D.S.I.P. course

(Courtesy of Bob Crosby)

D.S.I.P. Theory

What is D.S.I.P. competitive double theory? What these competitive doubles entail is a brand new way of competing in the game of Bridge with all competitive auctions up to but not including the 5 level. We divide the Bridge playing field into three camps. Auctions that we own due to the strength of our bidding, the auctions the opponents own and auctions that we do not or may not. In the auctions we own, forcing pass theory is the law of the land. In the competitive auctions, D.S.I.P. double theory takes over. The auctions they own and the 5 level, from our perspective old fashioned trump stack penalty doubles apply.

D.S.I.P. competitive double theory is based on the re-definition of the penalty double. With the old way of competing, the penalty double meant I have their suit so let's not compete anymore. The double was designed to discourage further bidding. The D.S.I.P. double is just the opposite. The D.S.I.P. double says I have defense measured in quick tricks so I am transferring the decision to partner. Partner may be in a better position to make the final determination whether to compete again. This D.S.I.P. double is a competitive double so only applies as the initial action in a competitive situation. Another name for the D.S.I.P. double is the Check back double.

How do penalty doubles occur in these competitive auctions? These occur in two ways, Either partner must double in order to check back with partner to compete again. Partner can deny permission holding their trump so convert for penalty. This is similar to negative double theory. The other way for a penalty double is that there is only one D.S.I.P. double allowed per customer. Once your side has taken an initial action either by making a D.S.I.P. double or bidding, all subsequent doubles are for penalty.

D.S.I.P. doubles are all inclusive with any aspect of competing as long as your side does not own the auction?. This means after overcalls, takeout doubles, balancing, 1NT bids and in rare cases even after pre-empts (action doubles). In order to compete successfully with D.S.I.P. doubles, you must be very familiar with the cues that turn on forcing passes. 2/1, limit raise or better, strong conventional bids etc. If you are not 100% sure that forcing pass theory applies, check the auction for limited or unlimited hands. If we have limited our hands, the double is D.S.I.P. An unlimited hand has penalty double rights (captaincy). The IMP scale encourages this style of competitive doubles as the scale robs you when you obtain huge sets anyway. Also a doubled game contract in IMPS, is a small loss and not a disaster if it makes like in matchpoints.

D.S.I.P. theory is for Bridge experts only. The reason we say that is that it necessitates judgment with hand evaluation skills to convert auctions for penalty, to know if forcing passes apply instead. You also require discipline with your opening bids, takeout doubles and overcalls. If you are a random bidder (ignoring quick trick potential) with respect to your opening bids, overcalls and takeout doubles, D.S.I.P. theory will not work. Partner assumes you are disciplined and have your bid as the basis for her competitive doubles. Partner also assumes you know how to defend.

D.S.I.P. theory assumes that you have quick tricks for your openers and doubles. Doubles equate to defense measured in quick tricks. You think in quick tricks to make your conversion decisions. To convert doubles of partials into games, you need a combination of quick tricks and their trump to set them at least two. When you make a D.S.I.P. double, you look at your quick tricks and not your HCP's. HCP's are a recipe for disaster as they may be useless defensively.

What are the advantages of competing with D.S.I.P. theory over the traditional way? The main reason is that Bridge is a partnership game so it allows both partners input into competitive decisions. Since Bridge is played in a clockwise direction, quite often in competitive auctions partner would compete once more when you wanted to double them for penalty. This action was doing yourself in by rescuing them. With D.S.I.P. theory, partner must transfer the decision to you with a double so now the partnership makes the decision. The old way of competing was rampant with impatient solo artists who made single handed decisions for the partnership. The norm in competitive auctions was we may as well go down rather than them. I like playing the hand vs defending anyway.

Another advantage of D.S.I.P. theory is identifying duplication of value in their suit. The D.S.I.P. double says we do not have values in their suit. This is like playing splinters so you can make more informed competitive decisions. D.S.I.P. doubles prevent pseudo sacrifices as we are more informed about the status of their suit. There are many competitive auctions where the opponents are trying to steal your auction. You do not want to double them for penalty as it nowhere compensates for what you can make but you do not have a clear cut action. You now can make a D.S.I.P. competitive double which just shows cards rather than their suit. The partnership now makes the competitive decision. The double is the most flexible bid in Bridge. Reserving it for a trump stack, is a blatant waste of a good bid in competitive auctions.

Another advantage of D.S.I.P. theory is when partner competes by just bidding we have the negative inference she did not make a D.S.I.P. double. This allows more bidding/competing without the partnership punishing each other because you took another bid? This is a Tom Gandolfo favourite with D.S.I.P. theory as it allows him to bid even more.

In so called modern bidding people bid more and pre-empt more. D.S.I.P. theory adds much needed structure to combat this invasion. Doubles of pre-empts above the negative double level are never trump stack, they just show cards. This understanding allows partner to make more informed decisions when they pre-empt. Re-opening doubles with defensive tricks allow the trump stack situations to be converted for penalty. D.S.I.P. competitive doubles are still another weapon in combating pre-empts.

The last advantage is that competitive doubles rids you of single handed trump stack penalty doubles from your competitive repertoire. Partner doubling without your input not knowing whether you have an offensive hand, defensive hand, maximum, minimum or whatever. This historically gave you the headache whether to pull the double so get into trouble yourself. Doubling them into game really hurts when they make it. D.S.I.P. doubles are an insurance policy as penalty doubles get converted only after knowing that partner has defense. Penalty doubles were also ambiguous. Sometimes they were made with a trump stack or sometimes just cards? Ambiguity in any language is a breeding ground for confusion. Who needs an ambiguous penalty double anyway?

As your skill in Bridge improves, D.S.I.P. doubles are the obvious next step to making good and winning competitive decisions. We consider them as the best method to combat Bridge terrorism called modern bidding. You are either for or against terrorism, according to George Bush. We are against Bridge terrorism and all that it stands for.

Give me that “old time religion”. I yearn for the days of Bridge where bidding was designed to mean something other than just disrupting the opponent's bidding. Openers now mean nothing, overcalls at the one level or 2 level is just shooting dice and pre-empts are virtually suicidal. These bidders prey on the lack of methods designed to counter – act these “terrorist tactics”. Partnership Bridge takes a beating also. If partner gets “blown up” also it is deemed “collateral damage”. The following theory in an attempt by me to level the playing field.

In my Bridge experience, the worse partnership disasters are those that occur with confusion over penalty doubles. Bridge bidding is a language. A language that allows ambiguity i.e. two different meanings for the same word is confusing so often leads to misunderstandings. Same with the penalty double in Bridge. You can make a penalty double with a majority of HCP’s or a trump stack in their suit. How is partner to know the difference? The answer is that he cannot, so this often leads to disaster. Pulling doubles in competition becomes a precarious gamble based on this ambiguity. If you do not pull doubles, they often make their doubled contract or you can make a vulnerable game or slam but the penalty extracted nowhere compensates. Actually the advocates of trump stack doubles get annoyed when partner does make a penalty double based on HCP’s alone. I do not blame them, as these doubles should be pulled more often then not. What compounds the problem is that people compete more now so non trump stack doubles are being invented to combat this “invasion of privacy”.

My answer to this dilemma is make all penalty doubles “trump stack” doubles or none of them in competitive auctions where forcing pass theory does not apply. With modern bidding using the “Law of Total Tricks“ with the propensity to up the level when they have a good fit, I strongly feel that the trump stack double is the one to become extinct when used as the initial action. It is far more useful to have the penalty double just based on HCP’s and convey the message of Do Something Intelligent Partner or D.S.I.P. Trump stack penalty doubles only occur by converting partners double or doubles later in the auction. Bad decisions in competitive auctions are the norm. Confusion with penalty doubles certainly does not help. D.S.I.P. theory and Forcing Pass theory brings some much needed structure to all competitive auctions. Having duplication of value in their suit come down in the dummy is the most disappointing aspect of competitive bidding. Having a method to identify this duplication will have enormous benefit in competitive decisions. Present penalty doubles do not do the job adequately as there is ambiguity re duplication of value in their suit(s). The standard interpretation of a pass in competitive auctions (where you do not own the hand) does not have the superb understanding of a forcing pass. A forcing pass simply means no duplication of value or quick losers in the enemy suit. However, this understanding is limited to auctions where you obviously own the hand.

In my mind anyway, the trump stack penalty double destroys the concept of competing. In a competitive auction after partner bids again, this 2nd bid introduces ambiguity. Is partner just competing on distribution or does she have values? Maybe she is making an advance sacrifice against their “cold” +140? Do you punish her by competing again possibly driving them to a makeable game or go for a set? Do you pass and miss a game yourself when she did have extra values? The answer is simple. Remove the trump stack double from competitive auctions as the initial double. The first double shows a good hand with quick tricks for defense. Eric Kokish calls them “transferable values”.

Necessity is the mother of invention. One of the hands that got me seriously thinking how silly it is to consider all penalty doubles as “trump stack” doubles was a hand I had an argument with my ex partner Peter Jones, a staunch proponent of all doubles should be of the “trump stack” variety. I sent the hand around to people whose views I respected so an answer came back from Gordon Campbell. He suggested that this particular double on our auction was a D.S.I.P. double therefore partner is encouraged to pull the double depending on his hand. Ambiguous bids in Bridge can be interpreted the same as ambiguous words in a natural language. You can deduce the meaning of the bid or word “depending on the context” in which the word or bid was used. Gordon implied that the penalty double in this particular auction was a DSIP double as opposed to a trump stack double. Another understanding that spurred me on to thinking that trump stack doubles had to go was the “green light” understanding. By failing to make a trump stack double in a competitive auction, this somehow gave partner permission to bid again. This is outright stupid and single handed. Most of the time the double just allowed declarer to make his contract or force partner to pull the double as he did not have exactly as advertised.You end up go for a number in your contract. This way of thinking is fine at the 5 level or higher because at these rarefied levels you can have them beat in your own hand with their trump. D.S.I.P. theory converges with trump stack doubles at these very high levels.

Another reason for eliminating the trump stack double is to rid Bridge of the “bidding cop”. This is the annoying partner who wants to punish bad bidders with his penalty doubles because he does not like the sound of the bidding in a competitive auction or just to announce his trump stack. Quite often this leads to disaster as they make the contract mainly because he is locating cards and trump. He makes a single handed decision for the partnership in competition without input from partner. Trump stack penalty doubles are one the most single handed actions in Bridge so detracts from the partnership element of the game of Bridge.

Still another reason for eliminating trump stack doubles from your system is the IMP scale itself. The IMP scale taxes your big winnings so to speak. As an example, say your good bidding partners are in 2 making for +110. The opponents bid and play badly in 4 at your table so you collect +300. You win 410 or 9 IMPS. Say you double them at your table and knowing the trump situation they play it better for –500 or they just go for –800. The 800 added to your partners +110 is 910 or 14 IMPs which is only a gain of 5 IMPS. The 500 added to 110 is 610 or 12 IMPS. You are only gaining 3 or 5 IMPS for your trump stack penalty double! Not worth it in my opinion for the advantage of playing DSIP doubles.

Another reason for D.S.I.P. doubles is the variability and ambiguity of bids in Bridge including cuebids. Openers are getting lighter and lighter, so there is a huge variance in defensive values there. Overcalls vary quite drastically in strength as do takeout doubles, negative doubles, re-opening doubles, responses and systemic toys. With this variability how can one partner judge that a trump stack penalty double is warranted? If partner is minimum, they will probably make the contract. If he pulls he will not like your duplication of value therefore he gets doubled in his contract. D.S.I.P. theory lets the partnership decide by allowing partner to make a D.S.I.P. double with his good defensive hand so you can safely convert with your trump stack. No guessing or pulling of trump stack doubles required. This treatment is good insurance against a doubled contract making. Instead of being afraid to make a trump stack double in case partner is light for his values you just pass thereby finding out by letting partner double with good defense. This part of D.S.I.P. theory is quite similar to negative double theory except partner is not obligated to double. D.S.I.P. theory prevents bad penalty doubles by trigger happy partners. Penalty doubles are shown by trapping and putting the green card on the table unless partner has made a non pass. D.S.I.P. doubles define your cuebids. You always double to show a good hand with no fit so cuebids can always show a fit for partners suit. D.S.I.P. doubles prevent rescuing the opponents from bad spots and allows your side more freedom to compete without partner punishing you by doubling the opponents. If she does make a trump stack double, she is doing it at her own risk after you have just competed.

Another justification for D.S.I.P. doubles is protecting against a tactic by opponents trying to steal your hand based on their good trump fit or just straight overbidding. They know the Law of Total Tricks so they try to buy the contract when you have the preponderance of HCP’s. The weapon of choice against these tactics is the penalty double to tell your partner that you have the balance of power. These balance of power doubles are D.S.I.P.

The 2nd double in Bridge is defined as D.S.I.P. and not trump stack penalty. If partner makes a takeout double followed by a 2nd double he is just showing the upper range of his previous double, not a trump stack in the opponents suit. If he makes a negative double, doubles again it is not trump stack but showing a maximum for his previous bids. If you overcall followed by a double, it is not a trump stack but showing a good hand in the D.S.I.P. way. No ambiguity in these auctions as trump stack doubles do not exist as the initial action.

Reading between the lines for the meaning of penalty doubles in a particular auction is fine but ambiguity still leads to disasters. I decided to see if “trump stack doubles” can be completely eliminated from the bridge vocabulary in competitive auctions when used as the initial bid. I did some research and I discovered the most World Class players already hold this view. Garozzo in his system called Ambra has a very narrow definition of trump stack penalty doubles. These doubles are virtually extinct in his system. As much as I dislike testimonials to prove the validity of Bridge theory, I will make a few exceptions. The following is from the convention cards of world class players. Meckwell “Negative doubles at lower levels, Card-showing doubles's at more cramped levels”. Soloway-Hamman “Frequent non-PEN DBL;” Shmurski-Puczynski “Frequent non-PEN DBL,” and most of the others I examined played non penalty type competitive doubles. The Bridge World has circumvented the issue for decades. Quoting one Master Solvers director “Doubles corrupt, and absolute doubles corrupt absolutely”. Panel members for years say “I like action doubles or they say if we play competitive doubles in this situation I double “. Nobody (until now) advocates throwing out trump stack doubles completely as the first bid in all actively competitive auctions where you do not own the hand. Eric Kokish feels that a double in high level competitive auctions should be interpreted just like a forcing pass when you do own the auction. My sentiments exactly. Pass – double inversion.

The original inventors of Bridge had penalty doubles to show a trump stack in the opponents suit. Changing this concept in competition needs a constructive framework. Forcing pass theory has a special meaning of pass and double to conform to the situation where you own the auction with the opponents sacrificing. Borrowing a page from forcing pass theory, we define D.S.I.P. theory to apply in all competitive auctions up to any level (5 level excluded) where we do not own the hand. There is an added requirement in that it must be a “competitive” auction with both sides still bidding. As in forcing pass theory, we can now redefine the meanings of double and pass.Also an attitude adjustment is needed to play D.S.I.P. double theory. Instead of never pulling my penalty doubles, the new theory says “please pull my penalty doubles” unless you have a reason to convert. This re-definition of a penalty double is the basis of D.S.I.P. theory. A double in competition is a far too useful and versatile a bid to waste as showing a trump stack in the opponent's suit. In fact, a D.S.I.P. double is equivalent to a forcing pass when you do own the auction. A D.S.I.P. doubles means, I prefer to bid again but I will abide by your decision partner.

Since Bridge is played in a clockwise direction means that one partner may have to act before the other partner gets a chance to make a penalty double in a competitive auction. Quite often bad bidders are rescued by your own partner, who bids before you get a chance to make the correct choice of bids i.e. a penalty double. Similar to the framework of forcing pass theory, we have a new meaning for the penalty double in direct competition. The double means that you want to bid but you have defense so you defer the decision to partner in case he has a trump stack. This means partner can never “get in your way” if a penalty double was coming up. If partner was going to pull your penalty double anyway, he is allowed to bid. The pass is defined differently from forcing pass theory. The pass means I want to defend so I could possibly have a trump stack in their suit.. This way, as in forcing pass theory, both partners have input into the decision. This takes the single handed penalty double away from the partnership. Remember you cannot have it both ways. Sometimes opponents bid badly in competitive auctions so you are looking at a juicy trump stack penalty double. Take your fix and put the green card on the table. Should D.S.I.P. theory even apply before the 5 level after game has been bid? Yes it should because of the clockwise order of the game of Bridge. The D.S.I.P. double prevents pseudo sacrifices so that alone is worth its weight in gold.

You must know Forcing Pass theory with the auctions that turn on forcing passes to use D.S.I.P. theory effectively. You have to switch back and forth from the two “modes” depending on whether you own the auction or not in competitive auctions. Forcing pass theory takes precedence over D.S.I.P. theory. D.S.I.P. theory applies in the pass out chair also. You still have to ask partners permission with a double if you want to bid. He could have a trump stack over there which caused him to pass. Instead of the simplistic meaning of a penalty double suggesting that the opponents cannot make a hand and the scoring change accordingly, penalty doubles are redefined into two classes. Doubles when you own the hand and those made when you are competing. There is a 3rd doubling “mode” in the game of Bridge. This is where the auction dictates that the opponents own the hand or bid their contract to make. A double in these auctions is still D.S.I.P. saying I have defense but I would like to bid again as a sacrifice. This treatment is way better then the old “double/undouble” as the doubler should have them close to booked in quick tricks. Partner having a say in the proceedings may prevent pseudo sacrifices which is one of the worst Bridge calamities.

D.S.I.P. doubles at high levels take over after the levels that negative doubles cover right up to and including 4. Always keep in mind though these D.S.I.P. doubles at this level still imply that we do not own the hand. If we do own the hand, of course, forcing pass theory is in effect and penalty doubles are used to discourage partner from further bidding. D.S.I.P. doubles are the default when forcing pass theory does not apply. Trump stack doubles are permitted only in tightly defined situations where we are not competing actively. Normally D.S.I.P. theory applies if the opponents have given us a chance to find a fit. If we have not had a chance to show a fit, A D.S.I.P. at high levels or in non-fit situations are card showing as opposed to I want to bid in your suit. If we have shown a fit earlier, a double says I want to bid again no matter how high the level ( below the 5 level).

Judging “duplication of value” is a huge part of Bridge. Splinters were invented to discover duplication of value and they are very successful. Duplication of value in the opponent's trump suit is a disaster in competitive auctions. In order to have full weight to your singleton in their suit, partner must not have any values there. Without DSIP theory you just have to guess and if you are wrong disaster strikes as the double minus occurs. D.S.I.P. theory, by having the double show no duplication of value in the opponents suit and wanting to take offensive action, allows partner to pass the double when he has values in their suit. No guess work at all. D.S.I.P. doubles can be thought of as “check back” doubles. Do you have duplication in their suit or not? If not, you must bid in most cases. Another way of thinking D.S.I.P. doubles is that they are transfers. You transfer the penalty double decision to partner as you have announced your hand. Announcing your hand is and should be the basis of all penalty doubles.

A D.S.I.P. double can be thought of as asking partners permission to make a bid. Like forcing pass theory, the D.S.I.P. double brings in a joint partnership decision to a penalty double. Trump stack doubles are single handed actions. D.S.I.P. doubles are not as you get partners approval to bid or convert for penalty. The worst platitude in Bridge was “do not pull my penalty doubles”. D.S.I.P. doubles are based on all penalty doubles are to pulled unless partner wants to convert for penalty. Since pulling doubles is a common practice playing this theory its best to use Lebensohl at high levels when doing so. Pulling the double to 4NT first forces partner to bid 5 and your bid shows little or no values. A direct pull means you think you can make the contract so slam is a possibility. Judgment is required in converting D.S.I.P. doubles for penalty. This judgment is a thorough understanding of that factors that make a hand good for defensive purposes. Like in negative double theory, you have an obligation to bid partners possible trump stack double. If you have the defensive tricks, by all means re-open with a double in competitive situations.

