Wednesday, June 18, 2003 10:26 PM

Negative Doubles - 2 level

PITBULLS:

One Pitbull seemed to be confused with negative doubles and was under the impression that both majors were needed to make a negative double. Ever since negative doubles were invented the requirement was both majors or one major with a fit for partner. The auction went 1D by opener and a 2C overcall . A Pitbull bid 2H on xx AQxx 1098x Qxx as a non passed hand and partner put her in 4H which is down two for –200 and a wasted +110 . Since the negative double only promises one major , a jump to game in a major by the opener must show 5 or more diamonds as an escape route. Here is an excerpt from a Marty Bergen article on this subject ..

Negative Doubles at the Two Level

Marty Bergen

1¨ - (2§) - Dbl

This negative double usually shows at least eight HCP and only guarantees one major (analogous to Stayman).

Perfect doubles:

ª KJ75 © A954 ¨ J65 § 82

ª AQ98 © AK87 ¨ 9543 § 8

Imperfect doubles: ª A9854 © KQ7 ¨ 98 § 865

(If opener bids 2©, I will pass and wish him luck. Doubling then bidding 2ª shows a better or longer suit than you have.)

ª A2 © KQ75 ¨ J643 § 732

(If opener bids spades, we will return to diamonds.)

Do not double with:

ª QJ10976 © 7 ¨ K76 § 865

(A weak jump shift of 3ª is more descriptive.)

ª Q72 © Q7643 ¨ 8 § KJ98

(Pass. You have length and strength in clubs, a weak hand and a misfit for partner’s diamonds.)

Opener Rebids after 1¨ - (2§) - Dbl - (Pass)

ü A cuebid is forcing to game.

ü All jumps below game are invitational.

ü 2NT guarantees a stopper in the opponent’s suit. Try to avoid this bid with a dead minimum.

ü Opener may be forced to rebid a five-card suit or introduce a three-card suit.

ü You may or may not have balanced distribution when you jump to 3NT.

ü A double jump to game in a major promises great shape, not great strength. It is weaker than a cuebid and always shows 5 or more diamonds.

Bid 2¨ with: ª J76 © AK ¨ KQ654 § 976

2© with: ª KJ © AJ76 ¨ A7643 § 98

2ª with: ª AKJ © 954 ¨ KJ65 § J53

2NT with: ª 865 © 743 ¨ AKJ7 § AQ6

3§ with: ª A2 © AKJ8 ¨ AK743 § 87

(You must cuebid to tell partner that you have a great hand.)

3ª with: ª AK76 © J6 ¨ AK1097 § 42

3NT with: ª AQ © J65 ¨ AJ743 § KQJ

(Opener’s single jump to 3NT may be based on a balanced hand.)

4© with: ª K5 © KQJ6 ¨ KQJ765 § 9

(Since responder did not guarantee hearts, we must have great hearts as well as six diamonds for this bid

1© - (2§) - Dbl

This negative double guarantees at least four cards in the unbid major, and 8+ HCP. It denies three-card support for opener’s major, but says nothing about the unbid minor (diamonds). If the opening bid is 1ª, the above is still true.

Perfect double:

ª KJ54 © A4 ¨ J8754 § 64

Imperfect doubles:

ª AQ65 © 7 ¨ KJ65 § 9542

(The flaws are the singleton heart and club length.)

ª J752 © J ¨ AQ8654 § 86

(Again, you would prefer to have two hearts, and your spades are very weak.)

ª J87543 © A ¨ K86 § 532

(Alas—I am too weak to bid my spades now. I hope to show them later.)

Do not double with:

(Bid 2¨. Bid naturally with a good hand like this one.)

(With a heart void and emaciated spades, the weak jump shift of 3¨ seems more practical.)

Worth noting: unless responder is very short in the opponent’s suit, he should avoid doubling with marginal hands.

(Dreaming, I’m always dreaming.)

(It is nice when your five-card suit looks like six.)

(Nice hand. This hand is too good for a mere 2¨ bid, but too weak for a cuebid.)

(Points, schmoints. I can always be seduced by a pretty void.)