Negative Doubles by Wes Enri

The "negative double" has become a standard feature of modern bidding, and enjoys the status of the most useful convention ever invented.
Negative doubles are used in this very common bidding situation: Partner opens the bidding with one of a suit. The opponents make a direct suit overcall. Penalty doubles are rarely of any use in this situation, so using a double at this juncture as a "negative" or take-out call is much more effective. This allows responder to begin accurately describing his shape and strength, not only when the negative double is employed, but when it was available and not used.
When responder makes a negative double, he promises:
If there is one unbid major - 4 cards in that major and either 4 cards in the other unbid suit (or) a comfortable descriptive rebid if opener "supports" that other suit.
If there are two unbid major suits - 4 cards in each major suit or one major suit and comfortable rebid if opener bids the other major.
If both majors have been bid, responder promises 4 cards in each minor suit. Strength requirements for the double are governed by the level of the overcall.
If opener can make his rebid at the level of one or two, the equivalent of 7 points are sufficient. If opener will have to act at the 3 level, about 9 points are sufficient.
If opener will have to act at the 4 level, 11 points are needed.
The partnership must establish the level where doubling an opponent's preemptive jump overcall will cease to be the "negative" take-out double and become the traditional positive or penalty double.
If you are just starting to use negative doubles, I recommend that after a 2 spade overcall or less, dou

ble should be negative; 3 clubs or more, penalty. When you become more comfortable with the convention, you may want to increase the level through which negative doubles are employed to 3 spades or more.
Negative doubles are most useful in describing hands that have insufficient strength or length to bid a new suit. If after a one suit-suit overcall, responder does bid a new suit, he promises the equivalent of 7+ points at the one level, 10+ points at the two level, game forcing at the three level or more, and strongly implies a 5+ card suit (opener should freely raise with 3 card support).
WARNING: Do not back yourself into a corner. If you make a negative double with only one of the unbid suits, you must have a second option if opener rebids in the wrong unbid suit. Remember, you always pass with modest values if it is too dangerous to call.
Examples
North    East    South    West
               1¨         1ª        ?

ªxxx ©AQxx ¨xx §xxxx
Classic negative double

ªxxx ©AQxxx ¨xx §xx
Double and then "rebid" hearts.

ªAQx ©KQxx ¨xxx §xxx
Double. If opener does not bid hearts, then rebid 2NT.

ªxxx ©AQxx ¨Kxxx §xx
Double. If opener bids clubs, then go back to diamonds.

ªxxx ©AQxxxx ¨Ax §xx
Bid two hearts right away.
ªxxx ©KQxx ¨Axx §AJx

Double. If opener bids hearts or NT, raise to game; otherwise cuebid.

ªAQxx ©Qxxx ¨xx §xx
1NT. No second option, so make the solid 1NT bid.

ªxx ©KQJT8x ¨xx §xxx
Double. Too weak to bid two hearts but good enough to double and rebid two hearts.

Note: A rebiddable suit is playable opposite a small doubleton.

ªxxxx ©Kxxx ¨Ax §xxx
Pass. No second option.

ªxxx ©Q6532 ¨Jx §Axx
Pass. Heart suit is not rebiddable. No second option.

North    East    South    West
               1¨         2§        ?

ªxx ©Axxx ¨Kxxx §xxx
Double. Correct to three diamonds if opener bids spades.

ªAQJxx ©xx ¨xx §xxxx
Double. Correct to two spades if opener bids two hearts.

ªAQJxxx ©xx ¨Qxx §xx
Bid two spades right away.

ªxxx ©Axxx ¨Kxx §AJT
Double. Correct to 3NT if opener bids spades.

ªQx ©KJxxx ¨Jxx §xxx
Pass. Not enough to double and then bid three hearts if opener bids two spades.

(Continued on page 165)

I should have finessed Lefty!

"The difference between a brave bid and a foolhardy bid is largely a matter of result."
Edgar Kaplan

Bridge is played around the world.