Doubling 1NT – What Next?

Traps for the Unwary by Michael Byrne Doubling 1NT – What Next?

OUR EXPLORATION of the competitive exactly what they had because ‘It was good to collect if world of bidding continues with a look at obvious I had hearts / no hearts / toast for ´ K J 9 7 5 partner has some dia- the 1NT battleground, a scary world where breakfast’ etc. ™ Q 7 5 monds; what do you casualties are many and the injuries severe. The important thing is that you and your t Q do? The solution is to Most people are familiar with the basic idea partner agree what double means. I don’t ® K 8 7 6 pass for now, forcing that a double of 1NT is for penalty but after con sider there to be one superior method partner to take some that, if the opponents run, it can be quite played by all experts; if anything, I think action. If partner makes a penalty double awkward to know when you should be they have more disagreements than the you will pass, expecting him to have four penalising them and when you should be ordinary man in the street! I have chosen to good trumps (sitting under the diamond bidding a contract of your own . concentrate on playing penalty doubles bidder), and if partner bids you will force The first question is: ‘How much do you simply as I believe that to be slightly more to game. We call this a ‘forcing pass’. need to double 1NT?’ The answer is that if common. If you have a much more shapely hand you hold a balanced hand, then you should If you choose to play double for pen alties such as: double on all hands of 17 points or more, in that sequence, then when you do double Then cue-bid the op - most of 16, and a few of 15 if you have you should have length in trumps, typically ´ K J 9 7 5 ponent’s suit, to show intermediate cards and sequences. four or three very good ones. Doubling the ™ Q 8 7 5 4 3 a good hand that Can you ever double with less? Well, opponents at a low level is only right when t Void wants to know more. certainly holding a long suit it can be more they are in a misfit, and as you know they ® 4 3 Obviously if partner effective to double than to overcall have at least a five-carder facing two with bids 3NT, you will especially if your suit is a minor. Some - the 1NT bidder, then you must be careful return to 4 ™ to suggest a distributional thing like this is ideal: when you pull the trigger. hand. Partner will know you are very Only 14 points So when you make a penalty double, shapely (rather than just having a lot of ´ A 2 but you have 1NT assume partner has a relatively balanced points) as you haven’t given him the ™ 7 5 4 more or less beaten hand in the 16/17 range and base it on that. chance to double for penalties. t K Q J 10 7 4 in your own hand, These hands are ideal for a double in the Let’s review some of the dos and don’ts ® A 3 with five diamond above sequence: of penalising a 1NT opening: tricks and two aces a) ´ K 3 ™ 7 6 5 t Q 10 8 4 ® J 7 6 5 to get in and cash b) ´ Q 4 ™ J 8 7 t K J 9 7 ® 6 5 4 3 them. Change the aces to queens and jacks c) ´ 4 ™ Q J 10 5 t A K 10 ® 9 7 6 5 4 Do: and keep the point count the same, and What about if you can’t make a penalty • Double 1NT when you hold 16+ now it would be wise to pass, as hands double, and you hold very little? In that case points, or slightly fewer if you hold a lacking cards of entry are often pass with a balanced hand and let partner good sequence to lead against it. disappointing in defence. make his own arrangement, but bid in front • Try and defend doubled part-scores Having doubled 1NT, what can you do if of him if you have a bad hand with a long when you have length and strength the opponents run to somewhere else? suit – in effect countering the opponents in the enemy trump suit; if you just After all, the next hand will hold a five- weak take out with one of your own! have a lot of high cards then bid card suit a lot of the time and does best to Let’s say you hold this hand: your normal game contract. take it out whenever it can; should you On the auction shown • Use the cue-bid of the opponents’ press on doubling them or bid a suit? ´ J 9 7 4 3 earlier, imme diately bid suit to show a shapely hand. With a The main issue arises over what double ™ 8 7 5 2´! Bidding ‘in front more balanced hand that can’t actually means in this sequence: t 2 of partner’, as it is double, pass it round to partner ® 8 7 4 3 known, shows a poor and let him have a go at it. Oppo 1 Partner Oppo 2 You hand and no wish to Don’t: 1NT Dble 2t Dble do anything exciting. • Spring doubles on your partner What about if you hold more points and out of the blue; make sure you have A third of the country play this double as want to lay claim to the hand? discussed them first. The argument take-out, and a third of the country play it On the hand at the top of the next ‘Didn’t you read this month’s Traps as penalties. The other third of the column you know you have a game on, for the Unwary?’ will not take away country just double whenever they want but also th at you have a lot of points the pain of conceding -870. r to, and claim partner should have known between you and that a penalty might be