D.S.I.P. theory is a tool to combat the opponents pre-empts. These nuisance bids work better then they should because they exploit the ambiguity of penalty doubles. Wrong decisions are made time after time because the ambiguity of trump stack vs HCP’s doubles muddle the decision making process. Throwing out trump stack doubles in these auctions simplify matters. Negative doubles and D.S.I.P. doubles blend right up to the 5 level when dealing with pre-empts. There are no direct trump stack doubles of pre-empts at any level.

D.S.I.P. doubles are a new tool. Depending on vulnerability conditions do not “hang’ partner by overusing the double. Give him some leeway. Free bids are an old concept which I feel have no merit in the modern game. With light distributional openers, you trap yourself by not bidding and informing partner the nature of your hand. I advocate just bidding so if you do have a genuine free bid, make a D.S.I.P. double later in the auction to convey your extra values. D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles. The D.S.I.P. double means you are “serious” when you are competing. The corollary is that bidding again means that you have just paid your card fees so it is not conveying any messages to partner. The negative inference that you did not make a D.S.I.P. double gives you a lot of freedom in competitive auctions.

When Bridge was invented, it was thought that a 2NT bid in competition would be useful to show a flat hand in the invitational HCP range. In modern bidding that meaning has virtually disappeared. 2NT is used as Lebensohl, Scrambling, or a two suiter. OK. How do you describe the old fashioned 2NT hand? The D.S.I.P. double replaces the 2NT bid if possible. D.S.I.P. and the good-bad 2NT convention is a good mix. When the opponents compete to the 2 level in the sandwich position, 2NT is useful to show the difference between competing and making invitational bids. The “good” is bidding directly and the “bad” is bidding 2NT.

There are still auctions where the trump stack double applies. If your partner pre-empts with a weak 2, 3 or 4 or a systemic toy like unusual 2NT or Michaels then trump stack penalty doubles still apply. This is especially so if partner of the pre-empt makes a systemic forcing bid saying “we own the hand”. There is one exception to that statement though. When partner joins the party by supporting partner's suit either by supporting the pre-empt directly or implied with a lead director, a double is now D.S.I.P. Jump to games or pre-emptive jump raises are auctions where trump stack doubles still apply (essentially they are pre-empts). You do not want partners input into a D.S.I.P. decision as he has already done so. If the auction is clearly a misfit auction you probably would not make a D.S.I.P. double as there is no safe resting place. The forcing 1NT auctions is an exception to the misfit auction treatment. D.S.I.P. doubles apply in those auctions. When the opponents balance, I feel trump stack doubles still apply if the doubler is over the suit. Balancing is a gamble so there is definitely a win lose proposition. If you lose it can be very costly. Another situation where trump stack doubles still apply is trapping and exposing psyches. When you are stacked in the opponent's suit it is best to pass and see if they get into hot water. When that happens there are doubles that are of the trump stack variety. D.S.I.P. doubles are defined only when you compete. When you drop out of the auction and subsequently double it is of the trump stack variety. D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles defined when you are directly competing. Competitive doubles previously were defined for very narrow auctions (just when you and opponents are raising each others suits). D.S.I.P. theory builds on competitive doubles. In a nutshell, D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles where a double means you want to bid with defense, a direct bid says you want to compete without defense and pass just means I want to defend. There is no room for a trump stack double with these understandings until later in the auction.

D.S.I.P. doubles apply with initial actions only in competitive auctions. What about subsequent doubles in a competitive auction after a few rounds of bidding? These doubles are obviously penalty as you have already made a D.S.I.P. double or a bid and partner is aware of the situation. You do not make a 2nd D.S.I.P. double after you already have the information needed to make a penalty decision. Penalty doubles are still made in competitive situations but after partner has already contributed to the decision making process.

The strong NT and defending against the weak or strong NT brings in D.S.I.P. theory. When the opponents overcall your strong NT, D.S.I.P. doubles are in effect. Negative doubles at the two level are not useful in my opinion. 2NT is usually used as a relay or transfer so what replaces that bid? A D.S.I.P. double fills the gap nicely. I like penalty doubles to remain on one vulnerability – they are and we are not. As the strong NT is the corner stone of your system, it is important to know when Forcing Pass theory and D.S.I.P. theory applies. When your side doubles a weak NT or a strong NT and they run, D.S.I.P. doubles apply. This is because partner quite often rescues the opponents before the original doubler can double them for penalty. A common D.S.I.P. theme.

There is a situation when negative doubles turn into D.S.I.P. doubles. This occurs when the opponents pre-empt at the 3 level either in the direct or sandwich position. This D.S.I.P. double has a special name “Thrump Doubles” as Marty Bergen invented the bid. The D.S.I.P. double just shows cards or a long suit so asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit.

Re-opening doubles are a class of D.S.I.P. doubles. If within the range covered by negative doubles, re-opening doubles are just hands that you would have otherwise left in a penalty double. In other words, you have cards and no fit with partner. Out of the negative double range, re-opening doubles are still D.S.I.P. as they just show defense and are not “take-out bids” per se. Even in NT auctions I play re-opening doubles as D.S.I.P. and the over/under rule applies.

Expert players know that doubling the opponents freely bid slams is a bad strategy. If you are not in the auction, the double is lead directing. If you or your partner has been in the bidding and you are not on lead your double is D.S.I.P. asking partners permission to sacrifice. This is only at the slam level so is similar to the old double/undouble that was in vogue years ago.

D.S.I.P. doubles assist in your balancing auctions. After balancing, a double can help you compete or allow partner to convert for penalty if they re-enter the auction. Balancing is an art form and making a belated D.S.I.P. double can give partner an indication of the strength of your hand.. Penalty doubles still exist when partner makes a balancing double. This is just due to the nature of the beast that the bid shows shortness in their suit.

Action doubles are a subset of D.S.I.P. doubles. These doubles want you to take some action even after you have may have pre-empted! You do not want to sell out so you double to show that you have more defense than announced previously so partner take some action.

D.S.I.P. doubles can occur after your competitive tools such as weak two’s, Unusual NT and Michaels bids. If partner had a chance to make a forcing bid like 2NT and did not, D.S.I.P. doubles can apply. When partner is a passed hand and partners makes a pre-emptive weak 2 or higher, D.S.I.P. doubles apply.

Systemic toys that you use to disturb their NT, Michaels cuebids and Unusual NT can all benefit from D.S.I.P. theory. These bids vary depending on the vulnerability and since they announce suits and are variable in strength, D.S.I.P. doubles are necessary to announce the strength and competitive intentions. With the proper vulnerability a D.S.I.P. double can give partner the option to sacrifice or convert for penalty. This action is even applicable after they have reached 3NT after a strong NT opener by them. These bids and their takeout double bring out the concept of “pass and double”. In almost all these sequences except one defined by them being vulnerable and you not, the double is D.S.I.P. You should announce your intentions by redoubling or doubling their systemic toy to turn on forcing pass theory for penalty doubles.

Conventional doubles like negative, support, responsive and maximal doubles are all “disciplined” or conventional D.S.I.P. doubles. They are not penalty but convey a specific meaning. D.S.I.P. doubles can blend in with negative doubles and support doubles for difficult hands. Finding a 5-3 major fit after a negative double is a difficult auction. D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles that can be used as “game try” doubles showing specifically 3 trump and limit raise values. This frees the cuebid that shows limit raise or better values to show 4 trump if limit raise values and 3 or more with “better” or forcing to game values.

Do not forget that D.S.I.P. doubles do not necessarily show flat defensive hands. The double can be made on wild distributional hands as long as there are defensive tricks available. In order to get a feeling for the new concept of DSIP doubles, it is helpful to discuss them in the context of all competitive situations in bridge where a penalty double might occur.

Bridge was played for decades before HCP’s were invented. Culbertson advanced the idea of “honour tricks” or quick tricks for evaluating an opening hand. Even with HCP’s introduced, the notion of quick tricks never left the requirement for an opening bid. Defensive quick tricks and D.S.I.P. doubles are a good marriage. HCP’s get eliminated by distribution but quick tricks are eradicated way less often. What is the defensive requirement for a D.S.I.P. double? I feel this requirement should me measured in quick tricks and if made by the opener or over-caller should be within ½ of a trick of booking their contract. If the double is by responder, the double should be maximum for their bid but measured in quick tricks.

　　　　

The name D.S.I.P. for these doubles I got from a Calgary bloke named Gordon Campbell. Many people have objected to the I in the acronym. Knowing that partners are mere humans do something intelligent may not always be the case. Some of us brainstormed to find alternative meanings for the “I”. What is in a name? If I had a chance to rename these competitive doubles, I would call them check back doubles. You are checking back with partner to get the OK to compete again.

Trump stack penalty doubles have been around since the beginning of Bridge. Why rock the boat and subscribe to D.S.I.P. theory? In a word, because it’s a better way to use the penalty double in competition. During the 1980’s and 1990’s experts were defining more and more auctions where trump stack doubles do not apply. Until D.S.I.P. theory, nobody took the final step of declaring trump stack penalty doubles extinct in competitive auctions as an initial action and coming up with a new meaning for the double and pass. Forcing pass theory works because both partners contribute to the final decision in forcing auctions. D.S.I.P. theory works for the same reason in competitive auctions. D.S.I.P. theory is a subset of Forcing Pass Theory but for auctions where forcing pass theory does not apply! D.S.I.P.brings the partnership into the decision making process for penalty doubles. Wrong decisions in competition are “match breakers”. Double partial swings, double game swings, double slam swings and pseudo sacrifices are the big ticket items. Experts have been moving away from “trump stack doubles” for decades. I feel the time has come to put competitive doubles in a structure similar to forcing pass theory. Having this structure to assist in these auctions is a must have for established partnerships. Penalty doubles (trump stack), like the dinosaur, are becoming extinct as an initial action. Good riddance.

　　　　

A disclaimer for all the D.S.I.P. theory above. The concept was invented for IMPS or very good fields in Match Points. D.S.I.P. theory and weak match point fields are not a good mix. Borrowing a page from the instructional books for dummies series, I have tried to simplify the theory in D.S.I.P. Doubles for Dummies. The knock against D.S.I.P. doubles is that they are “transfer bids”. They transfer the blame to partner. This is true but you arm partner first with information based on defensive tricks and lack of HCP’s in their suit. Partner is better placed to make the final decision. If it does not work out, blame the card gods.

　　　　

Converting to D.S.I.P. theory is not easy. Old habits are hard to break. In our Bridge “puppyhood” we remember many telephone numbers we have inflicted on the opponents because of single handed penalty doubles. However, could you have got the same result by converting partner's D.S.I.P. double? But you must realize, how many of these numbers were accumulated against good opponents in top level IMP games? I would hazard a guess, not too many. These is no free lunch in Bridge. You must give up something to get something back. Justifying a new theory or converting to a new way of thinking needs to pass the test of time. So far in my partnership, there is no need to turn back the clock.

Forcing Pass (D.S.I.P. is born)

Tactical bidding by the opponents bring in the element of judgment with penalty doubles. O.K. I am going to get up on my soap box here because I feel very strongly about this. In rubber bridge quite a few (all) of your partners lack judgment in penalty double situations. For them a platitude like " you never pull my penalty doubles" will earn you money in the long run i.e. you do not have to trust them to use judgment that they do not have. For a good partnership to have this understanding that "you never pull penalty doubles" is down right insulting. Sometimes partner wants penalty doubles to be pulled even using forcing pass theory. These type of doubles are called Do Something Intelligent Partner so require partner to be at the table as well as using good judgment. You must listen to the opponent's bidding as well as partner's bidding. These doubles normally occur when you are just competing but can also occur in forcing pass situations. Rote rules or platitudes just do not cut it when you are playing with your regular partner at expert levels. The penalty double is an ambiguous bid in Bridge. Ambiguity, like in a language, needs clarification from the context it was used to define its meaning. In Bridge this means that the auction sometimes determines the meaning of the penalty double. In other words, thought is required rather than blindly adhering to rote rules or platitudes.

An example hand was a hand that I had with my ex partner on pulling penalty doubles. Mr. Jones had KQ void AKxxx 10987xx, and opened 1. LHO bid 2 so I doubled showing one or both the majors with a good hand. This double turned on forcing passes saying we owned this auction. RHO bid 4 so with the forcing pass element on and "being at the table" that I could not possibly have hearts. I doubled so that partner could do something. A double in a forcing pass auction does not simply mean I have a trump stack in their suit when the auction clearly dictates that I should not have. The double just means from my perspective this is the best way for our side to get a plus. I do not have diamonds or hearts (unless opponents are suicidal) so I must have spades and clubs. Therefore, it is an easy pull to 5 with Peter's hand. 5 makes but 4 doubled makes the other direction. This is not a tough hand. Gordon Campbell summed it up best with a touch of humour when I gave him the hand for his opinion.

"Accordingly, he must double with many hands (with even more extras than the initial double showed) which are not necessarily penalty-oriented but are of the "we-have-lots-of-stuff-but-I-don't-have-a-clear-action" type of double.

My coined terminology is the DSIP Double. (Do Something Intelligent Partner)

And yes, Partner should not play like Rueful Rabbit - and muse on the existence of there being 16 Hearts in the deal, while he gurgles on his ginger bikky.

He does have to be at the table. He should listen to the Opponents, as well as Partner. I get very worried when they are too confident. "

My partner tonight showed good judgment on a forcing pass auction.

He held Axxx xx AKxxxx x, vulnerable against not opened 1. The opponents bid 2NT for hearts and clubs. I doubled which turned on forcing passes. However, the opponents leapt to 4 telling everybody at the table they owned the heart suit. The bid came around to me who doubled. Partner did not just blindly pass because partner made a penalty double in a forcing pass auction. Partner realized from the context of the bidding that I could not possibly have a trump stack double, even in a forcing pass auction. I must be asking him to do something intelligent. Partner bid 4 which told me he had some distribution with 5 or 6 diamonds. He would have just passed with all flat hands and lead a trump. I leapt to 6 so partner made +1370. When the opponents sound too confident (See Gordon Campbell's comment above)

O.K. I held a hand last night with Tom against the Bartons that I think the D.S.I.P. rule applies with penalty doubles.

I held Ax xx AK KJ1098xx with everybody vulnerable.

I opened 1, Tom bid a spade with my RHO bidding 2 alerted to be a two suiter in hearts and diamonds with shortness in clubs. I felt like leaping to 4 but I did not want to go past 3NT so I bid 3, LHO bid 3 so around to me again. O.K. one last desperate attempt at 3NT so I bid 3 which LHO doubled but Tom bid 4, RHO bid 4 with lots of confidence knowing they owned the diamond suit. I wanted to bid 5 very badly but why take such a single handed action. I have 4 booked in my own hand and I am short in his spade suit, so why not put partner in the picture with a D.S.I.P. competitive double? When they own their trump suit from the context of the auction, a double is D.S.I.P (co-operative).

If partner holds Jxxxxx xxx Axxx, 4 makes and 5 makes.

If partner holds KQxx Jxx xx xxxx, 4 goes for 500 and 5 goes for 500

If partner holds Jxxx Jxx xx Axxx, 4 makes and 5 goes 1 down

Partner must use her judgment depending on the club and his spade holding on these type of auctions. Platitudes like not pulling partner's penalty doubles do not apply here. Partner wants you to pull with the appropriate hand! Partner expects your HCP's to be located in spades as you bid them. If they are not, it is a danger sign that the opponent's cards are working well for them.

Frustrations with penalty doubles in competition for many, many years lead me to believe that trump stack doubles should become extinct. These penalty doubles are single handed anyway so do not really involve partnership Bridge. Telling an expert partner not to pull your penalty doubles is insulting. There has to be a better way.

The opponents are vulnerable and you are not and you have Q109xxx Jxxx void xxx. Partner is a passed hand and RHO opens 1 and you make a non vulnerable tactical bid of 2. The opponents make a negative double, partner passes and LHO bid 3 and LHO bids 3NT and partner doubles. O.K. partner is a passed hand and is not doubling just because he has 12 pts or so. Partner is doubling on spades and a diamond stopper and around 10 pts. Looking at your hand this means that the opponents have close to 30 pts for their 3NT doubled. Your bid shows 5-10 HCP and you are no where near your bid. Do you leave the double in? Do something intelligent partner means just that. Pull to 4 at the speed of lightning. Partner had Axx Q10xx K1098 xx for the double and 4 doubled goes for 300 or 500 depending on the defense. Adherence to the platitude that you never pull partners double gets you minus 1150 and you lose the knockout match by 2 IMPS!

Tom and I had a misunderstanding last night that needs clarification for partnerships. I feel that the redouble sets up forcing pass situations even when partner is 3rd seat and Tom did not.

Tom held Q1098 KJ9xx Axx x and opened 1 and Peter Jones doubled. I redoubled with my 11 HCP and Terplawy bid 1. Tom showed his dog by passing and I re-opened with 1NT. Allan showed poor judgment by bidding 2. Since I bid 1NT, I must have at least 2 with a stopper and no more than 2. Tom knows they are on a 4-3 fit and probably has 3 spade tricks. With the KJ of hearts and the A of diamonds he has 2 booked in his own hand regardless of the maybe 12 HCP I could have. Tom thought this was not a forcing pass auction and decided not to disturb things and passed. I took his pass as forcing so I bid 3 and went down 2 vulnerable when 2 goes for 800 or 500. Huge 18 IMP swing as we lost 8 instead of winning 10. I did not re-open with a double as I thought we were on a forcing pass scenario and Tom would have doubled with spades.

At the Klimo/Kiz table the auction went slightly different. Klimo opened 1 and Kiz bid 1NT which got passed around to a balancer who doubled. Kiz redoubled to show her 11 and when RHO bid 2 Klimo doubled and they went for a number. Anyway, back to the same old theme. With the opponents in the auction, a partnership have to have finely tuned partnership understandings. So called mistakes always seem to occur when the opponents are bidding.

In IMPS, I am a great believer in D.S.I.P. doubles as opposed to never pull my penalty doubles type of doubles. Why, well the IMP scale and our style of overcalling on very good hands dictate this philosophy. Take this hand not vulnerable vs vulnerable and RHO opens a heart. You have x AK10 K1098 AK109x and decide to bid 2. LHO bids 2, partner passes and RHO surprises you by bidding 4. Should you double? In rubber bridge it is clear cut. +800 gets you $40.00 at a nickel. In Match Points it is clear cut you must double and get your +800. Even if the field is not in 4 there might be people doubled in 3, so to go for the best score you should double. In IMPS put the green card on the table. Why? Assuming your intelligent partners are in a part score for +110 and you have these people in 4 down 3 for +300 you are winning 10 IMPS anyway. If you double and collect +800 you win +13 IMPS! In effect, in IMPS you are excluding D.S.I.P. double strategy for a 3 IMP gain!!

In IMPS, if you double a game after overcalling you want partner to do something intelligent which includes pulling your doubles. Take the same scenario but take away the HCP's in the opponents suit. x xx AKJx AKJ10xx. Again you double 4 after overcalling 2. In other forms of bridge you probably back in 4NT to say pick a minor. This is very single handed. Partner can have heart values, spade values, shortness in clubs and would love to play it in 4 doubled. Why not pass the decision to partner with a double? This is not a penalty double or you would have just quietly passed and taken your plus. This is saying I want to bid 5 but because we are an established partnership, you can make the decision.

