2022_05 - 51

Newer Players
Bidding Basics
BY LARRY COHEN
larryco.com
S
ubtract three. That's this
month's motto. Compared to
the situations covered from
January to April, every range will
be reduced by 3 HCP. When we are
in balancing seat (if we pass, the
auction is over), the requirements for
a takeout double are lowered. When
our pass would leave the opponents
in a partscore, we try a bit harder to
compete for the contract.
In January, our RHO opened, and
we doubled with 12-17 total points
and the other three suits. Let's look at
the situation where our LHO opens,
such as:
West Partner East You
1k Pass
Pass
?
We are now in the balancing seat.
The 12-17 becomes 9-14. Don't worry
too much about the high end. The
key is that we can now double with
only 9 total points. Still, we want to
have support (meaning three or more
cards) for all the other suits.
On the auction above, we should
double with:
A Q 10 8 7 k2 lK 10 7 6 'K J 7 6
B K Q J k3 2 lA 10 7 6 '9 8 6 5
C K 8 7 2 kA lQ 8 7 6 'J 7 6 5.
In all cases, we don't have enough
for a direct-seat double (if RHO had
opened 1k). Here, if we pass, the auction
is over; we don't want to defend
against 1k. Occasionally, partner will
have a " trap pass " (a penalty double
of 1k) and will pass our double. Let's
hope that in such a case, partner
knows what they are doing!
Could we have more? Sure. The
takeout double (in any position) is
unlimited. Add an ace (or more) to the
Balancing seat doubles
examples above and we'd still double.
Make sure not to double if your
hand is more suited towards an overcall.
Overcalls in balancing seat can
also be light. So, after 1l-Pass-Pass,
consider these hands:
D K J 9 8 7 k8 4 3 lA 10 'J 3 2
E K 10 8 kQ J 9 8 lA 10 2 'K 9 8.
With D, prefer to overcall 1. With
E, bid a natural 1NT (approximately
12-15, because we are subtracting 3
in balancing seat).
What about the " big double " ? In
March, we discussed that doubling
and voluntarily bidding a second time
showed 18 or more HCP. Does this
apply in balancing seat? The same
principle applies, but as you'd guess,
the requirements are lower. Does that
mean we go from 18 to 15? Not exactly,
but that is sort of the idea. Let's
consider the auction 1'-Pass-Pass
with these holdings:
F A Q J 8 7 kA 5 4 lK J 2 '3 2,
G A 2 kA Q J 10 8 lA 7 6 'J 10 8.
With F, even though it is 15 HCP, a
simple 1 in balancing seat would be
OK. With a little more, like example
G, then a double and bid would be
more appropriate. I know everyone
wants exact ranges, but there really
isn't one to give here. Vulnerability,
suit quality, what the suits involved
are, etc. - those are all factors that
prevent me from giving you an exact
range for a double and then bid in balancing
seat. If you insist, let's call it
" approximately a great 15 or more " to
double and then bid in balancing seat.
What about after preempts? Again,
you can " borrow " a king. After 2k-
Pass-Pass, make a balancing double
with either of these hands:
May 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
51
A 10 7 6 k2 lK 10 8 2 'Q 7 6 5,
K J 7 6 k3 2 lA 10 9 'Q 10 8 7.
When the opponents preempt and
you have shortness in their suit,
partner is sometimes foaming at the
mouth, hoping you will double for
takeout so that they can leave it in for
penalties.
Though not technically part of
this series on doubles, note here that
you can't preempt in balancing seat.
A jump in the passout seat is intermediate
with a decent hand and a
decent six-card (or longer) suit. So,
after 1l-Pass-Pass, jump to 2k with
something like:
A 2 kA Q J 10 9 7 l4 3 2 'K 2.

This Mother's Day,
honor your queen
with a tribute gift.
www.ACBLEF.org
http://www.larryco.com http://www.ACBLEF.org
2022_05

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