double/undouble

[goodwintr]

Maybe this has been taken up elsewhere - if so, I haven't seen it. So, the opponents are on their way to six or seven hearts, with hearts bid first on your left. At some point RHO cue-bids six diamonds. You double for a diamond lead. They settle in six hearts, and you double again. You will recognize the situation from the Bermuda Bowl finals, where both players faced with this situation doubled 6D and then doubled 6H, and where in both cases this attracted a lead in . . . clubs! The diamond lead was needed to defeat six hearts.

 

The opening leaders seem to have believed that the double of six hearts "cancelled" the double of six diamonds and suggested another lead. The argument, I guess, is that if you just wanted a diamond lead you would double six diamonds and pass six hearts.

 

Well, can anybody come up with a hand where it is a good idea to double six diamonds for a diamond lead, and then double six hearts for something else?

[Trinidad]

I have been thinking about this a little bit after the BB board. The situation was:

 

We bid ♠, they went for a ♥ slam. They cuebid 5♦ and then bid 6♥.

 

There are four possible situations:

 

We pass both times

We double 5♦ and pass

We pass 5♦ and double

We double both times

 

Since there are four suits to lead, it seems like you can tell partner exactly which one it should be. But it isn't that easy, since you also need: "No opinion / I don't know".

 

My conclusion was:

- Passing both times means: "No opinion" ("lead trumps, or our suit, or whatever you think is best, partner")

 

- Doubling 5♦ means: "Lead diamonds partner!"

 

- Passing 5♦ and then doubling means: "Don't lead our suit or trumps and don't lead diamonds (otherwise I would have doubled 5♦). Therefore, lead clubs." (A true Lightner double)

 

Then there is a difference between doubling 5♦ followed by pass and doubling 5♦ followed by a double. This difference is simple: You have already told partner what to lead. Why would the last double be a Lightner situation?

 

Pass means: A diamond lead is our best chance to beat it, but that doesn't mean that I am sure that it will go down.

Double means: "Lead a diamond, start writing the '+' and the '00' on the score sheet, leave enough room for two digits in between." (The possible alternative being: "I want to double for penalties since this is going down a lot, but I don't want you to lead clubs.")

 

Rik

[MFA]

A problem with all this is that an early double might help their evaluation. Therefore the agreements should cater to the fact that we don't always want to reveal a nasty surprise early in the bidding in an honest way. Double then double to say that we have changed our mind is very reasonable imo.

 

---

 

Recently I had 6340 and the bidding went

 

(1♥) - pass - (2NT fit) 4♠ from me,

(4NT) - pass - (5♣)

 

Thinking a double might make them stop, I decided to pass and then double 6♥. Only to see my partner lead a diamond from length in both minors (but it went off anyway:)).

 

I was probably being too 'technical' there, but the above point is important I think.

[WesleyC]

It's comforting to see a deal where a bunch of the worlds best got it wrong for a change!

 

One issue that hasn't been mentioned is that N/S (the slam bidders) were at favourable vulnerability. Particularly at these colours, E/W need to have some way to say "actually this really is our deal - the opponents are just messing around with their 'slam' sequence". For me doubling 5D and then doubling 6H sends that message.

 

Consequently, doubling 5D and then passing 6H can't really be anything other than asking for a diamond lead.