e-Vil Files 10
Apologies! There were a couple of cards either missing or in the wrong place in No.9 but the essence of it would not have changed. The deal was reconstructed from memory, and mine is nowhere near perfect, so here is a more meaningful version. This time, I trust, there are no cards out of place!
Dealer N EW Vul
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K5Let me review the bidding:
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 1 | 1 |
| X | 2 | X | Pass |
3 | 3 | Pass | Pass |
| X |
Everyone plays ‘fourth suit forcing’ but it is not always possible to bid the fourth suit, especially when we are in a competing situation with opponents bidding their own suit or suits. The fourth suit can often be crucial in such situations, not just for determining the level to which we can go, but also in decisions when it comes to defence. In competitive situations, most people will play a double as either simply ‘takeout’ with no specific meaning, or to show extra strength, also without any other specific meaning.
I find that the holding in the fourth suit can often be an unknown quantity, so, as is the case of lower level takeout doubles being specifically ‘major oriented’, we have introduced the “Evil Double” to be much more meaningful in such situations: when in a competitive situation, if there is one unbid suit, either from direct bidding or implied, the double of an opponent’s last bid shows SPECIFICALLY: Ax, Axxx, Kxxx, or Kx in the fourth suit. Because these are the only allowable holdings for the double, it is very easy to either bid on to a good game, or penalise opponents in a part score with more confidence.
How often have you considered leading your king holding Kx in a side suit and rejected that idea as too risky? With “Evil Doubles” there is often no risk in such a manoeuver. Here, South has ‘bid’ hearts with his double of the 1S overcall. North has doubled West’s raise to 2S, and this is now showing exactly the specified options in CLUBS. Can you see why those specific alternatives are so important and should not include Kxx or Axx? The only drawback is that the “EVil Double” won’t come up very often, but then again, there is a negative inference when partner bids a suit when he could have doubled!
Replay this board by clicking here.
