Tuesday, November 22, 2005 2:34 AM

The Scrambling 2C

PITBULLS:

We still feel there is a use for the penalty double of a strong 1NT. The modern way is to make the double artificial but I think that reduces your sides chanced for nice pickups. Your HCP’s are behind the string NT which reduces their HCP’s. If you have a half decent lead with 16 + HCP or have a hand too strong to overcall at the two level , a penalty double is quite often a winning bid. Partner needs at least a control to leave it in. Why a control ? When there is 32 HCP already identified , entries become very important. A control usually equates to an entry in these auctions. A queen and a jack is not enough to leave the double in so you “scramble”.

If you do not have enough to leave the double in & you have a 5 card or longer suit , you simply bid it. Partner receives the message loud and clear. What if you do not have a 5 card suit ? You bid 2♣ no matter what your club holding is. If partner bids a suit immediately after the 2♣ bid , this means she has a suit so this will end the auction. if partner does not have a suit of her own, she always passes 2♣. If we can escape in 2♣ undoubled , we will take it.

Usually the opponents double 2♣ and you redouble SOS without a 5 card or longer club suit and the scramble is on. If you have xx xxx xx Jxxxxx you simply pass the double of 2♣ ( no SOS redouble) and you play it there. Partner does not scramble. The scrambling 2♣ works in conjunction with the SOS redouble. The NT doubler bids her 4 card suits up the line after the redouble. Say the 2♣ bidder has xxxx xxxx xxx xx and partner bids 2♦ which gets doubled. You now scramble to the next higher suit hearts and the NT bidder bids 2♠ and you play 2♠ X with AKxx xx Axxx AQx . Unfortunately for them this makes !

There are some hands where partner will let you play 2♣XX . This is usually because she doubled 1NT with a 6 card or longer club suit. So do not rescue yourself by bidding . Use the SOS redouble if you get doubled as you may be playing it there making on some unusual hands. Scrambling is an art that is based on “up the line bidding” . Landing on your feet is sometimes a Houdini type act. If you are vul and they are not , do not forget passing and let them collect their +180 or +280. Might be better than -500 or –800.