"Look! Up in the Sky!" Negative Doubles by Marti Ronemus

While the first appearance of Superman wasn't chronicled until June 1938, he actually arrived on Earth this week in 1936. His ongoing saga of Truth, Justice and the American Way has enthralled us for generations. Who hasn't enjoyed an episode or a movie. C'mon, admit it.

And we've got a "Superman" of a bid today ... more powerful than a speeding locomotive... The Negative Double.

In its purest, simplest form, it is a bid made by responder when there's been an intervening bid. If we were to name a new suit after the intervening bid, we would be promising a five-card suit. What if we only have four? We can use our Negative Double. There's a lot more to it, and dozens of variations, but let's start simple. Because we are RESPONDING, we only need 6-plus pts.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 8 7
♥ K J 8 7
♦ 8 4
♣ J 5 4

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	1♦
?

A: Double: This is the absolute, classic Negative Double. If there were no intervening bid, we'd cheerfully bid 1♥, a nice up-the-line response. We lose that option with East's bid, as to name a suit now would promise five. BUT!! While we lose that opportunity, we get to make a BOGO bid (Buy One, Get One free). Pard will know we have two four-card majors, and at least 6 pts. Notice that we are unlimited! Stand by for action.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ Q 10 8 7
♥ K J 8 7 4
♦ 8
♣ J 5 4

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♣	1♦
?

A: 1♥: We're going to bid our Hearts this time, and Pard will know we have five. This is exactly the same hand as before, with the addition of a FIVE card major. Again, we are unlimited.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K J 9 4
♥ 9 8 7
♦ 3
♣ K Q 5 4 3

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♦	1♥
?

A: Double: Again, a great opportunity to show Pard we've got four Spades. The bonus is we get to show our Clubs also.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ 4 3
♥ A J 9 8 7
♦ Q 6 5 4
♣ 3 2

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♠	2♣
?

A: Double: Yet another opportunity for the Negative Double. We would love to tell our Pard about our Hearts, but the Kryptonite 2-level isn't available to us because of our lack of points. We can still show our Hearts with a Negative Double. This isn't all that exact and there's a lot more to it, but this will get you started. On your next bid, you can bid Hearts, showing that you had five, with a bad hand. Very useful!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 8 5
♥ 3 2
♦ K J 8 4 3
♣ K Q 7 5

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	1♥	1♠
?

A: Double: Yet another opportunity to show our suits. We don't have enough to overcall 2♦, but we get our chance for a two-for-one bid. Pard will know we are loaded in the minors and will bid accordingly.

And now, get ready to leap tall buildings.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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