Jump to content

Doubles


Free

What's the meaning of the last Double?  

26 members have voted

  1. 1. What's the meaning of the last Double?

    • Penalty
      16
    • Takeout
      7
    • Other (plz explain)
      3


Recommended Posts

Might one respond to a question with a question? ( "NO!" )

 

How much of the meaning of the second double would be influenced by whether or not the opps are playing pre-emptive jump-overcalls? If they are, then something doesn't quite add up. Given the bidding so far, is it possible for opener to have a relatively strong 17-18 balanced or semibalanced hand that is too good to pass 2S, and can tolerate it if P now bids a 5-card suit or has spades and can convert. If not, would the doubler have hit 1NT with good spades and an almost solid club suit (5 or 6) and entries, relying on the neg Xer to cover the red suits? Curious to hear opinions, because I think this helps determine the meaning of the second double.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Consider the following bidding (playing ACOL):

 

1 - 1 - Dbl - 1NT

Dbl - 2 - pass - pass

Dbl?

 

Do you consider this Double penalty or takeout?

 

Should be penalty

 

Quick question for anyone suggesting that Double is for takeout:

 

What would 2NT show in this auction?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Perhaps also important is the meaning of the first double. If you play the first one as support (as I do) then it makes sense to play the second double as take-out (as I would). If you pllay the first double as strong without support (as you might playing a weak notrump in ACOL) then you might want to play this as penalty (QJ108 Kx AQx KQ10x would certainly do, even in front of the spade bidder)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think double is 'optional' .. ie suggesting we defend but leaving the final decision to p. His bidding so far suggests a min neg double (8+hcp) with red cards. Surely the X of 1nt suggests no great red-suit fit but enough HCP to expect to beat 1nt.. our fit hasnt improved since then so primary interest must be penalty.

Rgds, Dog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think double is 'optional' .. ie suggesting we defend but leaving the final decision to p. His bidding so far suggests a min neg double (8+hcp) with red cards. Surely the X of 1nt suggests no great red-suit fit but enough HCP to expect to beat 1nt.. our fit hasnt improved since then so primary interest must be penalty.

Rgds, Dog

I tend to agree with this. Double for me is penalty oriented but pass is not mandatory.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think double is 'optional' .. ie suggesting we defend but leaving the final decision to p. His bidding so far suggests a min neg double (8+hcp) with red cards. Surely the X of 1nt suggests no great red-suit fit but enough HCP to expect to beat 1nt.. our fit hasnt improved since then so primary interest must be penalty.

Rgds, Dog

Also agree with Dog and others. This is strongly penalty oriented !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Acol Bidding was

 

1♣ - 1♠ - Dbl - 1NT

Dbl - 2♠ - pass - pass

Dbl?

 

As a BILlie I would look at the situation this way What has opener got and what hasn't he got :) ?

 

If he has a balanced hand then he is 15+ and is 4-x-x-4 shape as he didn't open 1NT and did not support s or 's after the sputnik double and hasn't made a game NT try with a cue-bid etc.

 

If he is unbalanced then he must be 5-x-x-4 shape or more shapely with a nice hand to double NT and then 's.

 

For the double over 1NT I would strongly suspect 17+ points and so I would take the last double as a penalty.

 

The overcaller may have only 5's and his partner 0-2 (he did'nt pre-emptively raise the suit over the double as what would you have done with this hand?

 

[hv=s=skqjxxhxxdkxcxxx]133|100|[/hv] over 1NTx?

 

Feel free to point out the flaws in my thinking :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The overcaller may have only 5's and his partner 0-2 (he did'nt pre-emptively raise the suit over the double as what would you have done with this hand?

 

Dealer: ?????
Vul: ????
Scoring: Unknown
KQJxx
xx
Kx
xxx
 
over 1NTx?

Not for me, the overcaller must have 6 to rebid the suit !

 

Over 1NTx, I would pass as I've already shown what I have and it was up to partner to bid 1NT with something consistent ! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In my opinion the final double is cooperative and more often than not it will show a balanced 18-19 hand.

(However, I am not knowledgeable in Acol, so this might be different)

 

Assuming this is true , responder should leave the double in unless his hand is quite distributional.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you play the first one as support (as I do) then it makes sense to play the second double as take-out (as I would).

Responder did not show a suit, but he doubled (negative I suppose).

 

Do you use support doubles opposite pard's negative double ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think double here should be strong balanced. Responder can do whatever he likes opposite a (presumed) 18-19 balanced hand. Playing horrible disgusting weak no trump I suppose this could have a good 16-17 count as well, which is another reason why I don't play it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is no reason why the 2nd double should not be penalty. How on earth do you whack them off? Very likely that opener has 4 good spades and they are in a misfit. AQJx, Kx, Axx, KQxx would certainly qualify.

 

I am aware about the general rule that some pairs play "all doubles below 2S as TO", but this is just common sense. And Ron's point is valid, once we make a penalty x, all subsequent dbls are penalty.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you play the first one as support (as I do) then it makes sense to play the second double as take-out (as I would).

Responder did not show a suit, but he doubled (negative I suppose).

 

Do you use support doubles opposite pard's negative double ?

Yes I do play support doubles over negative doubles. Partner's negative double shows 4+ hearts, so why shouldn't I want to show 3-card support. A more relevant question is perhaps whether one wouldn't need this double to be penalty. I don't play it that way (for example, 1C-1H-(1NT)-Dbl would be support).

 

I agree that if the first double is panalty, then the first double should also be penalty. I play all doubles below game as take-out, unless in some obvious situations (e.g. partner has preempted, they are running or they make a 2-suited overcall).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Takeout, takeout, why don't just "out"? :)

 

1st: "takeout"

2nd: "this hand belongs to us"

3rd: "You are out of your mind"

 

IMHO:

1. Double usually means hard to find a natural alternative.

2. Double also means you are happy if partner decide to leave it in.

The more you double and the higher the level is, the more your parnter

should think of passing the double.

3 The following double is penalty in principle.

(1) If partner has preempted.

(2) We have already converted a takeout double into penalty.

(3) The double of a suit in which, one of us showed 5+ cards.

(4) We have already made a penalty double.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...