Friday, February 24, 2006 1:19 PM

Hand Evaluation - Doubles ( The Default )

PITBULLS:

D.S.I.P. competitive theory is a balancing act with forcing pass theory. There are many auctions that the bidding does not reveal that you own the auction , however , you may. In all these situations , we still must revert to standard so assume we own the auction when partner can be unlimited & makes a call. Our standard understanding is forcing pass theory when partner can be unlimited at a high level in a non competitive auction. Pre-empts by partner are also a well known exception to D.S.I.P. competitive double theory.

The auction went 1♠-3♠-4♠-? With the 3♠ bidder being vulnerable but the opponents not , do we own the auction based on the vulnerable bid to the 3 level ? Are the opponents bidding 4♠ to sacrifice or to make ? The answer is we simply do not know. If we interpret the 3♠ bid to be a pre-empt due to the long suit , penalty doubles should apply especially at this level. This pre-emptive vul bid usually defines the meaning of partners double to be penalty .

Since it is rare that the 3♠ jump is done on a “rock” hand with a variable HCP range, we should consider the bid as a good solid “pre-empt” . Penalty doubles by partner should apply rather than D.S.I.P. doubles on that basis alone. However , it does not matter how the 3♠ bid is interpreted , partner is an unknown entity ( unlimited ) so the double would be penalty. My partner held ♠QJ10x ♥Kxxx ♦x ♣Kxxx so has an easy 4NT bid if he wanted me to bid my minor. My partner doubled 4♠ for penalty , so that should end this auction.

I find it is easier to learn forcing pass rules which is the way Eric Kokish interprets his “two way doubles”. It is much better to figure out when Forcing Pass Theory is applicable or the rare cases where the penalty double is allowed ( opposite a pre-empt ) than trying to figure out if D.S.I.P. theory applies. D.S.I.P. theory is just the default when a penalty double & forcing pass theory do not apply.

As my partners have expressed it to avoid ambiguity playing competitive doubles , we need triggers that determine the meaning of penalty doubles. I think it is easier to go this route. Figure out if & when forcing pass/penalty doubles apply , but default to D.S.I.P. competitive doubles in all the other cases. We allow penalty doubles when we are no longer competing or after we have already made a D.S.I.P. competitive double. When we know our rare penalty double situations & know forcing pass theory , D.S.I.P. competitive double theory situations are just what is left over when we are competing.