June 2009 - 40

PLAY BRIDGE

?

Ask Jerry

Jerry Helms

www.jerryhelms.com

Dear Jerry,
My partner opened 1NT (15-17
HCP), and I was planning to pass
holding 3 high-card points and four
low spades. Before I did, however,
my right-hand opponent overcalled
2. I had two low hearts and
passed the bid around to my partner, who doubled. When it came
back to me, I passed. I assumed this
was a penalty double, since we play
"mirror" doubles and I could have
handled any positive response on
the first round if I had the values.
They made an overtrick and I was
in the dog house with partner, who
said the double was for takeout. He
didn't want to sell out to 2 and
wanted my input. He said I should
have bid 2. I argued that my pass
told the story of my hand and if
he wanted to take the contract, he
should have just bid something.
What do you think?
Doubled Troubles
Hi DT,
Without a specific agreement to the
contrary, the standard treatment is to
play that if the 1NT opener doubles
an overcall by his LHO (the opponent
he is "underneath"), the double is
intended as takeout. For example,
holding:
K Q 8 7 8 2 A K 4 A J 9 4,
West could bid in this manner:
West
North
East
South
1NT
2
Pass
Pass
Dbl
40

Doubling for takeout is the best
option for further competition. If, as
East, your 3-point hand was something such as:
9 6 4 3 10 3 9 8 6 K 10 6 3,
reaching 2 is likely superior to defending 2. In 2, with reasonable
breaks, you rate to lose two spades,
two hearts, one diamond and perhaps
a club. In 2, the opponents appear
to have a maximum of five losers
(one spade, two diamonds and two
clubs). On a good day, you would
play 2 and make it or go down one.
Alternatively, the opponents, who are
cold for 2, would push to the three
level and go down one.
As an additional point, it should
be more important for double in this
sequence to be played as takeout
because of your agreement to play
responder's doubles as "mirror" or
"stolen" bids. If the auction started
identically, except this time as responder, you held:
K 9 2 K J 9 4 3 9 8 6 6 3,
in your system, double would be a
transfer to spades, making pass the
only option. Wouldn't you be a happy
camper if partner could reopen the
bidding with a takeout double?
Now consider this auction:
West
North
East
South
1NT
Pass
Pass
2
Dbl
The standard treatment is to play
that if the notrump opener doubles an
overcall by his RHO (the opponent he
is "over"), the double is penalty. This
would be justified holding something
such as:
A K A Q 10 6 A 9 3 9 8 5 2.

With what appears to be six defensive tricks, it seems reasonable to
take a chance!
As always, partnership agreement
is the final answer. Some partnerships
may opt to play both of these doubles
as takeout. Without discussion, however, the standard treatment is this:
"Under" doubles are takeout, "over"
doubles are penalty.
Have a question for Jerry? Contact
him at askjerry@jerryhelms.com

Mike's
Bridge
Lesson
By
Mike
Lawrence
When you read an article about the
holdup play, you can usually spot the
key play.
The key is to gain enough understanding so that you will know the
right play in real life.

Continued on pages 42-43
Bridge Bulletin
http://www.jerryhelms.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2009
