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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

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Quick summary

Opponents look weak, and the bidding is about to end.Two players have passed the opening suit bid. You're in the 4th seat (the "passout seat").

You can "borrow" a King

After a suit opening, unbalanced

with 8+ HCP
"double" if you are weak in the opponents suit. Partner probably has some strength, and we should be in there
partner will pass for penalties, or bid his own suit

After a suit opening, balanced

with 12+ HCP
bid 1NT. Partner will reply as if to a standard weak 1NT opening

After a NT opening

with 12+ HCP
"double" if you are balanced. Partner probably has some strength, and we should be in there
partner will pass for penalties, or take you out if too weak

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

« 0107 »

Overcalls. Balancing (protective) bid

4th seat & 2 passes. Should you pass with 8+ HCP?

Probably not. To decide if you can bid in the 4th seat after 2 passes (hence the name "pass-out seat"), you can "borrow an imaginary King" from your partner, and reassess your ability to bid as if you were in the second seat.

Your partner will remember that you've done this when he responds.

A so-called "protective double" can be made in the 4th seat with as few as 8 high card points if both the RHO and your partner have passed the opening bid. It's sometimes called a "balancing double". It requires less strength than the conventional takeout double.

The point is that your partner could easily have 10 points, possibly even 14, but might not have been able to overcall or double because of the distribution. For example, he might lack a good 5-card suit, or may not have the 15 or 16 HCP needed to overcall in a NT. He may not have a 3-suited hand and thus feel unable to double for takeout.

Your opponents also seem weak, and that's the point. In fact you know they might have as few as 12 points! Certainly opener's partner has no more than 5 HCP, and could have none. So there is a chance that you can either get them down, doubled, or find your own contract, or even, more rarely, find a game contract.

So you can keep the bidding going with as few as 8HCP.

The protective double keeps you in the game, and either allows you to penalise the enemy if your partner is strong (he will pass again), or make his own bid, knowing that you have at least 8HCP.

After 1 Pass Pass, if you have this hand:

	Hand 1
	Q 8 7 3
	8 4
	10 9 5
	A K 10 5

. . .you can bid a "protective double" to tell partner you have 8+HCP, and ask him to bid his best suit or pass for penalties. Partner might have had a hand like the one below, and was thus unable to bid at first, having only two suits and not able to double for takeout.

	Hand 2
	6
	A Q 10 9 3
	A K J 8
	9 6 3

In this instance, on hearing your "protective double", he will happily "pass" for penalties, knowing that we have at least 22HCP and with 5 good trump cards sitting on top of the declarer.

In other circumstances, if your partner decides to bid his suit rather than pass for penalties after your double in the 4th seat, he will remember that you doubled with as few as 8 points.

Protective double after 1NT opening - two different views

What has happened after 1NT - pass - pass ? Your partner might have as many as 15 HCP, in extremis. He could easily have 12 HCP, but still not be able to overcall at the two level. Of course he could have none but, if that were so, why the "pass" from your RHO, who has anything from 0-10HCP. So, in summary, your opponents have 12-24 HCP, seem happy enough with NT, but could be in trouble.

By the same logic you could have 16-28. They could easily be in trouble.

(view 1) It's for penalties of course, with 16+ HCP

If you are not a gambler, don't borrow the king. Only double for penalties on the usual 15/16-18 with a balanced hand. Bear in mind also that the enemy's stronger hand is now following your strength, whereas with a standard double 1NT the enemy has to play his good cards underneath your partner's stronger cards.

(view 2) It's for takeout, with 12+ HCP, asking partner to pass for penalties

If you're a bit of a gambler (or the vulnerability is favourable) then you could use the principle of borrowing a King, and double with 12+ HCP. (You are in the 4th seat, but remember that doubling a NT in the second seat is for penalties and requires 15/16-18 HCP).

But it's not such a gamble really, so long as your partner understands your bid clearly. In the worst case, if your partner has the minimum possible 4HCP out of the 14-16 possible remaining, giving you 16+ altogether, you will give your opponents extra points as they make their 1NT with one over. Doubled with an overtrick starts to get expensive. Partner will probably takeout your double.

On the other hand, with average 8 HCP of the remaining 14-16 in partner's hand, you have 20 and might still just struggle to get them down depending on your shape. Partner will decide what to do.

Of course, with anything in the 10-15 points range, giving you a combined total of 22-27, your partner will elect for "lambs to the slaughter" if the opponents are vulnerable by passing your double, or will choose our own game if we are vulnerable and they are not. Deal number 6261 shows an example of this in action.

Whatever you do, do not follow the usual guidelines of a protective double with 8 points. Or you could be the lambs on the skewers as they redouble and go one or two over.

Protective 1NT overcall over a suit

"Borrow a King" applies again in the 4th seat after 2 passes. You can bid 1NT with a standard balanced hand with only 12-14 HCP. This is in contrast to the normal strong meaning of a 1NT overcall made directly over a suit bid.

Partner will reply to you exactly as if you had opened 1NT, with the added bonus of knowing something about his Right Hand Opponent.

Protective suit overcall

In the 4th suit after 2 passes, you can again "borrow a king", and overcall your long suit with as few as 9 points, but you need to be wary because your stronger opponents cards will be played directly after yours.. and they just might after all have as many as 24 HCP ! A double is usually safer, especially if you are vulnerable.

However, see Deal 6240 shown on quiz 0102, Q.7 - Q.10, for an example of this working very well indeed after a 1NT opening.

Even weaker opponents

Similar considerations apply after overcalling in the fourth seat after a 'Weak 2' opening.

Later rounds

A balancing double occurs in later rounds of bidding, in situations where opponents have found a fit, but stopped at a low level. You can therefore place some points with your partner. West starts the bidding:

1 - pass - - pass
2 - pass - pass - X

It is normally done with a relatively weak hand and the distribution need not be perfect. South, with 10HCP and no 5-card suit, with Q873 1084 K1084 AJ is not strong enough to double in the first round. However, he can expect the partner to have shortage in hearts, of course, and probably have 4 cards in spades or diamonds. He should make a late "balancing" takeout double.

Deal number 6258 shows an example of this in action, with interesting consequences on the card play.

Reopening double

A Reopening double is a form of takeout double bid by the opener himself, after his left-hand opponent has overcalled and partner has passed. As with a normal takeout double, it shows support for unbid suits.

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday