Do you double 4th suit?

[Walddk]

Do you double 4th suit as lead directing? My advice is that you don't, unless you do NOT want a lead in that suit!

 

In another thread I recommend that you don't double cue bids, because it will help the opponents more often than it helps partner. I claim that the same goes for 4th suit. It gives the opponents more bidding room.

 

Let me introduce the Manco convention:

 

If they double 4th suit, you have the following options:

 

Redouble: xx or xxx *)

 

Pass: One or half a stopper (Qx or Jxx). Redouble by partner will now ask which.

 

NT: Double-stopper.

 

Any suit (natural): Singleton in 4th suit.

 

*) If you have xxxx you may treat it as 3 small or half a stopper as you please.

 

Do you agree that your double will help the other side? If you do, you obviously should reverse the meaning of pass and double. Double when you DON'T want 4th suit led, and PASS if you do.

 

Your double in this context won't help them, because they are likely to have plenty of stops anyway. Your pass doesn't give them the extra bidding room they may be dying for.

 

The same applies if they cue bid the suit you overcall (heading for NT). Double when you have no help for partner, and pass if you don't mind or even want him to lead the suit. As to overcaller: Double when an alternative lead is an option, pass if your suit is a good one.

 

Roland

[Free]

I completely agree with the cuebids in our suit: it doesn't give extra room away, and it's safe to double with a weak suit. However, can't Dbl on 4th suit GF be dangerous? Especially at 2-level?

[Walddk]

However, can't Dbl on 4th suit GF be dangerous? Especially at 2-level?

I suppose it can (life is dangerous, you can die from it), but during my 40 years of tournament bridge I haven't been trapped (2any doubled or redoubled). The reason is quite obvious. Opener rarely has the suit, since he has shown 2 suits already, and if responder has it, he would normally bid NT rather than 4th suit.

 

Roland