Pulling Doubles

(Courtesy of Bob Crosby)

Pulling Doubles (Profit)

Some people play the game of Bridge by way of rote rules or platitudes. One of the worst of these platitudes is “do not pull my penalty doubles”. Beginners are told to live by this rule as they have yet to develop any Bridge judgment. Penalty doubles must be pulled, if the situation warrants it! You use criteria like vulnerability, expected compensation, defensive tricks and slam tries, fit with partner’s suit as considerations for pulling a penalty double. You leave in doubles, if based on your bidding, you hold what partner can reasonably expect. I was playing with a tormentee who opened 1S vulnerable on SAKxxxx HKJxx Dvoid CAxx, RHO bid 2NT also vulnerable. I doubled, the bid went around to the 2NT bidder who bid 3D which I also doubled. Do you leave in the double?

3D doubled is definitely going down as you have 3½ defensive tricks. You have a diamond void so they are getting a bad trump break. Will the penalty compensate for your sure vulnerable game or possible slam? Diamond duplication of value will probably prevent a slam. Can you make game your way? Probably guaranteed as you have extra with partner showing a good hand. Therefore, the set must be in the +800 range for a good board. You have an offensive playing hand instead of a defensive hand. The void in diamonds is a deterrent in defense as you can not switch to a trump. Also more diamonds are going to appear on the board due to your void. I pull this double to 3NT or 3H and apologize to partner if it is wrong. I pass quickly in IMPS or rubber Bridge though, as I am assured of a plus.

Many players pull doubles because they are ashamed of their opener. This is the last reason to pull a penalty double. This set could be your only chance for a plus as game is now iffy. If you opened on 11 HCP but you have your defensive tricks, this is an excellent time to leave in the double. You pull doubles with offensive hands, not weak hands. Partner can not “reasonably expect” that you have a 5-5 or a 6-4 or a 7 card suit which are playing hands. These are the hands where penalty doubles are routinely pulled, by expert players. Partner announces shortness in your 1st suit by doubling but she may have length in your 2nd suit which kills your hand defensively. Partner can reasonably expect a light opener though as they come with the territory of playing Bridge.

Playing with one of my Thurs night partners of old, I pickup SAQ109 Hxx Dxxx CKQx, partner opens 1H, RHO bids 2H (Michaels) vulnerable so I double saying “let me at them” partner. They bid 2S, around to me so I double which ends the auction. Partner dutifully leads his trump so with the help of ruffing finesses in hearts for declarer, we come to 1 heart trick, 4 trump tricks for –670 and an obvious disaster. At the end of the hand, partner questions my double and said “something is wrong with this auction”. I scratch my head as I have played Bridge for 40 years and when I have held hands like this opposite an opening bid, +800 seemed to be the average in these types of auctions.

What went wrong? A difference in philosophy for opening bids. Partner had 11 HCP with only one quick trick for his opening bid. I was expecting him to contribute to the defense of this hand as he opened the bidding. Partner says no, you must have the contract beat pretty well in your hand as his opening bids do not promise quick tricks as in the “modern” game. He went on to say that modern Bridge is a bidder's game and defensive quick tricks are no longer a requirement for opening bids. He has bought into the Meckwell religion for opening bids surfacing in the 1990’s.

Let's examine the repercussions of what he is saying. In my mind, this mentality destroys the partnership aspect of the game of Bridge. You must make single handed Bridge decisions almost entirely on your own hand playing this way. If you have the controls for a game you bid it. If you have the controls for a slam you bid it. If you have them set in your own hand, you double. This is preposterous. Bridge is a partnership game. If the combined assets of the partnership dictate it, the opponents get doubled or you bid a game or a slam or compete again.

What if partner did hold 2½ or 3 defensive tricks for his opening bid? By not doubling 2S, I have just thrown away a +800 gift. The opponents can bid with impunity around us. I have a rubber bridge background where I have had years of experience dealing with psyches. If partner has psyched, he pulls the double. If partner does not have what he said he had, he pulls the double. Standard Bridge, in my way of thinking. Partner did not hesitate on this auction to even consider pulling the double. He had his 11 HCP with one defensive trick so he has an opening bid in accordance with his methods. In his methods, he cannot pull as I might have 2S doubled beat in my own had. As he was not asked to contribute to the defense with his perception, he passes. He of course, never pulls penalty doubles no matter what his hand with his mentality. Defense measured in quick tricks is assumed when you open the bidding, make a takeout double or a general “cards” double. This has been the norm for most players world wide since Bridge was invented in the late 1920’s.

