(Negative Doubles, Cont'd from page 164)

Penalizing Opponents
What do you do when you have a "real" penalty double of right hand opponent's overcall? If the overcall is at the one or two level, Pass!
Opener is compelled to reopen the bidding  if he is short in the enemy suit even if he has a minimum hand. Opener will strain to reopen with a double, giving you the opportunity to sit it for penalties. If you play negative doubles through the three level, you cannot pass with game going values after a three level overcall because opener is not required to reopen with minimum values.

North    East    South    West
              1ª      2¨         ?
ªx ©Axx ¨KJTxx §xxxx
Pass and wait for a reopening double
.
North    East    South     West
               1ª       3¨         ?
ªx ©Axx ¨KQ9xx §Axxxx
3NT. You are too strong to risk defending 3¨ undoubled. RATS!

ªx ©Axx ¨KQxx §xxxxx
Pass and hope for a double.

Further Action by Opener
After a negative double, opener should strive to bid a new suit. In most cases, opener will make the same rebid as they would if responder had bid one of the unbid major. With minimum values, make a simple "raise" of responder's suit if you can. Rebid your suit or NT whichever is more descriptive if you can't. These are not forcing bids and if responder corrects to either your first suit or bids a long suit of his own, these bids are not forward going.

With invitational values, about 16-18 points, opener must jump "raise" responder's implied suit or jump rebid their own suit - strongly encouraging but not forcing. With maximum values, opener must either bid a known playable game or cuebid to explore which game (or slam) is preferred.

North    East    South    West
1§         1ª        Dble    Pass
?
ªxx ©KJxx ¨Kxx §AQxx
Bid 2©. This is not a reverse, just a minimum raise.

ªxxx ©xx ¨AQx §AQxxx
2§. The best descriptive bid.

ªxx ©AKxx ¨Ax §AKxxx
4©. Game-going strength.

ªxx ©Ax ¨Axx §AKJxxx
3§. A jump rebid.

ªAQx ©Axx ¨Kxx §KQxx
2NT. The best descriptive call.

ªxxx ©x ¨AQxx §AQxxx
2¨. Not a reverse, just "support."

ªxx ©AQxx ¨xx §AKQxx
3©. A jump raise.

ªKJx ©xx ¨AQx §Kxxxx
1NT. The best descriptive call.

ªxx ©AK ¨Kxx §AKQxxx
2ª. Game strength. Location unknown.

Playing negative doubles, opener must be very careful in auctions that begin one of a suit - suit overcall - pass - pass. If the overcall is at the one or two level, opener can never pass if he holds 0-2 cards in the enemy suit, even with the most minimum of opening hands to cater to responder's possible penalty pass (and to aggressively contest the part score).

If opener possesses tolerance (3 cards) in the unbid suits or significant extra values, he should reopen with a double. Reopening in a suit shows minimum values and a one or two suited hand. Reopening NT is natural and very powerful.

North    East    South    West
1ª         2¨      Pass      Pass
?
ªAxxxxx ©Axx ¨xx §KJx
Double, and pass all responses.




ªAQJxxx  ©xx ¨xx §AJx
2ª. A minimum descriptive bid.

ªAKxxx ©A ¨xx §AJxxx

Double and correct hearts to clubs, showing extras.

ªAxxxx ©xx ¨Qxx §AQx
Pass. Too many diamonds. Too weak.

ªKQJxxx ©AJxxx ¨x §x
3©. Great playing hand with little defense.

ªAxxxx ©x ¨xx §AKxxx
3§. Minimum and shapely, with no heart tolerance.

ªAxxxx ©AQxxx ¨x §AKx
Double and then bid hearts.

ªAQJxxx ©Ax ¨xx §AJx
Double and rebid spades to show extras.

ªAxxxx ©AQ ¨AQx §Kxx
2NT. Very powerful and descriptive.

Opener is not compelled to reopen the bidding at the three level, and must have extra values in strength and/or shape to do so.
If after a negative double, responder simply bids a new suit, this shows a good (rebiddable) suit with minimum values. If responder takes a simple preference to opener's first suit, this also shows minimum values.

If after a negative double responder bids 2NT, raises any suit or jumps in a new suit - invitational values - (11-12 points) are promised. It is not forcing, but highly encouraging.

If after a negative double responder cue bids the enemy's suit, a game force is established. Responder should choose this action when unsure of which game to play  or when interested in slam. It does not show any particular holding in the enemy's suit. Responder may instead simply bid game whenever an appropriate choice is indicated.

Count your cards … Be sure you are playing with a full deck!

"Four hearts is a very good bid ---
but on some other hand."
Edgar Kaplan

100 honors do not matter in
duplicate bridge.