Suggestions for Real Diamond Precision

[Chamaco]

I like very much Robert's suggestions.

 

I also thought of giving up support doubles and use 1NT for the 3 card raise and DBL as penalty suggestion in case responder has a good hand ?

[Flame]

I like very much Robert's suggestions.

 

I also thought of giving up support doubles and use 1NT for the 3 card raise and DBL as penalty suggestion in case responder has a good hand ?

Thought about it too, but at the one level its too rate to penalty them, to waste your lowest bid on it.

[Robert]

Hello everyone

 

Double in the 1D-1H-(1S) auction should be played as a 'support' double 'showing' a three card raise. Knowing that a single raise 'promises' 4 card support allows partner to bid with much better results.

 

You can often count the total trumps and make a LAWful 'in tempo' bid. I bid a 'in tempo' 3S bid after partner had opened with a Precision type(2+Ds) in a competitive type auction(he make a single raise 'showing' 4 card support) on a Qxxxx suit and 6HCP.

 

We play game try doubles so my 3S bid was strictly sign off. The 3S bid 'stole' the pot for down one(I think, I might have even made three?) Either way making or down one, the result was great.

 

If partner's raise could have been made on three card support, my 3S bid on a Qxxxx suit would have been reckless.

 

In the modern game, most doubles are used as 'competitive/takeout.' One Italian systems view(Ambra) is that you gain in competitive bidding and partner will almost always 'double for takeout' when you have a penalty type hand.

 

The Italian Ambra system notes have a very short list of exceptions to their 'almost all doubles' are takeout list. They also add a disclaimer that you only double for takeout 'when' you feel that partner's pass will be an acceptable action.

 

My results indicate that I get more penalties playing the 'takeout' type double style

rather than playing 'penalty' type doubles. When the bidding indicates that you do not have a fit for partner and partner doubles to show his 'HCP values', you tend to get above average(good/great?) results.

 

Your pass in this 1D-1H-(1S) auction(playing support doubles) is 90+% a penalty suggestion. Partner with 9+HCP should reopen with a double with most hands containing short spades. If your spades are as good as KJxx and partner has the values(a decent 9+HCP) to double, pass and take the penalty.

 

Since I play support doubles, this method allows me to double(competitive) holding as good a bid suit as good as AKxxxx with the proper defensive type values plus spade shortness. xx AKxxxx Ax xxx or x AKxxxx xx Kxx

 

Even if partner does hold xx of my suit, if they hold KJ9x of spades(or the equivalent) the defense to 1SX should be very worthwhile. The overcaller with AQ10xx will often make only two trump tricks.

 

If partner has 'x' in my AKxxxx suit, his trump holding might be as weak as K10xx and we still can take a penalty from 1SX.

 

Playing your 'unbalanced' 1D opening style, the penalty meaning of pass would be even stronger than using my current Precision type methods, 'if' you use support doubles.

 

Regards,

Robert