A penalty double is a very single handed part of Bridge. The real solo artists say “never pull my penalty doubles” no matter what. This is, of course, nonsensical when partner has done some bidding. A penalty double is also a partnership bid where the combined assets dictate whether your side decides to leave in the penalty double. A penalty double is left in only if you have what partner reasonably expects from the bidding. If you have passed throughout, your contribution can be nil. If you do not have what you said you did, you weigh your options. The risk of you going for a horrible set against them making their contract. If you feel bidding is the lesser of the two evils, you pull.

The Bartons have an understanding about pulling high level doubles that I like. If partner doubles 4H or 4S with any bidding sequence either directly, belatedly, balancing or whatever then Lebensohl comes into effect. It makes perfect sense. If you have a flat weak hand you pass and leave the double in, hoping to beat it. If you have a flat defensive good hand you leave the double in and collect your telephone number. There are only three types of hands that you would pull the double:

I had a hand tonight with Maurice that fits the system. Sxx HQxx Dxx CQJ1098x . Everyone vulnerable and Maurice opened 1D and RHO overcalls 1S. I pass and LHO bids 4S which Maurice doubles. Around to you so now what? You are not going to get rich in 4S doubled, in fact they might make it. Why not take out some insurance and pull the double? You do not want to convey to partner that you are bidding this to make or suggesting slam so you bid 4NT. Partner bids 5C and gets doubled and goes one down. –790 for 4S doubled making was the popular result.

Maurice’s hand Sx HA9xx DAQJ10x CAKx and if the diamond King was on side he would have been +750! O.K. modify my hand slightly and give me the king of diamonds. Sxx HQxx DKx CQJ1098x. The auction would have gone the same way as I have no bid over a spade overcall and this time I would pull the double to 5C suggesting that I can make game. Maurice could bid 6C and we would be +1370.

It does not matter how the auctions progress, the rules for pulling the double remain the same. You hold Sxx HQ10xxxxx Dxx Cxx and partner opens a diamond and the spade overcall again. LHO bids 2S and partner doubles and RHO bids 4S. Pass around to partner who doubles again. You bid 4NT, partner bids 5C (he does not have to with a solid diamond suit) and you bid 5H. Partner is Sx HAxx DAKxxx CAxxx and you have a chance at your contract. With the same auction you could have had Sxx HAQ10xxx Dxx Cxxx and you would pull the double to 5H suggesting that you can make game on the auction.

Maurice opened 4H tonight and around to Steve Bates in the balancing spot. Steve doubled with his flat 22 HCP hand and Scott pulled the double to 5C. Now what? Playing Lebensohl after 4H/S the decision is easy. If Scott wanted to run he would bid 4NT as a relay to 5C. The 5C bid directly shows values and a 6NT contract makes. They did not play Lebensohl, so Steve passed missing their slam.

The reverse should also be true. If responder doubles the 4 of a major and opener wants to pull. Pulling the double is not a sign of weakness. If you opened on a distributional dog, pull to 4NT and convert partners 5C bid. Pulling the double directly is encouraging and a mild slam try. Remember Lebensohl applies in all situations when you are pulling doubles at a high level – no exceptions.

Another old partner of mine held SJ1098xx HQJ10x Dvoid Cxxx, I passed and RHO opened 1D. He bid 2S as a tactical non-vulnerable vs vulnerable bid taking into consideration I was a passed hand. They subsequently bid to 3NT which I doubled. Since I am a passed hand, he knows they are in a 26-28 HCP 3NT game vulnerable and doubled. Since I am a passed hand, my double must have spades as his bid only promises 5 -10 HCP. Partner is playing me for the average of 7 HCP for my bid. My partner adhering to the rigidity of the never pulling penalty doubles mentality, left the double in! They made +1150 and a huge IMP pickup, so we lost the KO match by one IMP. It turns out 4S doubled goes for a maximum of –500 (win 3 IMPS) to –300 (win 9 IMPS) depending on the defense.

Recently a good player decided to make a non-vulnerable vs vulnerable psyche of a response with SJ109xxx HJx Dxx Cxxx when partner opened 1D. Partner made a support double so he knows they have a 9 card spade fit. Holding 3 small clubs, he knows from the bidding (they overcalled and raised clubs) the clubs are 6-3-3-1, 5-4-3-1 or 6-4-3-0 with a singleton or void club in partner's hand. He left the double in for –750 when +420 or –50 your way in spades was the normal result. All penalty doubles are co-operative when you have bid. By bidding, partner is using that information for her penalty double. If you did not bid, you do not pull penalty doubles, there is a huge difference. I gave this hand to two very good B players who left the double in also. This is poor bidding judgment, hopefully they will realize it after they gain more Bridge experience.

