Saturday, November 10, 2018

Rebidding after Partner makes a Negative Double showing both Majors

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
Responding to a Negative Double with Hearts RHO Passes
Responding to a Negative Double which shows Hearts when RHO raises 1 level

and most importantly:
Negative Doubling to show BOTH Majors

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 both major suits.

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

and here is your hand:
♠KQ92
J82
83
♣AK84

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 1♠. 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:
♠AKJ9
82
AT4
♣AK84

you can just go right to game. Bid 4♠. Partner is supposed to have at least 6 HCP to make the Negative Double. You have 19 HCP! That should be enough to make a game.

With a more medium type hand you can jump one level.

So with this hand:
♠AKJ9
82
96
♣AKJ84

you would jump to 2♠. That tells Partner that you have more than just a minimum opener, but not quite enough to bid a game.

Can you count extra points somehow?

Say you had this hand:
♠AQ92
AT2
4
♣AJ842

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 15 HCP in your hand you have 18 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 15 HCP hand now becomes an 18 point hand. You can now jump a level to 2♠ to show a hand with about 17 or 18 points -- even a really good 16 point hand.

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 6 HCP and at least four cards in BOTH Majors. 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 1 of your four card major. This should show up to a bad 16 points.
With a medium opening hand (and a fit!) jump to 2 of your four card major. This should show a really good 16 points to 18 points.
With a maximum opening hand (and a fit!) bid 4 of your four card major. This should show at least 19 points.

(Remember to count Dummy points!)

Hand 1

♠85
Q752
K76
♣AKQ4



Hand 2

♠J842
A5
Q2
♣AK972



Hand 3

♠AJ97
KQ9
J
♣AQ863



Hand 4

♠AK2
KT65
5
♣AQ842



Hand 5

♠K5
AQ52
A54
♣AQ74



Hand 6

♠Q9
KQT5
872
♣AK75



Hand 7

♠A976
A76
6
♣KQJ72



Hand 8

♠J87
KQ52
Q
♣AK643



Hand 9

♠AK74
A73
T2
♣Q543



Hand 10

♠73
AKT8
T76
♣AQT5



Hand 11

♠Q6
AQT6
J4
♣AJT53



Hand 12

♠AT9
AT82
J4
♣KJT6



Hand 13

♠AKT9
86
953
♣AK54



Hand 14

♠4
AJ96
T9
♣AKQ764



Hand 15

♠KT82
T98
AK
♣K642



Hand 16

♠A82
K842
J
♣KQ952



Hand 17

♠AQT3
K74
8
♣AKJ83



Hand 18

♠K42
JT43
Q4
♣AKJ8



Hand 19

♠AK2
AJ52
4
♣QT976



Hand 20

♠AJ85
852

♣AKQ432



Hand 21

♠K5
KJ43
64
♣AK842



Hand 22

♠8
AQ64
AJ4
♣AJ843



Hand 23

♠A53
KQ72
6
♣AKQT2



Hand 24

♠A876
QJ2
9
♣AQ985



Hand 25

♠87
KQT5
JT4
♣AK85



Hand 26

♠KQJ8
K83

♣KJT832



Hand 27

♠AJ95
AK4
9
♣KT976



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