Q&A 05: DOUBLE OR QUITS

Not enough use is made of the DOUBLE and REDOUBLE in our bridge bidding. These bidding
problems and answers revolve around the use of the “X and XX”. To make it more meaningful to the
club player, all questions and answers come from match point play.

You are SOUTH, EW vulnerable, dealer North.

The Bidding has been:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1NT	Pass
2	X	XX	Pass
?

Your partner’s 1NT is 12-14 and your 2C is Stayman. You play Stayman with no specific point count.
Stayman, as you play it, simply asks a question: “do you have a four card major?”
West doubles and partner (the 1NT opener) redoubles

Your hand is:

K842

A753

A52

J2

What do you make of it?

Your intention in the first place was to ask for a major, and if partner bid 2D, to bid 2NT as an
invitation to game. Despite my adage that “an opening 1NT opposite a 1NT opening should equal 3NT
or 4 of a major” this hand has so little merit that a raise to 2NT is as far as I would go. But that decision
has been taken out of your hands, because when you bid your Stayman, West doubles. Normally such a
double is ‘lead directional’ and presumably West has not just reasonable clubs, say KQxxx but also a
few more high card points outside clubs. If you have less than that, you are asking for trouble, and this
West has just found it! That is what North’s XX should now tell you. Sitting South, the bidding should
tell you that partner has NO four card major, or he would have shown it in response to your Stayman;
partner also has at least four clubs, and may even have opened 1NT with a five card club suit. Partner
also knows that your Stayman could be quite weak, BUT...the XX can not possibly go wrong because if
your hand is weak and looking for an exit in a major you will now bid your better major, or even 2D. But
if your hand is invitational or better then how can 2CXX not be making? Your hand is just that and you
should be delighted to pass and show off your declarer skills if West also passes. You should know
your maths and that 2CXX making exactly (I would expect an overtrick) equals GAME. An easy way
to bid and make game if West wants to put his head on the block. And, of course, given the
vulnerability, you will be more than happy not to let the opponents off the hook, and double them
should EW try to squirm out in diamonds or one of your majors!

Now for another ‘cost nothing’ X situation. Some of us would call it an instance of another ‘lead
directional’ double.

Dealer South NS Vul

South	West	North	East
Pass	1NT	Pass	2
?

Your hand, as South:

52

KJ952

A874

93

It is your turn again. Do you take any action or pass once more?

You certainly don’t want to freely enter the auction now, but what can it cost you to put an X in the
bidding box? Yes, some of my readers would do just that, but they would call it a lead directional
double, which seems a bit strange to me. There has been a 1NT opening on your left and West will
surely transfer to spades and probably play there. Why would you be wanting a heart lead? Why would
you not be wanting, instead, to tell partner that your hand just might offer partner an opportunity to
play in, and make, 3H should West obey the transfer request and bid 2S? This is South’s opportunity to
tell partner exactly that, in a safe enough environment: West is never going to redouble or pass because
West can have no reason to think they can make 2H and in the worst case scenario EW will play in
game in spades or No Trumps. In the best case scenario, North will have a good enough hand to give
3H a shot and make. You have told partner what you have, or near enough, with the double, partner is
under no compunction to bid. Another ‘no lose’ situation, but nearly every West in a match point
session played in 2S. One East played in, and made, 3H for a clear top.

Transfers are a very useful tool, but the tool can be a two edged sword if opponents can turn it against
you. Few have that capability, so don’t give up your transfers (or your Stayman)..