A Problem Area
A friend sent me a problem that hits an area of great interest. When does one make a negative double? When does one stretch to show a particular suit? What is needed to reopen? When does the responder, having passed after an overcall, show strength?
Our methods are influenced by Phil’s thinking — the negative double promises the higher rankiing off-suit and EITHER the opening suit or the second suit. My corollary is that the bid of the LOWER off-suit can be a stretch. This means that a 2/1 in the lower off-suit might be 8 HCP with shape, a one-round force.
Anyway, here is the hand, neither vulnerable at IMP’s.
Q J 9 8 6, 
A K 8 7 5, 
K 6, 
Q.
Your RHO passes, you bid 1, and LHO bids 2. It goes two passes to you. What is your action?
After partner opened 1H and LHO overcalled 2C I would (cheerfully) make a one-suited double holding KJ8xxx-xx-Kxx-xx and I see that this does not fit with “Phil’s thinking” as described above. Is this type of hand an additional either or, or would an action other than doubel be best? (like pass or 2S).
As for the given hand why would you not re-open with a double - you can easily and descriptively handle any action partner takes - and if partner passes for penalties you should be delighted.
February 6, 2006 Bill Wickham
I double. If partner bids 2D then I bid 2H. This is a slight overbid but it best shows the shape of my hand.
I will not be all that surpised if partner passes.
After all LHO was not strong enough to double and then bid clubs. So there are ~10HCp un accounted for. If they are split between P and RHO then I can do OK in the major for which partner has least intolerance.
February 6, 2006 Collins
2H. Dbl then correcting 2D to 2H is an overbid (move the club Q somewhere useful and it becomes close, but still not good enough).
March 7, 2006 Josh Sher
I think that I have enough defence to reopen with a dbl. Whether or not to bid 2H over 2D is debatable. I doubt we miss a game or much of a heart fit. It seems most likely that partner would have at least 9 cards in the minors.
(I think dbl. is a must with Bill Wickhams 6 card spade suit hand.)
I can agree with Jeff about possibly having lesser values to freely bid the lower ranking suit that dbl. does not show.
March 19, 2006 Phil Warden
Yes, but what would Mrs. Guggenheim do? :-D
From Jeff’s little sister, Brenda (Hi, Bill and Phil!)
September 6, 2006 Brenda Tighe