September 2024 - 34

Troubles with Doubles - part 4
By August Boehm
T
he best feature of the DSI (Do
Something Intelligent) double
is its cooperative nature. When
solving bridge problems, two minds
rate to be better than one. The most
dangerous feature of DSI is its amorphous
range, frequently referred to as
a " cards " double, i.e., " I have a good
hand but no clear action. " Useful at
times, but is the doubler's hand orientated
toward offense, defense or
mixed? How often will partner be
able to take winning action? Here are
some common sequences where a
practiced partnership should have an
agreement about the last double:
A West North East
1s
1d
2s Pass
South
Pass
Pass Dbl
I think a strong case can be made
to treat this as a light takeout for the
unbid suits because of the failure to
use a negative double the previous
round. Alternatively, a penalty interpretation
is also reasonable, assuming
South made a trap pass. Sitting
over (or behind) the strength is a very
important factor in making a penalty
double at low levels; a spade holding
like K-J-10-x-x is apt to be quite a
thorn in declarer's side. In any event,
it seems clear to firmly define the
double as either light takeout or penalty
- there is no need for a " cards "
or DSI double.
B West North East
1c Pass
2h Pass
South
1NT
Pass Dbl
This is self-explanatory, a hand
resembling:
sA 8 3 hK 10 2 dK 9 7 4 c8 7 6,
34 | Bridge Bulletin | September 2024
a maximum 1NT without a four-card
major or a known fit, and a potential
trump trick. Call it cooperative penalty,
leaving partner well-equipped to
make an intelligent decision.
C East-West vulnerable:
West North East
1d
3d Dbl
Pass Dbl
South
1h 2h
3h Pass
This auction took place among four
top-tier experts in practiced partnerships
from a recent knockout match.
The 2h and 3d cuebids were limit
raises, and North's double of 3d
confirmed a good suit. When North
doubled 3h with a heart holding of
A-K-10-9, he assumed it meant pure
penalty because South had passed
3h, indicating he was " bid out, " with
no further interest in competing.
South held a low, singleton heart and
removed the double, believing that it
was cooperative because the opponents
had found a fit, and the doubler
was " under the gun. " The takeout
converted a plus score into a minus.
Whoever was right, if this premier
pair had trouble with double, it can
happen to anybody.
D West North East
1c Dbl
1s Pass
2s
South
Redbl
Dbl
This looks like a penalty double to
me. South showed strength with the
redouble, often a prelude to headhunting.
A hand like:
sQ J 9 3 hA 10 9 4 dA J 5 2 c7
should have South licking his chops.
E West North East
1c 1s
2s Pass
South
2d
Pass Dbl
I'm happy with the penalty interpretation
because South already announced
a good hand. Bear in mind
that the friskier your opponents, the
more you need a penalty double to
curb their enthusiasm.
F West North East
1s
Pass
2d Dbl
I've always treated this as a classic
penalty double, a diamond stack
sitting " over the gun, " but expert
friends tell me that " everybody " now
plays it as takeout. For this to be
workable, when North has the diamond
stack, he must pass in tempo to
avoid transmitting unauthorized information.
When the auction returns
to South, he strains to balance with
double, takeout with shortness in
the intervener's suit to allow opener
to spring the trap and pass. This arrangement
parallels negative double
practice; when responder passes after
the overcall, opener tries hard to balance
with a double to collect a penalty
in case responder was trapping.
In this last sequence, regardless of
whether you side with the modernists
or the traditionalists, the one
certainty is that there is no need for a
muddling DSI double. When possible,
define it as either takeout or penalty.
The more your partnership is attuned
to modern bidding, the more you will
incline towards takeout. Those with
deep roots in previous generations
will tend towards penalty. What matters
most is to avoid ill-defined DSI
continued on page 46
South
1NT
September 2024

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