O.K. back to the theme of our overcalls being so variable in strength. We will overcall at the one level with very good hands. This has the advantage of getting your distribution in first and your strength later on. The down side of this is that good opponents can smell game your way and preempt you with advance sacrifices and tactical jump to games. The solution is to play D.S.I.P. doubles and double if you want to bid again and pass if you do have a plus. Everyone of us overcalls a heart with a spade on this hand AKQxxx x AQxx xx. They are vulnerable and we are not. They bid 4. Is this not an excellent opportunity to sacrifice in 4 and on a good day it might even make. In rubber bridge and Match points, why not gamble it out and single handily bid 4? In IMPS do not even think about it. You have a partner over there so double. With the agreement that this does not show a trump stack, partner can bid 4 if it is right and passes if it is not. Partner gratefully passes with x QJ109 xxxx xxxx and you get +800 instead of -500. Quite a reward for allowing partner to be part of the decision!

Rubber Bridge and Match Points tends to re-enforce single handed decisions. In IMPS, Bridge is truly a partnership game. Penalty doubles in IMPS have a different meaning. Partner must pull them when the situation dictates and that is when you have been in the auction or both partners have been competing. These are the old style co-operate doubles. Just eliminate trump stack doubles from your way of thinking and you will get it right.

A pass is a bid that speaks volumes. If a partner, in a competitive situation, bids rather then passes, she is doing so on distribution and re-evaluating her hand based on new circumstances (shortness in their suit etc). A pass by her shows nothing extra or defensive values with a preference to defend with her minimum.

In D.S.I.P. theory, we throw out trump stack doubles as we do not compete with excessive values in their suit. We wait until they hang themselves and double or if partner re-opens with a double we convert. So take this very common auction I had in the Red Deer tournament and see how the D.S.I.P. principles apply.

I held AJ109x AQx xx K10x and with the control oriented hand I decided to open a spade instead of a light 1NT. LHO overcalls 2 and Vish bid 2 and RHO doubles showing a 3 raise with values. I thought I needed more to redouble so I passed. LHO bid 3 and around to me again. Partner's pass says he prefers to defend for one of two reasons. One he is minimum or two his hand is defensive orientated but not a maximum. If he were maximum with defense he would have doubled himself.

Anyway around to me. If I had a minimum with defense I would pass quietly and hopefully try to beat 3 as partner's pass suggests that action. If my hand was more distributional, I would take the push to 3. With this hand I decided to make a D.S.I.P. double. This allows partner to pull with a minimum and leave it in with some defense. Vish passes and we collect +300. Three spades goes down one!

LHO: Qx xxx AKQ10x 10xx

RHO: Kxx KJ10x J10x Jxx

Change my hand to AJ109x Axx KQ10 xx and I would also pass and this auction. Say Vish wanted to compete to 3 but he also has defense. He makes a D.S.I.P. double and you know what to do when it comes around to you. If Vish passed, I would just pass as I have too many points in diamonds to make a D.S.I.P. double. Isn't it better to have a partner who gives you an option to bid 3 instead of single handedly bidding it himself? D.S.I.P. doubles are a very effective weapon against bad two level overcalls by the opponents because you get them from both sides of the table. Bergen raises with inferences that partner most likely has only 3 trump is great for judging a hand for defensive purposes and D.S.I.P. doubles. With 4 trump and a minimum 2 spade bid, I usually bid 3 to get the auction up there.

Single Handed Bidding

The examples of single handed bad bidding in Bridge are endless. These are the bids that exclude partner from the decision making process. Overbidding, underbidding, failing to invite, bad opening bids, overcalls, pre-empts are a few examples. Another example of bad single-handed bidding is the trump stack penalty double in competitive auctions. This bid is quite often very single handed as the doubler has no idea if partner's opening bid, overcall or balance is minimum or maximum or if it is a defensive/offensive hand. The doubler is giving information to the opponents to allow them to run to another suit/NT or how to play the hand. The trump stack doubler is playing with fire as the contract making gets rewarded quite nicely in the IMP scale. Quite often the doubler puts a lot of stress on partner to run possibly getting into trouble herself as duplication of value in their suit is useless offensively. The penalty double is quite often premature as if the doubler just passes, partner would have doubled anyway to show a good defensive hand. The contract gets converted for penalty so all ends well for your side.

This "style" of converting for penalty by partner re-opening with a double was made popular by negative doubles. What this treatment does is allow the partnership to make a decision within the penalty double structure. Partner will not re-open with a double holding a hand not suitable for leaving in the double. This removes the gambling/single handedness from a penalty double as partner has had her say also.

Bridge is based on probabilities. You are not positive that you are setting a hand when you make a penalty double. However, the odds shift into your favour when partner has her say in the decision making process. She doubles to show defense so you convert with the trump stack. There is no such thing as pulling penalty doubles as trump stack doubles do not exist. D.S.I.P. doubles can be thought of as a transfer bid. You transfer the decision to partner who armed with more information makes a joint decision for the partnership.

We define competitive auctions as those auctions where neither side owns the hand. Forcing pass theory applies in non competitive auctions. By preventing trump stack doubles in competitive auctions, a nice side effect emerges. You can redefine the double to something more useful. As Bridge is played in a clockwise direction, would it not be nice to have the double mean that I have an offensive hand but with defense so I am requesting permission to compete again? You are taking out insurance with your decision to compete. Duplication of value in their suit is a killer in competitive auctions. Like splinter auctions, partner will nix the request with a trump stack in their suit so the partnership gets amply rewarded by converting the double. This action prevents partner from rescuing the opponents from impending disaster by bidding in front of your penalty double. If partner wants to compete again, she re-opens with a double so again the contract can be converted. In a bad situation, there is no escape for them. A good name for these doubles are "check back" doubles as you are checking back with partner to make a joint decision. We have named them D.S.I.P. doubles as partner has input to the "intelligent" penalty double decision. Good riddance to single handed penalty doubles in competition.

Green Light

One of the dumbest things about traditional trump stack doubles in Bridge is the so called "green light" understanding. If in a competitive auction, one partner does not double a contract with a trump stack it signals that partner can bid again. This contract theoretically will make because no duplication of value exists or it will be a cheap sacrifice. This thinking is blatantly stupid. Overcalls, openers, takeout doubles vary so much in strength how does one partner single handed with his Q109x of trump thinks that he should double their contract to warn partner not to bid again? I have heard so much "noise" over my Bridge career where one partner bid their hand again, went down badly because partner had the wrong hand. Their contract could have been defeated. Bad luck the partner would lament. Why didn't you double to prevent me from bidding? I did not know I could beat the hand and I did not want to tell declarer how to play the hand came the reply. This usually did not end the argument and they just lost 12 IMPS in a silly misjudged contract.

This "green light" ideas also applies to pre-empts. If partner does not double for penalty it somehow gives the pre-emptor permission to "St Albert" or bid your hand again. Absolute single handed nonsense. My partners are allowed to bid their pre-empt again but by an "action double" only. At least this is less single handed, as partner does have some say in the final decision. Without pre-empting if you have described your hand to partner, you have no business bidding your hand again. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles you can though. With the appropriate defense, you are allowed to bid your hand again with a D.S.I.P. double.

The problem, of course, is that trump stack doubles as a tool for competitive bidding just do not work. It is not so much better to play D.S.I.P. doubles in competition at high levels up to and including 4 - ?

If you want to bid again with a good hand after they reach game and you have some defense, double to ask partner's permission. With Q10xx of trump coupled with your good defensive hand, the partnership now knows the contract cannot make. The old style of partner giving the green light by passing is just plain gambling which may or may not work. A pass in a competitive auction in Bridge may not be a green light situation. It just means a minimum, or a defensive type hand or a minimum with a trump stack. If partner has a maximum with a trump stack, the old style of double works. However, that hand also works with D.S.I.P. understandings also. He just passes the double when partner signals he wants to bid again with a double. In fact, they really go for a number as both hands are maximum with a trump stack in one of the hands.

The "green light" pass is positional also. If they bid the game in front of you, you must guess if partner is maximum or minimum for his previous bidding. This puts pressure on partner to pull the double, if he has a minimum or unsuitable defensive hand. He pulls to the 5 level, goes for a horrible number himself as he was really minimum for his previous bidding. The duplication of value is no help for him at the 5 level. Trapped by your own partner!. The trump stack double was quite often a choice between death by water or death by fire. They make the doubled contract or you go for a number yourself. The culprit of course is the trump stack double. Contrast that situation with D.S.I.P. theory. You pass with your Q10xx of trumps as you want to defend. If partner wants to play the hand, he doubles with defense. If partner had the weak distributional hand, he is warned by your pass that you do not want to bid and play the hand. Therefore, he just puts the green card on the table so no disaster occurs. These are non forcing pass situations, so D.S.I.P. theory takes effect.

The decision to pull "trump stack doubles" was the hardest bid in Bridge. The proponents of trump stack doubles got so exasperated that they just made a platitude. "do not pull my penalty doubles". That is even more stupid. Penalty doubles quite often made because you tipped declarer how to play the hand or partner just did not have enough defense to beat the hand. Worst still, ambiguous penalty doubles were sometimes bid with no trump stack and just lots of HCP. This was really a disaster as now you can make a slam or vulnerable game your way so you get robbed collecting your +100 or +300. I have had partners who just chalked that up to "bad luck". A price to pay for the luxury of trump stack doubles in your repertoire.

I got into a bidding argument with my ex partner Peter Jones that he took it Serious enough to email the Gartaganis and Gordon Campbell to reprimand me for my bad bidding.

My partner had x xx AQJ10x AKxxx.

RHO opened 1 vulnerable so she bid 2NT non-vulnerable Unusual for the minors. I dislike these conventional bids being bid on intermediate hands as it puts partner in a bad position. These bids should be either weak or strong but that's beside the point. Anyway my RHO bid 3.

I held Q1098x xx xx Qxxx. I decided to muddy the water with a non-vulnerable 4 bid. The auction went P - P - 4 so I passed not knowing if they could make 6.

4 was passed but my partner took my pass as a "green light" to bid 5 which got whacked. We went for -300 but they go for 800. I suggested that partner could double with such strong defense to give partner an option of passing. Ridiculous they said. You gave partner the "green light" to bid 5 by not doubling 4.

To defend myself, I said "well I did not know how strong partner was on the auction". If I had known that partner had 3½ defensive tricks, I would have doubled. Peter Jones said you mean the singleton spade has to double and the 5 card suit has to pass! Yes, I said as since the bid showed two suits, the double cannot have spades. Anyway the email reply from Calgary dripped with sarcasm and they were all over me for my lack of Bridge sense. This hand along with other disasters showed me that trump stack doubles with the "green light" concept was stupid so the system needs to be fixed.

Trump stack penalty doubles are ambiguous. This ambiguity confuses competitive auctions at almost every level.

Demise of Penalty Doubles

In the early days of Bridge, penalty doubles were invented to punish bad bidders. The penalty double was ambiguous as it was done on a trump stack or HCP values - it did not matter. The message was "opponent you bid badly" and you are to be punished. In today's game, in matchpoints and rubber bridge, weak Bridge players and bad bidders still exist. The traditional penalty double should probably be employed in those games.

Should these penalty doubles still exist in IMPS? No, for a variety of reasons.

1st reason is the IMP scale does not reward you enough for the "home run" penalty doubles. Say your partners are in 2 making for +110. Your opponents bid badly and play badly in 4 and go down three vulnerable. You win 410 which is 10 IMPS. O.K. instead you double them and beat them -800. A disaster for them in any game but IMPS. In IMPS it just cost them -910 which is 13 IMPS instead of the 10 IMPS they were going to lose anyway. A paltry 3 IMPS!

The 2nd reason for not playing "trump stack" doubles in IMPS is that they are ambiguous for pulling doubles. Partner does not know if they based on HCP which might help his decision to bid more or a trump stack which is bad duplication of value for bidding purposes. It's a crap shoot on when to pull penalty doubles. Advocates of trump stack doubles usually threatened partner with a "never pull my penalty doubles edict". This is of course is stupid in IMPS as penalty doubles should be pulled in many situations but it is just a gamble either way. Doubling 4 for -300 when you can make +1370 is a huge loss for your side.

The 3rd reason for not playing "trump stack" doubles in IMPS is the caliber of the opponents. In good IMP matches, they do not bid badly with bad suits. They take advantage of the "Law of Total Tricks' and make things difficult for you with minimum risk for their side. Using an unambiguous double just to "show cards" simplifies many auctions for you as they use their fit for pre-emptive value. The opportunity for juicy trump stack doubles are very rare. So why waste the bid when you can use D.S.I.P. doubles instead? Partner can still convert with a trump stack.

These D.S.I.P. double understandings only apply to non forcing pass competitive auctions where we do not know who owns the auction. Normal forcing pass theory has precedence over these understandings. In fact one of the benefits of D.S.I.P. doubles are correct decisions in sacrificing situations. With forcing passes, the opponents must play their contract doubled or you play it. In D.S.I.P. theory, they could own the hand and of course play it undoubled or you may sacrifice.

O.K. throw out trump stack doubles in IMPS and watch the difference. Doubles and pass reverse their traditional meanings in non forcing pass auctions. In fact many of the top world class players put on their card that the meaning of a pass and a double is reversed in competition. Tom Gandolfo put this theory into action with this hand. x Qxxx J10x AK10xx.

Tom passed and I opened 1 in third seat and LHO overcalled 1. Tom bid 2 and my RHO bid 2 bringing 3 from me and 4 by my LHO.

Tom likes his hand for offensive purposes. He has a singleton in their suit and a possible two suited fit with me. He wants to bid 5 so in our D.S.I.P. style he doubles (forcing passes are not on with Tom being a passed hand). I have AQx of spades and I say no thanks and we get +500!

If I had no values in spades I would have bid 5 as per Tom's request. Without these understandings Tom would have to make a single handed decision and bid 5 directly over 4 which gets doubled for -300. Unlucky as I had AQx of spades and 4 doubled goes for +500.

What if Tom had AQx of spades instead of me? Tom would have passed saying that he would like me to double with the appropriate hand. With a good opener and I want to bid 5, I would double and Tom converts from the other side. The only time we lose and it is not much of a loss is that I have a real dog and refuse to double. But is it much of a loss? We cannot make anything since my hand is bad so we take our plus 100 gift and on to the next hand.

In the old days, a double in competition said I have duplication of value so do not bid partner. In D.S.I.P. theory its just the reverse.Since doubling out of turn is not allowed in Bridge, reversing the two bids covers all situations (positions). If you want to bid then tell partner that by doubling. He will comply most of the time except when he has duplication of value. These understandings prevent pseudo sacrifices which is the 4rd reason to play D.S.I.P. in IMPS. if you have all the cards then forcing pass theory applies. Sacrificing by you of course does not factor into the equation in forcing pass theory. They own the hand so D.S.I.P. theory applies.

This D.S.I.P. theory applies in all auctions where forcing passes do not apply. This includes slam auctions. You hold void J109xx xxxx xxxx and RHO opens 1 and LHO makes a conventional bid at the 4 level showing spades and partner bids 5. RHO bids 6 and you want to sacrifice.

You do not get rich doubling freely bid slams for penalty so why not use D.S.I.P. theory? You double saying you want to bid 7. With the actually hand, partner held KQJ of spades and somehow found the pass instead of sacrificing! Quite an example of preventing pseudo sacrifices. Many people single handedly "sacrificed" to 7 holding that hand when it was played in a local Sectional.

Negative Inference

The advocates of D.S.I.P. theory feel that the penalty double in competition virtually destroys the idea of competing. It certainly does. With the silly penalty double, you need a way of showing a good hand in a competitive auction. This is done by "bidding again". Partner might even raise you to game because you "bid again" to show values. This is inherently silly. What this does is rob you from the ability to compete. You cannot "push them up" based on distribution without the risk of partner punishing you. In other words, you cannot compete or even make "sacrifices" when they own the auction. Ambiguity due to the "luxury" of having a penalty double in competition rears its ugly head. Preserving the double in low level and high level competition for a trump stack, is a blatant waste of a good bid.

A new player that I am mentoring had an auction that occurs all the time in the trenches.

1	1	2	Pass
Pass	2	Pass	Pass
3	Pass	4	?

The 2 bidder re-evaluated her hand when she "found out" partner had extra by bidding again. She had a nice hand and was worried they missed game. There are many many auctions where you can re-evaluate your hand in light of the auction and get to game that you would otherwise not reach. However,this is not one of them. The 3 bid is ambiguous. Partner may have a good hand or she might just not want them to "buy" the contract.In D.S.I.P.theory, with the absence of a double there is no possibility of partner holding a good hand.The double is the most flexible call in Bridge.

There is a negative inference in D.S.I.P. theory, that all good hands are shown with a double. This is in direct chair or the re-opening and by opener or responder. Bidding means you are competing period. In the absence of a competitive D.S.I.P. double, you cannot hold defensive or "transferable" values as Eric Kokish likes to call them. You are not obligated to alert this understanding as you are making a negative inference but this understanding does guide the entire competitive process. I call this the "Gandolfo" aspect of D.S.I.P. theory.

If you like to bid (Tom has been accused of that), you get to do so and partner will give you leeway. If she subsequently doubles the opponents, you can bet on partner drawing their trumps.

You hold KQJ10 AKxxx xx xx and open 1. They overcall a spade and partner bids 2. RHO bids 2 so now what?

The advocated of the penalty double would double for penalties. This is silly as if there is a singleton heart and a 6 card spade suit,partner needs two defensive tricks to beat the contract one! In D.S.I.P. theory,you can "push them up" by competing to 3. If they take the bait, you now double and its unmistakably penalty. If they make this contract, at least you get 100 honours. Do not forget that in D.S.I.P. theory, it is only the initial action that is D.S.I.P.. Subsequent action in a competitive auction is old fashioned Bridge.

I am finding articles on the net that shows Kokish was the first to suggest "D.S.I.P. doubles". I took it a step further and made them more structured and added more concepts. The work that Tom, BJ, Stan and I did on them is original research. I must concede that Kokish thought of the idea before I did. I just did not know about it. Also this author suggested the name Do Something Intelligent Partner before Gordon Campbell did (maybe Gordon read this article on the net). Action doubles are a narrow subset of D.S.I.P. doubles which I call 3rd case D.S.I.P. doubles where the opponents own the hand and you want to ask permission to sacrifice after pre-empting.

Action Doubles

In the dim and distant days when I learned to play bridge, my mentors impressed deeply on my memory that once you had made a pre-emptive bid of any type, you kept quiet for the rest of the auction.

This seemed to be a fairly widely held view. After all, you had probably bid about two tricks more than your hand was worth when you made the pre-empt. A couple of years ago, I noticed that auctions like this were becoming more commonplace.

2	3	3	4
4	Dbl

I would not have minded, but the opponents always seemed to get a good score from this apparently irrational bidding.

Let's look at an example from the other viewpoint. I held this hand at favourable vulnerability during the teams event at Brighton.

J J4 T76 AQT8643.

3	Dbl	4	4
?

I opened 3 (all right, I know that a red-blooded male would have opened five clubs). Next hand doubles, partner bids four clubs and next hand bids four spades.

What do you do now? Should we sell out? If so should we double? Perhaps we have a cheap sacrifice?

In reality, with this hand you want to bid five clubs but have a nagging worry that partner just bid 4 clubs to up the ante prior to doubling them. Some pairs play that 3NT by partner (instead of four clubs) encourages a sacrifice but it is not always certain which contract the opponents will reach.

The answer, playing ACTION DOUBLES, is to double. This means please bid on unless you know better. Here, partner will normally bid five clubs but with a suitable hand will pass the double for penalties.

Basically, an action double says to partner "I don't want to pass; do something intelligent" (some hope with most partners!) They are fundamentally a blame-shifting device, allowing the doubler to place the blame squarely on partner for whatever goes wrong thereafter. Could there be a more appealing scenario?

