June 2014 - 47

Newer Players

Upgrading	Your	Game
BY LYNN BERG



lberg@cfl.rr.com

Doubles - part 2
At	one	time,	almost	all	doubles	were	
for	penalties,	but	as	we	saw	last	month,	
there	are	more	practical	uses	for	many	
low-level	doubles.
One	of	the	first	conventions	a	newcomer	should	learn	is	the	negative	
double.	
The	name	is	somewhat	misleading,	
but	it	can	more	properly	be	described	
as	a	takeout	double	by	opener's	partner. When the opponents enter your
auction,	capitalize	on	the	interference	
to	describe	your	hand.	The	classic	
negative	double	hand	emphasizes	the	
unbid	major	and,	in	some	cases,	shows	
both	unbid	suits.		
♠K 9 4 2 ♥4 2 ♦8 2 ♣K 10 6 4 2.
Let's	say	partner	opens	1♦ and your
right-hand	opponent	bids	1♥.	Playing	negative	doubles,	you	can	double	
to	show	four	spades.	A	free	bid	of	1♠
would	guarantee	at	least	five	in	the	
suit.		If	RHO	had	passed,	1♠	would	
show	at	least	four,	but	there's	no	way	
partner	can	guess	that	you	have	more.	
At	the	one	level,	a	negative	double	
may	be	made	with	as	few	as	6	points.	A	
little	care	should	be	exercised,	however,	if	partner	is	going	to	have	to	respond	
at	the	two	level	or	higher.	When	you	
make	a	negative	double,	you	can	envision	a	place	to	play.	Negative	doubles	
imply	values	as	well	as	shape.
What	if		the	opponent	jumps	to	3♥
over	partner's	1♦ opener and you hold:
♠K 7 4 2 ♥9 ♦Q	8	6	3			♣Q	9	7	6.
You	have	wonderful	distribution,	but	
not	nearly	enough	points	to	commit	

your	side	to	the	three	level.	You	must	
pass and hope partner is strong enough
to	reopen	the	bidding.	A	good	reality	
check	is	to	think,	"What	if	partner	has	
to	rebid	notrump?		If	partner	has	only	
12-14	points,	are	we	safe	at	this	level?"
You	and	your	partner	can	decide	how	
high	you	want	to	play	negative	doubles.	
Some	bridge	teachers	recommend	
through	the	seven	level!	Suppose	you	
and your partner have decided to play
negative	doubles	through	4♥.	Partner	
opens 1♦ and your hand is:
♠A	Q	9	4			♥8 2 ♦A	Q	J	8	5			♣K 6.
Whether	RHO	overcalls	1♥, 2♥,
3♥ or 4♥,	you	can	double	to	show	four	
spades,	knowing	you	have	a	safe	landing	spot	in	diamonds	if	partner	doesn't	
have	a	spade	fit.		If	partner	opened	1♦
holding:
♠7 ♥Q	6			♦K 9 7 4 2 ♣A	Q	J	9	7,	
and	LHO	overcalls	1♥,	partner	will	
now	bid	2♣. Having discovered there
is	no	spade	fit,	you	might	cuebid	and	
then	bid	diamonds	to	let	partner	know	
about	the	magnificent	diamond	fit.	
This	is	an	example	of	using	a	negative	
double	with	the	unbid	major	and	support	for	partner's	opening	minor.
You	can	also	use	a	negative	double	
with	a	hand	like	this:
♠A	Q	9	4			♥K	J	7	2			♦5 3 ♣K 5 2.
Partner	opens	1♦	and	LHO	overcalls	
1♠.	Hearts	may	be	the	best	place	to	
play	this	hand	if	you	have	a	4-4	fit.	But	
if	partner	bids	2♣	or	rebids	diamonds,	
you'll	be	happy	to	bid	notrump.
Any	time	you	change	the	meaning	

of	a	bid,	you	lose	its	old	meaning.	You	
hold:
♠6 ♥A	Q	10	9	7	2			♦K 3 ♣9 7 4 3.
Partner	opens	1♦, and to your
surprise,	RHO	overcalls	2♥!	You	can't	
make	a	penalty	double	any	more.	So	
you	have	to	pass	and	hope	partner	will	
reopen	with	a	double	-	which	you	will	
pass	with	pleasure.	Opener	will	strive	
to	reopen	with	a	double	with	shortness	
in the overcalled suit unless he has a
most	unusual	hand.	For	instance,	if	
partner opens 1♦	with:	
♠2 ♥5 ♦A	 K	 J	 8	 6	 3	 	 	 ♣A K 8 4 2,
a 2♣	rebid	rather	than	a	reopening	
double	best	describes	the	hand.	But	
with:
♠A 9 4 3 ♥ 8 ♦A	K	J	5			♣K 8 4 2,
a	reopening	double	is	automatic.
When the auction proceeds 1♣-
(1♦),	a	negative	double	suggests	4-4	in	
the	majors.	The	failure	to	make	a	negative	double	does	not	necessarily	deny	
interest	in	the	other	major.	Depending	
on	the	strength	of	the	hand,	responder,	
holding	six	hearts	and	four	spades,	will	
bid	1♥	rather	than	make	a	negative	
double.	How	is	he	going	to	know	you	
have	a	4-4	spade	fit	unless	you	bid	1♠
-	just	as	you	would	have	bid	had	partner's	1♥	come	without	interference?	
Likewise,	a	stronger	hand	(invitational	
or	game-forcing	values)	with	5-5	in	the	
majors	may	elect	to	respond	1♠	with	
the	intention	of	later	bidding	hearts.	
1♠	by	responder	does	not	necessarily	
deny	four	hearts.		
◾
June 2014 Bridge Bulletin

47
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2014
