“Double“ bid in the game of bridge can have several meanings . The earliest
meaning attached to this bid was challenging the opponents and giving warning for
their likely defeat . Redouble bid was
accepting the challenge and indicating “I
don’t care for your challenge.” The double call was always considered for
penalty and was called “Penalty double”.
As the game
advanced Over a period of time , different
meanings were attached to “Double” bids ; however penalty
double meaning is still part of
the every pairs’ conventions . The
primary objective of the double call is to score more points in the event opponents get defeated .Soon
there was realization that doubling at the lower levels of the contract is not
much lucrative in comparison with the likely loss if opponents succeed. Another
observation was doubling at the lower level
gave opportunity to opponents to
land in the correct contract. As a
result people started avoiding doubling
at lower level of the contracts and
the available space for communication remained grossly under utilized.
At the same time there were several hands which were difficult to open after the opening bid of the
opponent .If such hands were opened as per agreed understanding of the
partnership in those days , they used to convey wrong meaning. Even bidding pass with a strong hand also led to communicating wrong information. This was the time when “Take
out double” convention was invented
and employed by some
bridge lovers .
Initially Doubling
the opponent at 1 level was named Take out Double . The simple meaning of double after the
opponent opens his hand was
“look
Partner I have sufficient strength but I
have difficulty in bidding any suit or bidding No trump over opponent’s
call….please bid your longest unbidden suit irrespective of your strength if the next person passes.”
Soon this "Take out double" became very popular
and today it is adopted by almost all pairs.
Take out
double concept was modified by bridge
enthusiasts and these days most pairs consider “ double” bid after opponent opens at 1
level or 2 level or 3 level as “Take out double” and there are variations in the meanings of doubling at 4 level .Some pairs use double on 4 level opening bid as a penalty
double while some other pairs
consider double to even 4 level
as “ Take out double” depending
on vulnerability . Doubling the contract at 4 or more level is considered as
Penalty Double by almost all pairs . As the new systems and conventions in bridge game developed meaning
attached to “ Double “Bid also
started changing in different situations and each double is described with
different names Following are the
different “Double” bids about which one should know.
1
Take
out double
2
Negative
double
3
Penalty
double
4
Reopening
double
5
Lead
directing double
We will discuss about each of the above double but before that one would like to put down the intent of this article. The objective of writing on Double
conventions is not to teach anyone but is to bring structured awareness among the bridge players about
various double ,redouble and cue bids . These bids are more liberally used post nineties
as conventions have
gained huge popularity and the
style of the Bridge playing has also changed. The discussions on different “Double”
will help reader in enjoying the game ,
while playing it only
for fun and at the same time maintain the
dignity of the game. It could be particularly
useful to most people who have started playing the
game in late seventies or eighties and still going
to play the game for many more years!.
As mentioned the style of the game
has changed rapidly in the last 15 years and in general some conventions have
become more complex . In good old days minimum 4 persons were required at the same
location to play bridge and generally people used to play this game only with their
regular partners (or used to give long lectures before(and also after) making
someone their partner . These days , however with the advancement of Internet
technology bridge is played from home not only with unknown opponents but
also with unknown partners ! It is therefore necessary to know the commonly
used conventions for the people in the age group of 50 to 70 who played with
old if not outdated systems.
Bridge is a
serious fun and if the seriousness is lost there cannot be fun . At the same
time no
old person has time or will to
take lecture from unknown persons who are self proclaimed
experts. It is however ; important to accept (or at least understand) common system
which is adopted by large
number of people who prefer to play on
the Internet and prefer to play bridge for Fun only .
Since most such people
use SAYC (standard American Yellow card System) , understanding the conventions used in SAYC is important for the people who love to
play bridge . Apart from the fact the game is
on the internet even other wise It is important for all old bridge players to know about “ Negative double “ ,Reopening double ,
lead directing double because sooner or later these conventions may also become standard
or integral part of any
system like “Take out double” ,Blackwood and “Penalty double” and other conventions.
There is
however absolutely no need to think that new generation is far more superior and quit playing on the internet. The regular
partners attach too much importance to
constructive bidding and spend their more
energy
and time in correcting /modifying /learning new conventions but in competitive bidding they
themselves have less clarity and their
focus on other two areas is less .As you know in Bridge a pair must be good in all 3 important areas namely
1 Bidding on a given deal
2 Conduction of the Deal if
the contract is
won and
3 Defending the contract
4 won by opponents
The complex and artificial
conventions used by pairs more often create confusion and trouble than getting any significant advantage. But these
enthusiast loose not because of any
deficiency in their bidding system or misunderstanding with partner but because
of their inability to do well in other two areas ;conduction and Defense. For
enjoying bridge more it will be great if
more time and energy is
devoted in improving conduction and defense instead on bidding
.One must not forget that the secret of
7 times world champion Charles
Goren was in his excellent card handling skill in and
not in the system of bidding he himself devised
or conventions he used. He strongly recommended
to keep bidding conventions as natural
and simple as possible and play bridge for fun and for no other reason.