Eric Kokish the brilliant Canadian player and writer, calls them "One for the Road Doubles" and provides this example.

As South at love all, You hold AQJ82 874 AQ8 J2

The bidding proceeds:

1	1	Dbl	3
Pass	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	?

Normally, it would be bad bridge to bid four spades now (having previously passed three) since it gives the opponents two bites of the cherry. Besides, sometimes Opener will have done the wrong thing in bidding four hearts. South has a difficult decision since the hand is potentially useful in both offence and defence. Total number of tricks (TNT) fans will note that South is likely to gain by some further action (but that is another article).

The answer once again is to make an ACTION DOUBLE, asking partner to choose.

Let's look at two possible full hand layouts:

	10763
	A92
	5
	109743
K95		4
QJ653		K10
J102		K98764
A8		KQ65
	AQJ82
	874
	AQ8
	Jx

North has an excellent hand for defence and a diamond lead will net +300. With this hand, North will pass the action double. In fact, four spades would have probably gone one down in layout one, emphasizing the importance of not making the wrong "busy" decision.

	K763
	5
	1072
	109743
1095		4
AJ9632		KQ10
53		KJ964
A8		KQ65
	AQJ82
	874
	AQ8
	J2

North has little interest in defending and will remove the action double to four spades. This is a very cheap sacrifice against the cold game.

There are numerous opportunities to use these sorts of double on competitive deals. Exactly how and when you use them must be defined by partnership agreement.

Defining Cuebids

One of the most horrible bids in standard bidding is cue bidding to show a strong hand without a fit. In my mind, a cuebid should be fit showing for limit raise or better hands. Playing D.S.I.P theory actually defines your cuebids. You never cuebid to show a strong hand without a fit when you have the option of doubling them because this essentially rescues the opponents if partner wants to convert.

Here is a hand from the Life Masters pairs in Atlanta to illustrate my point.

My partner held Axx AQJxxx J10x x and non-vulnerable I opened 1. Partner responded 1 and my RHO overcalled 1 vulnerable. Auction passed around to partner again. Partner had a strong hand so wanted to force. He used the Goren cuebid of 2 to show strength and I leapt to 3NT. They led a diamond and cashed the first 5 diamonds for a close to a zero.

My hand was a minimum 13 HCP with KJ98 of spades.1 doubled is in the +800 range and the cuebid rescued them from disaster when we had all the HCP.

The trump stack double has been around since the beginning of Bridge. I think it is a silly bid unless you own the hand and forcing pass theory takes effect. Why? because the trump stack double is a single handed bid that puts pressure on the partnership. If partner's hand is distributional, she may have no where to bail out and get doubled herself. You tell declarers how to play the hand and strange numbers like –730 crop up. However the biggest reason I do not like "trump stack" penalty doubles in competition is that the double is far too useful and versatile to be used for that one purpose. Trump stack situations can always be converted by the other partner making a re-opening double.

The cuebid showing a strong hand without a fit was invented to accommodate trump stack doubles. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles, you do not need to use a cuebid to show a strong hand as you double instead. This says a lot in one bid. As I am giving you the option to convert, I do not have a fit with your suit. As I am giving you an option to convert, I have defense and HCP strength even though I may be distributional. As I am giving you an option to convert, I do not have their suit as I would leap in NT or bid NT with their suit. Doubling in front of the suit as penalty does not make much Bridge sense anyway.

The hardest part of playing D.S.I.P. theory is getting rid of bad habits formed by playing trump stack doubles. In the early days of Bridge, the trump stack double was a useful bid as there was no shortage of bad bidders. Bridge (matchpoints especially) still have bad bidders but the game has evolved to the point where trump stack doubles in competition should be declared extinct. The D.S.I.P. double is just that much more useful.

Scope

Critics of D.S.I.P. doubles are afraid that these doubles take away a favourite weapon from them in the form of the "trump stack penalty double". This is only partially true. Trump stack penalty doubles are still made as the initial action when you own the auction (forcing pass theory), negative doubles up to 4 (converting partner's mandatory re-opening double), initial action after partner pre-empts, initial action after partner makes a takeout double (penalty) and initial action when they balance and you are behind the suit. The 5 level and higher are still reserved for the trump stack penalty double.

In all other competitive auctions, penalty doubles do not apply as the initial action. However they do apply as a subsequent action. Even if the double is only a subset of a D.S.I.P. double i.e. conventional doubles like responsive or maximal doubles. Once partner has heard you describe your hand, the 2nd double is penalty. Only one D.S.I.P. like double allowed per round of bidding.

1	2	2	Dbl
3	Dbl

This is penalty as you have described your hand as responsive and holding some "cards".

1	2	Pass	Pass
2	Dbl	3	Dbl

This double is penalty as I heard partner make a D.S.I.P. double already. Also the negative inference when partner did not make a D.S.I.P. double but bid instead, allows penalty doubles.

1	2	Pass	Pass
2	3	3	Dbl

Partner said she did not have a D.S.I.P. double and just competed to 3. I heard that and still doubled so it is penalty.

The pass by partner in a competitive auction can be thought of as "turning on" D.S.I.P. doubles as an initial action.

1	2	Pass	Pass
2	Pass	Pass	Dbl

In light of my original pass, I am doubling to compete somewhere. Probably do not have too many clubs but I do not want to sell out. You could hold a trump stack in spades so I am giving you the option of converting as I have some defense consistent with my original pass. Your pass did not give me any real information to work with so my double is D.S.I.P.

1	2	2	3
3	Dbl	Pass	?

This is an initial action as I have not described the strength of my overcall. This is D.S.I.P. saying I have defense and I want to bid 4. You only nix the request if you feel 3 doubled is the place to play the hand.

Actually D.S.I.P. double theory gives you an extra chance for a penalty double conversion.

Pass	Pass	1	2
3	3	Pass	Pass
Dbl

A double by either hand is D.S.I.P. saying I have defense and I want to compete. Therefore either partner can convert for penalty and the opponents do not escape a trump stack penalty double.

Obviously when you make a D.S.I.P. double at the 4 level or at the 3 level vs the spade suit, these are game try doubles. More specifically they are game try doubles in their suit. if you have duplication of value in their suit, you nix the game request. At all other levels we are just asking permission to compete at that level or the next higher level. D.S.I.P. doubles can be thought of as applying splinter theory in the opponents suit. The D.S.I.P. double denies any values in their trump suit.

D.S.I.P. doubles among other things are based on frequency. It is more likely in competitive auctions that you have "cards" and no way to describe them rather than a trump stack in their suit. We take away the penalty double as we feel it is a wasted bid in competitive auctions (nobody owns the hand). Either partner can convert for penalty so we only lose on one instance. We do not get a penalty bonus against very bad bidders when our side is weak and cannot make anything anyway. We are not strong enough to make a D.S.I.P. double when partner was about to convert for penalty. A small price to pay as we still get a plus.

Single Handed Bidding

My bidding philosophy is "shape before strength' whenever possible. I bid my shape and later on in the auction I bid my strength with a D.S.I.P. double. This action allows partner who has heard the bidding and is in a better position to make the decision, to place the final contract. It prevents two horrible Bridge faults. Bidding your hand again and pseudo sacrifices. The following two hands demonstrates the power of the D.S.I.P. double.

IMPS nobody vulnerable and in 3rd seat you open 1 with x x AQ10xxx AQ10xx and LHO overcalls 1. Partner bids 2 and the opponent bids a pre-emptive 3. You bid 4 and they bid 4 and around to you again. Playing with Tom and BJ this is a simple decision. I have described my shape and I have 1½ + 1½ = 3 defensive tricks so I double saying I would like to bid again. Partner has bid my singleton at the two level so she is in a way better position to place the final contract. The double being the most flexible bid in Bridge transfers the decision (blame) to partner. This is a Bridge World problem and 15 of the so called expert panel bid 5. This is a silly single handed bid which is in effect bidding the same distribution and values that you have shown the table. 4 doubled could go for a terrible number as can 5 of a minor. Partner could hold 6 and 4! Why guess?

Another hand which shows the single handed pseudo sacrifice. IMPS you non-vulnerable and they are vulnerable. Partner opens 1 and the vulnerable opponents double. You bid 2 with x xx QJx A10987xx and they bid 2 and 4 respectively so around to you again. Again an easy bid for me playing with BJ and Tom. I have a maximum for my non forcing 2 bid so I double saying I want to bid again. Turns out partner has a penalty double of 4 but thought I might have virtually nothing for non-vulnerable 2 bid. She happily passes and we pick up +500. The expert Bridge World panel bid 4NT saying pick a sacrifice! Again a horrible single handed pseudo sacrifice. The wrong side of the table making the decision. Trusting the opponents all the time to make your decisions is not a winning proposition.

I am convinced that the penalty double is the most single–handed Bridge bid ever devised. Catering to that bid also causes single handed actions. Take this example from the Bridge World. IMPS and you are vulnerable and they are not. x xx AJxxxx AJ10x. They open 1 and partner vulnerable overcalls 2 and they bid 4. Playing with my partners I make a D.S.I.P. double as I cannot have a trump stack on this auction. The Bridge World panel bid 4NT for the minors! This is silly as 5 or 4 doubled may be the best spot. Preserving the double to be absolutely penalty makes them do silly single handed actions. It is worth it?

D.S.I.P. Doubles, do not leave home without them!

Taking out Insurance.

I am going to quote a good Polish player (Klimo). Take the cheap insurance from time to time and you will be ahead by a mile! I think the frequent playing of "matchpoints" is screwing up our IMP game philosophy. In matchpoints we are so scared of a minus that we visualize the worst case scenario all the time and do not "take out insurance". In IMP's, the insurance to bid one more time to prevent a double partial/game/slam swing is the winning strategy. If you guess wrong and blow 200 to prevent a -19 loss it is a small price to pay. If the opponents get lucky and make a doubled game on a forcing pass auction it is only -4 as partners are assumed to be in the game also. So, one good result with a forcing pass auction and get +12 you need 3 bad results of a doubled game to break even!

Penalty doubles are a recipe for disaster. A pull of a double with a void and a 6-5 is taking out insurance against a disaster. You stand way more to lose by leaving in a double then to bid again. It is just plain logic. In poker there is a concept of "pot odds" where you only gamble if your expected gain matches the probability of success of your hand. In Bridge it is similar but in a different manner. What are the expectation of your possible loss if you do not "take out insurance". Is there a double game swing? Do you have a slam? Do you have a grand slam? What is your expected loss if there is a worst case scenario? Back to Klimo's quote above.

D.S.I.P. doubles are "taking out insurance" against bad penalty doubles. By not allowing penalty doubles in competition unless converted by partner many disasters are avoided. Penalty doubles only occur when partner has defense and you have trump which is a lethal mixture for the opponents. The single handed "penalty doubles" being removed from competitive auctions, should result in lowering the premiums against doubling the opponents into game.

On the disaster Jones and I had, Lorna and Lorna also had a disaster the other way. Lorna doubled 5 and they made it when they had a sacrifice that made 5 their way! Lorna felt that Lloyda could have saved the day by pulling the double with her 6–5. However, Klimo says "wait a minute", why can't Lorna take out cheap insurance and bid 5 instead of doubling? Lorna doubled 5 with the AJx of clubs and found the KQ on the board to hold it to 5. If the club honours were split the hand makes 6. Why gamble with a double when cheap insurance is probably 100. You get rewarded when partner actually makes this hand.

Peter Jones held xxx xx J10xx AKQx against KIZ and KLIMO. I opened a diamond non-vulnerable and KLIMO bid 2 vulnerable and Peter bid 3 and Kiz bid 3. I leaped to 5 and Klimo bid 5. Peter doubled and they made 5 spades doubled vulnerable. If he had taken out insurance by bidding 6/ not vulnerable he would have been rewarded as I can make either contract. Again, Peter did not know that we could make 6 of a minor. It is just an IMP insurance bid against disaster. 20 imps is a lot to explain in one hand.

The most stupid bid in bridge is to be fixated on your hand and not take action in a forcing pass situation. Say partner doubles an initial bid of 2 and then when the opponents bid 4 he bids 4 and the opponents persist to 5 and partner passes. This pass has to be forcing as he doubled and bid game all by himself. The pass says he wants to play the hand if your hand is suitable and double if it is not. He could hold 24 HCP for all you know.

Your hand is xxx xxx xxxx xxx

Do you pass because you hand is weak? A pass would destroy the partnership. Your double card should hit the table very fast. When you double, your hand has got nothing to do with this auction.

Being ashamed of your opener is no reason to pass a forcing pass. You hold void KQ10x K109xx KJxx. You open a diamond and hear 2 to your left and partner bids 2 showing a limit raise or better and the opponents bid 2. You pass and the opponents bid 4 and partner makes a forcing pass. You have quite a dog. Maybe you should pass in case they make it? Not on your life, partner could have 4 Aces and wondering if there was a grand. I actually held 3 Aces and 5 makes. This was a double game swing as 4 makes.

Anyway, one thing I have learned in Bridge is "forcing passes" is right up there with the most important concepts in Bridge. In rubber bridge, you do have the luxury of "forcing passes" because you need a partner you can trust. With your regular partner you should have forcing passes discussed inside and out. This is my 5th email just around this subject. I think a book can be written on all the nuances. If you do not play forcing passes, then play with the dentist and all penalty doubles show 100 honours in trump. You do not have to think or make any decisions that way. However finding a good partner will prove pretty difficult.

Finding Duplication of Value

Splinter theory is based on finding duplication of value. When partner makes a splinter, you hold xxx in that suit you know the opponent's 10 HCP in that suit are wasted on defense. This hand fits well for offense. D.S.I.P. theory works on the same principle as splinter theory. Throwing out trump stack doubles in competition means the D.S.I.P. double resembles a splinter in the opponent's suit. The D.S.I.P. doubles does not necessarily mean a singleton in the opponents suit but it does mean there are no values in the opponent's suit (i.e. no duplication of value). Without a D.S.I.P. double, you have to make a guess that your singleton in their suit represents no duplication of value for your side. If you guess right on your single handed decision, you make your contract, if you guess wrong a terribly expensive pseudo sacrifice is the result.

1	1	2	2
4	?

AKxxx x Axxx J10x

With all 10 HCP in the opponent's hand, partner's values are pulling full weight right? Wrong partner's hand is:

xxxx KQ10 xxx Qx so you go for 300 in 4 doubled. They go for 500 in 4 doubled for a tremendous swing.

D.S.I.P. theory also works like forcing pass theory to show length in the opponent's suits.

1	2	2	4
4	Pass	?

Partner has xx AKxxxx AKx xx for his pass as with his defense he is willing to defend 4. You have xx QJ10x xx AJ10xx so warned by partner's non double you decide to pass. You beat 4 one trick for 100 but its better then 5 doubled for -200.

Overcalls are so variable in HCP defensive strength that you need to clarify this power later in the auction.

1	1	2	2
4	?

AKxxx xx Axx Axx this hand you double saying you want to bid 4 based on sheer power. Over to partner to make the final decision.

Partner holds Qxx x xxxx KQxxx, 4 is bid and makes. You hold Qxx AKx xxx xxxx, you pass and catch them speeding. They go 3 down doubled in their contract and you cannot make game! Such is the power of duplication of value in guiding your competitive decisions Of course, the other hand can get involved in the D.S.I.P. double.

1	1	2	2
4	Pass	Pass	?

QJx x Axxxx J10xx

You think bidding 4 might be a good idea based on your singleton heart. So you double saying Let's bid 4 partner. Partner has AKxxx KQ10 xx Qxx, says no thanks so you pick up +500 with no game your way. If partner has AKxxxx xxx Kxx x, he pulls the double and makes 4. If 4 does not make, since the D.S.I.P. double shows no duplication of value, 4 makes the other direction. Both partners had input into the final decision which is another reason why D.S.I.P. doubles were invented. D.S.I.P. theory does not allow the opponents to be rescued when they are too high and we have duplication of value in their suit.

Say you had this hand AKJxxx AQJ xxx x

1	1	2	2
4	?

Just bid 4 if you feel that the contract should make. Do not make a D.S.I.P. double as that shows nothing in the opponent's trump suit. Change your hand slightly AKxxx AQJ xxx xx, you would pass and hope partner wants to play 4 by doubling. Partner can only pass or double so it looks like a plus your way. You do not need to worry that partner will make a single handed 4 bid and ruin the party.

The splinter bid to show no duplication of value is one of the most successful bids in Bridge. D.S.I.P. doubles work the same way. D.S.I.P. Doubles pin point the lack of duplication of value in the opponent's suit in competitive auctions. The pass in D.S.I.P. theory can warn of length in the opponent's suit and the D.S.I.P. doubles generally show the upper range of HCP in variable HCP auctions. The D.S.I.P. double allows both partners in on competitive decisions same as in forcing pass theory when you own the auction. The necessity to double when either partner wants to bid again with defense is a safeguard (taking out insurance) against duplication of value in the opponent's suit in competitive auctions. Bad bidding opponents do not get rescued from your side bidding again. All this extra information is transferred to partner just by removing the single handed trump stack doubles from your system in competitive auctions! About time!

Trump Stack Doubles

Critics of the D.S.I.P. double feel they have the license to bid on "anything" against D.S.I.P. doubles as trump stack doubles are not permitted. This is straight ignorance on their part. In reality, its just the opposite. The D.S.I.P. structure allows more penalty doubles than the conventional way its just done differently by converting D.S.I.P. doubles.

Trump stack doubles are single handed Bridge rather than partnership Bridge. I double so you do not pull my penalty doubles regardless of your distribution or trick taking potential. This quite often leads to numbers like –730 or –510 as they make their contract. Penalty doubles assist good players in handling their trump suit for another disaster. D.S.I.P. doubles are partnership Bridge in action. Since partner doubles, he has the defensive strength to leave in a trump stack double converted by partner. In the sandwich position, we have them coming and going. In other words,the penalty can be extracted by either side converting.

1	Pass	1NT	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
?

The 1NT bidder does not have hearts as he is "in front" of the heart suit. The spade bidder has hearts, since the 1NT hand is suitable defensively 2 doubled is going to be an ugly spot for them.

1	Pass	1NT	2
Dbl	Pass	?

This time the 1NT bidder has hearts so converts partner's takeout double for penalty. Partner has a good defensive hand as he doubled but I have hearts which is a recipe for disaster for them. This style prevents partner with a good hand bidding thereby spoiling my trump stack double which happens in single handed penalty double Bridge.

Bridge is played in a clockwise direction. Either partner playing standard penalty doubles can bid with a good defensive hand in front of partner and ruin partner's penalty double. This happens more often than not so bad bidders escape their fate. Not so, playing D.S.I.P. theory. In a competitive auction, partner wanting to bid again with a defensive hand, must double to ask permission to do so. If the other partner has a trump stack, he says permission denied by passing. Since either partner must double in order to bid again, we have them coming and going again. They cannot escape as in "old fashioned" trump stack doubles.

If you analyze all the successful trump stack doubles in Bridge, I would say that 90% would have the same result by converting partners D.S.I.P. double. If you analyze all the unsuccessful doubles (them making their doubled contract), the odds are the other partner did not have the strength to make a D.S.I.P. double. D.S.I.P. theory does not exclude trump stack penalty doubles, it just does the job differently.

OK. the D.S.I.P. naysayers cry what about the hands that I have a juicy trump stack double but partner is not strong enough for a D.S.I.P. double? This case has to exist due to terrible Bridge by the opponents. The opponents have set themselves up for a huge set when our partnership does not have enough defense to make a D.S.I.P. double in a competitive auction. In these cases you cannot make anything anyway so you take your plus. The IMP scale reduces the reward for getting these types of gifts anyway.You must be playing against pretty weak players to have this opportunity. D.S.I.P.theory does not hold for those players. Stick with single handed trump stack doubles playing against weak players.

