Support (and Negative) Doubles

[Mr. Dodgy]

My F2F partner and I have started playing support doubles/redoubles fairly recently.

 

Can anyone suggest some (reasonably simple?) 'rules' about when they generally do or do not apply?

 

The obvious ones are OK: Xapples-(Pass)-Ybananas-(Zoranges)-Dbl <---support double; shows exactly 3 bananas.

 

Some notes I have from a respected teacher say that the following, amongst others, are also *support doubles:

1♣-(1♦)-1♥-(2♦)-Dbl*

1♣-(Dbl)-1♥-(2♦)-Dbl*

1♣-(Dbl)-1♥-(Dbl)-ReDbl*

 

But I am unsure about auctions such as 1♣-(1♦)-1♥-(1♠)-X**

**support, or values? The notes indicate that at the 3-level such doubles show values and strongly imply 3-card support, but is not specific about any 4-suited auctions.

 

Also, is 1♥ in this auction promising 5, or 4 ♥s? I would have expected 5, and with only 4 that you'd make a negative double (and correct a ♠ rebid to something else?), but I have heard differing opinions.

 

Which brings me to another part of the same notes which I consider an oddity; It suggests that after 1♣-(1♥), a double by Responder DENIES 4♠s, and that with 4+ you bid'em. This is certainly contrary to my understanding (and previous BBF threads IIRC) - that a negative double SHOWS 4 and bidding shows 5 - but I am informed that some local experts play like this. Is there a name for this method? A reason?

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Justin.

[cherdano]

1. Bidding 1♥ on these auctions shows 4 cards, not 5. A negative double over 1♣ (1♦) promises both majors. (This isn't absolutely universal, but seems to be a big consensus.)

2. To me, support doubles apply whenever responder has shown a 4-card suit at the one-level, and the opponents bid a suit (not NT, a double of 1NT is still penalty) below the two-level of that suit. I am not sure there is a consensus whether it should apply when partner has shown a 5+card suit, as in the standard auction 1♣ (1♥) 1♠ (2♥).

3. Many players agree to have a bid after 1m (1♥) that shows a takeout double or a balanced hand with neither 4 spades, nor a heart stopper. Otherwise, many hands are somewhat unbiddable (e.g. Kxx xx Axxxx Qxx after 1♣ (1♥) ). Most common is to play X as 4+ spades and 1♠ as <4 spades, no good heart stopper, no good biddable minor suit.

[Guest Jlall]

Bid pass Bid bid X as you noted, or bid bid bid bid X. I would recommend not playing it over 1N bids by 4th hand but you have to discuss it. Basically what 2nd hand did has no relevance on whether or not supp Xs are on.

 

Over 1C 1D you bid 4 card majors, a negative X shows 4-4 majors. So 1H in that auction shows 4. Supp Xs are still good if you have shown 5 though, you can distinguish between 3 and 4 still.

 

Over 1C 1H X=4 and 1S=5+ is common, but a lot of people now play X denies 4 spades (or the reverse). This is to handle problem hands like Qx xxx Kxxxx Kxx etc that have no good bid over 1H, and is certainly a reasonable way to play.

[cherdano]

Ok this time I beat you.

[pclayton]

In a pickup partnership, all of these are support.

[bhall]

What they said.

 

But beware: You and your partner should agree on which other actions by opener DENY holding 3 bananas. Many play that the simple rebids, such as 1N and two of opener's suit, deny. Almost all play that pass denies. Regarding stronger rebids, such as opener jumping in his own suit, or jumping to 2N, there appears to be substantial disagreement.

 

The other issue to discuss is whether you may raise on 3 bananas with a ruff in the opponent's suit and a top banana :rolleyes: If you are comfortable playing 4-3 fits of this stripe, it is often the best competitive move.

[Cascade]

Never :)

[helene_t]

The general advice is that they apply as long as we are under the 2-level of responder's suit. Responder's suit can be indicated by a negative double instead of a natural bid, for example

1♣-(1♠)-x-(2♦)

x*

shows a 3-card hearts.

 

Maybe they should not apply if responder has shown a 5-card spades but by default they do, I think. Discuss.

 

Above the 2-level of responder's suit dbl shows values and is t/o. It will usually include 3-card support.

 

I would not play them against a 1NT overcall or a bid in one of our suits. I saw in an article about the issue that they should apply against such bids if they are artificial but not if they are natural. I prefer to avoid such agreements because they get mudded up when opps have forgotten their agreements or play some quasi-natural method.

[whereagles]

I stopped using support doubles and started supporting with 3 cards only.... it's much easier on your nerves, trust me.