Negative Double – Scary Stuff

A negative double is also known as responder’s double!  Example 1 —

Example 1: Negative Double

Partner opens    LHO overalls         YOU            RHO BIDS            PARTNER

1 club                   1 diamond             DOUBLE     3 DIAMONDS      3 HEARTS

YOU, RESPONDER TO THE OPENING BIDDER (YOUR PARTNER) – DOUBLE THE OPPONENTS OVERCALL OF 1 DIAMOND TO LET PARTNER KNOW YOU HAVE RESPONDING POINTS -6+ AND HEARTS AND SPADES —-THIS ALLOWS YOUR PARTNER TO PICK THE CORRECT SUIT – THE ONE HE HAS 4 CARD SUPPORT FOR.

Takeout doubles are used when the opponent opens the bidding and you “double” to get your partner to pick a suit! Example 2

Example 2:  Takeout Double

Opponent opens    Your Partner  Responder bids   YOU BID

1 club                       Doubles           2 clubs                   2 SPADES

YOU, respond to the takeout doubler’s bid as you know your partner has opening points (counting short suit values) and support for the 3 unbid suits,  Your 2 spade bid shows 4 spades and 6-10 points!

SOME GUIDELINES for NEGATIVE DOUBLES

– THE HIGHER THE OVERCALL BY OPP, THE MORE POINTS YOU NEED TO MAKE A NEGATIVE DOUBLE

– THE NEGATIVE DOUBLE ALWAYS SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ANY UNBID MAJOR. If you do not have an unbid minor, then you will NEED support for opener’s suit

– to make a negative double when there are two unbid majors you must have 4 card support for both majors

– when partner opens a minor and OPP overcall a major eg 1 Heart – your double shows 4 spades!   Note: if you bid spades it will show 5 spades

– IF YOU BID A NEW MAJOR OVER THE OPPS OVERCALL AT THE TWO LEVEL IT SHOWS 5 OF THE SUIT AND 10+ POINTS WHICH IS FORCING.  HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE THE 5 CARD SUIT BUT INSUFFICIENT POINTS – USE THE NEGATIVE DOUBLE – WHEN PARTNER BIDS – BID YOUR 5 CARD SUIT OVER HER RESPONSE – NOW THIS IS NOT FORCING!!!!

HAPPY RESPONDING!