Do not forget that trump stack doubles still exist playing D.S.I.P. theory. In non competitive auctions an out of the blue double is penalty. If forcing pass theory applies, doubles are penalty. When either partner has taken pre-emptive action,a double is penalty. D.S.I.P.theory only applies in actively competitive situations.

The Forcing Pass vs D.S.I.P.

In the early days of Bridge, penalty doubles were invented to punish bad bidders. The penalty double was ambiguous as it was done on a trump stack or HCP values it did not matter. The message was opponent you bid badly and you are to be punished. In today's game, in match points and rubber bridge, weak Bridge players and bad bidders still exist. The traditional penalty double should probably be employed in those games.

Should these penalty doubles still exist in IMPS? No, for a variety of reasons. 1st reason is the IMP scale does not reward you enough for the home run penalty doubles. Say your partners are in 2 making for +110. Your opponents bids badly and play badly in 4 and go down three vulnerable. You win 410 which is 10 IMPS. O.K. instead you double them and beat them 800. A disaster for them in any game but IMPS. In IMPS it just cost them 910 which is 13 IMPS instead of the 10 IMPS they were going to lose anyway. A paltry 3 IMPS!

The 2nd reason for not playing trump stack doubles in IMPS is that they are ambiguous for pulling doubles. Partner does not know if they based on HCP's which might help his decision to bid more or a trump stack which is bad duplication of value for bidding purposes. It's a crap shoot on when to pull penalty doubles. Advocates of trump stack doubles usually threatened partner with a never pull my penalty doubles edict. This is of course is stupid in IMPS as penalty doubles should be pulled in many situations but it is just a gamble either way. Doubling 4 for 300 when you can make +1370 is a huge loss for your side.

The 3rd reason for not playing trump stack doubles in IMPS is the caliber of the opponents. In good IMP matches, they do not bid badly with bad suits. They take advantage of the Law of Total Tricks' and make things difficult for you with minimum risk for their side. Using an unambiguous double just to show cards simplifies many auctions for you as they use their fit for pre-emptive value. The opportunity for juicy trump stack doubles are very rare. So why waste the bid when you can use D.S.I.P. doubles instead? Partner can still convert with a trump stack.

These D.S.I.P. double understandings only apply to non forcing pass competitive auctions where we do not know who owns the auction. Normal forcing pass theory has precedence over these understandings. In fact one of the benefits of D.S.I.P. doubles are correct decisions in sacrificing situations. With forcing passes, the opponents must play their contract doubled or you play it. In D.S.I.P. theory, they could own the hand and of course play it undoubled or you may sacrifice.

O.K. throw out trump stack doubles in IMPS and watch the difference. Doubles and pass reverse their traditional meanings in non forcing pass auctions. In fact many of the top world class players put on their card that the meaning of a pass and a double is reversed in competition. Tom Gandolfo put this theory into action with this hand.

x Qxxx J10x AK10xx. Tom passed and I opened 1? in third seat and LHO overcalled 1. Tom bid 2? and my RHO bid 2 bringing 3? from me and 4 by my LHO. Tom likes his hand for offensive purposes. He has a singleton in their suit and a possible two suited fit with me. He wants to bid 5? so in our D.S.I.P. style he doubles (forcing passes are not on with Tom being a passed hand). I have AQx of spades and I say no thanks and we get +500! If I had no values in spades I would have bid 5? as per Tom's request. Without these understandings Tom would have to make a single handed decision and bid 5? directly over 4 which gets doubled for -300. Unlucky as I had AQx of spades and 4 doubled goes for +500.

What if Tom had AQx of spades instead of me? Tom would have passed saying that he would like me to double with the appropriate hand. With a good opener and I want to bid 5?, I would double and Tom converts from the other side. The only time we lose and it is not much of a loss is that I have a real dog and refuse to double. But is it much of a loss? We can not make anything since my hand is bad so we take our plus 100 gift and on to the next hand.

In the old days, a double in competition said I have duplication of value so do not bid partner. In D.S.I.P. theory its just the reverse. Since doubling out of turn is not allowed in Bridge, reversing the two bids covers all situations (positions). If you want to bid then tell partner that by doubling. He will comply most of the time except when he has duplication of value. These understandings prevent pseudo sacrifices which is the 4th reason to play D.S.I.P. in IMPS. If you have all the cards then forcing pass theory applies. Sacrificing by you of course does not factor into the equation in forcing pass theory.

This D.S.I.P. theory applies in all auctions where forcing passes do not apply. This includes slam auctions. You hold void J109xx xxxx xxxx and RHO opens 1 and LHO makes a conventional bid at the 4 level showing spades and partner bids 5?. RHO bids 6 and you want to sacrifice. You do not get rich doubling freely bid slams for penalty so why not use D.S.I.P. theory? You double saying you want to bid 7?. With the actually hand, partner held KQJ of spades and somehow found the pass instead of sacrificing! Quite an example of preventing pseudo sacrifices. Many people single handedly sacrificed to 7? holding that hand when it was played in a local sectional.

Playing D.S.I.P. penalty doubles does not mean trump stack doubles are extinct. If we have opened a NT or they have bid a NT and the doubling starts that is the killing fields of Bridge. Doubles are trump stack and there is no thought required just pass the double. If we own the auction and do not have a fit established, a double is of the trump stack variety. If one partner has chosen to stay out of a competitive auction and then doubles a final contract it is of the trump stack variety.

When the opponents overcall or preempt, negative doubles rule up to the 4 level anyway. Higher doubles are D.S.I.P. instead of a trump stack. Why? Ambiguity is bad in any language and the Bridge language is no exception. Doubling a 4 bid with 13 HCP and a singleton spade is a far cry from doubling 4 with KQJ10 of spades. Yet we make the same bid with both hands after partner opens. This is just playing into the preemptors strategy of destroying your auction. One of the ambiguous doubles has to be thrown out. Since partner may yet save the day with a re-opening double we have chosen to eliminate the trump stack double. Our partners will not bid 4 with such a filthy spade suit anyway so no great loss. The IMP scale saves you on those hands. If partner was too weak to double then you beat 4 for 3 down vulnerable plus 300 and no game your way. At the other table your partners make a club partial for 110. So you win 10 IMPS anyway and a double for +800 is only worth a couple of more IMPS!

What does the double mean at high levels? It is asking partners permission to bid with the appropriate hand and otherwise pass. You have AKxxxx x Axxx Kx and you open 1 and LHO bid 4? and around to you again. They are vulnerable and you are not. Let's bid 4 as it might be a cheap sacrifice or might even make. No way as that is single handed. Ask partners permission to bid 4 by doubling. If the sacrifice is right she will bid it!

Another example, x xx AKxx AK109xxx. They open 1 and you overcall 2 and LHO bids 4 around to you again. They are vulnerable and you are not so lets bid 5 or 4NT to sacrifice? Too single handed again. Tell partner you want to bid 5 by doubling. If you had x KQJ10 xx AK10xxx you would quietly put the green card on the table and take your small plus. You cannot have it both ways.

Even with voids in the opponent's suit, do not be enticed into a cheap sacrifice. In Pentiction I had xxx xxxx AKxx Kx and in 4th chair LHO opened 1 everybody vulnerable. Tom overcalled 1 RHO bid 2 and I bid 2. LHO jumped to 4 and around to me again. The opponents have mapped out a void in hearts in partner's hand so a 4 bid looks awfully good. Why make such a single handed bid? Double as your partner might have AKxx of hearts and wants no part of a vulnerable sacrifice. Tom actually held an offensive 5-5 with a void in hearts and 4 goes one down with 620 cold their way.

D.S.I.P. doubles and the sandwich position are a perfect match. Partner opens a major and you respond 1NT. The opponent makes a bad overcall and you want to double out of turn but rats partner rescues him by bidding! D.S.I.P. doubles to the rescue. Partner doubles with a good hand even one with 4 hearts and passes with their suit. if you can not re-open with a double they play it there for a small plus your way. Doubles can get converted often if they lack discretion with their overcalls.

D.S.I.P. doubles are also depending on context penalty doubles. If the opponents advertise to the table that they have a suit wrapped up, the double becomes a D.S.I.P. double. Say you double an unusual 2NT and they leap to 5 of a minor anyway. Such total disregard for your first double changes your second double into a D.S.I.P. double showing points and the other minor. It does not mean do not trust them partner as they have lost their minds.

Penalty doubles have been around since the beginning of Bridge. They say do not bid partner as we have their suit. With D.S.I.P. doubles we convey just the opposite meaning. The double means I want to bid but I am asking your permission to do so. Works way better.

I am not sure when forcing pass theory came about. I think sometime in the 1940's. Experts put a meaning to a pass when their side owned the auction. The pass at higher levels above game meant a mild slam try or a "green light" for partner to bid again. There is a "pecking order" in forcing pass theory. The double shows the worst hand of all the alternatives. This bid shows a "bad " hand. A bad hand can be a number of things in forcing pass theory. A bad hand could mean a doubleton in the opponents suit, so we are warning partner of two quick losers in their suit. Bad hand also could mean duplication of value in their trump suit similar to a trump stack double. Lastly a bad hand could just mean that your hand will be a disappointment for your partner in that your hand is a dead minimum for your previous bidding. Warn partner of your dog by doubling and just take your plus.

Be careful though about the warning aspect of the double in forcing pass situations. If the auction dictates that partner is very short in the opponent's suit, do not issue a warning about the length in your suit. Maurice and I had an auction recently where this came out and it was a disaster for the opponents.

1	3	4	4
5	Pass	Pass	5
Dbl

The doubler had a doubleton spade so was warning partner about his length in that suit. Partner had a void in spades and was worried that the double showed duplication so she passed. I made 5 doubled and the opponents make 7 unless we cash our club Ace. I know its counter-intuitive, but trust the opponents to show their length in these types of auctions.

The 2nd best hand is shown by passing. This bid usually has no extra for slam purposes but partner feels that our game contract can make in light of the auction. A pass gives partner room to cuebid or the green light to bid. Usually the pass shows shortness in the opponent's suit so this hand would rather play the hand than defend. The pass can also show a good opener and is getting out of the way for partner to cuebid or make a decision. Your pass is just describing your hand type to partner.

The 3rd best hand is shown by bidding your trump suit. Remember by bidding you are prevent partner from doubling them, so you are probably have a very distributional hand unsuitable for defense. Also since you preventing partner from doubling them, you are convinced that you can make the contract. The next best hand in forcing pass theory is a cuebid. This is an obvious slam try in the traditional cue bidding sense. The best hand of the bunch is shown by a pass and pulling partner's double. This bid probably shows controls in both the unbid suits and just needs a suitable minimum hand by partner for a slam. Grand slams might be reached on these types of sequences. When you are at very high levels a pass shows 1st round control in the opponent's suit and an interest in more.

I was playing with Maurice and held Jx AJ109 AKQxx Kx vulnerable and the auction went P - P - 2 - double by me. LHO bids 3 and Maurice contracts for a vulnerable 4 game. The vulnerability here and the type of auction turns on forcing passes. LHO now sacrifices to 4 and partner makes a forcing pass and around to you. Partner's pass shows a willingness to play 5 hearts. So he is either short in spades or maximum for his bid with the club Ace and the KQ of hearts. Anyway if partner has given you the green light to bid, you certainly go for +650 with this hand. Not a tough decision in light of partner's pass. 4 doubled only goes for 300 so you save 8 IMPS due to partner's forcing pass. Say the auction went a little differently.

Say Maurice held xx xxxxx xx xxxx and of course he passes 3. I double again as I have 25 HCP with I force Maurice to a vulnerable game. Maurice bids 4. I pass and LHO sacrifices to 4. Since my bidding has turned on forcing passes, Maurice must double to prevent me from bidding again. This certainly is a minimum hand so let's just take our plus! I hold xx AQJ10 AKQx AKQ and his double prevents a minus in 5. 4 doubled goes for 500 which is much better then -100 in 5. What if Maurice held x Kxxxx Jxxx xxx? In light of this auction and his previous pass he actually holds a good hand! He should make a forcing pass. I would bid 6 and we collect +1430.

You hold Kxx AQ109x x KJ10x and you are vulnerable against non vulnerable. Tom Gandolfo your vulnerable partner opens 1. RHO bids 2 and you turn on forcing passes by making a slam try vulnerable with a 4 splinter. LHO is Steve Willard so of course he bids 5. Tom passes so what do you do? Tom's bid is only saying that in light of your bid I think we can make 5 but I am not interested in anything higher. You have your bid so there is nothing really extra for you to over rule partners decision. You bid 5 and collect +650 as Tom held Qx KJxxx xxx AQx. Tom held no duplication of value in diamonds so he felt that 5 could make and he was right. What If Tom held Ax KJxxx xxx AQx? Still only 14 but the controls and no duplication of value shows an interest in bidding so by bidding it can be interpreted as a mild slam try. If Tom bid, I would continue to 6 and that makes with that hand. What if I also held the singleton diamond Ace? With Tom's bid, I would be encouraged to make a grand slam try of 6. Tom with his hand should bid 7 as he has nice controls for his 5 bid.

Playing against opponents like Steve Willard and Alex Fowlie your forcing pass theory gets a work out but that's why it was invented. This high level judgment is what partnership Bridge is all about. Forcing pass theory is just a tool to help deal with those type of players. The opponents are irritating you with their interference. Forcing pass theory fights back and uses the opponent's interference to give information. Discuss with your regular partner so you are on the same wavelength.

A number of local experts are working on D.S.I.P. theory which is quite similar to forcing pass theory but differs in that you do not necessarily own the hand. The same type of discipline and judgment is required for D.S.I.P. theory. D.S.I.P. theory borrows heavily on forcing pass theory so it is essential that you really understood those principles before venturing into D.S.I.P. theory. The pass in forcing pass theory asks partner's permission or gives partner the green light to bid. In D.S.I.P. theory, the double does that same function. The D.S.I.P. pass is similar to the double in forcing pass theory. All this comes about because we do not own the hand in D.S.I.P. theory and trump stack penalty doubles no longer exist in competitive auctions.

Some experts call D.S.I.P. theory inverted passes and doubles because they have been assigned the opposite meaning to that of forcing pass theory. The D.S.I.P. double is the green light to bid rather then the pass. The pass says I would rather defend then bid and could mean a trump stack in the "negative double" sense and request partner to make a penalty double on his behalf with a suitable defense hand. You have to get your mind around both competitive theories of forcing passes and D.S.I.P. and why they are different.They are different because in one situation you own the auction and the other you are not sure if you do.

You are not sure because partner's bidding can be very variable as to defensive values or playing strength. There was no definitive proclamation in the bidding that suggests you do own the auction but you might if partner is top of his range with defense. You double to convey your defense and offensive interests and find out that information by allowing his input into the decision. A double in D.S.I.P. is an asking bid but gives information. You are asking partner to do something intelligent by telling him you have some defense but you want to play the hand if partner permits it

D.S.I.P. - Cavendish

Stan Cabay wrote:

Gromov's hand from the Cavendish. Vulnerable: None

Q4 KJ108543 KQ A6

Pass	Pass	1	1
1	2*	2	4
4	Pass	Pass	Pass

* Gromov. So what should Gromov do? DSIP or what?

Bob Crosby wrote:

Yes, I would double saying I want to bid 5 but I have defense. The 7th heart makes it an offensive hand but the 7,2,2,2 and defensive cards means that partner should decide with my input.

Stan Cabay wrote:

Good decision, Bob, assuming partner understands the amount of defense you promise and leaves the double in (maybe +300 rather than maybe --300). "Amount" is the critical criterion which breaks or makes the usefulness of high - level DSIP doubles, in general.

I played this type of double (at the 5 and 6 level only) many years ago, but gave up on them because it was difficult to determine what constituted a defensive trick. We called them double/undouble agreements, and you or maybe Barton were the source.

The problem remains. How much defense does your double of 4 promise on Gromov's hand below? Should partner pull with 1 defensive trick only? I realize this all depends on context, but to be effective, context must be defined as well.

Going back to Gromov's bidding, after 2, he had a number of choices other than an immediate 4 call. How would 3, 3, 4, 4 followed by 4 (or DBL) differ in meaning from an immediate 4 followed by a DSIP double? What about first doubling 2 (DSIP to show values in both minors?) and then following through with 4 or another DSIP or both?

North: Bramley: South: Compton: West: Petrunin East: Gromov

	KJ6
	A
	J53
	KJ8732
983		Q4
Q762		KJ108543
A109		KQ
Q95		A6
	A10752
	9
	87642
	104

Gromov actually bid 5 (never heard of DSIP) and was -100 undoubled (as Zia says, " people don't double enough at IMPs"). What a sick bid by Compton (maybe they play support doubles and Bramley forgot), but it worked - an extra +50.

Bob Crosby wrote:

Yes, possibly the D.S.I.P. double made up for the inaccurate bidding initially. A jump to game is the most ambiguous bid in Bridge. This is why you need a D.S.I.P. to clarify what kind of game bid you made later in the auction. Each D.S.I.P. situation has a different defensive criteria. An overcall with a limited raise by partner should define the double as "booking" the contract. Partner can then make his decision accordingly.

Bob, another hand for your arsenal on DSIP's

Cavendish 2004 Miller/Wold vs Hamman/Zia Both vulnerable.

North: Miller: South: Wold: West: Zia: East: Hamman.

	AK7653
	Aj98
	Q10
	4
10942		QJ
63		KQ102
K75		A642
10972		AK3
	8
	754
	J983
	QJ853

Pass*	Pass	1	Dbl
Pass	2	2	Dbl
Pass	?

* Wold

In my opinion, the 2nd DBL by Hamman is DSIP showing a "flat" 19+ hand. With less than 4 clubs. Zia can pass and collect 500 or 800. He actually bid 3 and collected -300 when mercifully Wold passed. Strange, from a player like Zia, who is known for saying that there aren't enough doubles in IMP's.

For the Cavendish,as much as about 60*25 = 1500 imps swung on this single DSIP hand. The Current half-time leaders have some 1900 imps in total.

D.S.I.P. A Discussion

Do we need to declare trump stack doubles extinct in competition to play all the treatments discussed in all the D.S.I.P. emails? Can we not just appreciate the fact that the penalty double is a "depending on concept" bid and recognize the auctions that the penalty double does not have a trump stack? There are other "depending on concept" ambiguous bids like cuebids where we let the auction dictate the meaning of the bid so why not with penalty doubles?

No, I do not think we can have this ambiguity for two reasons. One is that the ambiguity of the existing penalty double that there might be duplication of value in the opponent's suit is enough to throw partnerships off. Knowing and guessing are two different things. Can you imagine having a splinter showing either a singleton or KQJ in the splinter suit? The old penalty double is a single handed bid and the doubler wishes that partner just passes quietly. A D.S.I.P. double is just transferring the decision to partner for a joint decision. Penalty doubles are pulled as a matter of course and not a rare action is in standard penalty doubles.

The 2nd reason is a structure similar to forcing pass theory can emerge. The reason that forcing pass theory works is that the partnership owns the auction with overwhelming HCP strength. This allows the partnership to give a new meaning to the pass as to encourage offensive action. In D.S.I.P. theory, we have no such luxury. We must give the traditional meaning to the pass. The pass means I just have my bid and prefer to defend or I have their suit and I want to defend. Nothing more nothing less. However, if we throw out the trump stack penalty double, we have an idle bid that we can use. Let's reverse the meaning of the double from the penalty double sense. Instead of saying partner do not bid let's define its meaning as I want to bid very badly but I have some defense. This automatically allows partners input into the decision. A luxury that bidding a suit directly does not give the partnership.

