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Then say “nothing”!

So Obvious?

You have a hand of no merit at all. You have been given the opportunity to pass. So, that seems the obvious thing to do. Well, is it?

Below is the kind of hand you hold frequently. So, you should be expert at bidding it. Indeed, what you are likely to be saying is “it’s your problem, partner.”

 

 

2 is a standard Game Force, but 24+ if balanced. Your bid?

Even though you have 4 honour cards (we can count the 10 as an honour if it suits us!), this is no hand of beauty and that seems to be the message we need to get across to our partner:

Peter Newell “Pass: is clearcut. – While I value the hand more like a 3-4 count than a 1 count with all the 10s and 9s, and particularly 109 together, and I have the shape for a takeout double, the hand is still too weak….the chances of having an entry to my mind are not great, and partner has a right to expect at least an ace or king, or a couple of queens at the very least…so definitely a pass for me and not as problem. There is no rush to bid…and partner will expect quite a bit more.”

That is the problem with any action, and a take-out double is the only action you could consider. Will you be able to stop your partner taking off to slam?

Bruce is more direct:

Bruce Anderson “Pass: West would have to be deranged to bid. Pass and await developments is the only rational option.”

I had asked the Panel whether this was a problem:

Stephen Blackstock “Pass: To answer your question, no, it isn’t a problem. In the absence of any special arrangements of what pass and double might mean when RHO intervenes, I am very happy to pass. Partner will expect at least a few values if I bid now, not this trash.”

Kris Wooles “Pass: No, I wouldn’t call it a problem. We are committed to game so let’s hear what partner has to say.”

Yet, there are other ways, or at least of differentiating “double” and “pass”.

Nigel Kearney “Pass: I prefer to play double for takeout and it doesn't need much, but should be better than this. The most common approach is that double is penalty, which would make pass even more obvious.”

“Double for penalties”? I am not sure it is the “most common approach” or even the best use of double. However, Nigel did give a little thought to a take-out double.

Andy Braithwaite “Pass: Not a problem- I play pass shows 0-3 and double shows 4-7 with normal 8 plus bids. So, I pass and leave partner to clarify- x penalties, 2NT balanced and suits natural.”

Interesting that penalty double by opener. What about this?

Michael Cornell “Double: I double which I play as a double negative 0-5.”

So, “double” could be take-out style, 4-7 or a double-negative or even penalties. Do you know what double means? Surely, most of the time it will be right for the strong hand to be declarer rather than say having to make a take-out double, getting you to bid a suit. In that case, Andy is right that double by the strong hand is indeed for penalties. Oh, I wish I had known!

 

 

I ran to hearts and partner to 3NT but all those 10’s and 9’s could not conjure up more than 8 tricks. The board occurred in the Easter Teams and the other table, the same auction ended with East’s 2 bid, not the 800 which was on offer but at least a plus, from 4 down undoubled.

I see nothing wrong with Andy Braithwaite’s or Michael Cornell’s approach, both netting a decent penalty here. Of course, when the weaker hand wishes to penalise, they do not get their wish. Certainly, if the strong hand can make a penalty double, then so should the weak hand. You may or may not be able to catch your opponent but you should certainly agree on what your doubles mean from both partners…and with 2NT always available by the strong hand, there does seem less need to make a take-out style double from either partner, unless the overcaller’s partner raises the suit.

 

Well bid: well made?

Hope so. The lead is 10.

 

 

 

What’s your line?

 

Richard Solomon

 

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