Negative Doubles
Definition - When you
double for take-out an opponent’s natural suit
overcall made at the one, two or three level, after your partner has opened
with a natural suit bid, this is called a NEGATIVE DOUBLE. (NOTE – This is ALERTABLE).
This bid promises values (points) plus a
preference for the two unbid suits. In an ideal situation you would like to
hold 4 or more cards in each of the two unbid suits but this is not guaranteed
(as it would be if you were playing Sputnik Doubles). However when you are weak it would
be unwise to make this bid without the 2 unbid suits being at least one of four
cards and the other of three cards.
In
general you will use a negative double when you cannot find a better bid such
as supporting partner, bidding No Trumps or bidding a long suit. You will see
from the examples below that you will be promising at least 6 points when you
are doubling at the 1-level, 9 points when you are doubling at the 2-level and
11 points when you are doubling at the 3-level.
1.1.
When the opponents overcall
at the 1 – level
1§ (1ª) X (NOTE bids in ( ) are made by the opponents)
Here you show a minimum of 6 points ( it may be a lot more, in which case you
will bid on later). You haven’t raised clubs or shown spade values by bidding
NT, and by implication you are therefore showing an interest in Di’s and
Hearts, although you are not guaranteeing 4 cards in each suit. E.g. the
following hands would be suitable for a X in that sequence :-
ª A5 or ª A5 or ª 85 or ª 85
© Q873 © Q87 ©
KQ987 © KQ98
¨ J752 ¨ J7543 ¨ J754 ¨
AJ75
§ 832 § 832 § 32
§ A2
The first hand would also qualify for a Sputnik Double. The second and third
hands would not. You might be tempted to bid your 5 card suits at the 2-level
with the second and third hands, but this would be very unwise as this would
also promise at least 9 points. With the 4th hand - double, then bid
in later.
ª A5 with this hand chose to bid 2© not X
© KQ873
¨ J752
§ 83
1.2.
When the opponents overcall
at the 2-level
1ª (2©) X or 1§
(2©) X
Again a negative double, but because it is at the 2 – level it shows at least 9
or 10 points, and an interest in the other 2 suits. You would like to be 4 – 4
in the other 2 suits but it isn’t guaranteed.
Once again if you had 11+ points and a 5 card minor suit you would chose to bid
that suit at the 3 – level rather than double.
1.3.
When the opponents overcall
at the 3-level
1ª
(3¨) X
or 1§ (3©) X
Again a negative double, but because it is at the 3- level it shows at least 11
or 12 points, and an interest in the other 2 suits. You would like to be 4 – 4
in the other 2 suits but it isn’t guaranteed.
2.
An important and valuable consequence
of playing Negative Doubles
The bid of
a suit after an overcall always promises a 5 card suit, because with only a 4
card suit you would have made a negative double. E.g. In the sequence
1§ (1©) 1ª the
1ª promises a 5
card suit and at least 6 points or
1ª (2¨) 2© the 2© promises a 5 card suit and at
least 9 points
3.
Opener’s response to
partner’s Negative Double
Depending on whether the double occurs after a one-level, two-level or
three-level overcall, you must initially presume that partner has no more than
6 points, 9 points or 11 points respectively, and bid accordingly.
Although partner has not bid a suit, a holding in each of the two unbid suits
is implied. You should therefore bid as if partner has actually been able to
bid one of their suits.
e.g. with ª 9
The bidding has gone
© Q985
¨ KQJ85 1¨ (1ª) X (P)
§ AJ7 ?
As you have a minimum opening hand, the correct bid is 2©.
This is NOT A REVERSE. Without the spade overcall, if partner had bid 1© you would have raised to 2©. Do the same now. This promises 4 hearts and
a minimum opening hand. (Make your hand a bit stronger e.g. another King, and
you would bid 3© )
e.g. with ª AKJ95
The bidding has gone
© 85
¨ 75 1ª (2¨) X (P)
§ AJ87 ?
The best bid is 3§ This is NOT A REVERSE and is
non forcing. Without the 2 diamonds overcall, if partner had bid 2§ you would have raised to 3§ . Do the same now.
4.
What responder must do when the have a hand suitable for a genuine
penalty double
Very occasionally you will hold a hand with
which you would have made a genuine penalty double.
e.g. with ª KQT95
The bidding has gone
© 85
¨ 73 1¨ (1ª) ?
§ A874
You obviously can’t make a negative double as
you have no interest in hearts. You cannot support partner’s diamonds. You
really would like to defend their spade contract. You must PASS and hope that partner has
a suitable hand with which to make a take-out double, which you will LEAVE IN for penalties
5.
What opener must do when partner passes after the overcall
Occasionally the bidding will go e.g.
1¨ (1ª) P (P)
The opener does not know whether partner is weak, or is sitting there with lots
of spades. When the opener is short in the overcalled suit they should bid on.
With a
good long suit they can rebid their suit. However the best bid is a DOUBLE.
This is a standard TAKEOUT-DOUBLE asking partner to choose another suit, or to
convert it to a PENALTY DOUBLE by passing. An ideal hand for this double for
the above sequence would be: -
ª 8
© Q974
¨ KQJ85 1¨ (1ª) P (P)
§ KQ3 X
A Bidding
Quiz - What do you bid with each of the
following ?