Allowing both partners input into penalty doubles is worth scrapping the traditional trump stack penalty double. With negative doubles both sides have input in converting re-opening doubles for penalty. If you do not want the double converted, you choose a different bid then a double. This is insurance against their contract making even with a trump stack against them or the penalty not compensating for what you can make offensively. D.S.I.P. theory has the same insurance policy as you do not make a D.S.I.P. penalty double unless you have the defense required to help beat the contract if partner converts for penalty. I would hazard a guess that if all successful trump stack doubles were analyzed, the other partner could have doubled. The law of 13 cards means that if one partner has a lot of cards in their suit, the other partner has shortness which would allow him to double with the appropriate defense in a high percentage of cases.

Penalty doubles are best when partner has already described their hand. In competitive situations where a D.S.I.P. double has occurred or other action taken, you have described your hand. Now, all subsequent doubles are penalty. Penalty doublers are not extinct in competitive auctions but they are extinct as the initial action.

D.S.I.P. theory borrows heavily from forcing pass structure and the negative double way of converting for penalties rather then doubling them directly. To play D.S.I.P. double theory is easy. You just need to know the rare sequences where trump stack doubles do apply. Misfit auctions (includes trapping or exposing psyches), when partner pre-empts and when the opponents balance are the only auctions allowing trump stack penalty doubles as the first bid.

Decision Making

Bridge is a partnership game. When you can use that fact to your advantage you are way better off. The beauty of forcing pass theory is with a pass you giving your partner information to make a joint decision for the partnership. Your pass says you want to take offensive action in a high level auction but if partner's hand is more defensive oriented or weak then let's double the opponents. Your partner's opinion was taken into consideration when you decided to double the opponents. Much better then making a single handed decision for the partnership. Results when the partnership has made a decision as opposed to one partner taking matters into his own hand are far far better.

D.S.I.P. theory is an attempt to re-enforce that Bridge is a partnership game by getting both partners' input into the decision making process. D.S.I.P. borrows from forcing pass theory but it uses the double rather than the pass to encourage bidding. Let's use and modify the Tom/Bob 2 auction against Maurice and Susan as an example.

1	Pass	1	2*
2	3	4	?

* Tom. Say Tom has this collection x AKx 1098 AKxxxx.

With the opponents bidding his singleton and partner raising his 6 card suit is not a 5 bid reasonable? Not playing D.S.I.P. doubles, he only bids 5 with a hand that does contain defensive values as well as offensive values. Partner's 3 bid was based on the wrong values for your side Kxxx xx KJxx J10x or a similar defensive hand. Ace of spades lead, partner plays a low spade. Switch to the diamond Ace so RHO ruffs. Turns out opener had Qxx of clubs so you go for -500. Now playing D.S.I.P. doubles, you want to bid 5 so you ask partner's permission to do so by doubling 4. Partner happily passes so you collect 1 club, 2 hearts, a heart ruff and your spade King. This is +500 your way for a 1000 difference!

What if the 2 bidder had Kxx Axx xx AKxxx with the same auction? This time he passes 4 as he wants to defend so partner wants to bid 5. Partner has a singleton spade, well located diamonds with 4 trump. x xxxx KJ10x QJ109 so 5 looks nice from his perspective. You double saying you want to bid 5 but partner says no thanks let's defend. You score both diamonds, the clubs are 2-2, you get a heart and a spade trick. Down 3 for the opponents +800 and 5 goes for -500!

Let's look at the positive offensive hands. Partner doubles with the first hand saying he wants to bid 5. You hold Qxx QJxxx x QJxx and bid 5. This is a double game swing as both sides make their contract! Say partner bid 2 just for a lead with x xxxx xx AKQJ10x (I would pre-empt to 3) so of course he passes 4 as not enough defense to double. You want to bid 5 from your side with xx KQxx Kx xxxx so you double. Partner bids 5 so you have a one down sacrifice against a cold 620 in spades. If the vulnerability for a sacrifice was not right, you simply pass.

The difference in these auctions from standard bidding is that there was no single handed decision making. The double as "asking permission to bid" brought the other partner into the process. Of course, you should not over do that. Do not leave up to partner what you can do yourself if you had the hand for it. You hold x AKx xx AKxxxxx you simply bid 5 over 4 as long as partner raised clubs we are playing this hand.

This treatment of course is not a 100% magic bullet. You still need to exercise judgment like duplication of value in the trump suit, shortness in their known suit, extra length in partner's suit, controls vs queens and jacks etc, vulnerability considerations, state of the match etc. In other words, Bridge experience is very necessary.

Standard bidding has the penalty double as an either or bid. Partner can have a strong defensive hand for doubling 4 which combined with your distributional hand will make a 5 game. However, what if partner had spade values for his penalty double of 4? You cannot pull the double for fear that it might be that hand. This ambiguity screws up the decision making process. The double should not be ambiguous in these auctions. The advocates of this type of bidding just make a rule " do not pull my penalty doubles". -790 occurs when your distribution obliterates partner's defense so if you do bid 5 with his points in spades an awful pseudo sacrifice happens. The trouble with this bidding is the decision is made from only one side of the table and only looking at one hand. D.S.I.P. theory "looks at two hands ".

There should be no room for ambiguous penalty doubles in high level or low level competitive auctions. D.S.I.P. to the rescue. Everybody should be convinced by now.

Common Sense

When an auction dictates that a double cannot be a "trump stack double", it is not. This is the "depending on context" aspect of Bridge bidding. Do not assume even if you are looking at a void in their suit that they have gone berserk so somehow partner's double is of the trump stack variety. Here is an auction that occurs quite frequently.

1

Dbl

4

?

What is a double and what is 4NT? If I have spades on this auction, I put the green card on the table and hope for the re-opening double.

Therefore, my double has to show cards asking partner to do something intelligent. A direct bid at the 5 level shows very good values and a slam try. If you feel like bidding for the sake of bidding, you bid 4NT Lebensohl. This bid forces partner to bid 5 so you pass or introduce your long moth eaten values and suit. When RHO is pre-empting, it is important to differentiate slam intention hands, from just holding HCP or finally just showing distribution because 4 might make.

Here is a hand where common sense can distinguish a D.S.I.P. double from a penalty double.

I held A xx AJxxx Qxxxx, with everybody vulnerable I responded 1NT to partner's spade opening bid. LHO bid 2 so around to me again. Playing with my regular partner, I must re-open with a double as he could have a 2 penalty double so this is easy. I was playing with a rubber Bridge player but I doubled anyway. We subsequently got to 5 which made. I asked her if she interpreted my double as penalty. She replied, common sense says you cannot have hearts as you are in front of the heart bidder! D.S.I.P. theory is a formal way of bottling common sense and doubles into some sort of a structure.

Doubles are too useful a tool to reserve exclusively for trump stacks. Having the double as ambiguous so as to always be interpreted on "depending on context" is tough on a partnership. Throw trump stack doubles out of the picture and the auction is immediately simplified. Everyone plays negative doubles up to some level. They are used to making penalty doubles by converting partner's re-opening doubles anyway. Why dot have the same understanding in all competitive situations? After overcalls, takeout doubles, balancing and NT auctions, the whole gambit of competitive situations. Knowing that partner does not have wasted values in their suit after a competitive double rather than guessing is a huge tactical advantage. Like negative double theory though, beware of the pass so bend over backwards to re-open with a double.

There is a place for trump stack penalty doubles in competitive auctions. In weak club games where the participants have just graduated from the club series of Bridge lessons.

Permission to Bid

If you have bought into D.S.I.P. double theory, you know there is no such thing as an ‘enforcer" type trump stack doubles in competitive auctions. A failure to double does not mean that there is no duplication of value so gives you the green light to bid. In fact, the pass has just the opposite meaning.

After partner has passed in a competitive auction, you wish to bid again with a decent defensive hand ask his permission by doubling. If partner's hand is suitable offensively, he will take the push otherwise the partnership will go for a plus in the doubled contract.

Good players, using the Law of Total Tricks, push their fit and suits to the limit. Quite often you will be sitting with 10-11 HCP but wondering what to do in a competitive auction. Trump stack penalty doubles were invented for punishing bad bidders. But what if you are playing good teams where bad bidders do not exist? Even good players get bad trump breaks but that is rare so the frequency of doubles that show "cards' are far more frequent. Now it comes down to which double is more useful to you, trump stack or competitive.

You have to get rid of the old mind set that penalty doubles show trump stacks. Also get rid of the notion that a pass encourages taking another bid in a competitive auction because "partner did not double for penalty". This was the thinking around the time Bridge was invented but does not apply against good competition in today's game.

Some example auctions:

1	1	Dbl	2
3	3	?

xx Axxx Kxx QJxx

You want to bid 4 but if partner has an unsuitable hand. you would rather defend. You double, partner has KQ10 Qxxx AJ10xx x says no thanks I would rather defend. 3 doubled goes for 300 as does 4 doubled.

Change partner's hand to xxx KQJx AQ10xx x, he says O.K. let's try 4 by pulling the double so that makes. 3 doubled is one down.

The advantage of this method over the "trump stack" warning method is that in old competitive auctions single handed decisions have to be made. If responder thinks their side can make 4, he must make the decision for the partnership but it could be very wrong. The "permission to bid" double brings partner's opinion into the decision making process. The biggest advantage of this concept though is taking the ambiguity out of the penalty double. Knowing that the double always shows "cards" rather than a trump stack, gives you a competitive advantage.

Change responder's hand to KQ10 Kxxx xx Q10xx with the same auction, 3 is passed around to partner. If he has an unsuitable hand for defense or bidding 4, you will be defending 3 undoubled. Not the optimum result but better then taking a minus in 4. The system fixed you. If partner wants to bid 4, he doubles so that gets converted for the nice juicy plus. If responder passed and opener has a trump stack double of 3, he must pass and take a plus. Doubling will most likely get partner to pull to 4 not want you want. D.S.I.P. doubles are sound in theory, as the opponents will be playing contracts doubled only if the doubler has a good hand and the other partner converts with a trump stack.

That's one of the problems with trump stack doubles, as the weak opener must reluctantly pass so with the hint on how to play the hand, the contract quite often makes or only a small penalty is extracted. Traditional penalty doubles are done "backwards" in my opinion. You double with the trump stack so the other hand regardless of the nature of the hand has to leave it in. Quite often a recipe for disaster as they wrap up the double if not pulled. The D.S.I.P. conversion makes sure there are defensive values in the other hand as well as the bad trump break in the converters hand. Taking out insurance for defeating the contract so to speak.

D.S.I.P. doubles are not for weak matchpoint field or weak rubber Bridge games. Trump stack penalty doubles were invented for these games. These doubles assume good competition with the IMP scoring scale. All world class players play some variation of the D.S.I.P. double in today's game. Quoting a recent Bridge World, Eric Rodwell said "we all play these doubles now".

D.S.I.P. Please Pull Partner

Old fashioned penalty doubles are single handed actions. They do not want your input as it is assumed you have your bid. In fact, exponents of the trump stack double rely on a platitude "never pull my penalty doubles".

D.S.I.P. doubles are exactly the opposite. PPP or Please Pull my Penalty doubles is the platitude of the day. The doubler wants your input into the decision. In fact you are the ultimate vote. A penalty double in competition with D.S.I.P. theory means I want to bid but we do have the option of defending if you feel that is the best action. You do not have had to support partner earlier. The penalty double implies cards or you just pass and take your plus if there is one.

I had a hand with my ex partner Peter Jones which shows this principle. The auction went;

Pass	1	2	Dbl
Pass	3	Pass	3NT
Dbl

Double by me with Axx Q109x K1098 xx. OK. I am a passed hand so I have a maximum of 10 HCP. They are vulnerable and we are not. Partner's range is 5 - 10 HCP so the opponents could be conceivably bidding a 22 HCP 3NT with a bad split in their main suit diamonds. I want us to bid 4 spades as a sacrifice if partner's hand is unsuitable for defense and leave it in otherwise. Partner held Q1098xx Jxxx void xxx and he had made a tactical two spade bid. OK this is an easy decision on his part as he now knows that the opponents could have as many as 30 HCP with certainly they will make their game doubled with vulnerable over-tricks. 4 doubled goes for -300 or -500 depending on the skill of the defenders. Our partners were +660 so we are winning 4 IMPS minimum. My partner subscribes to the theory that the partner of a doubler is simply "not allowed" to pull penalty doubles passed hand or not regardless of the nature of his own hand. Accordingly he passed and we were minus -1150 for an 11 IMP loss instead of a 4 IMP win. A 15 IMP swing based on a difference of religion so to speak. We lost the IMP match by 1 IMP!

Say if partner had a good jump overcall of KJ10xxx xxxx void Axx. Knowing that they are getting a bad diamond break and partner has a spade honour we now pass 3NT doubled. I lead a spade and we take 7 tricks for +800. Allowing both sides to have input into the final vote for a penalty double is a win-win situation. Forcing pass theory was invented to allow the partnership to make the decision rather then one partner to do so in forcing auctions. D.S.I.P. theory was invented for the same reason in non forcing auctions. The only thing you have to scrap to have this understanding is the single handed trump stack double. Good riddance anyway as that bid quite often backfired. Bridge theory has simply outgrown the penalty double as it was first invented when Bridge was in its infancy.

D.S.I.P. Serious Intent

Meckwell came up with something called the "Serious 3NT". The bid means that one side has "Serious" slam interest as opposed to cue bidding as a courtesy in case partner had slam interest. D.S.I.P. doubles in competition have similar "Serious" intent. If partner just bids, no inferences can be taken from the fact that she bid again or bid again "freely". There is no game try intended and in fact the bid may be an advance sacrifice against their game or partial. Partner is not expected to bid again based on partners actions.

We have the above understanding because of the meaning assigned to the D.S.I.P. double in competition. D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles defined by removing the "trump stack" element from the double. The double says I "Seriously" want to compete again and I have defensive tricks. Based on my double you can convert, compete again or even bid game. I am not just competing, I am very Serious about it. The double is a very versatile bid in Bridge. It leaves the most options open. Using the double as a trump stack in competition puts a useful bid in a "straight jacket". How many times when the opponents are supporting each other's suit vigorously do you have a trump stack in their suit? Wasting a bid for that remote eventuality is just poor Bridge judgment.

In the event you do have a trump stack in their suit, you can use the negative double concept of a pass. Partner with controls in line with his competitive bid must re-open with a double. The penalty conversion now takes place. What if partner does not have enough to double? Taking your plus cannot be bad. With duplication of value you cannot make anything your way anyway. It is not matchpoints where it is important to double because +200 beats +140. You do not have to take those risks in IMPS. D.S.I.P. theory is IMPS orientated. The more I think about it, trump stack doubles are a matchpoint and rubber bridge tool to punish bad bidders. In IMPS, quite often we do not want to take the chance of locating trump for a good declarer. Why not redefine the penalty double for IMPS?

Variability of overcalls, opening bids, takeout doubles needs one more bid in the Bridge vocabulary to show extra defense in the nature of controls. Reserve the double to describe that situation in competition and not the trump stack. The trump stack in competition is shown by the "green card". A pass after competing should be a "red light" for the partnership. It either means I am too weak to even compete again or I have their suit. Partner must as a courtesy ask permission to compete again with a D.S.I.P. double.

Quite a few penalty doubles rescue opponents from bad spots or help them play the hand with the bad trump breaks. Converting partner's D.S.I.P. guarantees that the "partnership" has enough to beat the contract. A trump stack double is one of the most single handed actions in Bridge. Do not pull my penalty doubles because I know what is best for the partnership. Not the partner I would like to have in high level Bridge. A penalty double is supposed to warn partner not to compete again as I have their suit. A pass does the job better. You have one more option with that bid and that is to also pass. Once you have doubled and partner does not like it, it is too late as she may get doubled in her contract. Duplication of value in their suit guarantees that our contract will not play very well. This is the competitive advantage of D.S.I.P. double theory.

Bridge is played in a "clockwise" direction which makes the penalty double concept in Bridge useless in some competitive auctions. You have a nice juicy trump stack double in their suit and you are competing in your suit. Before you get a chance to double, partner rescues them by competing again. You cannot double out of turn but you would like to. How about if partner wants to compete again he must do so with a double if he had defense? This is happiness as he has let you in on the competitive decision. D.S.I.P. double theory makes a lot of sense.

D.S.I.P. and Sacrificing

Traditional penalty doubles to avoid "pseudo" sacrifices have it all wrong. You double with a trump stack to tell partner not to sacrifice. This does not work because Bridge is played in a clockwise direction and you would have to double out of turn quite often to prevent a pseudo sacrifice. In competitive auctions it depends on the timing of the bidding whether you can double with a trump stack or a strong defensive hand to tell partner not to sacrifice.

Example: You are not vulnerable against vulnerable with the following auction:

1	2	2	3
4	?

You have void AQJ10xx AJxx xxx and with a void in the opponent's suit would it not be an opportune time to bid which might make or might be a sacrifice. You have to make the decision now as the pass says you would prefer to defend. You bid 5 and get doubled for -300. However it's a pseudo sacrifice as partner had KQ10 xxxx xx QJ10x for the 3 bid. 4 doubled goes for +500. What a swing! This happens over and over again not playing D.S.I.P. doubles. In D.S.I.P.theory the double and pass are reversed from traditional thinking. The pass says I want to defend and the double says I want to play the hand (sacrifice possibly) but I have enough defense that I can pass the decision over to partner.If partner held xx xxxx KQx QJxx the double would be pulled to 5. This contract has a chance to make and 4 has a chance to make.

Tom Gandolfo and I had an auction that shows D.S.I.P. theory in action. Tom non vulnerable in first seat held x Qxxx J109 AK10xx and passed and I opened 1 in third seat and LHO overcalled 1. Tom bid 2 and RHO bid 2. I bid 3 and LHO bid 4.Tom now really liked his hand for offensive purposes. He had a singleton in the opponent's suit a probable diamond fit with me and a good passed hand. However he had defense. He now made a D.S.I.P.double saying he wants to bid 5 but he also has defense so he is deferring the decision to me. I held AQX of spades so I said no thanks to bidding 5 and we beat 4 doubled for +500.If I had no wastage in spades I would have bid 5. If Tom had AQx and wanted to make a penalty double to prevent me from bidding he would have passed. If I wanted to bid 5 with defense I would have doubled and pass the decision back to Tom. He of course converts.

In the Alberta Solvers Club we had a lead problem hand that confounded a lot of panelists.

	A1098x
	Kx
	KQx
	xxx
KQJxx		xx
Jxx		A1098x
xxx		x
Qx		AJ10x
	x
	Qx
	AJ109xx
	Kxxx

You are non-vulnerable against vulnerable opponents. North opens and the auction went:

1	2	3	3
4	4	Pass	Pass
5	Dbl

A good number of the panel was not sure if the double was penalty or lead directing. This is a classic case for a D.S.I.P. double. There should be no "penalty" double as such when the opponents freely bid a vulnerable game in a competitive auction. A 5 bid might be a sacrifice against a vulnerable 5. However you have too much defense to take such unilateral action. You double to tell partner of your intentions and that you have their contract booked. Partner likes his defense in the spade suit and passes. Anyway with a trump lead 5 doubled does not fare to well and of course 5 doubled is a bad pseudo with a spade ruff for their side.

"Do not pull my penalty doubles" is the worst platitude in Bridge. D.S.I.P. doubles are designed to be pulled unless you have values in their trump suit or their secondary suit completely covered. When partner doubles he only wants to defend if you convert with the appropriate hand. Playing the "standard" penalty double way for so many years it takes some getting used to. In my opinion, from day one in Bridge "enforcer doubles" when the opponents freely bid their games make no sense. These penalty doubles should have always been D.S.I.P. and you only convert with the appropriate hand. Just good bidding to pass the decision to partner.

