Judging when to make a penalty double is one of the most difficult aspects of bridge bidding. Bringing partner in on the decision can make it easier, and that's an advantage of DSI doubles ("Do Something Intelligent"). They allow you to show a hand that has good defense and offense, and let partner decide whether he wants to declare or defend.
In practice, most DSI doubles are intended mainly as takeout, with passing the fail-safe option. That works fine in many types of auctions, but it's still important to retain the pure penalty meaning of some doubles. Here are some auctions where partner's double "sounds like" it could be DSI, but is best played as penalty.
LHO Partner RHO You
(1)
1H DBL RDBL
Pass Pass 1S Pass
Pass DBL Pass ?
(2) 1C
1H 1NT 2H Pass
Pass DBL Pass ?
(3) 1S DBL Pass 2H
Pass Pass 3D Pass
Pass DBL Pass ?
(4)
1NT
2C * Pass 2S
Pass
Pass DBL Pass
?
* (majors)
(1) is deceptive because the auction is so low, but in standard bridge, this double is 100-percent penalty. The redouble sets up a situation where all subsequent doubles are penalty. You don't have to leave it in, but if you have a hand such as ♠J4 ♥102 ♦AQ72 ♣KJ762 , you should expect a big score, especially if they're vulnerable.
Double tends to be DSI in low-level auctions where the opponents have a fit, but not always. In (2), partner already showed strength in hearts and denied interest in other contracts. He's not changing his mind now.
The same idea applies in (3). Partner showed diamonds when he made his first takeout double. He can't now be making a takeout double of a suit where he already showed length.
A common agreement is that if we open 1NT and an opponent overcalls, a double by either of us is takeout if it's under the hand that has shown length in the suit. It's penalty if the doubler is sitting over that hand. In (4), your LHO is the hand with spade length, so partner's double is penalty.
Many of these double dilemmas can be worked out by thinking through the auction and the types of hands partner might hold. Here are some other guidelines for DSI doubles:
Avoid using a DSI double just to say "I have some values; I hope you have a place to go". You should have a reasonable expectation that partner will have the type of hand that offers a good landing spot.
DSI doubles can always be passed, so it's important to have good defensive values when you make one.
If you've made a DSI double and partner has already expressed his opinion about what "something intelligent" was, the next double by either of you is penalty.
If your opponent asks what partner's double is, don't answer with the vague "I'm supposed to do something intelligent". As a reader pointed out, isn't that what we try to do with every bid? A better reply is to explain what type of hand partner is showing.
© 2013 Karen Walker