Sunday, June 03, 2007 12:30 AM

Hand Evaluation - T/O Doubles ( Defense )

PITBULLS:

One aspect of being “disciplined” in Bridge is being consistent with your bids. If you “cry wolf” one time & have your values the next time , partner will never read you correctly. The longer I play this game , the more I think the T/O double should always imply defense & may be a very good hand. A systemic bid , overcall or Q bid shows distribution but not necessarily the defense associated with a double. These bids can be ambiguous by the nature of the beast. In my mind , a double should be reserved to always show defensive values measured in quick tricks. This should be obvious as partner can convert for penalty or double the opponents based on your action. Much harder to bring partner into the picture , when you choose an overcall or a systemic toy holding defense. The T/O double , though should be unambiguous with regard to defense.

Nick & Judy had a hand today which emphasizes the above point. You hold ♠void ♥Q1098 ♦AKJ10x ♣Axxx , they open 2♠ show spades & a minor. They convert to the minor ( 3♣) so what do you bid ? Nick bid 3♠ , which the view graph commentators gushed was the correct bid. Judy held ♠Axxxxx ♥AKxx ♦Qx ♣x but has seen Nicks Q bids before so she never even attempted slam by bidding 4♥. A grand slam of course was cold. Do not fool around with T/O doubles. They should be the “sacred cow” that always show defense. Find a different bid if you lack defense. A double informs partner that you have defense measured in quick tricks. A double does not merely show support for the unbid suits. There are two criteria for a double. Some players have the misguided notion that doubles just need the unbid suits. These are the same players who think opening bids do not require any defense measured in quick tricks either.

Commentator’s bias or not , I feel the correct bid is double to show your defense. You can always Q bid your spade void later. Make a bid that announces your defensive strength first in crowded auctions. This bid brings partner into the picture immediately. Bridge is a partnership game. The sooner you announce your hand type to partner , the better off your side will be. Ambiguity is the killer of Bridge bidding especially in competition. The Q bid was ambiguous in Judy’s mind & a lot of other Bridge players’ minds. A double can not be misinterpreted as a weak distributional hand . This hand has 3 quick tricks so announce your defense !! Getting to slam after a good start is simple. Change the hand to softer values ♠void ♥Q1098 ♦KQJ10x ♣KQ10x & you have a Q bid. A hand that Judy had in mind , I believe.

In my mind, the deciding factor between an overcall or a toy vrs a T/O double is defense. Look at your quick tricks first & then your support for the unbid suits. A double should have priority to announce your defense. Penalty conversions are impossible after you chose an overcall or a systemic toy. I would go as far as saying other bids should usually deny defense. A T/O double is a close cousin to the opening bid. Both bids require defense measured in quick tricks rather than just soft values & the correct shape or 13 cards ( modernists ) . Think in “quick tricks” for both opening bids & T/O doubles. This is the hand evaluation concept of announcing the type of HCP’s ( controls/quick tricks ) you have with your chosen bid.  Partner will bid accordingly so +720 numbers will be reduced.

Recently my partner made balancing doubles & both times we balanced them into makeable games. He had the unbid suit requirement for the double but his HCP’s were soft values rather than controls. One time they even went on to an 11 trick game ( 5♣) & I took two tricks & my partner the doubler took none ! Same partner who had a choice of bids to make in the sandwich position. He held the unbid suits but he had AQ AJ in his suits but he bid 1NT rather than a double. I misdefended 3NT because I thought he would have doubled with that hand. The auction goes 1♦-P-1♠-? ♠x ♥KQJxx ♦Qx ♣KQJxx I think you should choose the toy of 1NT rather than doubling even though you hold 14 HCP. Change the hand to less HCP , but more controls ♠x ♥AQ10xx ♦xx ♣AJ109x I would double. Misfits do exist so if partner doubles them you certainly would be happy. If they buy the contract , partner has a better idea of the defensive value of your hand & she knows your distributional already. Announce the type of HCP’s you have , by your choice of bids. Doubles equate to hands holding defense measured in quick tricks , toys & overcalls announce shape but not necessarily defense. Avoid ambiguity.