The does not mean you always have to double if you want to sacrifice. D.S.I.P. is not the double/undouble convention. The double just says you want to play the hand with your intentions unclear but most of the time to make. If you have the distributional hand you go ahead and sacrifice and damn the consequences. Its just if you have defense, put partner in the picture with a double. The decision passing aspect of a double should not be ignored.

I got the following from the Hammon/Soloway Convention Card (also found in many of the other top players' cards). "Pass/Double inversion in many high-level situations" They call them pass/double inversions–I call it part of D.S.I.P.theory but the meaning is the same. Double when you want to bid and pass for a possible penalty double from partner when you do not. You reverse or invert the traditional meaning of the two bids. Garozzo says the same thing when discussing penalty doubles in one of his books.

Penalty Doubles - D.S.I.P.

Playing D.S.I.P. penalty doubles does not mean "trump stack" doubles are extinct. If we have opened a NT or they have bid a NT and the doubling starts that is the "killing fields" of Bridge. Doubles are trump stack and there is no thought required – just pass the double. If we own the auction and do not have a fit established, a double is of the trump stack variety. If one partner has chosen to stay out of a competitive auction and then doubles a final contract it is of the trump stack variety.

When the opponents overcall or pre-empt, negative doubles rule up to the 4 level anyway. Higher doubles are D.S.I.P. instead of a trump stack. Why? Ambiguity is bad in any language and the Bridge language is no exception. Doubling a 4 bid with 13 HCP with a singleton spade is a far cry from doubling 4 with KQJ10 of spades. Yet we make the same bid with both hands after partner opens.

This is just playing into the pre-emptors strategy of destroying your auction. One of the ambiguous doubles has to be thrown out. Since partner may yet save the day with a re-opening double we have chosen to eliminate the trump stack double. Our partners will not bid 4 with such a filthy spade suit anyway so no great loss. The IMP scale saves you on those hands. if partner was too weak to double then you beat 4 for 3 down vulnerable plus 300 and no game your way. At the other table your partners make a club partial for 110. So you win 10 IMPS anyway and a double for +800 is only worth a couple of more IMPS!

What does the double mean at high levels? It is asking partner's permission to bid with the appropriate hand and otherwise pass. You have AKxxxx x Axxx Kx and you open 1and LHO bid 4 and around to you again. They are vulnerable and you are not. Let's bid 4 as it might be a cheap sacrifice or might even make. No way as that is single handed. Ask partner's permission to bid 4 by doubling. If the sacrifice is right she will bid it!

Another example, x xx AKxx AK109xxx. They open 1 and you overcall 2 and LHO bids 4 around to you again. They are vulnerable and you are not so let's bid 5 or 4NT to sacrifice? Too single handed again. Tell partner you want to bid 5 by doubling. If you had x KQJ10 xx AK10xxx you would quietly put the green card on the table and take your small plus. You cannot have it both ways.

Even with voids in the opponent's suit, do not be enticed into a "cheap sacrifice". In Pentiction I had xxx xxxx AKxx Kx and in 4th chair LHO opened 1 everybody vulnerable. Tom overcalled 1 and RHO bid 2 and I bid 2. LHO jumped to 4 and around to me again. The opponents have mapped out a void in hearts in partner's hand so a 4 bid looks awfully good. Why make such a singlehanded bid? Double as your partner might have AKxx of spades and wants no part of a vulnerable sacrifice. Tom actually held an offensive 5-5 with a void in hearts and 4 goes one down with 620 cold their way.

D.S.I.P. doubles and the sandwich position are a perfect match. Partner opens a major and you respond 1NT. The opponent makes a bad overcall and you want to double out of turn but rats partner rescues him by bidding! D.S.I.P. doubles to the rescue. Partner doubles with a good hand even one with 4 hearts and passes with their suit. if you cannot re-open with a double they play it there for a small plus your way. Doubles can get converted often if they lack discretion with their overcalls.

D.S.I.P. doubles are also "depending on context" penalty doubles. If the opponents advertise to the table that they have a suit wrapped up, the double becomes a D.S.I.P. double. Say you double an Unusual 2NT and they leap to 5 of a minor anyway. Such total disregard for your first double changes your second double into a D.S.I.P. double showing points and the other minor. It does not mean do not trust them partner as they have lost their minds.

Penalty doubles have been around since the beginning of Bridge. They say do not bid partner as we have their suit. With D.S.I.P. doubles we convey just the opposite meaning. The double means I want to bid but I am asking your permission to do so. Works way better.

Single Handed Bidding

Bridge is a partnership game. This means avoid making single handed decisions for the partnership in competitive auctions. Try to make a bid that puts partner in the picture so that a joint decision can be made when the opponents reach a game. This is one of the prime incentives for inventing D.S.I.P. theory. Before D.S.I.P. theory, partner's hand was bid for her instead of by her.

The opponents are vulnerable and you are not. In 4th suit they open 1 and partner overcalls 1 and RHO bids 2. You have J10x xxxx Axx KQx and you could bid 2 since partner is a passed hand. No, this is wrong because that bid does not describe your defensive strength or playing strength. You could leap to 4 since partner is marked with a singleton heart and the opponents are vulnerable.

No, again this is too single handed. 4 may not make and you are bidding partner's hand for her. So you bid 3 which shows a spade raise with limit raise values.

The opponents now bid 4 and around to you. In IMPS, you can afford to double. If they make it, it is not a disaster but the double is two fold. Partner can pull to 4 with the appropriate distributional hand and 4 doubled will be an excellent sacrifice with her marked singleton heart. You are sacrificing from the correct side as you gave partner an option to leave it in.

Tom had overcalled on a 4 card spade suit to the AK and 4 doubled goes for at least 500. In fact a trump lead may get it for 800! 4 doubled goes down 2 for a phenomenal swing. Tom will happily leave the double in with his 4 spades.

With distribution he will take out cheap insurance as it is IMPS. AKxxx x xx Jxxxx he will pull and 4 doubled makes with the queen of spades onside!

Do not bid partner's hand for her. She is fully capable of bidding her own hand if you allow her the opportunity to do so. Again doubling games in IMPS should be a more common practice than in other forms of Bridge but put partner in the picture first and give her an option! Doubling in competitive auctions are cooperative and descriptive. These are not "trump stack" doubles that must always be left in. In fact with their trump, I would not even double and just take my plus as we are not making anything anyway. Cooperative doubles are far more useful in competitive auctions. D.S.I.P. by leaving it in or pulling.

Trump Stack Mentality

Penalty doubles based on trump stacks in competitive auctions should be reserved for rubber Bridge and possibly matchpoints. In IMPS they should not exist! Why, because in IMPS if you have a trump stack in their suit you should not have overcalled in the first place or you should not raise partner and encourage her to bid game or compete. In most cases, If you have their suit stay out of the auction until the balancing and doubling starts. D.S.I.P. theory is based on the non existence of trump stack doubles in competitive auctions or as the initial action.

You hold Axxxx AK109x xx x and RHO opens a heart. Why overcall a spade? You could just be rescuing them from impending disaster. You are encouraging partner to "sacrifice" to 4 with her heart shortage if they get to an obscene 4 game. Alternatively you have J10x KQJ10 Qxxx xx and the opponents have opened a heart and partner overcalls a spade and RHO bids 2. Do you compete in spades? No, because you are setting partner up for a pseudo sacrifice or a wrong competitive decision. If RHO had passed, bid 1NT to show the duplication rather than raise spades.

From this discipline comes a new understanding with doubles in competitive auctions when the opponents reach game. If you have supported partner, an initial double cannot show a trump stack. Conversely if you have not supported partner a double is always a short in partner's suit type of penalty double. Removal of the "trump stack mentality" is the basis for D.S.I.P. double theory. Not competing with a trump stack in their suit although not compulsory is a good safety valve.

In rubber Bridge, when the opponents are getting a bad trump break in either a partial or game quite often they get rescued by a braying partner who will not stop bidding her suit. Established partnerships who have the discipline that they will not be bidding or competing with trump stacks in the opponents suit, have a big advantage. A double can mean a sound overcall and a willingness to compete only. It is not penalty so the opponents are not rescued.

AKJxxx x KQxx Kx

1 and you overcall 1, LHO bids 2 and partner passes and RHO bids 4. I have seen players single handily bid 4 here and hit partner with x QJ109 xxx QJ10xx. -500 your way instead of +800 your way. A double by you should be D.S.I.P. because you would not be bidding with a trump stack in their suit. Partner will bid 4 or leave it in at her discretion. Say she had a hand too weak to bid 2 over 2. Qxx xxx J109xx xx is a hand that she will pull the double as cheap insurance and gets rewarded with +790!

Tom and I had auction a while back that shows this point well. The vulnerable opponents opened 1 vulnerable in 4th chair. Tom decided to compete not vulnerable with AKxx xx QJxx xxx so he bid a spade. The opponents bid 2 and I held a nice playing hand Jxx xx Axxx KQ10x. So I bid 3 and the opponents bid 4 and around to me. Time to bid a nice non vulnerable sacrifice against their 620. No, this is terribly single handed. Let partner decide instead, by you doubling. Partner knows you do not have hearts on this auction or you would not have competed. This is a D.S.I.P. double. Tom passes 4 doubled and it goes for +500. 4 doubled goes for -300 our way on a silly Moysean. Doubles in competitive auctions should never be trump stack doubles. The pass card is reserved for those types of hands. Do not rescue bad bidding opponents by bidding. Preserve your options by doubling.

Since we overcall on very good hands and expert opponents leap to game on weak distributional hands quite often, a double of a game must be clarified. Having it never being a trump stack double is an excellent understanding. If you do have some trump values and you feel you can beat their game, just put the green card on the table. Bridge is a partnership game and partner will go wrong in these auctions if doubles alternate between good hands or trump stacks.

A recent auction by my teammates show the ridiculous confusion brought about by trump stack doubles. The vulnerable opponents open a weak NT, you pass with J9xx void Q10xx Axxxx and LHO bids 4 vulnerable which partner promptly doubles. With the "trump stack mentality" to confuse things and looking at your void in hearts, 4 doubled is going for a huge number vulnerable right? Wrong LHO has AKQxxxxx of hearts and -790 is the result! What makes matters worse is 4 might make your way! With this auction, if partner originally passes 4 you should have freedom to double in the balancing spot for a cheap not vulnerable sacrifice. The trump stack mentality being removed from your partnership makes it simple.

Validation Part I

In my tenure as coach I tried to pass on my ideas on the game of Bridge based on my experiences. It would be nice to know if World Class pairs share some of my more obscure views and theories. To this end, I obtained Convention Cards of 12 World Class pairs and posted them to my site. I will take some of my views suggested to the Pitbulls via Email and compare them with these players.

First my dislike of "trump stack" penalty doubles at high levels. I think trump stack doubles should be passed and doubles should be D.S.I.P. In addition, the WBF card makes you mention your forcing pass understandings especially if they vary from standard agreements. Let's examine the World Class players and get their views on this subject.

Garozzo

Our doubles are generally all TO at all levels at least when doubler has not shown length in the suit. We use the Penalty Double at low levels only when one of us has shown given a penalty pass. In penalty situations when we know we have balanced hands and we hold a certain majority of the points we utilize the double to suggest partner pass with length in the suit. One doesn't make a double if one doesn't want partner to convert to penalty.

D.De Falco - B.Garozzo - Doubles Negative - Through 7

B.Garozzo - Buono - Doubles Negative - Through 5, Responsive - Through 5

Benito Garozzo - Lea du Pont - Doubles Negative - Through 5, Responsive - Through 5

Meckwell - Negative doubles at lower levels. Card showing doubles at more cramped levels and at 2nd round. X can ask for clarification of ambiguous bids. Support doubles and redoubles through 4.

Hamman - Soloway - Negative Double = take out. Opener shows good hand with Double. Most low level doubles are competitive – closer to take out. Ext–Max Doubles. (not sure what that means - Bob) Negative doubles through 4

Lauria - Versace - After 1 opener negative through 5, after 1 negative through 5, after 1 neg through 4 and after 1 negative through 4.

Robinson - Woosley - Negative doubles through 3. Most direct doubles are takeout. Support doubles through the 3 level. Special negative doubles (see notes).

Churmski - Puczynski - Negative doubles through 4 and card showing doubles at higher levels. Support doubles/redoubles through 3

Helgemo - Helness - Negative doubles through 4, Support doubles through 2 and competitive doubles at higher levels.

Chagas - Assumpcao - Negative doubles through 4, "negative doubles" in competition, support doubles

Branco - Thoma - Negative Double through 4. 4 double is "optional". Support doubles

Auken - Armin - Negative Double just points no shape, Most low level doubles = takeout, 2 Way DBL, Competitive Doubles, Max DBL MAX - EXT (? Bob)

Fantoni - Nunes - Negative doubles through 4. "two-way" doubles at higher levels. Translated from the Italian I think that means optional or co-operative.

>Survey of the top players and it's a clean sweep. Nobody plays direct trump stack doubles period. Different names for the D.S.I.P. doubles (card showing, takeout, competitive and optional) but message is the same. Trump stack doubles are extinct. They are handled by converting partners D.S.I.P. Doubles.

Enforcer Doubles

Playing with a partner that plays the "Bridge cop" and is out to arrest all bad bidders from speeding is a bad experience. Usually this type of partner is very disciplined herself and wants to show the world that bad bidding should be punished. This type of partner has a "trump stack" mentality and you do not pull my penalty doubles ever. This philosophy is all right for weak rubber and matchpoint games but that is all. It is a very bad way to play IMPS at a high level.

In IMPS and high level auctions of 4 and below, the double should show shortness in that suit. It is the singleton that doubles and the other hand converts if there is a trump stack. All doubles of high level auctions are D.S.I.P. doubles and pulling doubles should be a very common occurrence. At the 5 level, we revert to trump stack penalty doubles.

Let's take a common auction, a pre-empt in the sandwich position.

1	Pass	1	3
?

You hold KQJ10 xx AKxx xxx.

3 is definitely going down but do you double with your minimum hand? No, this is a clear cut pass. If partner cannot re-open with a double with her obvious shortness in spades, we take our plus. Why, for a number of reasons. One, because the double is far more useful to define a different meaning to it. I like playing Thrump doubles in the sandwich position also. The double asks partner to bid 3NT with a spade stopper. I have a good hand but no suitable bid. If I had a good hand with a spade stopper I would just bid 3NT myself. The 2nd reason for passing is that they have a better spot if partner is too weak to re-open. They will not rescue themselves until they are doubled so why double. You probably do not even have a partial your way!

What if they pre-empt to the 4 level in the sandwich position? Even if they are in game, the double cannot be ambiguous. The double still means I wish to take offensive action. Partner will use his judgment and do something intelligent for the partnership.

In the re-opening position, doubles should always be takeout (D.S.I.P.) rather than enforcer doubles. Why, because partner is expected to do something intelligent which includes bidding.

1	4	Pass	Pass
?

You have KQJ10 xx AKxx xxx. This is a clear cut pass. Partner will never leave the double in unless trained to "never pull my doubles".

Say you have x AQxx AKxx AJxx which is a clear cut double. Partner with KQxxxx will bid clubs and you might get to your +1370 instead of your +300. If you have their suit, do not be an enforcer, just take your plus.

4NT is never Blackwood when the opponents pre-empt 4/4. Use 4NT as Lebensohl over doubles and you have some new inferences. Being an "enforcer" wrecks these delicate Lebensohl auctions. The last thing partner expects for your double is a stack of points in their suit. Penalty doubles are to be pulled or converted not just blindly left in when you do not own the auction.

D.S.I.P. - Discipline

D.S.I.P. doubles do not work without partnership discipline in opening bids and overcalls. I do not subscribe to opening bids just for the sake of "clubbing baby seals". Right from the Culbertson days and through Goren to present days, there is a quick trick requirement for opening bids. Just because you have 13 HCP it is not enough for an opening bid. QJxxQJx QJx QJx has 12 HCP but it no way shape or form is it an opening bid. It fails the defensive trick requirement by a long shot. xxxxx AKxx Axxx has only 11 HCP but it is an opener as it has the required defensive values. Although there is a tactical advantage in "getting the first shot " in Bridge I do not open 11-13 HCP flat hands without the required 2½ defensive tricks. It just helps good players play the hand and misleads partner. Especially misleads partner in D.S.I.P. theory as his double assumes that you have the defensive values for an opening bid. The lack of quick tricks or controls in an opening bid also hurt in slam bidding, competing and game bidding. Bad opening bids get you to a lot of aborted slam tries and leads to partnership frustration.

A partnership needs "standards" for competing in the game of Bridge. An opening bid and sound 2 level overcalls are "standards" on which you can count on to make a partnership decision. People who say they do not need quick tricks to open, or "colors are for kids" or suicidal pre-empts and overcalls are playing the game as "solo artists" so obliterate the partnership aspect of the game of Bridge.

D.S.I.P. doubles depend a lot on the vulnerability and of course seat position. Partner will give you leeway if you are bidding not vulnerable against vulnerable (terrorist vulnerability). He will pass in competitive auctions rather then forcing you to make a decision at a higher level with a D.S.I.P. double. Non favourable vulnerability he will probably make a D.S.I.P. double every time to give you the alternative of converting for penalty. D.S.I.P. doubles like re-opening negative doubles should play the vulnerability.

You are vulnerable against not with xxx AKQxxx KJxx and you open a diamond. 2 overcall by not vulnerable partner and around to you. With every other vulnerability except this one you should re-open with a double to protect partner's penalty pass. With this one vulnerability you should bid 3. You then get to your 1370 in clubs. With this distribution and vulnerability protect partner from making a bad conversion decision by bidding your suits. 2 doubled goes for -500 and partner was converting expecting you to be less distributional. Bidding should not be based on weak distributional hands on these auctions. A double should be made to take your sure plus with partner having a penalty double over there.

Have distribution and a purpose for making a takeout double as a passed hand. Be disciplined so that partner can trust you. The opponents bid:

1

Pass

2

?

With Axxx QJ10 Axx xxx do you double? Of course not. A double is more than announcing to the opponents that you passed 11 HCP. You are encouraging partner to take some action at the 3 level vulnerable. Your longest suit is spades and 50% of your HCP are in their suit! Playing D.S.I.P. double theory it is very important to be disciplined. Partner held x QJ10 KQ10xx Q1098 so competed to 4 over 3 and went for -800! Change your hand to xxx Q109 Axxx AJx (same 4,3,3,3) and a 5 game is 50%.

The vulnerability is very important to ensure discipline. The auction goes:

3

Pass

3NT

?

You hold a weak hand with 5-5 in the majors. If you are equal vulnerability, it is futile to take action as you are just giving them a fielder's choice. They know more what is going on than you do, so it is advantage their side. Take your fix if there is some miraculous major suit sacrifice against their 3NT. Remember partner has had no say in the proceedings. Going for a single handed set just erodes partnership trust and confidence.

D.S.I.P. Theory

What is D.S.I.P. theory? What these competitive doubles entail is a brand new way of competing in the game of Bridge with all competitive auctions up to but not including the 5 level. We divide the Bridge playing field into two camps. Auctions that we "own" due to the strength of our bidding and auctions that we do not or may not. In the auctions we own, forcing pass theory is the law of the land. In all other competitive auctions, D.S.I.P. theory takes over.

D.S.I.P. theory is based on the re-definition of the penalty double. With the old way of competing, the penalty double meant I have their suit so let's not compete anymore. The double was designed to discourage further bidding. The D.S.I.P. double is just the opposite. The D.S.I.P. double says I have defense measured in quick tricks so I am transferring the decision to partner who may be in a better position to make the final determination whether to compete again. This D.S.I.P. double is a competitive double so only applies as the "initial action" in a competitive situation.

