Bidding Over Interference,, continued from page 252)

with no fit? Best to bid Hearts now.

A new suit at the 2-level should be played as non-forcing, showing a good 7 to a bad 10 points And at least a 5-card suit.

A jump in a new suit is weak, showing a good 6+ card suit and nothing else. Responder should not have any fit for Opener's suit, especially if that suit is a major.

IV. THE NEGATIVE DOUBLE

When the opponents overcall, the Negative Double is a most useful convention.

An example: ª - 843     © - QJ74     ¨ - 73     § - AJ64

Partner opens 1¨ and our right-hand opponent overcalls 1ª. Had RHO passed, we would have an easy 1© response. But the overcall has deprived us of the chance to show Hearts at the 1-level. We cannot bid 2§ or 2© (we are not strong enough - we need at least a good 10 points for a 2-level response, and should have a 5-card suit), nor can we bid 1NT (that would promise a stopper in Spades).

The solution is to use the "Negative Double" here. Once called the "Informatory Double" and sometimes called the "Sputnik Double", the Negative Double provides a way to show many types of hands
that cannot be shown any other way.

What are the requirements for a Negative Double?

Distribution. Ideally, a Negative Double promises 4 or more cards in each of the two unbid suits.
If there is one unbid major, doubler should have 4 cards in the unbid major; he may not necessarily have the unbid minor. In any case, Doubler must be prepared for any rebid by opener; if Opener cannot support a major, Doubler must have another place to play the hand. Some examples:

In each case partner opens 1¨ and RHO overcalls 1ª.
ª - 843     © - QJ74     ¨ - 73     § - AJ64
This is the ideal negative double. We have 4 cards in each unbid suit.
ª - 843     © - QJ74     ¨ - AJ64     § - 73
This hand is worth a double as well. If partner rebids 2§, we can easily go back to 2¨.
ª - 84     © - KJ8754     ¨ - 73     § - Q64

Double. We will bid Hearts next. Partner will know we have long Hearts but not enough points to bid 2© initially.
ª - AQ3     © - KJ74     ¨ - 7432     § - K6
Double. If partner does not have 4 Hearts, we will bid 3NT next.

The situation is trickier when there are 2 unbid majors. After 1§ - 1¨, responder can bid either major at the 1-level; but after 1¨ - 2§, it is difficult to bid hands with a 4-card major and fewer than 4 in the other major. Again, Doubler must be prepared should Opener bid the major he does not have. In each case partner opens 1¨ and RHO overcalls 2§.
ª - 84     © - QJ74     ¨ - 743     § - AJ64
Pass. There is no good rebid should partner rebid 2ª.
ª - 84     © - Q874     ¨ - AJ64     § - 743
We cannot double. If we were a little stronger, we could double and bid 3¨ over 2ª. But this hand is not good enough to commit to the 3-level. However, it is worth a 2¨ raise.
ª - J3     © - KJ74     ¨ - 7432     § - AQ6
Double. If partner bids 2ª, we can bid 2NT.

Strength. As in the case of the takeout double, the minimum strength required for a negative double depends on the level at which partner can respond. The higher the level, the more points are required.

If partner opens 1§ and RHO overcalls 1¨, partner can bid either major at the 1-level. With no 4 card major, partner can rebid NT at the 1-level. Responder can make a negative double with only 6 points.

If partner opens 1¨, and RHO overcalls 1ª, partner will have to bid Clubs or Hearts at the 2-level. He will be able to rebid 1NT. Responder should have at least a good 7 points to double. If partner opens 1©, and RHO overcalls 2¨, partner will have to bid Spades or NT at the 2-level, or clubs at the 3-level. Responder

(Continued on page 254)

Bidding is like a second language. Your scores will best be served if you and partner are speaking the same dialect!