Ask Bernard
WHEN THE OPPONENTS START TO RUN

By Bernard Magee

This month's query comes from Steve Lambert, St Albans, Herts, and is about what to do when our opponents try to escape from 1NT doubled.

The first thing to note is that once they start running, they become your 'prey' and your aim should to be to entrap them again. The easiest and most practical way to do this is to follow this simple rule:

Once you have made a penalty double, then subsequent doubles of natural bids are also for penalties.

Thus, after 1NT - Double - 2, a double would be for penalties, showing 4+ points with four cards in clubs. The emphasis should be on stopping the opponents escaping. Too often players allow their opponents to run from an 800 penalty in 1NT to a 300 penalty in a suit because it is left undoubled.

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Dbl	2	?

Your partner doubles 1NT and then your RHO, North, bids 2 (natural). As East what do you bid with the following hand?

10 8   K 6 3   K 9 8 4   8 7 6 4

You must double for penalties; your side has a comfortable majority of the points and you have length in their suit.

It is not unreasonable to assume that when your opponents start 'running' they are probably the weaker side: if the partner of the 1NT opener has 7 or 8 points, he is likely to simply pass rather than escape to a suit.

This means that the partner of the doubler does not need to take action straight away, so that with 6 points and shortage in the opponent's suit he can pass and wait for his partner to take action. For example:

Dealer: South. Love All.     10 8 7 5 4   J 6 3   K 8   10 8 4     K J 3 2   A 9   Q J 10   K Q 6 5   A 9   Q 8 5 2   9 4 3 2   9 7 2     Q 6   K 10 7 4   A 7 6 5   A J 3

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Pass	2	Pass	Pass
Dbl	End

As East you know that your side has the majority of the points, but there is nothing for you to say but pass. However, West, with length in their suit, makes a second penalty double. This tactic can backfire sometimes, but for the most part it will serve you well.

Quite often the play in these contracts is tight, but declarer might escape for two off in 1NT doubled and he should be able to make an extra trick in spades, though still going two off. Too often North-South will escape for -100 in 2 undoubled, gaining a great score.

A good rule to have in 1NT doubled auctions is not to allow the opponents to play in two-of-a-minor undoubled, so that if you have the final call and no length in their suit, you should call a suit rather than let the auction die. This is because if neither of your partnership can double, the opponents have probably found a fit and therefore you should try to find a fit of your own. (You can extend this rule up to 2 if you prefer, but this is more risky because you will be looking for a fit at the three level rather than the two level). For example:

Dealer: South. Love All.     Q 5 4   6 3   Q 8 7   10 9 8 7 5     A J 10 7   K J 10 9   J 10 9   A Q   9 3 2   Q 8 5 2   3 2   K J 6 2     K 8 6   A 7 4   A K 6 5 4   4 3

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Dbl	2	Dbl	2
Pass	Pass	2	End

You double North's attempted escape to 2, but South now removes to his own suit, 2 and when your partner does not double this, you do not want to let the auction die in 2. Your opponents have an eight-card fit in diamonds (holding four, partner would have doubled) and probably a seven-card fit in clubs, so there is no doubt that your side has its fair share of major-suit cards. Try 2: it is likely to make and 110 (or more on this hand) will be better than a small defeat of 2 (on this hand 2 will make!).

ACTION AFTER ARTIFICIAL BIDS

Over artificial bids your path is easier, because the responder can show his strength by doubling the artificial bid - thus assuring the doubling side that their aim is to hunt down the opposition. With 'wriggles' and other escape mechanisms it is important that the doubling side be patient: it can be all too easy to let your prey escape, by bidding too soon. For example:

Dealer: South. Love All.     10 8 7 5   J 6 3   K 7 6 4 3   7     A K J 3 2   A 9   10 2   A 9 5 4   6   10 8 5 2   A Q J 8   10 8 3 2     Q 9 4   K Q 7 4   9 5   K Q J 6

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Dbl	2*	Dbl	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl	End

North bids 2 over your partner's double, which is alerted: it is a transfer to diamonds (part of a system called 'exit transfers'). East should show his strength now by doubling the artificial bid; this promises that the auction will not die out below 2, and thus means that West does need to make a rash bid. Many Wests would make the mistake of following up their double of 1NT by bidding their spades, but that is playing bridge without a partner! Here when South bids his partner's suit (diamonds), West should pass, knowing that his partner will bid again - and when it is East's next turn, he is very glad to be able to double for penalties and once again West needs to keep his mouth shut! The defence can actually take nine tricks, which results in a score of +800! If neither player can double the opponents' take-out suit, it is important that the responding hand does show his strength:

• A simple suit bid shows 4-7 points.
• A jump suit bid shows 8+ points and a five-card suit; game-going.
• A cue-bid shows 8+ points; game-going without a long suit.

Consider the following example:

Dealer: South. Love All.     5   J 6 4 2   Q 6 2   10 9 7 5 4     Q J 3   A Q 3   A 9 5 4   K 6 2   K 9 7 6 4   10 8   J 10 8 3   A 8     A 10 8 2   K 9 7 5   K 7   Q J 3

West	North	East	South
			1NT
Dbl	Redbl*	Pass	2*
4	End

North's redouble is part of a wriggle; it shows a five-card suit and demands that opener bids 2, which North can then leave to play, or correct to another suit. So South bids 2 as asked and this gets passed round to you. With your opponents having found a fit, it is time for you to bid your hand; with a five-card suit and 8 points you should go for game and the best way to show this hand is by jumping in spades, giving your partner the choice of playing in 4 or 3NT. West chooses 4 with his good three-card support and this contract should make comfortably even with the bad trump break.

CONCLUSIONS

• Your aim should be to punish your opponents once you have started with a penalty double. Only when both players have had a chance to make a penalty double should you bid a suit of your own, giving up on the rich rewards of 500, 800 or 1100!
• It is true that expert players will sometimes have complicated agree-ments in the arena of penalty doubles, so that they can capture opponents in a seven-card fit even when the defensive split is 3-3, but it is better to be realistic and settle for doubling them when one or other of your partnership has four-cards in their suit.