Expert: Unhunk - 11/2/2009

Question
the bidding has been ..W 3 hearts, N pass, E 4 hearts...I hold 20 high card points, a singleton heart, 4 in each of the other suits...what do I bid?  I doubled and it was passed around.  My partner says that you can't make a take out double at that level.  Is that correct?  The opponets went down one, but I don't feel like our team handled the bidding well.

Answer
Hi,

First of all let me say that you had just about the perfect textbook hand for your double of 4H. Your partner's statement is incorect. Actually, depending on partnership agreement, the double could be played as penalty or takeout. Many casual players would assume it is for penalty, but in the tournament world it's almost universally played as being for takeout.

I don't know what your partner's hand was or whether your side could make a high level contract so I can't comment on whether setting the opponents one trick is a good result. If your side can make a game (or slam) then obviously your result was not that great. If, however, you cannot make anything above 4H then the fact that you got a plus score rather than a minus score is commendable. In general, one reason that the opponents preempt is to make life as difficult as possible for you and the reality is that these preempts can often be very effective. Even top level players will have a difficult time bidding accurately if the auction has reached the four level before they even get a chance to say anything.

Below are some guidelines for responding to high level doubles. If your partner made a bad choice by passing then he should take the blame. If, however, he acted reasonably within the context of these guidelines then you can take solace in the fact that many experts would have done they same thing and that your result, if not optimal, was at least reasonable.

When we rate to beat the opponents but might or might not make a contract, we err in favor of defending. When our hand is very distributional and so both contracts might make, we err in favor of bidding.

Rule 1. Pass the double with balanced hands pretty much regardless of strength. If advancer has some points, 4H will go down multiple tricks. If advancer is weak, doubler may have 4H beat in his own hand, and if 4H makes -590 may score better than the -800 you would earn by pulling. Examples:

-- Jxx, xxx, xxx, AKxx. Pass. 4 tricks on defense are much easier than 11 on offense with this hand.

-- QTx, xx, KJxx, xxxx. Pass. If you can make 5D, you will definitely go plus against 4H. However, you will  usually fail in 5D and there is no guarantee that 4H will make in those cases.

-- KJxxx, xx, xxxx, Qx Bid 4S. Ten tricks are much easier to make than 11. When you suit is spades, you can pull the double more aggressively. If your black suits were reversed, you should pass the double

Rule 2. Pull the double with unbalanced hands that have chances to make, or that have negative defense.

-- Ax, x, KJTxxx, QTxx should pull the double expecting to make 5D.

-- xxx, --, QJTxxxx, xxx should pull the double, expecting 5D to be a good sacrifice against 4H.

-- Jxx, x, Jxxxx, xxxx should pass the double, even though it might make because anything you bid will probably go for a larger number and doubler may have 4H beat in his own hand. Some chance for a plus is better than no chance for a plus.