Double Trouble
By Foxymoron
One of the best articles explaining what to do when the opponents pre-empt is the following by the excellent bridge writer and teacher, Larry Cohen:
Doubles
When your opponents preempt, there is a place on the convention card to mark whether double is "Takeout" or "Penalty." (There used to be a box called "Optional" -- I lobbied hard to get that ridiculous choice removed - what the heck is "optional?" -- anyway, it is now gone).
If you mark "Penalty," maybe your last name is Fishbein. Harry Fishbein invented a convention whereby a double of a preempt is for penalty (and the next suit is for takeout). What do I think of this unpopular convention? Let's just say that even Fishbein didn't play FISHBEIN!
When the opponents preempt, a double is for takeout. Period. Whether in direct seat or balancing seat, nobody plays double for penalty.
On what level? Surely on the 2- and 3-level everyone plays double for takeout. What about the 4-level?
4-Level Doubles
A double should still be takeout. Some teachers espouse that doubles of 4H are takeout but doubles of 4S are penalty. What do I think of that one?
What would you do if RHO opened 4S and you held: ª3 ©AK54 ¨AQ74 §K842? You would double, of course. But, to call this a "Penalty" double makes no sense. You would be delighted to hear partner remove to 5H with, say: ª862 ©QJT872 ¨KJ2 §3. You would make 5H instead of collecting (at best) a measly penalty. If your double of 4S is "Penalty," partner won't remove it. So, it is silly to define doubles of any pre-empt as penalty. (What are the odds that you will get dealt a trump stack when your opponent also has a very long, usually good suit? Infinitesimal!) If you ever do get dealt a penalty double, you have to calmly pass, hopefully in tempo, and pray that your partner doubles for takeout. You will then be able to convert (by passing) for penalties. If they buy it undoubled, so be it--you can't cater to everything. In case you are wondering, a bid of 4NT would show a 2-suited takeout (at least 5-5).
The following hand from the Woodberry Pairs this week had the Cohenites taking out the double and getting 88% while the Fishbeinites were left with less than 10%:
There is not a lot to the play. If North can find the diamond switch he can beat 5C two, but this will always be a good result for EW as 4S was making, and -590 was not a good result as three pairs found to their cost.
The moral is to take out your partner’s take-out doubles, but first of all partner should double when he does not mind if you take it out or leave it in.
By Foxymoron
One of the best articles explaining what to do when the opponents pre-empt is the following by the excellent bridge writer and teacher, Larry Cohen:
Doubles
When your opponents preempt, there is a place on the convention card to mark whether double is "Takeout" or "Penalty." (There used to be a box called "Optional" -- I lobbied hard to get that ridiculous choice removed - what the heck is "optional?" -- anyway, it is now gone).
If you mark "Penalty," maybe your last name is Fishbein. Harry Fishbein invented a convention whereby a double of a preempt is for penalty (and the next suit is for takeout). What do I think of this unpopular convention? Let's just say that even Fishbein didn't play FISHBEIN!
When the opponents preempt, a double is for takeout. Period. Whether in direct seat or balancing seat, nobody plays double for penalty.
On what level? Surely on the 2- and 3-level everyone plays double for takeout. What about the 4-level?
4-Level Doubles
A double should still be takeout. Some teachers espouse that doubles of 4H are takeout but doubles of 4S are penalty. What do I think of that one?
What would you do if RHO opened 4S and you held: ª3 ©AK54 ¨AQ74 §K842? You would double, of course. But, to call this a "Penalty" double makes no sense. You would be delighted to hear partner remove to 5H with, say: ª862 ©QJT872 ¨KJ2 §3. You would make 5H instead of collecting (at best) a measly penalty. If your double of 4S is "Penalty," partner won't remove it. So, it is silly to define doubles of any pre-empt as penalty. (What are the odds that you will get dealt a trump stack when your opponent also has a very long, usually good suit? Infinitesimal!) If you ever do get dealt a penalty double, you have to calmly pass, hopefully in tempo, and pray that your partner doubles for takeout. You will then be able to convert (by passing) for penalties. If they buy it undoubled, so be it--you can't cater to everything. In case you are wondering, a bid of 4NT would show a 2-suited takeout (at least 5-5).
The following hand from the Woodberry Pairs this week had the Cohenites taking out the double and getting 88% while the Fishbeinites were left with less than 10%:
The moral is to take out your partner’s take-out doubles, but first of all partner should double when he does not mind if you take it out or leave it in.
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