Tuesday, April 26, 2005 11:50 PM

Suggesting Sacrifices

PITBULLS:

“Double , double toil and trouble” . I am not sure if Shakespere had Bridge in mind when he penned those words. Established partnerships must have their doubles sorted out or pseudo sacrifices will be the norm. If the opponents make an artificial conventional bid that is not a game force ( Bergen for example ) , a double is takeout and not lead directing or setting up a sacrifice. If the bid is forcing to game , a double is suggesting a sacrifice and /or a lead. A double of a splinter is suggesting a sacrifice. At favourable vulnerability Stan Cabay suggests a toy. Bid the suit if you want to sacrifice and a double is a lead director for the suit above the splinter.

Confusion can arise when partner doubles a Q bid of a suit partner has bid or implied. If partner has made a Michaels or unusual 2NT bid , a double of one of those suits Q bid by the opponents does not suggest a sacrifice. It suggests a lead only. If partner wants to suggest a sacrifice he just bids the suit !

A horrible pseudo sacrifice occurred tonight when a partnership did not know the difference between a lead directing double and suggesting a sacrifice. Again the same principles apply. If you wish to sacrifice you just bid by raising partners suit. A double is just suggesting a lead and not an offer to sacrifice. In fact , I have doubled with voids in partners suit. The auction went 1♥-3♣-4♣-X when I held a club void. I am certainly not suggesting a club sacrifice. If I had clubs , I would just bid them and jam the auction. Anyway you hold QJxx KQxx Kxx Kx and RHO opens a strong NT . LHO bids Stayman and partner crawls in 2♦ . You pass and LHO doubles and the NT opener bids 3♦ which you double. This double is not suggesting a sacrifice but suggesting a diamond lead. When the opponents got to 4♥ which has zero play partner made a pseudo sacrifice to 5♦ ! In fact , I would go as far as saying a double should discourage a sacrifice in this auction. You had many opportunities to raise diamonds and failed to do so. A double should convey a defensive hand with the appropriate lead.

Sacrificing is a risky business. Partners should be on the same wavelength or pseudos will be the norm