ACBL02NM – Double: Negative Doubles            Ward Trumbull                

                                             for the Minors                    May 29, 2012

                                                                                                                   Page 1 of 1

      Everyone who plays negative doubles knows that it is for the majors.

However, you can use negative doubles in specific situations to indicate the minors.

When

      If your partner opens one major and your RHO bids the other major,

you can indicate that you have 4/4 or longer in the minors by making this type negative double.  Note that it can’t be taken as penalty double because you don’t double at the one or two level for penalty.

Example – You hand

                             S - 9 6 2

                             H - 10 4                      holding 9 HCP

                             D - K Q 7 5

                             C - A 6 5 3

                 Partner     Opponent         You

                 ----------     --------------    ------------

                 1 heart       1 spade        double

      You could have bid:

1.  One notrump – that says two or less hearts and 6-9 HCP.
2.  Two clubs or diamonds – that also says 2- hearts and 8+ HCP.
3.  Double – that too says 2- hearts and 4/4 or longer in the minors.  Doesn’t that bid describe your hand best?    

                 Partner     Opponent         You

                 ----------     --------------    ------------

                1 spade     2 hearts         double       -------à same result

      You need 6+ HCP at the 1 level and 8+ HCP at the 2 level.