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A strong hand: but how to handle it?

More pairs are playing transfer responses to what is usually a short 1C opening. Thus, whether or not you play such a system, you are quite likely to have to defend against some of the unusual situations it creates. Today’s deal is not actually about a transfer response in itself, or not the more common ones, but how to handle a good hand when everyone seems to have something to say.

 

1 promised at least two clubs and 1 denied both a four- card major also a diamond hold too. What to do with our nice-looking hand? We are playing Teams.

One question around this situation is if we double, what does it mean?

Andy Braithwaite “Double: I double first which should show values and major interest.”

Michael Ware “Double: for take-out.”

Michael Cornell “Double: I do x 1S despite my diamond shortage.”

Peter Newell “Double: of course, one’s bids do depend on what you know about your partner and your agreements…

.how weak can partner be to bid 1?

 Is the double of 1 is take-out of clubs, or shows spades?

Would partner volunteer a 4-card major if he had one even with a weak hand?

Do you play weak jumps?  If so, partner probably only has (4) 5 diamonds, likely shortish clubs and therefore a 4-card major.”

Giving his version to at least the question of what double says is:

Bruce Anderson “Double: a negative double showing both majors as if the bid showed only spades, a heart fit could be lost. Our opponents are playing 2/1 and without the 1 bid the 1 response would show a balanced 6-9 points and no 4-card major. To show no diamond hold indicates great partnership understanding.  

It is tempting to pass as surely the 1 is forcing and it is likely E/W are already in trouble. If opener makes the likely rebid of either 1NT or 2 I can double, which should be read as penalties (I had the option to make a negative double over 1 but did not do so). But our opponents are almost certain to have club fit and if partner has a 4 card major, this approach will not be a success.

On the same track re the double is:

Nigel Kearney “Double: Without any agreement I would expect this to suggest something in the majors, but not necessarily four cards in both majors. Double needs to cater to a range of hands that cannot bid NT or two of a major and don't want to raise diamonds immediately.”

 

Values, both majors, something in the majors. All true. However, Double was not the universal action.

 

Stephen Blackstock and Pam Livingston “Pass: knowing that East has to bid something.”

 

Stephen and Pam are right. East must now bid. We suggested after the double that East would bid 2. So, what would the Panel do then after the sequence has gone:

West              North            East                South

                                               1                   1

1                   x/Pass            2                   Pass
Pass                ?

 

Another double, maybe, but what does that mean?

Andy Braithwaite “Double: When partner passes 2, the 1 bid must be lead directing with poor points so may not be much use to me if I declare in a major.

But partner with a singleton club must hold either 6 diamonds or 5 with a 4-card major. So, I double again in the hope it is the latter.”

 

Playing Teams, our Michaels disagree:

 

Michael Cornell “Pass: I am just going to take my plus now. Even if partner is bare minimum, I do not believe he has a club shortage and a 4-card major.   Had opener passed, he would have had to bid but now he has the chance to pass. So, he should not have that.

If this was Pairs, I think I would double again as 2 of a major should be favourite in a 4-3 for 110 but at imps I will just settle for the almost certain plus.”

 

Michael Ware “Pass:  partner couldn't act over 2 with either 2 or double for take-out.”

 

Peter Newell “Double: for take-out. If partner doesn’t have a 4-card major, I certainly would rather pass, but I think most likely partner has short clubs given East has bid them twice, and West must have some clubs given they have no major, and if partner probably doesn’t have 6 diamonds, that means partner is likely to have a 4-card major.  Partner is likely a minimum overcall, and may not have been clear about what the double of 1 is – so double for take-out for me.”

An unusual option, given our own club holding, afforded by:

Bruce Anderson “Double: I double again, which must show a strong hand, and offers partner the option of either rebidding a long suit or passing for penalties.”

The last thing I would want to hear would be 2. If partner has that option, I’m with the Michaels in going for a plus. Our two passers of 1 are again united in what double means and they do not want any pulls to 2!

Pam Livingston “Double: I will then double and partner will know I have no diamond support.”

Stephen Blackstock “Double: I beam and double for penalties (it can hardly be anything else, given my previous pass). 2x will suit me admirably.”

If double after a previous pass is for penalties, then perhaps double after a previous double is still for take-out?

Nigel Kearney “Double: On the second round, I'm not sure what is going on. Partner doesn't have a weak jump in diamonds, doesn't seem to have many clubs, and could not bid a major either. Anyway, I have extra values for my previous double so will just double again (not for penalty) and see what partner does.”

So, it would seem that had we doubled 1, our second double is still for take-out. Had we passed initially, we double for blood. No action threatened to record a poor score:

 

A penalty double of 2 would have netted 300 without much sweat. A negative double would have forced a reluctant partner to bid 2. Would you be game enough to go all the way? Assuming declarer takes the diamond finesse (marked from our bidding: West had no diamond hold), this contract can be made for the loss of three trump tricks.

I am still a little unsure of what the double of 1 would mean. Values/ majors perhaps rather than just spades. In this case, penalising 2 after a pass of 1 seems a reasonably safe way to go.

Have a Lead?

 

You are playing Teams. 2 is a 3- way Multi. 2 is “pass or correct” and 3 shows a strong single-suited club hand. 3 is natural. Your lead?
Richard Solomon

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