Thursday, October 12, 2006 3:51 AM

Thrump Doubles II

PITBULLS:

I think the following thought originates from Dora Lee. Thrump doubles are part of negative theory at the 3 level. Over a 3 level pre-empt of our strong NT’s most of us play negative doubles. Ergo a double of their 3 level bid of our strong NT can be a Thrump double. It does not have to be but it could be .

You have ♠x ♥xxx ♦AKQJxx ♣xxx and partner opens 1NT and you about to bid 3NT when they overcall 3♠. An 11 trick game of 5♦ seems to be a stretch so Dora says why not make a Thrump double ? Why not indeed !! Partners first duty in these auctions is to bid 3NT so it fits in perfectly with negative doubles & thrump doubles.

Thrump doubles can be just cards also . ♠xx ♥AKx ♦KQ10x ♣Qxxx and partner opens 1NT and they bid 3♠ . You make a “thrump” negative double and partner has ♠ KJ10x ♥Qxx ♦Axx ♣AKx and 3♠ gets massacred at any vulnerability and you can only make 4 or 5 NT. You can also get cute with a Thrump double and hold a 6 card running major ♠xx ♥AKQxxx ♦xxx ♣xx . Partner opens 1NT and they bid 3♠. Make a thrump double and when partner bids 3NT , 9 tricks might be easier than 4 . In matchpoints you may get +630 instead of +620.

Rubensohl was only designed for the two level. A 3NT bid after a 3 level jump should show a stopper in their suit . A negative double with the “Thrump” extension is a handy bid. The double serves as a Western Q bid and is way more flexible for penalty conversion by the NT bidder. I am surprised that Bergen did not think of this in his original article on Thrump doubles. Most people do play negative doubles after a 3 level bid over a strong NT.