Negative (‘Sputnik’) Doubles

What are they?

They are a sort of takeout double used after partner has opened and opponents intervene with a suit overcall.

Why do we need them?

Sometimes the opponent’s overcall makes it difficult for responder to find a sensible bid ie you may be ‘stuck for a bid’

Example

Partner opens 1 diamond, next hand overcalls 1 spade and you hold:

10x  QJxx  Jxx  Axxx   

Without the negative double it is hard to find a sensible bid. You are not strong enough to bid 2 clubs, and 2 hearts is out for the same reason and anyway it would guarantee a 5 card heart suit.

You have enough points to bid 1 NT but can’t because that would promise a spade stop.  This leaves you with pass or 2 diamonds neither of which is much good.  With 8 points you would like to compete because your side has at least as many points as the opponents.  2 diamonds works if partner has 5 cards but you may miss a heart fit. 

This is where the negative double comes into its own.  By saying ‘double’ you tell partner that you have enough to bid but either not enough to make a 2 over one call or no 5 card suit.  It also guarantees 4 cards in the other major.  You will also have a tolerance for the other suit.

In principle it says ‘I hold the other 2 suits’

Other examples:

xxKQxxQxxx Kxx   

 Say ‘double’ – you can always go back to diamonds if  partner doesn’t ‘raise’ your ‘heart bid’.

xQxxx  KxxAKxxx   

Bid 2 clubs.  Here you are strong enough to reverse into hearts and also you have good support for   partner’s suit.

xKQxxx  QxxKxxx   

 Bid 2 hearts- this promises 5 cards in the suit and you have enough points to bid at the 2 level.

AJ108xxx  xxKxxx   

Pass!  You can’t have it both ways.  Partner may re-open with a double in which case you can pass and    expect to take a penalty.

More examples

Partner opens 1diamond and opponent overcalls 2 spades (weak)

The negative double can really help in weak overcalls

xKxxx  QxxAJxxx   

After the 2 spades overcall a double describes  your hand really well.  3 clubs is a possibility but you are not really strong enough for a new suit at the 3 level as it would suggest game values.

Partner opens 1 club and opponent overcalls 2 hearts (weak)

KJxxx  QxxxxAxx   

Again, double says you have 4 spades.  3 diamonds would be an overstatement, on a poor suit, especially if partner has a minimum opening with 5 or 6 clubs in which case you are happy to play in 3 clubs.  2 spades would promise 5 spades.

Opener’s rebid after partner has made a negative double.

You open 1 club, LHO overcalls 1 spade, partner doubles

xKxxx  AxxKQJxx   

Partner’s bid promises 4 hearts so you ‘raise’ his      ‘heart’ bid by bidding 2 hearts – simple!

xxKQxx  AxAQJxx   

Here you have quite a bit extra so jump to 3 hearts

xxKx  KxxAQxxxx   

Rebid 2 clubs – ‘nothing further to say’

AQxQx  KxAJ10xxx   

 Jump to 2NT – it shows a good spade stop and extra   values

‘Competitive’ Doubles

These are used when opponents have agreed a suit and you want to compete but don’t have a suit of sufficient length or quality.

Eg  LHO opens 1 heart, partner doubles for takeout and RHO raises to 2 hearts holding:

Qxxxxx  KxxxAxx     

Say ‘double’ – this tells partner that you have the     values to compete but asks him to pick the suit.

 

Negative (‘Sputnik’) Doubles

What are they?

They are a sort of takeout double used after partner has opened and opponents intervene with a suit overcall.

Why do we need them?

Sometimes the opponent’s overcall makes it difficult for responder to find a sensible bid ie you may be ‘stuck for a bid’

Example

Partner opens 1 diamond, next hand overcalls 1 spade and you hold:

S 10x Without the negative double it is hard to find

H QJxx a sensible bid. You are not strong enough to bid

D Jxx 2 clubs, and 2 hearts is out for the same reason

C Axxx and anyway it would guarantee a 5 card heart suit.

You have enough points to bid 1 NT but can’t because that would promise a spade stop. This leaves you with pass or 2 diamonds neither of which is much good. With 8 points you would like to compete because your side has at least as many points as the opponents. 2 diamonds works if partner has 5 cards but you may miss a heart fit.

This is where the negative double comes into its own. By saying ‘double’ you tell partner that you have enough to bid but either not enough to make a 2 over one call or no 5 card suit. It also guarantees 4 cards in the other major. You will also have a tolerance for the other suit.

In principle it says ‘I hold the other 2 suits’

Other examples:

S xx Say ‘double’ – you can always go back to diamonds if

H KQxx partner doesn’t ‘raise’ your ‘heart bid’.

D Qxxx

C Kxx

S x Bid 2 clubs. Here you are strong enough to reverse

H Qxxx into hearts and also you have good support for

D Kxx partner’s suit.

C AKxxx

S x Bid 2 hearts – this promises 5 cards in the suit and

H KQxxx you have enough points to bid at the 2 level.

D Qxx

C Kxxx

S AJ108x Pass! You can’t have it both ways. Partner may re-

H xx open with a double in which case you can pass and

D xx expect to take a penalty.

C Kxxx

More examples

Partner opens 1 diamond and opponent overcalls 2 spades (weak)

You are increasingly likely to encounter weak jump overcalls and this is where the negative double can really help.

S x After the 2 spades overcall a double describes

H Kxxx your hand really well. 3 clubs is a possibility but

D Qxx you are not really strong enough for a new suit

C AJxxx at the 3 level as it would suggest game values.

Partner opens 1 club and opponent overcalls 2 hearts (weak)

S KJxx Again, double says you have 4 spades. 3 diamonds

H x would be an overstatement, on a poor suit, especially if

D Qxxxx partner has a minimum opening with 5 or 6 clubs in

D Axx which case you are happy to play in 3 clubs. 2 spades

Would promise 5 spades.

Opener’s rebid after partner has made a negative double.

You open 1 club, LHO overcalls 1 spade, partner doubles

S x Partner’s bid promises 4 hearts so you ‘raise’ his

H Kxxx ‘heart’ bid by bidding 2 hearts – simple!

D Axx

C KQJxx

S xx Here you have quite a bit extra so jump to 3 hearts

H KQxx

D Ax

C AQJxx

S xx Rebid 2 clubs – ‘nothing further to say’

H Kx

D Kxx

C AQxxxx

S AQx Jump to 2NT – it shows a good spade stop and extra

H Qx values

D Kx

C AJ10xxx

‘Competitive’ Doubles

These are used when opponents have agreed a suit and you want to compete but don’t have a suit of sufficient length or quality.

Eg LHO opens 1 heart, partner doubles for takeout and RHO raises to 2 hearts. Holding:

S Qxxx Say ‘double’ – this tells partner that you have the

H xx values to compete but asks him to pick the suit.

D Kxxx

C Axx

 

K. J Sharp 2007    

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