DOUBLES

By Larry Matheny

 

 

The double has been part of bridge since the game was first played.  But, perhaps no other bid has grown from its original meaning to the huge number of ways it is employed today.  Any contemporary book on the topic will contain dozens of different applications for the double.  In fact, its original use as a way to penalize the opponents is no longer its most frequent use.  In our lesson today I will identify and discuss only the most basic ways double is used.  I will not go into a great amount of detail of these bids so you will have to do the homework.

 

 

PENALTY DOUBLES

 

Let’s begin with the original meaning of the double, which is to penalize your opponents.  Here is the penalty double in action:

 

PARD OPP  YOU                                  YOU   OPP  PARD   OPP

  3C     4S     DBL                                 1C        P       1S        P 

                               2C        P        P        2H   

 DBL

 

Perhaps this is a good spot to bring up the double of a strong 1NT opening bid.  Most experts do not use this bid as a penalty double.  You just won’t have that strong of a hand that often.  But, here are some guidelines if you choose to use the double for penalties:

 

  1. You should have a good hand AND a good opening lead.  This usually means a strong suit you plan to run.
  2. Don’t just double because you have a hand that contains as many high cards as opener.  You will likely be put back into your hand over and over to lead away from your honor cards.  Points don’t equal tricks!
  3. Your partner is NOT expected to pull your double.  You are telling him that you can defeat the contract.  He should only run when he has a weak hand AND a long suit.

 

 

TAKEOUT DOUBLES

 

Next we move to another familiar application.  Everyone uses the takeout double but many partnerships have not fully discussed the highest level at which it applies.  Most experts play a double of an opponent’s bid as takeout through 4S.  Some players choose a lower level but the agreement is what is important.

 

 

 

 

These are all takeout doubles:

 

OPP  YOU  OPP  PARD                                  OPP  YOU  OPP  PARD

 

 1S     DBL                                                     1H       P     2H      DBL

 

 3C     DBL                                                      1H       P     4H      DBL

 

 4H     DBL                                                     1S       P     2C      DBL

 

While the partner of the doubler may choose to pass and defend, the primary purpose is to find your best fit at the proper level.

 

Here’s an example that shows a hand worth a second T/O double:

 

SAK97  Hvoid   DAQJ3   CAQ1065

 

OPP   YOU   OPP   PARD

 1H      DBL    3H*      P

  P       DBL            

 

*Weak

 

The first was for takeout and after the weak jump in hearts by responder, the second was also for takeout and showed a great hand. 

 

 

 

LEAD DIRECTING DOUBLES

 

This type of double is most often used after an artificial bid by the opponents.  Here are three examples:

 

          (1)                                                            (2)

OPP  YOU  OPP  PARD                        OPP  YOU  OPP  PARD

1NT     P      2C      DBL                        1H       P     3H       P

                                                            4NT      P     5C     DBL

 

          (3)

OPP  YOU  OPP  PARD

 1NT     P     2H *   DBL

 

*transfer

 

 

 

NEGATIVE DOUBLES

 

This double was created to solve several problems with standard bidding.  Rather than a penalty bid, it shows the other suits.  Here is one case:

 

SAK43  H-KJ72  D742  C53

 

PARD   OPP   YOU

  1D        2C      ??

 

Rather then introduce a four-card suit at the two-level, the negative double solves your problem.  Here’s another example:

 

S-762   H-KQ75  D94   C-QJ93

 

PARD    OPP    YOU

   1D       1S      ??

 

Partner opens 1D and your right-hand opponent overcalls 1S.  The overcall has taken away your 1H response so you have no way to accurately describe your strength and distribution.  You can't bid 1NT (which promises a spade stopper) and you can't bid a new suit at the two-level (which promises 10+pts).  The solution is, of course, the negative double. 

 

You can also use this double to show a long suit with a hand too light to bid at the next level:

 

S-762   H-KQJ975  D94   C-J93

 

PARD    OPP    YOU    OPP

  1D       1S      DBL       P

  2C        P        2H

 

 

You must decide how high to play this bid.  For beginners perhaps through 2S is high enough, but most players use it through 3S or 4D.  After that, the double is primarily for penalties.  

