What is a "Half Double" stopper?

[imaquila]

Hoping someone can explain the various types of "stoppers".

[HighLow21]

Hoping someone can explain the various types of "stoppers".

Where did you hear this term? It is new to me. A double stopper is something like AKx (or even AQx in declarer's hand), and a half-stopper is a holding that by itself is not a stopper but, when combined with partner's holding, is a stopper. Best example is Jxx opposite Qx.

 

Using inference I woudl think a "half-double stopper" is one of two things:

1. A holding that will be a single stopper always and a double stopper half the time. Something like AQx in dummy opposite xx.

2. A holding that will be a by itself will not stop the suit necessarily once but, facing another similar holding, is guaranteed to stop it twice. Something like JTxx in dummy opposite Q9x. (Neither holding, opposite xx, is even a full stopper, but combined it is a guaranteed double stop.)

 

Hope this helps.

[Cyberyeti]

Don't know the term but something like AJx over a bid suit could also apply.

[Endymion77]

AJ9 or KQx is what comes to mind but "half double" really sounds stupid, isn't "half double" = "single"?

[campboy]

If what is meant is "between a stopper and a double stopper", I would go for the term "sesqui-stopper".

[gwnn]

I've heard "a stopper and a half" before I think.

[Zelandakh]

If what is meant is "between a stopper and a double stopper", I would go for the term "sesqui-stopper".

Most books go with the term "one and a half stoppers", which used to be the standard for a 1NT overcall once upon a time. But throwing a bit of latin around is always good for impressing folks so let's work on making your term a keeper.

[imaquila]

Thanks for all the input. I've seen the term used in Bridge Baron. (Although since no one here has heard of it I'll need to watch more closely to verify that I haven't mangled it). I DO know that what ever the term was it did not make sense to me. I was used in explaining hand evaluations (Before I can see partner's hand) so I suspect that Cyberyeti may have it figured out. I peek a lot at hand evaluations to get a better sense of what to look for when deciding on a bid. It is NOT by mistake that I'm posting here in the Beginning/Novice forum. I understand simple stoppers like A and Kx but I still count AJx as 1 stopper. Is there an article somewhere here that explains how the Js are counted as stoppers?

 

Thanks again for all the various insights. Oh and I agree that "half double" sounds like a single!

[spaderaise]

Thanks for all the input. I've seen the term used in Bridge Baron. (Although since no one here has heard of it I'll need to watch more closely to verify that I haven't mangled it). I DO know that what ever the term was it did not make sense to me. I was used in explaining hand evaluations (Before I can see partner's hand) so I suspect that Cyberyeti may have it figured out. I peek a lot at hand evaluations to get a better sense of what to look for when deciding on a bid. It is NOT by mistake that I'm posting here in the Beginning/Novice forum. I understand simple stoppers like A and Kx but I still count AJx as 1 stopper. Is there an article somewhere here that explains how the Js are counted as stoppers?

 

Thanks again for all the various insights. Oh and I agree that "half double" sounds like a single!

 

I also have Bridge Baron, on my iphone, and I haven't seen the phrase "Half double stopper" in that version, but it does use the phrase "Half or double stopper", which is still fairly odd. But then its explanations of bids are often risibly bad. It seems to have a very limited language in which to explain meanings. For example, a Michaels overcall (1H) 2H will be explained merely as "5+ spades"; apparently the "5+ diamonds or 5+ clubs" information is simply too complicated to convey.