NEGATIVE
AND RESPONSIVE DOUBLES by Walt Sturm
The negative double is a
flexible convention which solves several bidding problems that arise frequently.
Case 1: Partner opens 1 of a
minor and RHO overcalls 1 spade. With 4 hearts and 6-9 HCP, lacking a spade
stopper, you are speechless without the negative double.
Case 2: With the same
beginning, you are now stuck with a weak-2 opener in hearts.
Case 3: Partner opens 1 heart
and RHO overcalls 1 spade. Now you are stuck with either a weak-2 opener in
diamonds (or clubs!) or a weak minor two suiter.
Case 4: A bonus occurs after
RHO overcalls 1 heart. Now you may guarantee a 5-card spade suit by bidding 1
spade, using the negative double to show only 4 spades.
In summary. the negative
double is a lowlevel Takeout Double by responder. It is useful whenever RHO has
deprived you of a bid that you cheerfully would have made, e.g., 1 heart in Case
1, or it provides you a description of a hand, e.g., Cases 2 & 3, which is
unavailable otherwise.
Before adopting any
convention, one must consider what is being given up. Here, it may appear that
low-level penalty doubles are lost, but that is not true. Whenever you want to
make a penalty double, you merely pass and rely on opener, who is presumably
short in RHO`s suit, to reopen with a double, which you will pass. Opener
should rebid very shapely hands that are unsuitable for defense, resolving all doubtful
cases with a double.
The responsive double is very
similar to a negative double, but it is only used by the defenders. It applies
opposite the partner`s initial overcall or Takeout Double and only if RHO
raises opener`s suit, e.g., 1H - X - 2H - X! Here, partner suggests spades and
the responsive double shows values without a convenient bid, either 4 spades or
a heart stopper.
Both of these conventions
should be used considering the level at which partner is obliged to respond.
Partner is freer to convert to penalties at the higher levels. I recommend
using both through 4H; neither is Alertable.
Ed Note: The following external links are
provided by the web developer.
Description of
Negative Doubles by Bridge Guys Claus and Raymond
Examples using Negative
Doubles by Karen Walker