Friday, March 18, 2011

Hand Evaluation - Partnership ( Neg Dbls )

PITBULLS:

        To play negative doubles , D.S.I.P.  competitive doubles or forcing pass theory properly , you must know the basics of penalty doubles. Penalty doubles are a Bridge partnership operation. When I first learned penalty doubles , Margaret Tomlinson told me something I have never forgotten. Leave penalty doubles in when you have the hand partner can reasonably expect on the auction. The key words are what partner can reasonably expect. With negative double theory , you make a re-opening double with a hand that partner can reasonably expect on the auction also.

        Again the HCP location rather than the HCP total is a deciding factor. You never get away from HCP hand evaluation in Bridge. You cannot just make Bridge decisions based on a HCP total & the fact that you opened on that total.  Partner reasonably expects your HCP's to be in the suit you opened when you re-open with a double . That is a given as he measures whether the auction is a misfit by that HCP indicator. When your points are concentrated in another suit ( especially long ones )  , this is something partner does not expect. You decide to make a prepared bid ( everybody vul ) with ♠x ♥Kxxxx ♦AKxxxx ♣x & open 1♥ instead of your longest suit. The opponents bid 2♠ so around to you in the re-opening chair . Do you protect your partners penalty pass ? With your 10 HCP & the opponents have stopped in 2♠,  partner has an obvious penalty double.

        Let’s go back to Margaret's comment . Can partner reasonable expect you to hold a 6-5 in the reds with 70 % of your values in an unknown 6 card ♦ suit ? Therefore , I would pull Margaret’s penalty double of 2♠ to 3♦. Margaret with ♠AQ10x ♥x ♦Qxxxx ♣Axx or similar hands would drive the hand to +1370 in ♦'s. However change your hand to ♠x ♥AKJxx ♦K109xxx ♣x & most experts would be tempted to double even with a 6-5. Why ? This hand is drastically different from the first hand. Your HCP's are located where partner will expect them to be for opening lead purposes & misfit hand evaluation for partner. On this hand , 2♠X has a chance of going for +500 & you cannot make anything your way ! You win the heart lead & switch to your stiff ♣. You take 2♥s , 2♣'s off the top, possibly 1♦ & how many down they go is dependent on partner's trump holding. The double is still swingy as partner does not expect a 6-5 but at least you have quick tricks where partner can reasonably expect them. However , since it is a major suit held by the opponents & doubling them into game is a disaster , I would take out insurance & bid 3♦ with both hands. It the bid were a minor overcall , -180 is not a disaster so that will enter the equation.

        Penalty doubles has played by the masses is the most single handed bid ever devised. However , when you bring Partnership Bridge in the picture , penalty doubles work . I based the entire theory of D.S.I.P.  competitive doubles around "two heads are better than one " for converting penalty doubles. When you re-open with a double in negative double theory , you are helping partner out. However, have what partner can reasonable expect as per Margaret’s wise words to me 40 years ago. You will have a lot fewer -870's which is what the doubler in our auction received. She had ♠x ♥Kxxxx ♦AKxxxx ♣x so could partner reasonable expect that hand ? Garbage openers lacking quick tricks is horrible for negative double theory , penalty doubles , competitive doubles & constructive bidding . This hand was not a garbage opener in that she had 2 1/2 quick tricks. The 2 1/2 quick tricks were just located in the wrong suit however so the disaster unfolded. Location , location & location is more than a real estate platitude. Evaluate HCP's as to quick tricks & their location.

        A Tormentee was too cautious in her negative double approach recently. She opened 1♠ with ♠AJ10xx ♥Kxxx ♦Kxx ♣x playing with Mathew Greenways. Perry overcalled 2♣ so around to the Tormentee. same scenario as the other hand above. You have opened on 11 HCP's so the only reason 2♣ is passed around to you is partner has a club trap. You have a light opener , not a garbage opener. You have HCP's measured in controls & HCP's in spades where partner can reasonably expect them. You do your duty & double & Mathew holds ♠x ♥AJxx ♦J10x ♣KQ1087 so +500 or more . The tormentee re-opened with 2♥ as she felt she was not strong enough to re-open. However , that is not the litmus test for  negative doubles. Would you leave in a penalty double of 2♣ ? Can partner reasonably expect you to have this hand for an opening bid ? Yes , to both these questions. You are distorting your hand by bidding 2♥ as you are describing a weak 5-5 in the majors anyway. Also 2♣X making is not game nor a disaster.