Readers
therefore have choice whether to read further or have more faith in their own
card handling skill nevertheless bidding
is the base and no matter how good you
are in card handling; succeeding in
wrong contract is next to impossible .While playing with unknown or not much known players ,during the auction
using
your common sense is the
most powerful and rewarding tool.
Rest
of the article now discusses about various doubles mentioned above.
Take Out double
This was briefly discussed earlier and further modifications / variations are done .Readers need
not include those in their conventions unless partner is known and ready
for it . The simple meaning attached to Take out double is good enough while
playing with unknown partners.
When your RHO has bided “ Take out double “ you get additional bid of Re-double which
otherwise was not available to you.
·
Bidding a new suit at the 1 level over an
opponent’s take out double is forcing though it promises minimum only 6 points
for such action.
·
With most hands containing 10 to 12 High card
points(HCP), on the RHO’s double you must redouble however failure to redouble does not indicate less
than 10HCPs. Redouble shows preference for doubling opponent’s contract however
if the hand is such that you are not interested in defending then redouble
should be avoided.
·
A
new suit at 2 level after opponent’s takeout double is non forcing
Negative double
When your
partner opens the hand and RHO(right hand opponent)overcalls , a door which
gives additional space for communication is opened. If RHO would have passed
you could not have doubled (nor you could have Cue bidded)Now you can double
the opponent’s overcall. This double is called negative double. In SAYC such
double at 1 level indicates minimum 6 total counts and of such double is at two
level it indicates minimum 8 counts.
Below are
some salient points which will help in
deciding when to use negative double .
·
In
SAYC such double at 1 level indicates minimum 6 total counts and if such double
is at two level it indicates minimum 8 counts.
1H opening by P and 1S by RHO then your double will indicate 6 total
points , however if P bids 1S and RHO bids 2Hearts then the double will
indicate minimum 8 total points
·
Negative
double also indicates minimum 4 cards of all un bided major suits.
1C of partner
followed by 1D or 1H or 1S of
opponent if negative double is bided then
on 1D , double will indicate
4cards in spade and Hearts .On RHO’s 1H , double will indicate 4 cards of only spade and on 1S it indicates 4 cards of Hearts. In each such
negative double minimum total points must be 6
·
If
both the major suits are bided then negative double indicates minimum 4 cards
in each of the minor suit.
Partner opens 1H followed
by 1S and if you bid double it will indicate 4 cards in both minor suits. It is
preferable to bid negative double instead of showing 4carded minor suit
·
The
negative double is forcing for the partner if LHO passes.
·
If
the hand is appropriate for bidding a new major suit at the two or higher level
one should do so in preference to bidding negative double.
·
After
the 1C opening of P followed by 1H by RHO
double bid (negative double) will show exactly 4 cards of Spades while
1S bid will show minimum 5 cards of spades.In both cases minimum strength of
hand must be 6 total points.
·
After
your partner opens the hand and RHO overcalls and if you have 2 suits one 4 carded major and one 4 or 5
carded minor ,it is preferable to bid double instead of bidding minor suit.
·
When
RHO overcalls after opening bid of the partner and if you have reasonably good
support to your partner’s major suit then it is
preferable to avoid negative
double and raise your partner’s suit which will help blocking communication of
opponents.
Penalty Double
Normally any
double over 3 level bid of the opponent is penalty double. As mentioned earlier
some pairs consider double at 4 level as take out double (if opponent opens the
hand at 4 level directly.
Salient Points
If opponents have indicated that they have 2 possible
suits a penalty double will give them chance to change the suit .In such
situation it is preferable to have
enough strength so that the contract in the changed suit
can also be defeated otherwise
opponents will escape .If such thing is not visual penalty double should be
avoided.
If after
doubling opponents succeed they will get more marks and if they score overtrick
in doubled contract they will be further rewarded. So it is advisable to ensure
that at least booking tricks are
available in the hand of the person who bids penalty double.
Lead directing double
When your LHO
opens the hand 1 NT followed by pass bid from your partner and RHO bids
stayman 2C or Jacoby Transfer 2D or 2H
you can double .Such double is lead directing double and indicates
P which suit to lead while defending .
Another lead
directing double is when your LHO Left hand side opponent) uses Blackwood or Gerber for ace enquiry and
the query is answered you can double if you wish your P
should lead that suit. You should
realize however that your opponents will get to know more about your hand when you use such double and accordingly take
appropriate decision
Reopening double
When
after your partner’s opening call your RHO overcalls followed by
your pass and your LHO’s pass,if your partner bids double such a double call is
called reopening double. Reopening double indicate very good strength (17+HCP) and is a
forcing bid at one level and 2 level.At two level reopening bid you can however
pass if you are short in partner’s suit and good length of your opponent’s suit
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