The Art Of The Penalty Double

[gurgistan]

Somebody overbids and I penalty double them. We set them. We earn IMPs. However, it feels strangely unsatisfying. After all, if they hadn't overbid, there would be nothing to penalize.

 

However, here are two recent doubles that gave me some satisfaction.

 

Hand 1: bidding went LHO opening 1♣/♦, Partner 2♥, RHO 3N, I double.

 

I had ♥Axx and outside honours in all the suits and figured that I win the first round of ♥ and then maybe partner wins 2nd round or not but either way I get to lead a 3rd ♥ to him when I win in one of my other suits.

 

Hand 2: bidding went me 1♣, LHO X, Partner 1♠, RHO 3N, I double.

 

I simply figured that opponents did not have 25hcp for 3N. I had 13hcp and partner is showing 6-9hcp.

 

I set opponents in both hands and was pleased with getting to the penalty double.

 

So, tell me, is there an art to the penalty double?

[Bbradley62]

How is Hand 2 different than: "Somebody overbids and I penalty double them. We set them. We earn IMPs. However, it feels strangely unsatisfying. After all, if they hadn't overbid, there would be nothing to penalize."?

[han]

Easy now Bradley, you are talking to an artist.

[Phil]

Somebody overbids and I penalty double them. We set them. We earn IMPs. However, it feels strangely unsatisfying.

 

Try tearing out their fingernails with your teeth after the hand is over.

 

I find this to be very satisfying.

[han]

I've been rewarding a select group of posters with absurd responses for many years. Clayton is now on my team.

[ArtK78]

I think Ozzie Jacoby made the most artistic penalty "double" of all time.

 

Late in a National KO match in which Ozzie's team was trailing, but gaining, his opponents put together a very complex auction. LHO bid 6♣, a cue bid, and RHO, apparently very confused, passed! Ozzie, about 80 years old at the time, stood up on his chair and yelled "PASS!"

 

This standing penalty pass was far more artistic than either of the two examples given in the OP.

[awm]

When playing against good opponents, you will find that doubling them in game because you (or your side) have a lot of high card points is very frequently wrong. If they are bidding 3NT on 20 hcp they will have a reason (often a running suit) and may well make it. Even if they don't make it, you usually get a great score for setting them and the double won't add much.

 

The time to double is when you have a "surprise" for the opponents -- something they didn't know about in the bidding. Usually this involves a really bad trump break for them, or that you have a strong holding behind the suit they hope to run in notrump. Sometimes you also want to double to alert partner to make a different sort of lead than he would ordinarily find.