Negative Double

Descriptive Double

Hand Description:

shape oriented
  • 3 or 4 cards, any unbid suits
  • 4 cards, any unbid Major suit
  • 10+ pts
strength oriented
  • 5+ card suit
  • too weak for bid over overcall
  • point range:   see Sequences

Sequences:

O:OC:R:Point Range
1C1DDbl6+ pts
1D2CDbl9+ pts
1C2HDbl10+ pts
1D3CDbl11+ pts
1C3HDbl12+ pts

Bid Description:

  • Partner opens suit at 1 level
  • Opponent overcall thru 3S
  • Responder doubles

Penalty Double replacement bidding

O:OC:R:A:
bidovercallpass#1 pass
doublepasspass#2 
  • R:pass#1
    • no appropriate bid, may be trap pass
  • O:double - reopens with following
    • shortness in overcalled suit
    • minimum hand with tolerance for penalty double
  • R:pass#2
    • signifying - 1st pass was a trap pass

Responses: after double

Opener Bids Description Value
O:pass (4)5+ cards in overcaller's suit appropriate points
O:suit (new) 4+ cards 13-15 pts (support points)
O:suit (jmp new) 4(5)+ cards 15-17 pts (support points)
O:suit (game new) 4(5)+ cards 18-24 pts (support points)
O:suit (cue) request hand description 18-24 pts (support points)
O:1NT fully stopped 13-15 HCPs
O:2NT fully stopped 13-15 HCPs
O:3NT fully stopped appropriate HCPs