support doubles after partner makes a negative double

[dfm]

Twice yesterday I wanted to make a support double after partner made a negative double.

1. The auction starts 1D (2C) Dbl (2S). Would a double now be a support double showing three hearts? Partner's negative double showed four hearts or four spades, but not necessarily both. After RHO's 2S bid, though, it's a racing certainty that partner has hearts.

2. The auction starts 1S (2C) Dbl (3C). We are playing support doubles only through 2S, so a double now wouldn't have been one. Should we play them higher than 2S? It seems like being able to show three-card heart support would be more useful here than being able to penalize 3C.

[Will in New Haven]

Post by dfm
Twice yesterday I wanted to make a support double after partner made a negative double.
1. The auction starts 1D (2C) Dbl (2S). Would a double now be a support double showing three hearts? Partner's negative double showed four hearts or four spades, but not necessarily both. After RHO's 2S bid, though, it's a racing certainty that partner has hearts.

No, for two reasons. The main reason is that a support double has always been defined as allowing your partnership to play in two of responder's suit. How do you play in 2H on this auction. And where do you go if partner does not have Hearts. Also, partner has far from denied Spade length. In fact, partner is quite unlikely to be short in Spades so I would want a double here to show good defensive values and allow for a penalty against their black suit contract.

Post by dfm
2. The auction starts 1S (2C) Dbl (3C). We are playing support doubles only through 2S, so a double now wouldn't have been one. Should we play them higher than 2S? It seems like being able to show three-card heart support would be more useful here than being able to penalize 3C.

The usual way to play them is not through 2S but through two of the suit below responder's suit. Since they don't show extras and the three level is not so safe. The same writers who tell us we should not be trying to penalize contracts are also advising people to bid and raise on tissue-paper.

[jogs]

Post by dfm
Twice yesterday I wanted to make a support double after partner made a negative double.
1. The auction starts 1D (2C) Dbl (2S). Would a double now be a support double showing three hearts? Partner's negative double showed four hearts or four spades, but not necessarily both. After RHO's 2S bid, though, it's a racing certainty that partner has hearts.
2. The auction starts 1S (2C) Dbl (3C). We are playing support doubles only through 2S, so a double now wouldn't have been one. Should we play them higher than 2S? It seems like being able to show three-card heart support would be more useful here than being able to penalize 3C.

1. That would not be a support double. A support double shows one less card in support than a raise would show. A double showing 3 in this auction would be a responsive double. But I would rather play this double to mean I would willing have bid spades.
2. Again you are confusing support doubles with responsive doubles. Partner must actually have bid a suit before you can make a support double.
This double is best played as action. You think this is our hand. This is the madman matchpoint style. Since any negative result is bad, you can double to affirm we have the balance of points. This style of bidding is not recommended for imps. Sometimes we should be willing to accept a small plus and not make close doubles. It is never possible for us to know when they have a small SST. Shortness in two suits is worth lots of tricks. And we cannot know when opponents have shortness.