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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

Generally think twice about doubling for penalties

rewards often low
gives information to enemy
risks can be high

Double when 90% certain they'll go down 2 if

they've overcalled
they've sacrified
they've bungled

Doubling is never for penalties after

1/2-level suit bids
weak 2/3 openings

Doubling is always for penalties after

a NT bid
any subsequent bid

Doubling is for lead direction after

cue bid
a convention requiring a response

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

« 0129 »

Doubles. For Penalty

"Ha! Ha! You're in trouble"

When you think you can get the enemy down in their contract, you can double them. Sounds like a good idea, eh ?

Sometimes though it's not such a good idea. First, your rewards for doubling might be pretty slim. One trick down doubled only increases your score by 50, which is peanuts. But it runs the risk of increasing the enemy's score by more than this if they make their contract. Sometimes much more, even by as much as 500 if they were in 2 or 2 and vulnerable.

Another problem with doubling is that it tells the opposition where the strong cards are. Yes, you've got them of course! So you are giving them useful information and helping them to make their contract, that they might have failed to make if you'd kept mum. And if they make overtricks, you are severely penalised.

Finally, by doubling you alert them to problems which might cause them to reconsider and opt for a better contract that they can make.

So when should I double for penalty ?

Double any 3-level+ bid when you are very confident they are in trouble, and they are going to go down at least two tricks, more especially when they are vulnerable. The two classic times for this is are (1) after the opponents have overcalled, or (2) when they have made a sacrifice to stop you getting a contract of (3) when they've had a blatant misunderstanding and have no way out of it.

Under these 3 circumstances, if the opposition bid again in a different suit after your double, the right policy 90% of the time is to double again. Don't let them off the hook as they dig themselves deeper and deeper into that hole.

It's worth expanding on the first of the 3 circumstances mentioned. An overcalled contract if often made as a disruptive bid, almost with the expectation of going down. If you can see that you have enough trump cover, and that they are unlikely to ruff the winners you're counting on, and you are confident they will go down at least two, then double, especially if they are vulnerable. That's 500 points in the bank, or 200 if you get it only slightly wrong.

When does a double not mean a double ?

Doubling a bid of one or two of a suit means a double for takeout, not for penalty. Think about the risk reward ratio of doubling a two level contact, and you can see why this is a sensible guide. The same applies when a preemptive weak 2 is doubled or a preemptive 3-level bid is doubled, it's for takeout.

But NT is different

Doubling a NT bid however is always for penalty, including a doubling of any subsequent bid by the enemy as they try to escape.

(But remember that a 1NT response to a suit opening - the so-called dustbin bid - is not really a NT bid. And so when the dustbin 1NT is doubled then it's for takeout, and partner is showing a three-suited hand).

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing