Introducing the Negative Double - Auctions showing Spades
Negative Doubles are a nice way to show suits (or values) that one might otherwise not be able to show. I'm going to start a "Negative Double" series to help you learn this fabulous bid. We'll take it easy though. They can be confusing when you first start playing them. So here goes:
When partner opens 1 of a suit and the opponents make an overcall then Double shows:
Support for the unbid suits – ESPECIALLY the Major(s) -- if you do not have the unbid minor you should have tolerance for Partner’s minor or maybe even be able to play in No Trump but you MUST have a place to play in other than just your suit!
Enough strength to compete -- six HCP or more if Partner can support your “suit” at the 1 level, eight or more HCP if Partner must bid at the 2 level and ten or more if Partner must bid at the 3 level
If you bid the major rather than making a negative double, you promise a fifth card PLUS the values needed to bid at the level you are bidding -- six or more at the 1 level, ten or more at the 2 level, opening hand at the 3 level
Note that Partner must open a SUIT at the ONE LEVEL. If Partner starts off with a suit at ANY other level, negative doubles no longer apply.
Here is an auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
2♦
2♠
Double
Partner opened a weak 2 in ♦. Partner should not have a four card major. Double is PENALTY in this auction.
Here is another auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
2♣
2♠
Double
Partner is showing a STRONG hand when they open 2♣. Some players play the Double as PENALTY in this auction. Some players show a certain point count with the Double. But this is NOT a Negative Double auction.
Here is yet another auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
1NT
2♦
Double
Partner is showing a STRONG hand when they open 1NT. Some players play the Double as PENALTY in this auction. Some players play "Stolen Bids" so Double would show Hearts. But this is NOT a Negative Double auction.
So keep in mind that Partner MUST open the bidding at the 1 level in a SUIT.
Although Partner’s opening bid must be at the one level, the Opponent’s Overcall DOES NOT. Negative Doubles also occur over pre-empts.
Here is an auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
1♣
2♥
Double
Double here IS a Negative Double.
Here is an auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
1♣
2♠
Double
Double here is ALSO a Negative Double.
So what’s the difference between BIDDING a suit and DOUBLING to show you have the suit?
The NUMBER of the suit you have in your hand and the POINT COUNT you need to bid them.
BIDDING the suit (rather than Doubling) shows a FIFTH card in the suit (you could have more) and guarantees the values needed to bid at the level you are bidding at.
DOUBLING (rather than bidding the suit) shows either only a FOUR card suit OR more length BUT lacking the values to bid at the level.
Let's start with the easiest suit to show. ♠.
Negative Doubles to show ♠
Here is an auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
1♦
1♥
Double
Double here IS a Negative Double. This tells Partner you have ♠.
Here is a very similar auction:
Partner
Your Right Hand Opponent
You!
1♦
1♥
1♠
Bidding 1♠ also tells Partner you have ♠.
So what is the difference?
In the above auction, if you make a Negative Double to show ♠ you show EXACTLY FOUR ♠. You also promise at least 6 or more High Card Points. (You do still need values to respond to Partner when they open the bidding!) You also tell Partner you have the other minor (in this case ♣) but as long as you have at least one other place to play you really don't need the other minor. This bid is mostly about the major.
So let's look at some hands:
Partner opens the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalls 1♥. You can "Double" on the following hands:
♠KQ92
♥2
♦A84
♣KQ764
This is a "perfect" Negative Double. You have the other two suits. You have at least six HCP. You have exactly four ♠.
♠KQ92
♥82
♦KT84
♣764
This is maybe not the textbook definition of a Negative Double since you don't have the other minor but it is a Negative Double. You have at least six HCP. You have exactly four ♠. If Partner thinks you have ♣ (since you do kinda promise them) and bids ♣ you can always go back to ♦. You should have a ♦ fit.
♠KQ92
♥AQ32
♦42
♣KJ4
This is another example of not a traditional textbook definition of a Negative Double since you don't have the other minor but it is a Negative Double. You have at least six HCP. You have exactly four ♠. If Partner thinks you have ♣ (since you do kinda promise them) and bids ♣ you are going to be bidding 3NT so you do have another place to play.
So when would we NOT make this bid when we have four ♠?
What if you held:
♠KJ92
♥982
♦84
♣8764
Here you have four ♠ but you do NOT have the values to respond. You still need your six or more HCP to respond to Partner. Just "Pass" with this hand.
Here's another hand that is tough. Remember Partner opened the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalled 1♥. You hold:
♠Q962
♥KJ2
♦J84
♣876
Here you DO have four ♠ and enough values to respond. You could make a Negative Double. The problem is that Partner MUST bid over the "Double" (or else your RHO is playing in 1♥ Doubled!) and Partner might not have four ♠. What is Partner supposed to do? They might have to support your ♣ suit. But you don't have ♣. Or ♦. You also don't have the values to bid 2NT over Partner's 2♣ response.
This is an occasion where you would NOT make a Negative Double.
You still want to bid. But you need to make another bid. 1NT in this case. That will show about 6 to 10 HCP with a balanced hand and ♥ stoppers. It would be nice to show your ♠ suit but you have the values for one bid and one bid only. Take the safe route and not get your partnership into trouble.
Why play Negative Doubles?
The bonus with playing Negative Doubles is that now when Responder bids 1♠ they show at least FIVE ♠. Opener can now support them with only three cards in the suit.
So let's look at some hands that illustrate this:
Partner opens the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalls 1♥. Bid 1♠ on the following hand:
♠KQT92
♥82
♦84
♣Q764
You have at least six HCP and at least five ♠. 1♠ is still a FORCING bid. Opener must respond!
Partner opens the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalls 1♥. Bid 1♠ on the following hand:
♠KQT962
♥A82
♦4
♣AQ4
You have at least six HCP and at least five ♠. 1♠ is still a FORCING bid. Opener must respond!
That's quite a bit of information. Let's practice! That might make things a bit more clear.
On the following hands Partner opened the bidding 1♦. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) overcalled 1♥. It is your bid. What will you do?
Keep in mind that you do need values to bid.
Bid 1♠ if you have at least 6 HCP and at least five ♠.
If you have at least 6 HCP and exactly four ♠ you can make a Negative Double IF you have a place to play other than in ♠! Remember Partner might not have a fit for your ♠ suit! You should have either:
A) the other minor (♣)
B) a fit for Opener's minor (♦)
or
C) the ability to play in at least 2NT (Partner will have to bid 2♣ so this is the lowest level possible you can rebid NT) so that means at least 11 or 12 HCP with stoppers in the Opponent's suit!
If you do not have an alternate place to play you might have to avoid telling Partner about your ♠ suit.
Here goes. Remember the auction was:
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