Monday, February 19, 2007 7:23 PM

Hand Evaluation – Forcing Pass ( Inverted Dbls )

PITBULLS:

When the opponents double , the redouble was designed to show no fit and 10+ HCP. The bid in effect is saying “let the doubling commence” . All doubles are penalty . Some experts have come up with a modification to that “all doubles are penalty” rule. Instead after a XX , all initial doubles of an opponents bid are takeout but with enough defense to convert partners penalty pass. If you have a penalty double , you just pass & when partner doubles for T/O , you convert. This doubling style is not unlike negative & D.S.I.P. double theory. The Europeans call this style “inverted doubles”.

You still punish the opponents with the appropriate hand but where you gain is when they wiggle out of trouble by finding a nice fit. Partner doubling for the other suits now makes competing, game bidding & slam bidding much easier in a XX’d auction. For example , you open 1♦ with ♠AJx ♥x ♦Axxxx ♣AJ10x , they make a T/O double & partner redoubles & they bid 1♥. If you bid 2♣ you rescue them if partner has a heart stack. If you pass & partner does not have a penalty double , she has no clue on what your hand type is or if you have good defense . Playing this new XX style , you double 1♥ , partner converts so they go for –800 in 1♥ doubled as partner has 5 good hearts.

Change partners hand to ♠K10 ♥xxx ♦Kx ♣KQxxxx , with partners known shortness in hearts ( she doubled for T/O ) , you may get to 6♣ for +1370 . With this redouble style , when you bid in front of either partner , you are saying you have so much distribution , you are always pulling partners double.

Doubling for T/O by the redoubler in the pass out seat also describes her hand. You now know the redoubler is short in two suits , your suit & the opponents suit. ♠KQxx ♥xx ♦xx ♣AKxxx . Partner opens 1♦ , the T/O double gets XX’d & they bid 1♥ so around to you. You double showing a defensive hand so partner converts with her 4 hearts. My teammate held this hand . ♠J10xx ♥AKxx ♦KJ10x ♣x , opened 1♦. They doubled , partner XX’s so 2♣ to your right. Playing standard methods you must pass in case partner had a penalty double of 2♣. Partner held ♠AQ98 ♥xx ♦Qxxx ♣Axx , at the table she decided to double. This made for –180 but 4♠ made at the other table for –620.

Playing these new XX understandings, the opener will double 2♣ showing shortness so you get to your 4♠ game which makes even with the 4-1 spade break. If the redoubler just bids 2♦ , you probably play it there. The problem with the old fashioned XX sequences is neither partner really describes their hand very well. You fall victim to off shape T/O doubles or very light T/O doubles where the opponents land on their feet.

When the opponents interfere in your 2/1 auction , a XX should still imply no fit so do not rescue them partner. With a fit for partners 2/1 , you are not interested in punishing them anyway. Just ignore them if you have a fit for partner & make the bid you about to make before the double. Kiz Fung held this hand ♠A1098xx ♥void ♦AJ9 ♣QJxx & opened 1♠. I bid 2♦ which was doubled. Do not XX as you know you are pulling partners penalty double anyway. This pass & pull should have a meaning assigned to it. Bid 2♠ or 3♦ going in but do not XX.