Improvers Week 15 The Use of Doubles (Part 2)

Doubles Last Week Last Week TOX TOX Negative Doubles Negative Doubles This Week This Week Protective/Balancing Doubles Protective/Balancing Doubles Lead Directing Doubles Lead Directing Doubles Doubles over NT bids Doubles over NT bids Lightner Doubles Lightner Doubles Penalty Doubles Penalty Doubles

Protective or Balancing Doubles Same thing – 2 names Same thing – 2 names A form of TOX A form of TOX Leaving opponents in 2 of an agreed suit is a losing strategy Leaving opponents in 2 of an agreed suit is a losing strategy Especially a major Especially a major They usually make it They usually make it Often you have as many points and a fit Often you have as many points and a fit If you pass in 4 th seat it will be their contract If you pass in 4 th seat it will be their contract But your hand does not fit the usual TOX requirements But your hand does not fit the usual TOX requirements We make a protective double We make a protective double

Protective Double Example The bidding goes: The bidding goes: 1 P 2 1  P 2  P P ? P P ? If you Pass now they play the contract If you Pass now they play the contract You have 10 HCP LTC 9½ You have 10 HCP LTC 9½ What do you bid? What do you bid? * Protective so they have to go to 3 for the contract Protective so they have to go to 3 for the contract Pass whatever partner bids Pass whatever partner bids Almost certainly one of the majors Almost certainly one of the majors KK 77 AA JJ 66 TT 55 99 Q 8 3 33 33

Protective Doubles Natural TOX not alertable Natural TOX not alertable Just to push opponents up a bit Just to push opponents up a bit If you play you make it half the time If you play you make it half the time The other half go 1 off The other half go 1 off Better than them making a part score Better than them making a part score Beware known under-bidders Beware known under-bidders Let them play Let them play If partner makes a protective double bid your longest suit and never go on unless partner makes a strong bid If partner makes a protective double bid your longest suit and never go on unless partner makes a strong bid Do NOT punish partner for competing Do NOT punish partner for competing

Lead Directing Doubles RHO makes a bid RHO makes a bid And it is a conventional bid And it is a conventional bid E.G. 1NT P 2 announced as ‘s E.G. 1NT P 2 announced as  ‘s You have good ‘s You have good ‘s And would like partner to know that you would like them led And would like partner to know that you would like them led Double the 2 bid Double the 2 bid Partner alerts as a lead directing double Partner alerts as a lead directing double Cannot be TOX – partner would not know which suits you mean Cannot be TOX – partner would not know which suits you mean

Lead Directing Doubles Very straightforward Very straightforward Just says “Please lead this suit” Just says “Please lead this suit” A safe bid A safe bid Opponents must bid again Opponents must bid again You have made life easier for partner You have made life easier for partner Who never seems to lead your suit! Who never seems to lead your suit! Now there’s no excuse Now there’s no excuse

Lead Directing * - example 1 LHO opens 1NT LHO opens 1NT Partner Passes Partner Passes RHO bids 2 announced as ‘s RHO bids 2  announced as ‘s You * You * Partner will lead a Partner will lead a  Which should also signal what to lead back! Which should also signal what to lead back! <6 for low suit <6 for low suit >6 for high suit >6 for high suit 77 AA JJ 66 TT KK 99 8 3 TT 33 22 2

Lead Directing * - example 2 The bidding goes: The bidding goes: 2 P 3 P 2  P 3  P 3 P 4 P 3  P 4  P 4NT P 5 ? 4NT P 5  ? 4NT is RKCB 4NT is RKCB 5 shows 3 or 0 key cards 5  shows 3 or 0 key cards What do you bid? What do you bid? * Lead directing * Lead directing They must bid again They must bid again 77 JJ AA 66 QQ TT J T 66 33 6 33 2

Lead Directing Doubles Very easy to tell partner which suit to lead Very easy to tell partner which suit to lead Do NOT do a lead directing * if they have bid this suit naturally Do NOT do a lead directing * if they have bid this suit naturally Because they might Pass Because they might Pass Any double of a conventional bid is lead directing and should be alerted if below 3NT Any double of a conventional bid is lead directing and should be alerted if below 3NT

Doubles of NT Bids All doubles of NT bids are for penalties All doubles of NT bids are for penalties Considered the norm and does not need alerting Considered the norm and does not need alerting With 16+ HCP you should always double a 1NT bid for penalties With 16+ HCP you should always double a 1NT bid for penalties In 4 th seat after 1NT P P you should double with 14+ HCP In 4 th seat after 1NT P P you should double with 14+ HCP

Doubling NT Bids – example 1 RHO opens 1NT RHO opens 1NT You have 17 HCP You have 17 HCP You should * for penalties You should * for penalties Not bid 2 Not bid 2  More profitable if they play and go off More profitable if they play and go off AA KK KK QQ 77 99 A T 6 JJ 99 33 22

Doubling NT Bids – example 2 LHO opens 1NT LHO opens 1NT Partner and RHO Pass Partner and RHO Pass You have 15 HCP You have 15 HCP You should * for penalties You should * for penalties If you Pass they get the contract when your side may have more strength If you Pass they get the contract when your side may have more strength 1 or 2 off may be a good result for them 1 or 2 off may be a good result for them KK KK QQ QQ 99 A T 6 JJ 99 33 66 22

Doubles over 1NT If your partner doubles 1NT If your partner doubles 1NT You should only bid a suit if very weak (<6 HCP) You should only bid a suit if very weak (<6 HCP) Any suit bid shows a weak hand Any suit bid shows a weak hand NB If your side doubles a suit bid after already doubling a NT bid that is also for penalties. NB If your side doubles a suit bid after already doubling a NT bid that is also for penalties.

Lightner Doubles A special double against slam bids A special double against slam bids When partner is on lead When partner is on lead Says “Lead an unusual suit” Says “Lead an unusual suit” Usually first bid by opponents Usually first bid by opponents

Lightner Double – example The bidding goes: The bidding goes: P 1 P 3 P 1 P 3  P 3 P 4NT P 3  P 4NT P 5 P 6 P 5 P 6  ? They stopped in 6 so partner may have an Ace They stopped in 6 so partner may have an Ace If you can get a ruff they go 1 off If you can get a ruff they go 1 off So * for an unusual lead So * for an unusual lead Tells partner to lead a Tells partner to lead a 88 88 TT 66 66 77 22 55 33 55 44 22 22

Penalty Doubles The Doubles we have looked at are mainly used where we would not expect to make a penalty double The Doubles we have looked at are mainly used where we would not expect to make a penalty double We can still double for penalty: We can still double for penalty: Over NT contracts Over NT contracts When opponents over-reach to game When opponents over-reach to game 5 level contracts – especially if opponents are sacrificing 5 level contracts – especially if opponents are sacrificing 3 level contracts when you have pushed them too far 3 level contracts when you have pushed them too far

Doubles We have looked at a number of types We have looked at a number of types You should use You should use TOX TOX Negative Negative Lead Directing Lead Directing It would be good to use It would be good to use Protective/Balancing Protective/Balancing Perhaps a step too far Perhaps a step too far Lightner Lightner