the opponents make a conventional bid or a takeout double after your side has opened , how do you define a pass followed by a double?. The reflex action when you want to start a penalty double sequence is to double their conventional bid or redouble initially. This action turns on forcing passes so of course all doubles are penalty. Since you did not take this action initially , what is a belated double ? A pass & double should be D.S.I.P. saying I want to compete somewhere or you can convert with their suit as I have some values.

1♦-2♦-P-2♠

P-P-X ♠10xx ♥Axx ♦xx ♣KQxxx

They are vul , you are not with partner opening 1♠ & they make a T/O double. You play 1NT as a transfer to clubs so how do you show an old fashioned good 1NT bid just under a redouble ? This is the pass and D.S.I.P. double sequence.

♠xx ♥xxx ♦Axxx ♣KQxx 1♠-X-P-2♥

P-P-X

On these auctions , opener will like her hand when she is short in their suit & make a D.S.I.P. double herself or bid to compete. When she has their suit or a defensive hand , she will pass as you have shown nothing as responder. A double by responder now caters to that eventuality. When responder bids at the one level & subsequently doubles , it also obviously D.S.I.P. as you did not redouble or choose a double over their conventional bid.

A direct double of a conventional bid or a redouble should setup forcing pass theory for one round. When you have values but not strong enough to turn on forcing pass theory , you should choose the pass & subsequent double route.

♠xx ♥AQxxx ♦Kxxx ♣xx 1♠-2NT-P-3♣

P-P-X You are not quite strong enough to double 2NT going in, which should setup a forcing auction. The pass & D.S.I.P. double should not get you into too much trouble. A direct double of 3♣ by partner is D.S.I.P. opposite a passing partner so what is she supposed to do with a good hand with clubs ? She waits for your D.S.I.P. double or pass. Just like negative double theory , protect partners penalty double.

The opponents interfering over your NT brings out the concept of pass followed by a double. When you want to double them for penalty, you should double immediately to broadcast your intent. Passing first & waiting until they have found their spot brings out the D.S.I.P. competitive double.

1NT-2♣*-P-2♦

P-2♥-X-P is scattered values saying lets compete somewhere unless you have a partnership agreement that this sequence is penalty. When you play a double as systemic ( eg Stayman) , a pass & double is penalty on one vulnerability – they are vul , you are not. On all other vulnerabilities , the double is D.S.I.P. so just leap to your 3NT game with their suit.

What if they open an systemic bid like 2♦ as 4-4-4-1 11-15 HCP , or a precision 2♣ or a Flannery 2♦ ? In these auctions , balancing with a double does not exist. You should have your methods of entering the auction over these bids discussed so a pass & a subsequent double is penalty. Tonight playing with a tormentee the auction went vul vrs not 2♦ ( Flannery ) pass by my partner , 2♠ by them so around to my partner who doubled. I held ♠x ♥Qxxx ♦K10xxx ♣10xx so what do you do ? This one is easy as you have 5 HCP’s but RHO did not even attempt a game try. You have a stiff spade so the spades around the table are 4-5-3-1 or 4-4-4-1 . I passed , we collected our 1100 as they were playing in partners 5 card suit with 18 HCP’s.