September 2022 - 55

Newer Players
Ask Jerry
BY JERRY HELMS
askjerry@jerryhelms.com
jerryhelms.com
Dear Jerry:
At matchpoints, I held the following,
nonvulnerable vs. vulnerable:
5
kA 8 5 2 lA 8 7 5 2 '10 4 2.
Partner
Brian
Pass
2 Dbl
4 ?
I thought any of pass, double,
5l, or 5k could be right, and went
with double. Partner, holding
1=5=5=2 shape, passed and they
made 4. Partner was most unhappy
with me. After they made
it, I was most unhappy with him.
Opinion, please.
Brian
Hi Brian,
There are many auctions that occur
where a partnership is not on firm
ground as to its actual meaning. This
is just another one.
The opponents likely have 10
spades or more, following The Law of
Total Tricks, as the auction strongly
suggests they are not bidding a
game on power. I think it is entirely
illogical to think you could hold a
penalty double of 4. The common
interpretation I prefer is to deem this
a " responsive double, " showing values
to compete and at least two different
strains to possibly play. Having this
flexible option is much better than
soloing to your five-card diamond
suit by leaving multiple options available.
Your partner is simply advised
that you have values, but no clear
sense of direction - exactly what you
have. If he held some type of 2-3-4-4
takeout double, he is permitted to
Pass
2 Dbl
Pass 4NT
4 Dbl
5l
Pass
4NT should ask you to bid the
cheapest four-card suit you hold.
Because you've expressed tolerance
for at least two places to play, your
diamond bid would announce four or
more diamonds along with at least
three hearts. Holding 10 diamonds
and nine hearts, defending a 4 contract
does not seem our best decision.
On another note, takeout doubles
with two five-card suits are not exactly
what advancer usually expects.
Another auction that should be
takeout that seems to be misinterpreted.
Pass
Dbl
1 4k Pass
?
Pass
This is a takeout double. It is rare
to make penalty doubles underneath
the long strong suit. Opener's hand
might be:
A K x x x kx lA x x 'A x x x.
Responder can choose to pass, but
he should expect opener to have a
strong hand with good spades, and
tolerance for both unbid suits.
pass and try to go plus. If, however, he
has a shapely takeout double, knowing
you have interest in at least two of
his suits, he should follow one of Alvin
Roth's most famous declarations,
" Take out takeout doubles! "
You did not tell me exactly what
your partner's hand was, but with
two five-card red suits, he had a clear
obligation to bid. A good auction from
this point:
Balancing - part 2
Another auction:
2NT
3 Dbl?
Your partner opens 2NT and RHO
ventures in with a three-level bid.
Using a double in this sequence as
penalty has a very low likelihood of
frequency. Your partner has at least
two spades and RHO has announced
six or more good spades. You are
highly unlikely to have trump tricks
but far more likely to have values but
no clear sense of direction. Example:
6 3 kQ 7 6 2 lK 8 7 4 'Q J 3.
With 8 HCP opposite 20-21, are
you supposed to pass? Bid 3NT with
no spade stopper? Double for penalty
and watch RHO take seven spade
tricks and another one somewhere
and defeat it one when you were cold
for 4k? Double announces values,
not clear intentions of penalty.
Finally, an auction that it took
years for me to come around:
1NT
2k Dbl!
For years I played this as pure penalty.
In reality, I think it is far better
to play a double in this auction as " value
showing, negative-ish. " Tolerance
for the unbid suits and at least enough
values to play something. If you don't
use this as negative, then holding:
J 8 5 2 k9 3 lA 8 4 3 'K 5 2,
what are you supposed to do?
All of these suggestions are merely
ways to get into an auction when the
opponents have intervened to show
enough values to compete.
A lengthy response to your actual
question, but what else is new?
September 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
55
http://www.jerryhelms.com
September 2022

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