Dark Bridge Retakes

Occasionally, I'm going to post revisits to some previous columns if I think I made a mistake either in how a bidding sequence went, or in how I explained it.  Today we revisit the question of the Negative Double from Dark Bridge 002 and the overcall vs. takeout double question from Dark Bridge 004.

Before we get started below the cut, I'll also announce a new feature on the blog.  I've posted a list on Amazon.com with a list of Bridge reference books that I use in this blog (and in play).  If you buy one from the link to the right I get some tiny Amazon.com gift certificate, so go ahead.  This is a fancy way of including a bibliography more than anything else.

One final note, I've been told some of these columns are a bit long to read and make sense out of.  I'm going to try tweaking the format a bit to make things clearer, mixing the discussion in with the walkthrough of the bidding, and reprinting some of the pieces of the hand to prevent having to scroll up and down.  Feedback in the comments is welcome!

The Hand In Question

Dlr: S Vul: Nil AQJ5 A86 A8732 8 K42 K532 J9 K1054 1098 Q7 104 AQJ976 763 J1094 KQ65 32

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	1	2
Pass (!)	3	All Pass

This is the hand from Dark Bridge 002. The question posed was whether South can make a negative double to show their hearts.  I said, no, they cannot as a negative double would show 4-4 in the majors.  I then said they should pass.  That's the wrong answer.  On the list in the upper right, you'll find a book called Negative Doubles by Marty Bergen, in which he lists every single possible negative double situation and what the call means.  And every one is pretty much different, which is of course the problem with negative doubles: they are extremely complicated!

Anyway, a negative double by South should show at least one (not two) four card major and 8 HCP.  If the 3 of clubs had been an ace, you could make the negative double, but in the hand shown you just don't have enough points.

Negative doubles are a complicated convention, and one I'm interested in exploring in this column.  They are allegedly very useful, so I'm anxious to see situations where they come in handy.

Next, let's look back at the takeout double from Dark Bridge 004:

The Hand In Question

Dealer: S Vul: Nil J7 10965 52 Q10943 Q9652 AK42 Q A62 A843 8 A1096 KJ85 K10 QJ73 KJ8743 7

South	West	North	East
1	Double	Pass	2
Pass	2	Pass	2
Pass	4	All Pass

The question came up (not in the comments unfortunately, but on IM) as to why West does not simply overcall in spades.  An overcall is a reasonable bid here, and I would not go so far as to consider it wrong.  I would probably choose the double (as I recommended) because it gives partner more options.  If they had a four card heart fit, and I overcalled, it gets harder to find the find the fit at a lower level.  If West had weaker hearts and stronger spades, I might consider the overcall instead.  This one is going to be up to you and your partner.

If you have questions on these or any hands posted here, please feel free to comment below.  I hope to make this an interactive forum for discussing bidding problems.