Here is one of the biggest swings possible from “you are not allowed to think, just blindly pass partner's penalty double” mentality. Bridge players who are novices just adhere to rote rules to not pull penalty doubles. Once you have progressed in this game, the notion is, of course, suicidal. A Tormenttee held this hand Svoid H109876x Dx CAKxxxx vulnerable vs not. Partner overcalled the 1S opener with 2D and RHO bid 2S. You are far too distributional to make a responsive double. A double shows the unbid suits with defense but artificial doubles never replace natural bids. 6-6’s are made for bidding naturally not doubling and adding ambiguity to the auction. The Tormenttee made a bad bid and doubled, LHO bid 4S and partner doubled. Since you were involved in the auction, partner's double is often predicated on your bid. The rule of thumb for leaving in penalty doubles is “do I have what partner can reasonably expect with my previous bid?" In no way shape or form does your 6-6 qualify for what partner can reasonably expect. You pull to 5C, partner bids 6C and you make 7C vulnerable. The Tormentee passed 4S doubled thinking that she already showed partner her 6-6 with her double or following the rote rule of not pulling partner's doubles even though you contributed to the decision for the penalty double. For poetic justice, 4S doubled made!

In a perfect world you would never have to pull penalty doubles. Some penalty doubles you never pull because you were never in the auction or you have what you announced for your previous bidding. All other penalty doubles are D.S.I.P. (Do Something Intelligent Partner) so pulling the double is a must.

O.K. if you are going to pull penalty doubles on occasion you may as well have a tool for doing this. Lebensohl relays to the rescue. Pitbull Pat and Susan had an auction where the opponents were scrambling after getting doubled. The auction went:

1D 1NT Dbl 2S
Pass Pass ?

The doubler holds Sxx HJxxxx DQx CAKxx. Partner’s pass is forcing and you want to compete anyway. 2NT cannot be natural as you would have doubled 2S. This bid relays to 3C and 3H shows this kind of hand. 3H directly would be forcing with better hearts.

Sx Hxx DKQJxxxx CKQx

You open a diamond and LHO bids 4S and partner doubles. Pulling the double directly should be a slam try. You should never pull penalty doubles from a position of weakness - it could have been your only chance for a plus. Put the Lebensohl relay to work. Bid 4NT and force partner to bid 5C and now 5D shows this kind of hand.

Sx Hxx DJxxxx CJxxxx

Partner opens a diamond and LHO bids 4S and it comes around to partner and she doubles. What does the pull to 5D mean? You did not bid 5D directly so you are under those values. Why not have your cake and eat it too? Bid 4NT and partner relays to 5C and 5D shows this directly. If you had say KQxx of diamonds and an outside Ace pull to 5D directly from a position of strength. You are vulnerable and you can convey that you have values. If the opponents bid again or partner might have slam interest you have done your job.

Sxxx HKQ10xx DAxx Cxx

2S - pass - 4S and partner doubles. 4NT as Blackwood or for the minors is a wasted bid here. 4NT should be a Lebensohl relay to 5C and 5H directly should show this kind of hand. If the opponents bid again, partner is better placed and forcing passes are on.

Anyway, a relay like Lebensohl is designed to give alternative meanings to auctions. Using them in pulling penalty doubles and when the opponents pre-empt to 4 of a major makes a lot of sense to me to clarify auctions.

Penalty Doubles (Misfits)

Penalty doubles or converting for penalty is a hand evaluation skill. There are some guidelines to assist you in making penalty doubles. SAK87 HAKxxx Dxx CJx so you open 1H and partner bids 2H so you decide that your hand is too flat to attempt a game try. You pass and the opponents balance 2S. Balancing is a risky business so sometimes the balancer loses. First you evaluate the balance of power between the two sides. Partner shows 6-9 HCP so you out gun them quite significantly in HCP as they might only have 16 HCP total between their two hands to your 24 HCP. Evaluate your own hand for defensive capabilities. You have a defensive hand pattern 5-4-2-2, You have 4 “quick tricks” instead of soft values. You have length in their trump suit with 15 HCP. All hand evaluation indicators point to a penalty double as the decision to make. 2S doubled goes for +1100 with best defense as partner had 9 HCP and was not about to punish you for opening in 3rd seat. The Tormenttee did not evaluate her hand properly for defensive purposes and bid 3H. This bid is for offensive hands as opposed to defensive hand types. This particular decision is what hand evaluation is all about. The 3H contract made for +140.

One of the purposes of a penalty double is to show “duplication of values” in the enemy suit. This duplication of values could discourage slam or even game bidding with otherwise good hands. One of the main requirements for a penalty double besides this duplication of values is overall strength. You do not double the only contract you can beat as you are just assisting the opponents to find a better spot. With this requirement, all penalty doubles setup a forcing pass to the next round. Partner cannot pass, so must bid if she cannot make a penalty double.