ACBL02N – Double: Negative Doubles Ward Trumbull
Dec 17, 2011
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If you truly believe that the number one goal in bidding is game in a major suit (with 8+ cards between the two hands), then you should/MUST learn negative doubles.
If you truly believe that the first one to bid notrump wins, leave now and come back in an hour after this lesson is over.
1. What is it?
It is bidding convention only for responders to indicate whether they
have 4 or 5+ cards in a major suit.
2. Who does it?
It is applicable to a responder when partner has opened the bidding or
made a takeout double.
3. When is it applicable?
When there is an intervening bid by responder’s RHO before he/she
responds. This is called a Negative Double Situation.
4. How does it work?
When responding to partner’s request (open/double), you should, with
few exceptions, bid a major suit if possible. If you do, you are only
indicating 4 cards in that suit. You may have more, but partner doesn’t
know it.
However, if there is an intervening bid and your partnership is playing
Negative Doubles, your bid can indicate when you have more than 4
cards in a major. The rule is:
Double with 4 card majors or bid them with 5+ cards majors.
ACBL02N – Double: Negative Doubles Dec 17, 2011
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5. Why use this convention? (It’s so confusing)
A. When you normally respond with a 4 card major, partner
cannot/should not support your suit with only 3 cards in that suit.
Good bridge players don’t. Those with poor bidding skills do it all the
time.
By using Negative Doubles, you can sometimes indicate a 5+ card
major, and then partner can support with only 3 cards in that suit.
B. If partner opens or doubles, he/she usually has the stronger hand
(HCP). Thus if partner next bids responder’s 4 card major (after
his/her negative double), he/she will play the hand.
C. When responder has 4 cards in both majors, you have two chances
for partner to find a 4-opposite-4 fit.
D. If the intervening bid is 1 spade or 1 notrump, you can indicate a 4
card heart suit with only 6 HCP (not the 8+ required to bid at the 2
level) by doubling.
6. When don’t Negative Doubles apply?
A. The opening partner does not make Negative Doubles.
B. The takeout double partner does not make Negative Doubles.
C. If partner overcalls, Negative Doubles do not apply.
D. If partner preempts (2/3 level), Negative Doubles do not apply.
E. If there is no intervening bid, Negative Doubles do not apply.
7. What HCP are needed?
A. Normally, to respond at the 1 level you need 6+ HCP.
To make a Negative Double at the 1 level you need 6+ HCP.
To bid a 5+ card major at the 1 level (also called a Negative Double)
you need 6+ HCP.
ACBL02N – Double: Negative Doubles Dec 17, 2011
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7. What HCP are needed? (continued)
B. Normally, to respond at the 2 level you need 10+ HCP. If there is an
intervening bid, you need only 8+ HCP.
To bid a 5+ card major at the 2 level (also called a Negative Double)
you need 8+ HCP.
To make a Negative Double for a 4 card major at the 2 level you
need 8+ HCP.
And with a 5+ card major and only 6-7 HCP you can make a
Negative Double at the 2 level.
8. What is the highest level for a Negative Double?
When playing duplicate, I mark my convention card to indicate that we
play Negative Doubles thru 2 spades. That means any double by the
responder at the 3 level is a Penalty Double, not a Negative Double. It
must be a partnership agreement.
9. Any problems? In case you forgot.
If you have a 5+ card major in a Negative Double Situation and have to
respond at the 2 level but don’t have the 8+ HCP that are required, you
should make a Negative Double with 6-7 HCP as the lesser of two evils.
10. How do you bid with both majors?
Hearts Spades Comment
--------- ---------- ------------------------------------------------------------
4 4 make Negative Double
* 4 5 ditto
* 5 4 ditto
5 5 always bid spades first - even if hearts are
stronger
* Don’t forsake the other 4 card major by bidding the 5+ card major.
ACBL02N – Double: Negative Doubles Dec 17,2011
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11. Any specific rules for takeout doubles only?
If your partner makes a takeout double and there is no intervening bid,
you must bid. Even with no HCP. Thus partner should figure you for no
HCP. The rule is that with 9-11 HCP, you should skip bid in response to
partner’s takeout double. You would be bidding a 4+ card suit. With
12+ HCP, cue bid the opponent’s suit.
However, with an intervening bid, your bid option is called a FREE BID.
That is, you don’t have to bid. So if you do make a free bid without
skipping, it implies you have some HCP.
12. How about some examples?
With opening bids
LHO Partner RHO Neg Dbl Sit Your HCP Comment
------------- ----------- ---------- --------------- ------------- ---------------------
1 club pass no 0-5 pass ok, except
If ace & jack or
K/Q same suit
6+ bid 1 of major if
possible
6-9 bid 1 notrump
1 diam yes 0-5 pass ok, except
6+ neg dbl with 4
card major(s)
6+ bid 5+ major
6-9 may bid 1 NT
1 heart yes 0-5 pass ok, except
6+ neg dbl with 4
spades
6+ bid 1 spade
with 5+ cards
6-9 may bid 1 NT
ACBL02N – Double: Negative Doubles Dec 17, 2011
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12. How about some examples? (continued)
Your
LHO Partner RHO Neg Dbl Sit HCP Comment
------------- ----------- ---------- --------------- -------- -----------------------
1 club 1 spade yes 0-5 pass ok, except
or 1 NT 6+ neg dbl w 4 hrts
* 6-7 neg dbl w 5+ hrts
8+ bid 2 hts w 5+ hts
With Takeout Doubles
Your
LHO Partner RHO Neg Dbl Sit HCP Comment
------------- ----------- ---------- --------------- -------- ------------------------
1 club double pass no 0-8 make bid w/o skip
9-11 skip bid 4+ card
suit (major if pos)
12+ cue bid
opponent’s suit
1 diam yes 0-5 pass ok, except
6+ neg dbl w 4 in major
6+ bid 5+ major
1 heart yes 0-5 pass ok, except
6+ neg dbl w 4 spds
6+ bid 1 spade with
5+ spades
6-9 may bid 1 NT
8+ bid 2 level minor
1 spade yes 0-5 pass ok, except
or 1 NT 6+ neg dbl w 4 hrts
6-9 may bid 1 NT
* 6-7 neg dbl w 5+ hrts
8+ bid 2 hearts w 5+
8+ bid 2 level minor
* Lesser of two evils – don’t have 8+ HCP to bid 2 hearts.