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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

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Quick summary

With 16+ HCP, you should double RHO's weak 1NT opening.

This is serious stuff. It's a real double, for penalties.

Your partner will almost always pass with a sly smile. The exception is if partner has 9+ HCP and the vulnerability is favourable.

When vulnerable, before doubling, do you have a strong lead and entries ? A flat hand might be poor.

After a penalty double of a NT bid, subsequent doubles are all for penalties. Eg. 1NT - doubled - 2 - doubled.

18+ needed after strong NT opening.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	A 9
	K Q 9
	K 5 2
	J 8 7 6 3

	North
	K Q J 3
	10
	A Q 9 4
	A 10 5 2

+	East
	10 6 5 2
	J 8 7 6 2
	8 7 6
	9

+	South
	8 7 4
	A 5 4 3
	J 10 3
	K Q 4

Example Deal

You: North
Dealer: South
Vuln: all

# 126023

Doubling 1NT and its consequences
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126023
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

South is dealer and passes. You at North are strong, and would like to bid. But West has stolen your thunder with an irritating 1NT opening. Can North overcall ?

Question 1

South is dealer and passes. You at North are strong, and would like to bid. But West has stolen your thunder with an irritating 1NT opening. Can North overcall ?

Answer

Yes. The best bid is to double, which North should do with 16 HCP or more, or a strong 15+. EW are quite likely to be in trouble.

Question 2

Assuming that E and W use Stayman and Transfers, whatever should East do with his 1 point ?

Question 2

Assuming that E and W use Stayman and Transfers, whatever should East do with his 1 point ?

Answer

Haha ! Many (but not all) teams cancel Stayman and Transfers after an intervening double for penalty. Bid a good old-fashioned weakness takeout in your 5-card suit, by bidding 2 Hearts.

Better still, if your team uses exit transfers, bid the suit one rank below your 5-card suit, and your partner will transfer as commanded - keeping your better cards hidden from the doubling enemy... (To bid one rank below '2 clubs', use the only bid remaining - 'redoubled'.)

Best of all, if your team uses the 'wriggle' after a doubled weak 1NT, then not only can you tell your partner about your 5-card suit - but also you can still find a 7-card team fit if you don't have a 5-carder (as long as you don't have the nasty 4333 flat hand).

Question 3

Should South also double ? He's got 10 HCP, so it really does look as if EW are in trouble, and they're vulnerable.

Question 3

Should South also double ? He's got 10 HCP, so it really does look as if EW are in trouble, and they're vulnerable.

Answer

Well, perhaps. But they may only go down 1 or 2. In that case you'd earn 200 to 500 points if you double them.

On the other hand, since you know your partner has 16 HCP, then you've got enough between you to reach game, worth 600 since your team is also vulnerable, just like them.

Your partner must be strong across the suits, and you've got the Heart bid from East stopped. So you could bid 3NT. That 600 is looking more tempting than getting them down a couple. So only double them if you are confident you'll get them down by at least 3 tricks, worth 800 in penalties.

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
Doubles, Double a 1NT
After 1NT, Getting out of trouble
Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"
Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT
Doubles, Double then bid a suit

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
-			-	-	p
1NT			???
			X	2H	3NT
p			p	p
-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1NT	Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT
1NT X	Doubles, Double a 1NT
2H	After 1NT, Getting out of trouble
3NT	Doubles, Double a 1NT


			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: West , K Reasons, when playing in No Trumps: 1. partner's suit 2. top of touching honours

OK, What's Your Plan for trying to make the contract ?

Only after you've thought about your plan for a short (but important) while, click the + to show/hide Card Play questions.

« 0120 »

Doubles. Double a 1NT

"Ha! Ha! You're in trouble"

If the opposition on your right have opened a weak 1NT, promising 12-14 HCP balanced hand, and you have 16+ points, then the chances are they are in trouble. At the most the other two players have 12 HCP between them. On average then, you have more than the enemy, and your strength is going to be played right after declarer at the table.

This is the only time you double at the one level and really mean it. It's "doubling for penalty points", because you reckon the enemy has a good chance of going down. And if you can get a suit established, they could go down a lot.

This is a very useful double, especially if the enemy is vulnerable, where the losses can soon add up to more points that you'd get even if you got to game. A score of 500 to 1100 is often yours !

Just say "double".

You can double with 15HCP too, if they are a good 15, with some inner strength, e.g. QJ109.

Partner's normal response - easy

Say nothing ! Let the enemy stew. Get them down and count the money at the end, admitting of course how lucky you were.

The exception to this is if you can see that game could be on. The double showed 16+ HCP, so if you have 9+HCP you might want to think twice. If you are vulnerable and the enemy is not, perhaps you'd do better with the 600 points from getting game. You'd need to get them down by four to better this. On the other hand, if the enemy is vulnerable and you are not, it's hard to see how you could do better than watch them suffer.

If you can see that game is on and the vulnerability is favourable, you can bid as if your partner who doubled had in fact opened a strong NT.

By the way, if the tables are reversed, and you find yourself in the position of having bid 1NT which was then immediately doubled, there is a way out of this nasty little hole.

Carry on for penalties

After a penalty double of a NT bid, any subsequent doubles are also for penalties.

Against a strong NT opening

Again, the bid is promising a better hand than the opener. Since a strong NT means 15-17, it promises 18+ HCP.

Remember that American Standard players don't usually understand the weak NT opening, and will generally fail to punish it correctly when they are strong, for instance doubling when they have 13+ points, asking partner for his strongest suit. They might stumble to a fit, and certainly fail to punish the enemy. Exploit it !

Opening lead

A consideration in deciding whether or not to double should be the possibility of enemy actually making the contract, redoubled, with you being the vulnerable party. To avoid this unpleasantness, 15/16 HCP might not be enough. You should think about your opening lead. If you have a long strong suit with outside entries into your hand, you are usually safe. Lead a high card from your long suit to force out the enemy big gun, and then use your entry back into your hand to play out your long strong suit.

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday

Quick summary

Bridge Venue

Question 1:

Question 2:

Answer 1: