Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:03 PM
Hand Evaluation – Double ( Was
that a Penalty Double ? )
Have you ever heard (or
participated in) a discussion like this after a "creative" double had
backfired?
EAST: Minus 670! Partner, how
could you pass my double?
WEST: I thought it was for
penalty.
EAST: No, no, no. It was penalty-oriented and
cooperative.
WEST: You mean it was mainly for
takeout?
EAST: Not exactly. It showed transferable values.
WEST: So can I pass it, or can't
I?
Just a few decades or so ago,
Bridge players seldom had this type of misunderstanding. Back then, there were
only a few well-defined
situations where a double was takeout, so almost all other doubles were
"for business". The penalty double was called a “shut out” bid &
you were expected to pass. Do not
pull my penalty doubles
In recent
years, competitive bidding has become much
more lively,
players have developed new
meanings for many old-fashioned
penalty doubles. Some modern doubles -- including negative,
responsive, support and maximal -- are conventional
so apply only in clearly defined situations. Others -- including those called
cooperative -- aren't as easy to define
because they are often used in more
complicated auctions.
These modern doubles make
competitive bidding more flexible and
accurate, but they also create more opportunities for misunderstandings, even
for established partnerships.
There are so many uses for the double now that it's virtually impossible to
discuss every situation that might come up at the table. Instead, many players
develop general "default" agreements that can apply to a wide range
of auctions.
The
modern practice seems to be "when in doubt, it's takeout". If you follow
this general approach, it's easier
to define your penalty doubles than to discuss all the
auctions where a double is something else. You can start with this list, which
summarizes some "universal" default agreements. These are basic
situations where (barring a convention or partnership agreement to the
contrary) most players assume that the doubler's intention is penalty: “
Karen Walker
Penalty ( trump stack )
doubles only apply in certain situations . They are as follows :
1.
Forcing pass
situations – we own the hand which
includes redoubles , 2♣ , 2/1 , running
from penalty conversions etc
2.
Pre-emption
involved - We have opened a weak two or other pre-empt which includes toys like
unusual 2NT or Michaels etc. Can also mean we just leapt to
game.
3.
When we have
trapped or they have psyched , & the
double is “obvious” that it is a trump stack ( misfit auction , no unbid suits , later in the auction , bidding a suit for
which partner has made a T/O double ) . Some captaincy
situations where the double must be penalty.
4.
Over-under Rule
- They have balanced after our NT
or other auction and we are “over”
the suit ( Bridge is played in a clockwise order )
5.
Captaincy –
Opener has bid game & they subsequently interfere
6.
Unlimited – When
a hand is unlimited & responder has limited their hand in a misfit auction.
7.
They own the
auction – lead directing penalty or permission to sacrifice nv vrs them vul.
D.S.I.P. competitive doubles apply in all other situations except where conventional doubles apply ( negative
doubles , support , maximal & responsive dbls ) .
These conventional doubles are perceived as “disciplined “
D.S.I.P. doubles anyway . Do not forget that we do not “own the hand” or its too tough to determine in D.S.I.P. competitive situations . D.S.I.P. doubles are designed to assist us in competitive auctions where the contract is
up for grabs. When we own the hand ,
Forcing Pass Theory applies. When they own the hand ,
lead directing penalty.