Negative Double

[paulsim]

Hi all

 

[hv=pc=n&s=skq32hk32dk32c974&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1d2cdp2hp]133|200[/hv]

 

If everything is right so far, What do you bid?

 

a.- Opener would answere 2♥ if 4/4 in the majors? right?

b.- Game is still posible, right?

c.- Spade fit is still posible, right?

d. 3♣ would be overbidding, right?

 

 

 

Thanks a lot

Kind Regards

 

Paul_S

[DavidKok]

The 1♦-(2♣) and 1♦-(P)-2♣ auctions are impossible. It is difficult to get anything right after that start and people usually do not. These two auctions are at the top of my list of places to play artificial rebids, especially if 1♦ can be balanced.

 

The answer to each of your questions is 'yes'. Some people will forbid 2♥ with an unbalanced hand on this auction (in which case partner is limited to 12-14 and game is remote), so beware.

[mikeh]

The good news, of which there isn’t much, is that partner rates to be relatively short in clubs…but this is far from certain. If so, then partner may hold 5 diamonds or may hold 4S as well as 4 hearts.

 

I agree with David as to the hideous nature of these auctions.

 

One ‘solution’ is to pass 2C and thus isn’t as bad an idea as you may think, although it’s system dependent to a degree.

 

Partner should strain to reopen (of course, if you hesitate over 2C and then pass you have created an ethical problem that will often come back to bite, so develop the habit of acting in tempo…it’s often better to make the second best call in tempo than the best after hesitating).

 

If he passes 2C then you’ve almost certainly missed nothing and may well be better off than anything that might happen over double. This is especially so if you play 15-17 1N, such that partner, if he passes, will not only have club length but also likely fewer than 15 hcp.

 

If you pass then hear double, bid 3C then, if need be, 3S. Note that if he reopens, your hand is stronger than you originally think since all your hcp will be working opposite an opener with at most Jx in clubs.

 

Meanwhile, back to the actual auction. I’d bid 3D now. Denies hearts so Implies spades. If you’re in a 4-3 fit at the 3 level rather than the 2 level, too bad.

[helene_t]

I think 3♦ is ok here. Partner will correct to spades if they have 4-4 in the majors, and if they don't have four spades there's a good chance they have five diamonds, or maybe they will bid 3NT with 14 points and a club stopper.

 

Of course, pass is also an option.

 

I don't think that 2♠ is an option here unless you have discussed with partner that it just shows 4 spades (which would be problematic if a direct 2♠ would be forcing as you need some way to bid 8-9 points with 5-6 spades).

[apollo1201]

Using a neg X in the 1D-(2C) sequence strongly implies that you can handle « all » answers, especially when you are at most invitational. That is why, although less preemptive than a 2M overcall, it is harder to defend, after all, 2 major strains are now possible.

 

In those cases you should strive to have one of the following type of hands, where a back-up is available in case partner (as always😇😇) picks the wrong M:

- 44 M at least, or 43 M if partner handles well the 43 fits

- a 5-cd S suit that you can try to rebid in a NF way over 2D or 2H (but with 5H it is too risky if partner bids 2S)

- have D support (4 cards) - if partner has no M, they have at least 4D

- have a C stop to bid 2N

 

Without backup, it is often better to pass with weak-ish (8-10) hands, as GF hands will just cue bid or bid 3NT if not interested by partner’s rebid. Those weakish hands will often have some C length which makes a reopening by partner more likely. For instance, a 9-count 4234 should pass in tempo. But 3523, 5233 or 4243 can try something.

 

Here, you had 11 and no points in C so passing 2C was hard even without proper back up. But that could be the winning call, opps go down while you struggle in a 43 fit at the 2 or 3 level if you say sth other than pass, when partner cant reopen.

 

For this reason, passing 2H could be the winning call as well, but there is probably more to gain than to lose going back to 3D: it could be a safer spot with a real fit, partner might correct to S with their 4432 hand, or less likely bid 3NT.

 

2S suggesting 5-cd and less points, and 3C with insufficient values, or 2NT w/o stopper and wrong siding the hand are not for me.

 

A former poster (Nigel, RIP) used to rank so I’ll pay a homage to him, ranking:

3D 10

Pass 7

3C 5 (at IMPs)

2S 4

2NT 1

[paulsim]

Thanky very much, not only for ansewere but for a complete meaningfull explanion.

 

It helps a lot that kind of rwsponses.

 

Thank you all