Opponents Lead-Directing Doubles of Stayman and Transfers

[AAr]

My observations lately have been this:

 

Normally, thin games in the GIB MP and IMP tourneys seem to usually make (at least if you play well). However, if you use Stayman and Transfers and the GIB opponents double for the lead, it seems to pay off to just settle for the partscore (even if points-wise, game is a favorite), as they often make the lead, hit the Ace, then return the lead for a ruff (or another trick), and the trumps and other key suits also seem to break badly often.

 

It seems like thin games usually make when there is no interfearance, but when the opponents double Stayman and Transfers for leads, you're lucky that a partscore makes (and obviously, esp in MPs, going one down in partscore beats going three down in game.

 

So, it is true to be more conservative in game bidding when the opponents double conventional bids for leads?

 

Thanks!

[Stephen Tu]

Certainly for borderline situations an opp's action can swing you one way or the other. GIB North may not properly reevaluate lower honors in the suit that GIB doubled, so maybe as South you can be slightly conservative, especially with something like xxx in the doubled suit. Don't go overboard on this though. Post some hands. It may be you just need sharper declarer play to make!

[barmar]

It's hard to write detailed rules for cases like this. In cases where the bidding rules allow simulations, the double should help it judge what to do. But some rules can't be overridden by sims, and I think it would be hard to find all of them and adjust them to cater to opponents doubling.