Better Bridge in Barry County February 7 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

	North ♠  5 4 ♥  K 9 6 3 ♦  A J 9 2 ♣  8 7 3
West ♠  K 10 9 3 2 ♥  Q 8 2   ♦  K 5 4 ♣  K Q		East ♠  7 6 ♥  J 10   ♦  10 8 6 ♣  A J 10 9 4 2
	South ♠  A Q J 8 ♥  A 7 5 4 ♦  Q 7 3 ♣  6 5

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North Neither K♣

North Pass Dbl (1) Pass	East Pass Pass Pass	South 1♦ 2♥	West 1♠ Pass
(1)   Negative Double

In today’s column we will continue to look at the Eight Bridge Conventions You Should Know. So far, the Stayman Convention and the Jacoby Transfer Convention have been the first two of the eight important bridge conventions for the modern bridge player. Today let’s look at the use of the double in bridge conversation.

While most bridge players are familiar with the Take Out Double, the Negative Double might be a new creature for some players. In fact, the Negative Double is a close cousin of the Take Out Double. How does the Negative Double work?

In today’s bridge hand, after two passes, South opened the bidding with 1♦, a convenient minor. West, with 13 high card points and a five-card spade suit, overcalled 1♠.  North then interjected a call. North’s bid was a double, but what was its meaning? With a four-card heart suit and eight high-card points, North was able to use a bridge convention called the Negative Double. North’s bid was in direct response to West’s overcall, and his Negative Double, a partnership agreement, has the following meaning: “Partner, I was about to bid, but this opponent overcalled. I am using a Negative Double to mean that I have the other major, and I have exactly four hearts to make this bid. I can bid this way because I have at least six points, the same number of points I would have used as a response to your opening bid.”

With this useful bid, North was able to convey important information to his partner South. This bid took up no bidding space, and yet it gave a clear picture of the North hand. South, with four of his own hearts, was able to use that information to bid the hearts to the two or three level, knowing that North/South had found a fit in the heart suit.

Even if East bid the clubs to the two or three level, South was assured that North had four hearts and at least six points. On this hand, the contract is set at 2♥ in the South hand when South bid 2♥ and all passed.

West led the top of his club sequence, the K♣, followed by the Q♣. East overtook the Q♣ with the A♣, and she knew that there was no future in continuing clubs. Instead East shifted to the 7♠, the top of a doubleton. South put up the J♠ losing to the K♠. So far, the East/West team had taken the first three tricks of this hand.  West led the 10♠, and it was won by South with the Q♠.

South led the A♥ with all following. South next led the 7♦ and went up with the J♦ winning the diamond finesse. Playing the K♥ next drew a trump from East and West, but the Q♥ did not fall. East/West would win the Q♥, two club tricks, and the K♠. North/South would take nine tricks, making an overtrick and a successful bid and contract.  Using the Negative Double Convention helped them arrive at the right contract.

Some final thoughts on Negative Doubles: for a one-level negative double bid, you need 6+ points. If you make a two-level negative double call, you need 8+ points. Negative Doubles are typically used through the 3♠ level.

To use a Negative Double when there are two unbid major suits, you must have four cards in both majors. In the case when you have five spades, do not use a Negative Double. Instead bid the spade suit at the one level. Save the Negative Double for four cards. With five spades in your hand, bid the suit, and this will let your partner know that you have at least a five-card suit.

Learn to use a Negative Double. This takes practice with a partner who knows and understands Negative Doubles. This year is the time to learn a most useful and important modern bridge convention: the Negative Double. Remember that a Negative Double always guarantees support for any unbid major.

Gerald Stein

January 28, 2013

 Number of words: 867

Bridge Etiquette Tip Number One: One of the finest courtesies you as a bridge player can extend to your partner is to thank her when she places the dummy on the table. Many times the declarer will say nothing when a pleasant “Thank you, Partner” would do wonders for the partnership. Even if the dummy is not at all what you expected, still the courteous “Thank you, partner” will build that bridge partnership into a lasting one. Try it this year as an easy resolution.