When we learned to play bridge, most of us were taught that a double had just two meanings -- penalty if partner had bid (opening bid, overcall or takeout double), takeout if he hadn’t. Although that’s still the accepted usage in many beginner and party-bridge games, those who move up to more competitive fields soon find that these definitions are too restrictive.
Club and tournament players improve on the basic meanings by adding conventions and adapting to the modern trend of treating more low-level doubles as some type of takeout. Some of these doubles -- including those called cooperative and “Do Something Intelligent” (DSI) – can be difficult to read. The more you add to your bidding system, the greater the potential for misunderstandings,
In previous articles, we’ve covered common uses of DSI doubles and how they differ from pure penalty doubles. You and partner can try to define when and how you’ll incorporate these doubles into your system, but there’s such a wide range of uses – and the messages are often so subtle – that you can’t plan for possibility. For undiscussed situations, you’ll have to rely on bridge logic to interpret partner’s double – and to predict how he’ll interpret yours.
It’s easier to read a DSI or takeout message if you first rule out the penalty meaning. To do that, you need a good knowledge of standard penalty situations. Here are the auctions where there’s universal agreement that your double is penalty:
Partner opens and the opponent overcalls a natural 1NT.
Your auction has established a game force.
Partner has preempted or made a two-suited overcall.
You or partner has made a card-showing redouble earlier in the auction.
You’ve made a card-showing double of an Unusual 2NT overcall.
You or partner has made a penalty double earlier in the auction. This includes a penalty pass of a takeout double.
There is no unbid suit.
It’s your side’s third double in the auction.
These are auctions where the standard meaning of a double is penalty, but some pairs make exceptions. Talk about these with your partner if possible.
You’ve already found your trump fit.
You or partner has made a natural notrump opening, response or rebid.
Partner opens and you double a Michaels cuebid (two-suited overcall).
The opponents have bid a suit that we've shown with a takeout or negative double.
There is only one unbid suit.
Another type of penalty double is one that isn’t a perfect match for any of the above situations, but the auction tells you it cannot logically be for takeout. As discussed last month, these are “card-showing” or “Balance of Power” doubles that promise good high-card strength, but not trump stacks. They are usually made at the 2-level or higher after you and partner have each bid at least once but have not found a trump fit. An example:
LHO Partner RHO You
1H 1S Pass 2C
2H Pass Pass DBL
Your search for the meaning of an ambiguous double is over if you determine that it fits any of the above definitions of a penalty double. The next question is just how strong is the penalty message – and can it be overruled?
More about these decisions in the next issue.
© 2024 Karen Walker