Lead Directing Doubles

Thursday, February 19, 2004 5:46 AM

PITBULLS:

Doubles of artificial suit bids are lead-directing unless otherwise defined or qualified as one of the two exceptions below:

1. Double by an unpassed hand of an artificial response (thru 3 ♦) that shows a fit or otherwise to any natural opening bid is a takeout double of the suit opened. These are takeout doubles:

West
2 ♣*

North
P

East
2 ♦

South
Dbl

*Natural suit

West
1 ♠

North
P

East
3 ♦*

South
Dbl

*Limit raise

West
2 ♥

North
P

East
3 ♣*

South
Dbl

*Inquiry

2. Double by an unpassed hand of a splinter bid as our first action shows length in that suit and suggests a sacrifice bid.

3. In general , lead directing doubles negate the obvious lead. If you want your suit lead or the unbid suit lead, do not double !

4. In general , lead directing doubles default to dummy’s first bid suit.

Doubles of notrump:

The double of any notrump bid (not specifically defined elsewhere) is for penalty and requests, in order of priority, the lead of: this priority is based on whether you have bid , partner has bid or both of you have bid or neither of you have bid.

1. Leader’s suit if both leader and doubler have shown suits

2. Doubler’s suit

3. Dummy’s suit unless leader can safely lead his own shown suit

4. Leader’s shown suit

5. Leader’s weaker major suit

Doubles of suit slams:

The double of a suit slam by non-leader requests, in order of priority, the lead of:

1. Dummy’s first bid suit

2. Leader’s longest suit not bid by his side

Miscellaneous Doubles

If partner pre-empts or bids and the opponents Q bid that suit , a double by partner is lead directing not support or suggesting a sacrifice. This double may be done on a stiff !!

If partner doubles a Blackwood response or a Q bid and the opponents eventually reach a NT contract , a double by the other partner says lead that suit.

If partner doubles a Q bid of his own suit or his implied suit if a conventional takeout bid , it says do not lead that suit. A pass says please lead. This is the double negating the obvious principle. More on this below:

THE LEAD-DIRECTING PASS!

Say you overcall or preempt and later in the auction your right hand opponent cuebids your suit. What should you do?

Clearly it is not in your best interests to double a suit that your partner was probably going to lead anyways.

* This theory only applies if you double or pass a Q bid of your own suit . Partner is not involved.

A. THE CUEBID OF YOUR SUIT IS MADE AT THE TWO OR THREE LEVEL AND THE OPPONENTS WIND UP IN NOTRUMP.

Your options are either "pass" or "double". "PASS" means you WANT your suit led, "DOUBLE" says you DON'T want a lead in your suit.

Say you are sitting South with either of these hands:

(a) S. Qxx H. KQJxx D. Kx C. xxx

(b) S. x H. Kxxxx D. Kxx C. KQJ10

East South (you) West North

1D 1H 3D Pass

3H ?

With (a) you want a heart lead against a likely 3NT contract, so you pass.

With (b) you don't want a heart lead so you double.

Now let's say regardless of what you have done, the opponents wind up in 3NT anyways. You still have another bid coming! Basically you have four options:

(1) You pass the cue bid and then pass 3NT.

This action announces that you want the lead in your suit, but are not confident enough that the lead will actually beat 3NT.

(2) You pass the cue bid and then double 3NT.

This time you are telling your partner not only do you want your suit led, but the opponents have made a mistake and you want them to pay.

(3) You double the cuebid and then pass 3NT.

This one says you don't want your suit led and you have outside values so partner should tend to lead his or her suit.

(4) You double the cuebid and then double 3NT.

This one says you don't want your suit led, but you have another suit (usually a lower ranking suit) that you do not want led.

2. THE CUEBID OF YOUR SUIT IS MADE AT THE TWO OR THREE LEVEL AND THE OPPONENTS WIND UP IN A SUIT SLAM.

You have the same four options: Pass/pass, pass/double, double/pass or double/double. Let's see what they should mean:

Pass/Pass Asks for your suit.

Pass/Dbl. You wanted your suit for notrump, but now that they have arrived in a suit contract, you want something else. The most likely possibility is that you have a side suit void. A Lightner type double.

Double/Pass You have a weakish suit with strength on the outside.

Double/ Double This one is rare, but if it comes up, it shown an outside AK (as opposed to a void).

C. THEIR CUE BID (OR RESPONSE TO BLACKWOOD) OF YOUR SUIT IS MADE ABOVE THE LEVEL OF 3NT.

In other words, they seem to be headed for a suit slam. This time you can actually tell your partner which suit to lead!

Pass/Pass Asks partner to lead your suit.

Pass/Dbl. Asks for the lower ranking side suit

Dbl./Pass Shows scattered outside strength

Dbl/Pass Asks for the higher ranking side suit. This one you have to plan in advance when you know where they are heading.