Weekly Hand Analysis - Mark Olsky - December 19, 2022 - Negative Double

 

Question:  Does a negative double (responders double) consider both the opener's and the overcaller's bids?  If so, can you use a negative double when you do not have four cards in the other suits?

Mark:

The negative double was introduced just over 60 years ago and has been one of the most useful tools in competitive bidding. There is variability in the way people use it, but some principles are pretty universally agreed by most high level players. One such principle is that if you open in 1 of a minor, there is an overcall in a major (1, 2 or 3 level) double (negative) should show 4 cards in the other major. You imply tolerance for the 4th suit, but you don't necessarily show 4 of them. Some players will rarely or never have more than 4 of the other major. Many, including me, will make a negative double with 5 or even more, and a hand not strong enough for a free bid, which is at least strong enough to invite game. If you have a weakish hand but a long suit in which you want to compete, there's no alternative (other than pass) to making a negative double, then bidding the long suit. 

  The negative double made by the robot in this case is exactly standard and should be made by nearly every North player after the same 2 bids by South and West. East has a choice between passing and 1NT. Either could work out well or badly. In this case, the vulnerability makes it risky for East to buy the hand. If S listens to the bidding and trusts the robots' bidding, he leads the one suit partner is known to hold, hearts. This gives E-W the 2 heart tricks they could develop for themselves anyway and gives up nothing else. The result is likely to be +100 to NS for a pretty good result, or +200 for a great result. If S doesn't trust the robot bidding (the often shouldn't be trusted.) he could lead a club and may end with E-W making 90 or 120 for a bad result. That's life in bridge when the hands are evenly divided and everyone competes in the bidding.

  Incidentally, if South were to open 1 of a minor and there's an overcall in the other minor, now N may need to make a negative double even if holding an imperfect hand. At least one of the majors should have 4 cards and the other 3 cards.  If you bend the truth about suit length, you should only do it with solid strength,  namely 8 to 10 points. 

  1 more important point. When there's competition at the table and you are about to make a bid that is the "least of evils" and doesn't describe your hand perfectly, try to anticipate what others are likely to bid before the auction comes back to you and decide what you will bid when that happens. If you look to be in distress and hesitate a long time before the next bid, you are probably conveying improper ("Unauthorized")  information to partner and giving free help to the opponents.