Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Responding to a Negative Double with Hearts RHO Passes

This post builds on the knowledge learned in previous posts. Please read them first:
Introducing the Negative Double - Auctions showing Spades
Responding to a 1 Level Negative Double when RHO passes
Responding to a Negative Double when RHO raises 1 level
Negative Doubles to show Hearts

Once Partner makes a Negative Double you (as Opener) are basically forced to bid. It's a little bit like a Take Out Double. If you "Pass" the Negative Double, the Opponents are playing at a low level contract and neither you, nor Partner, has very many trump. So you NEED to respond. Let's look at hands where Partner made a Negative Double at the 1 level to show that they have .

So the auction would be:
YOU! Your Left Hand Opponent Partner Your Right Hand Opponent
1 1♠ Double Pass
???

and here is your hand:
♠92
KQJ2
KT84
♣A84

If you "Pass" right now your LHO is playing in 1♠ Doubled and you only have two trump. Partner doesn't have to have any! So you cannot "Pass".

Partner's Double told you that they have at least four in their hand. Perfect! You have four ! You have a fit!

You need to tell Partner that you have a fit. But you don't want Partner thinking you have much in the way of points. You are minimum for your opening bid. Bid 2. That tells Partner that you have a fit, but you only have a minimum hand.

What if your hand was stronger? What do you do then?

With a VERY stong hand, say this one:
♠J9
AK82
AKT4
♣A84

you can just go right to game. Bid 4. Partner is supposed to have at least 8 HCP to make a Negative Double forcing you to the 2 level. You have 19 HCP! That should be enough to make a game.

Can you count extra points somehow?

Say you had this hand:
♠2
AK82
AK92
♣K862

You opened the bidding 1. If the Opponents had not interfered Partner would have responded 1. You have a fit and you will be Dummy. You can now add Dummy points to your hand. So now rather than 17 HCP in your hand you have 20 points because you get to count three points for your singleton ♠. It seems unfair that when the Opponents interfere with a 1♠ overcall you no longer get those points.

It is unfair. Give them to yourself!

So add Dummy points to your hand even though you will be Declarer.

So that 17 HCP hand now becomes a 20 point hand. You can now jump to game!

With a more medium type hand you can jump one level. Since Partner is promising a little more values with their bid (8 or more HCP rather than 6 or more HCP) a medium hand is about 15 or 16 points.

So with this hand:
♠92
AK82
AK982
♣86

you would jump to 3. That tells Partner that you have more than just a minimum opener, but not quite enough to bid a game. About 15 or 16 points. But remember to count Dummy points!

That's quite a bit of information. Let's practice! That might make things a bit more clear.

On the following hands YOU opened the bidding 1. Your LHO (Left Hand Opponent) overcalled 1♠. Partner doubled. You have agreed to play Negative Doubles and this is one! Partner has at least 8 HCP and at least four . Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) says "Pass". It is your bid. What will you bid and what does that bid show?

So the auction was:
YOU! Your Left Hand Opponent Partner Your Right Hand Opponent
1 1♠ Double Pass
???

With a minimum opening hand (and a fit!) bid just 2. This should show up to 14 points.
With a medium opening hand (and a fit!) jump to 3. This should show 15 or 16 points.
With a maximum opening hand (and a fit!) bid 4. This should show at least 17 points.

(Remember to count Dummy points!)

Hand 1

♠93
AK93
T765
♣AK9



Hand 2

♠A3
9854
AQJ52
♣Q8



Hand 3

♠7
A842
QJ83
♣AQ83



Hand 4

♠Q
QJ42
AQT5
♣KQ75



Hand 5

♠42
AT52
AQ54
♣QJ4



Hand 6

♠K9
AQ42
AK764
♣Q3



Hand 7

♠764
AT72
AKT7
♣K8



Hand 8

♠K964
K743
AT97
♣A



Hand 9

♠QJ
AT53
K543
♣K95



Hand 10

♠AQ
KJ65
AJ32
♣A92



Hand 11

♠J
J842
AK54
♣A732



Hand 12

♠7
AQJ5
AQJ62
♣J95



Hand 13

♠4
AQ72
AQT5
♣K984



Hand 14

♠642
AQJ7
AJ94
♣Q5



Hand 15

♠72
A943
AK975
♣KT



Hand 16


QJ86
AJT862
♣AJ2



Hand 17

♠9
K643
AQ64
♣KJ65



Hand 18

♠54
AQ63
KT52
♣KJ8



Hand 19

♠A3
J953
AJ986
♣A7



Hand 20

♠A9
AK93
KQ973
♣53



Hand 21

♠KT9
AQ62
Q986
♣Q8



Hand 22

♠QJ2
A654
AQ75
♣T7



Hand 23

♠6
A973
AKQ76
♣QJ2



Hand 24

♠J9
AQ63
QJ542
♣AT



Hand 25

♠Q6
K765
AKQ852
♣7



Hand 26

♠KT9
AKQ7
JT93
♣T3



Hand 27

♠A
AKJ9
AJ82
♣8543



Hand 28

♠3
AQ64
AK84
♣8532



Hand 29

♠A7
9763
AKQ2
♣AQT



Hand 30

♠4
AKJ6
QJ74
♣Q976



Hand 31

♠K2
AQT7
AK987
♣K2



Hand 32

♠AJ52
AJ85
QJ93
♣T



Hand 33

♠7
A875
AKQ973
♣93



Hand 34

♠J
AKJT
AKQJ96
♣84



Hand 35

♠87
AQ95
AKT63
♣97



Hand 36

♠K2
AQ53
K974
♣QT3



Hand 37

♠QJ
7543
AK53
♣QJ9



Hand 38

♠K
QT43
AJT9
♣KQ95



Hand 39

♠K8
AJT6
AQJ54
♣T6



Hand 40

♠A97
Q642
AK853
♣5



Hand 41

♠AQ8
AT32
KQ983
♣2



Hand 42

♠T76
K654
AQ86
♣AT



Hand 43

♠AQ8
AQJ9
A865
♣J8



Hand 44

♠Q2
J632
AQT82
♣A2



Hand 45

♠A
K732
AQT97
♣762



Hand 46

♠AK5
AQ96
QJ92
♣Q8



Hand 47

♠82
AJ32
AQT83
♣K3



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