 

Adding the negative double to your card does not mean you have to give up the penalty double.  Here is an example of the way to punish an over zealous opponent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dlr

 N

Vul

EW

S

AKQ7

H

K10987

D

9542

C

 

S

J64

H

J642

D

KJ8

C

1075

    

S

9853

H

AQ3

D

3

C

AQ842

 

S

102

H

9

D

AQ1074

C

KJ963

West

North

East

South

 

1H

2C

Pass

  Pass 

   DBL

   Pass

  Pass  

   Pass

 

It was brutal and East was lucky to escape for –800.  It is important for North (in this diagram) to reopen the bidding in case South is waiting to penalize the opponents.  Since the negative double came on the bridge scene back in 1957, many players started making terribly unsound overcalls.  One of the reasons is that people don’t use the reopening double to penalize their wayward opponents.  If you know you aren’t going to be doubled, you can bid on almost nothing. 

 

 

 

RESPONSIVE DOUBLES

 

This bid also shows the other suits but while a negative double is made when your side opens the bidding, this double is used when the opponents open.  Here it is in action:

 

OPP   PARD   OPP  YOU                                OPP   PARD   OPP  YOU

 1C     DBL     2C      DBL                               1S     2H       2S      DBL

 

OPP   PARD   OPP  YOU

  1H     DBL     2H      DBL

 

In each case, your double is for takeout showing the other suits.  The responsive double only applies when your partner has made an overcall or t/o double AND responder has raised opener’s suit.

 

 

LIGHTNER SLAM DOUBLES

 

Here is one that has been around for many decades.  The logic is that you are not going to get rich defeating a freely bid slam so the double is made as the only way to be successful.  It works like this: When the partner of the person on lead against a slam doubles, he is asking his partner to make an unusual lead.  The doubler is very likely asking for the lead of dummy’s first bid suit or he might be void in a suit and want a ruff.  One thing he is NOT saying is “Lead your suit” (if you have bid) or “Lead my suit” (if he has bid).  Either of these would be the normal lead and the doubler is asking for something else. 

 

 

SUPPORT DOUBLES

 

The Support Double is a method of distinguishing a 3-card raise from a 4-card raise.  Here is an example:

 

 YOU   OPP   PARD   OPP

   1C       P       1H       1S

    ??

 

   DBL = 3-card raise

   2H   = 4-card-raise

 

A desire to double 1S for penalties will rarely occur so this double is a useful tool.  If the opponent’s interference is a t/o double (instead of an overcall), then a redouble shows the 3-card raise.

 

 

MAXIMAL DOUBLES

 

I’m sure you have been in this situation before:

 

SAKJ108   H32   DKJ10   CA87

 

YOU   OPP   PARD   OPP

 1S      2H       2S      3H

  ??

 

You want to make a game try but none is available.  Using “maxi” doubles, you bid 3S to just compete and double as a game try. 

 

 

 

 

 

CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES

 

A double may be part of your defense against certain conventions.  Here is an example after an opponent shows a two-suited hand:

 

PARD   OPP   YOU                               PARD   OPP   YOU 

 1S       2NT     DBL                              1S        2S       DBL

 

In both auctions your double tells your partner you have values and are prepared to double at least one of the opponents’ suits.  With support for partner’s suit, you would bid the appropriate number of spades or cue bid one of the opponents’ suits.

 

 

 

CARD SHOWING OR “ACTION” DOUBLES

 

This is where it may seem to get a bit murky.  Sometimes a double just means “I think this is our hand, do something”.  Here are some examples:

 

                    (1)                                                                  (2)

SA1093   H76   D965   CKQ98                       SAK107  HK87  DAQJ5  C73

 

PARD   OPP   YOU    OPP                                        OPP    PARD  OPP   YOU

  1D        P        1S       2H                                         1C        P       2C      DBL

  2S        P          P       3H                                           P        2H       P         P

   P         P         DBL                                                  3C        P        P       DBL

 

 

                    (3)

SKJ8   HJ102   DA1093   C1098

 

PARD   OPP   YOU    OPP

   1S       P       2S       3C

    P         P      DBL

 

In each example, you show a maximum for your previous bid(s) and ask partner to take appropriate action. 

 

 

There are many more ways the double is used.  The important thing is to realize the potential of this valuable bid and to make sure you and your partners are in agreement when that red card hits the table.