How do penalty doubles occur in these competitive auctions? These occur in two ways. Either partner must double in order to "check back" with partner to compete again. Partner can deny permission holding their trump so convert for penalty. This is similar to negative double theory. The other way for a penalty double is that there is only one D.S.I.P. double allowed per customer. Once your side has taken an "initial action" either by making a D.S.I.P. double or bidding, all subsequent doubles are for penalty.

D.S.I.P. doubles are all inclusive as long as your side does not "own the auction". This means after overcalls, takeout doubles, balancing, 1NT bids and in rare cases even after pre-empts (action doubles). In order to compete successfully with D.S.I.P. doubles, you must be very familiar with the cues that turn on forcing passes. 2/1, limit raise or better, strong conventional bids etc. If you are not 100% sure that forcing pass theory applies and you are below the 5 level, D.S.I.P. Theory is the default. The IMP scale encourages this style of competitive doubles as the scale robs you when you get huge sets anyway. Also a doubled game contract in IMPS, is a small loss and not a disaster.

D.S.I.P. theory is for Bridge experts only. The reason we say that is that it necessitates judgment in hand evaluation to convert auctions for penalty, to know if forcing passes apply instead. You also require discipline with your opening bids, takeout doubles and overcalls. If you are a random bidder with respect to your opening bids, overcalls and takeout doubles, D.S.I.P. theory will not work. Partner assumes you are disciplined and have your bid as the basis for her competitive doubles. Partner also assumes you know how to defend.

What are the advantages of competing with D.S.I.P. theory over the traditional way? The main reason is that Bridge is a partnership game so it allows both partners input into competitive decisions. Since Bridge is played in a clockwise direction, quite often in competitive auctions partner would compete once more when you wanted to double them for penalty. This action was doing yourself in by "rescuing them". With D.S.I.P. theory, partner must transfer the decision to you with a double so now the partnership makes the decision. The old way of competing was rampant with "impatient solo artists" who made single handed decisions for the partnership. We may as well go down rather than them was the norm in competitive auctions. I like playing the hand vs defending anyway.

Another advantage of D.S.I.P. theory is identifying duplication of value in their suit. The D.S.I.P. double says we do not have values in their suit. This is like playing "splinters" so you can make more informed competitive decisions. D.S.I.P. doubles prevent pseudo sacrifices as we are more informed about the status of their suit. There are many competitive auctions where the opponents are trying to "steal" your auction. You do not want to double them for penalty as it nowhere compensates for what you can make but you do not have a clear cut action. You now can make a D.S.I.P. double which just shows "cards" rather than their suit. The partnership now makes the competitive decision. The double is the most flexible bid in Bridge. Reserving it for a trump stack, is a blatant waste of a good bid in competitive auctions.

Another advantage of D.S.I.P. Theory is when partner competes by just bidding we have the negative inference she did not make a D.S.I.P. double. This allows more bidding/competing without the partnership punishing each other because "you took another bid". This is a Tom Gandolfo favourite with D.S.I.P. theory as it allows him to bid even more.

In so called "modern bidding" people bid more and pre-empt more. D.S.I.P. theory adds much needed structure to combat this invasion. Doubles of pre-empts above the negative double level are never trump stack they just show cards. This understanding allows partner to make more informed decisions when they pre-empt. Re-opening doubles with defensive tricks allow the trump stack situations to be converted for penalty. D.S.I.P. doubles are still another weapon in combating pre-empts.

The last advantage is that competitive doubles rids you of single handed trump stack penalty doubles from your competitive repertoire. Partner doubling without your input not knowing whether you have an offensive hand, defensive hand, maximum, minimum or whatever. This gave you the headache whether to pull the double so get into trouble yourself. Doubling them into game really hurts when they make it. D.S.I.P. doubles are an insurance policy as penalty doubles get converted only after knowing that partner has defense. Penalty doubles were also ambiguous. Sometimes they were made with a trump stack or sometimes just "cards". Ambiguity in any language is a breeding ground for confusion.

As your skill in Bridge improves, D.S.I.P. doubles are the obvious next step to making good and winning competitive decisions.

The 3rd Case

Action doubles have been around since the 1970's. These are D.S.I.P. doubles as you want partner to take some action rather than blindly pass when they own the hand. All doubles in Bridge apply in 3 cases. You own the hand, nobody owns the hand (competing) and the 3rd case is where they own the hand. In other words "do something intelligent partner" when its their hand from the bidding. These "action doubles" were defined as a double where the partner was not generally expected to bid again since they own the auction. In the old days, the pre-emptors were supposed to have a trump stuck but not anymore.

The 3rd case of D.S.I.P. doubles to avoid pseudo sacrifices were attempted years ago by a convoluted system called doubles/undoubles. One hand would double in any position saying they had no defensive tricks but worse still they forced the issue by an obligation to double when they were sacrificing. This turned out to be totally unworkable so it eventually fell into disuse except at the slam level. The 3rd case of D.S.I.P. doubles is different from this undouble theory. Yes, it is their hand but the double shows defense measured in transferable quick tricks. The double means I want to take a single handed sacrifice, but I want to transfer the final decision to you. A much saner approach as it takes out insurance against pseudo sacrifices.

Sometimes you enter their 2/1 or Jacoby auction with an exceptional distributional hand. They reach their game contract so you double. It is their hand, so thinking you can beat it in your own hand is silly. Your double is not lead directing nor a trump stack penalty double. The double means partner I want to create some action by bidding again. However, just in case it is a horrible mistake on my part, I am giving you the option to nix my request. I do have some defense, if you wish to convert. Do not forget that it is their hand though. A double by partner of the bidder when its obviously their hand, suggests a sacrifice but with some doubts as I have defense also. You make the final decision.

1	Pass	2	2
3	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	?

Partner has x Kxxxx J10x Axxx so she wants to suggest a 5 sacrifice, rather than actually do it. This is not the old double/undouble but similar as you want to bid again. Sacrifices are no longer single handed.

Playing with Tom Gandolfo against Peter Jones and Stan Cabay, we were not vulnerable vs vulnerable. Stan opened 1, I overcalled 2 with Q KJ1098x Axx Axx, Jones doubled. Tom passed, Stan bid 2 which brought about a vulnerable 4 by them. I made a 3rd case D.S.I.P. double (they own the hand). I assume they can make their 4 game so a non-vulnerable sacrifice might be OK. I do not want to bid single handedly so I take out insurance by doubling. I want to transfer the decision to partner who may hold J1098 of spades or something similar and nix the request. Tom held xxx xxxx J10x Qxxx so bid 5 which got doubled and I went for 300. Our partners made +650, so +8 IMPS did not hurt our cause.

These doubles sometimes need you to trust the opponents and have vulnerability conditions in your favour.

1	1	Dbl	Pass
2	3	Pass	4
Dbl

They are vulnerable and competent players. I have shown 9 or more cards in the minors, so I want to sacrifice non-vulnerable (I cannot have trump). You nix the bidding request because you have two trump tricks! This hand was from the Bermuda bowl, the Italian bid 5 as a solo effort to sacrifice. -500 when 4 was unmakeable because partner had two trump tricks. Take out insurance by doubling seems to be better.

At the slam level doubles/undoubles are in effect. These slams must be voluntary bid so very obvious to the table that they own the hand and have bid their slam to make. These doubles do not apply when they have been "pushed" to their slam by our competitive bidding. A double in that situation has the old fashioned meaning of I have a trump trick so do not bid partner. The D.S.I.P.. double at the slam level in 3rd case bidding is an "undouble" saying I have no defensive tricks so I am transferring the decision to sacrifice to you. I am forcing the issue,since you have been at the table it cannot be penalty nor lead directing

.

This double is an excellent tool to prevent pseudo sacrifices when the opponents voluntary bid a slam after partner has bid a suit or you both have. In slams, it is folly to make a trump stack penalty double of a voluntary bid slam by the opponents. This assumption allows you to use D.S.I.P. theory similar to the double/undouble convention. Partner makes a bid of spades on the auction and you have xxxxx void xxxx xxxx, the opponents bid 6. You make a D.S.I.P. double asking partner's permission to sacrifice. Partner holds KQJ of hearts so says thanks but no thanks. It is here the D.S.I.P. and Double/Undouble theory merge.

There was a hand in Salt Lake City where the Canadian pair took a pseudo sacrifice in 6 doubled opposite a vulnerable minor slam. The result was duplicated at the other table as the Italian pair also took out insurance by bidding.

One hand was: xxxx Axxxxx xx x

The other: AKQxx xx xxx xxx

The Canadians found their spade fit early so when 6 was voluntary reached by the opponents, one partner made a single handed decision to sacrifice. D.S.I.P. theory was invented as a "transfer" to avoid single handed decisions. In these kind of "obvious sacrificing" auctions, there is an obligation to double the slam if you want to sacrifice to tell partner to not count on him for any defensive tricks. Hence, a pass must show a defensive trick or better. Around to the AKQxx hand in the balancing spot so warned that partner may have a defensive trick, he simply passes. There is no obligation to double their slam for penalty unless he has no defensive tricks himself.

D.S.I.P. - Belated Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles assume the game of IMPS and competent opponents. Competence is defined as opponents who do not commit suicide with their game bidding when they are vulnerable vs not. There is no need to be an "enforcer" to tell them how badly they bid on this one vulnerability. D.S.I.P. doubles do not cater to exposing vulnerable psyches vs non-vulnerable opponents. Let the psycher have his moment in the sun if it comes off. If you do happen to have the enforcer hand with this vulnerability, put the green card on the table. Why, because we play belated or balancing D.S.I.P. doubles with favourable vulnerability. This is another way of "playing the vulnerability".

Unfavourable or equal vulnerability needs better hands, so it begs the question of why didn't partner take action earlier? Trump stack doubles still apply at these other vulnerabilities to expose psyches or just punish the opponents. This is especially true when one opponent took single handed action. 1 - P - 1NT - P - 4 - DBL is still penalty.

Opponents are vulnerable and you are not.

1	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	?

The opponents have a two suited fit and the jump to game means that they are probably bidding on distributional values. The double is not penalty but we are not suicidal either so he shows some defense in case partner's hand is unsuitable. KQxx xxx Axxxx x. If you hit partner with Jxx x xxxxx KQJ10 he will probably pass instead of the pseudo 5 sacrifice. The D.S.I.P. double must have some defense. If you hit partner with J10xxx x Kxxx xxx, you will be rewarded in 4 doubled despite the opponents 27 HCP.

2	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	?

This is not penalty non-vulnerable vs vulnerable but D.S.I.P. with some defense. xx Axxx Kxx Axxx. If you just wanted to sacrifice on this vulnerability you would make a balancing 4NT bid. The D.S.I.P. double gives partner the option of passing. It may be an option of -790 but its still an option. This bid would be made at favourable vulnerability only. There are inferences like why didn't partner double or overcall originally with the other vulnerabilities?

3

Pass

4

Dbl

This is a D.S.I.P. double (co-operative) as you could have bid 4NT for takeout. You have defense but maybe not the classic takeout bid. Do something intelligent partner at this level. It is in these kind of auctions where D.S.I.P. doubles are co-operative doubles in the old fashioned sense. Leave it in unless you have some reason not to. Lebensohl applies if you pull the double. A direct bid implies that you think you can make the contract. This type of D.S.I.P. double is done at any vulnerability.

Good opponents try to "steal" from unsuspecting partnerships especially when one of them makes a pre-emptive bid. D.S.I.P. doubles apply in these auctions in the balancing or direct at favourable vulnerability. Other vulnerabilities take your fix or get in earlier with off shape hands so that the opponents cannot fix you.

1	Pass	3	Pass
4	Dbl

These are belated D.S.I.P. doubles non-vulnerable vs vulnerable The 3 bid is alerted as pre-emptive yet opener is bidding 4 anyway. He either has a rock or is pre-empting.

You have Axxx xxx Kxxx Ax, so you double. Partner has xxx x Axxx Kxxxx and feels he has enough defense to leave it in. You get +500 as your defensive tricks cash. The leap to game in a major is an opportunity for a belated D.S.I.P. double with favourable vulnerability but penalty otherwise.

1	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Dbl

Double is D.S.I.P. if they are vulnerable and we are not Axxx xxx QJ10x Ax. Partner pulls with Kxxxxx x Kxxx xx and gets rewarded as it makes.

D.S.I.P. doubles starting at this level of course is just gambling. However gambling is a part of Bridge and if the opponents indicate that your side might have something go for it. At least the insecurity of "does partner hold a trump stack penalty double" does not exist if we are non-vulnerable vs vulnerable. D.S.I.P. doubles also puts pressure on the opponents and they may bid again.

Competitive Doubles

The term "competitive doubles" refers to a class of doubles not just one type of double. Negative, responsive, maximal (game try), support, Rozenkranz doubles are designed to help the partnership compete better and are called competitive doubles. On the other side of the spectrum are penalty doubles and their close cousin co-operative doubles (D.S.I.P.). The Pitbulls play all these competitive doubles and I think they are at a level where they can add cooperative doubles to their arsenal of bids.

Susan had a hand a while back where she chose to open 1 with a flat 16 instead of 1NT. This was fine as she had a good heart suit and felt that 1 was a better bid. Anyway the opponents crawled into the auction and with her good hand she wanted to compete more. Afraid that if she doubled the opponents it would be taken as penalty she chose to compete in a 3 card suit and that landed in her trouble at a 4 level minor going down when the opponents could not make anything.

The answer to these kind of problems (established partnerships only) is the cooperative or D.S.I.P. doubles. These doubles are quite often done with flat hands with lots of HCP but differ from true "penalty doubles" in that you do not have a trump stack. These co-operative doubles are from the penalty double side of the house. Partner has to field them and know when they should be left in. The meaning of these doubles are "context sensitive".

This is done by the usual guidelines of leaving in penalty doubles in general. Do I have my original bid? Do I have some length in partner's suit? Do I have my points in my suit? Am I very short in their suit? These co-operative doubles are very dangerous in non established partnerships. Most Bridge players just label these doubles as penalty and use it as an excuse for not thinking and blindly pass.

In my mind, when both sides are competing for a contract, a double should be co-operative (D.S.I.P.) and give the message that I do not want to sell out at this level. Do something intelligent partner like leaving it in if appropriate and bidding if it is not. If playing with a partner that you do not trust her judgment these doubles turn into the very dangerous (do something stupid partner doubles) and -530 emerge. Pulling cooperative doubles is a Bridge bidding skill and good established partnerships have that skill. Just taking your plus when you have their suit in competitive auctions is not the end of the world. Maybe partner might make a cooperative double as responder and you get a chance to convert.

These doubles should come from either responder or opener who has values to compete more. Sometimes these work out as gold because partner does have a trump stack and converts.

1	1	Dbl	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl

Doubler: x AKxx xxx Kxxxx

Partner: QJ109 xx AKxx QJx

+500 range

The following from the net:

Here are some situations where many pairs like to play the double as cooperative:

A7 J64 J982 K1032.

1	1	2	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl

Partner is showing a maximum response with moderate heart length and probably only 4 diamonds:

He's asking you to pass if you have good defense, but to pull to 3 if you have primarily distributional strength (extra diamond length or a singleton heart).

1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
2	2	Pass	Pass
Dbl

Partner has bid two suits, so it's unlikely he has a heart stack. Instead, he's showing a very powerful hand - most likely 3,1,5,4 that can beat 2 if you can contribute something on defense (perhaps because you're short in his suits). If not, you can pull to 2, 3 or 3.

AK76 A1093 J5 K102.

1	Dbl	1	2
Pass	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl

Partner's takeout double suggested short diamonds, and his pass of your freebid denied great strength. His second double shows a maximum, probably with only 3 clubs and a doubleton diamond:

1NT	2	2	Pass
Pass	3	Dbl

Partner's failure to double at his first turn gave you a strong clue about his defense against a heart contract. His double now says he has enough strength that he's unwilling to sell out to 2 undoubled. He might hold: A10873 J6 Q104 765.

Your decision is fairly easy. If you have a doubleton spade, you pass. With 3 card spade support, you should pull to 3 unless you have a strong heart holding. Even without prior discussion, experienced players would probably be able to work out the two-way meaning of the doubles in the four auctions above. These situations are "obvious" enough that good logic and hand evaluation skills would lead you to the right conclusion.

1	1	1	Pass
2	2	Dbl

1	2	2	4
Dbl

Some pairs like to play these doubles as cooperative, but since neither auction fits the requirements above, I wouldn't try them without a special agreement.

The second auction fits another standard default: "It's a penalty double if we've already found our fit." My regular partner, however, thinks this double should also send a two-way message. Since the opponents have ostensibly shown a 10 card fit and the auction has been jammed so high he believes the double here is more valuable as cooperative, showing extra values and short clubs.

Several experienced players he polled said they might treat it this way at the table, so perhaps this auction should be an exception. I'm not yet convinced, but my partner has assured me that he won't try this until we develop an agreement.

D.S.I.P. - 2nd Double

Maurice and I had an auction against the Bartons that shows the 2nd double in action. x xx KJ109xx AKxx, it went:

2

Dbl

2NT

Dbl

Maurice correctly doubles first to show his HCP strength. The opponents bid 4 so partner doubles again with a flat 16 HCP xx AKQ Axx QJxxx. This is the 2nd double principle in action at a high level. Since Maurice has the singleton spade and now knows partner has a good hand with his 2nd double, he bids 4NT saying pick a minor partner. Partner bids 5 so Maurice tries 6 which makes for +1370.

This was an excellent sequence as the 2nd belated double conveyed enough information to attempt a slam. If partner does not make a 2nd double, the slam would not be reached! Say Maurice bid 3 or 4 over 2NT. Is this based on strength or distribution? Does it show 2 suits or one? You can never find your club fit. The double followed by 4NT over the expected 4 by the opponents describes your hand perfectly. A good hand with the minors so you used the opponents as a stepping stone to show your HCP strength. Partner will always assume you are weaker and more distributional when you fail to double any NT contract when you had the chance. This applies even if they never intended to play it there.

OK. What if you did make an original takeout double with some wastage in spades. Say you held AQx AJxx KJ10x xx, the auction went the same way. This time you would pass 4. Partner in the re-opening seat will re-open with a double if he wants the auction to continue. A double in the pass-out seat is never penalty but shows shortness and wants partner to bid. With this hand, a conversion tales place so they play 4 doubled. Even not playing D.S.I.P. theory, you throw out "trump stack" doubles in the pass out seat in these auctions. All the opponents have are trump and their bidding is such that they are daring you to double them with their huge fit. This is the "depending on context" aspect of the penalty double, if you do not subscribe to D.S.I.P. theory. In these auctions, the only way you can "punish" the opponents with a trump stack double is by converting partner's double.

Having the 2nd double defined as D.S.I.P. has its advantages. The double becomes a "support double" with 3 trump as you would always choose a cuebid with a huge hand and a 4 card or better fit. You hold this hand AJx x AKxxx KQJx, and double 1. It goes pass, partner bids 1 spade and opener bids 2. You double again to show your strength but more importantly your lack of 4 card trump support.

Re-opening doubles follow the same principle. You open 1, it goes one spade so it gets passed around to you again x KQ10 AKxxx AKxx, you re-open with a double. Partner bids 2, RHO crawls in with 2. You double a 2nd time to show your strength and the lack of a 4 card fit for partner.

D.S.I.P. Invitational Hands

D.S.I.P. doubles are defined for all competitive auctions where forcing pass theory does not apply. This means all invitational (limit raise hands) fall under D.S.I.P. jurisdiction until game is reached by our side than forcing pass theory takes over. BJ and I had three D.S.I.P. auctions where invitational hands were front and center. I opened 1 in 3rd seat and the vulnerable opponent bid 2NT. BJ bid 3 which I alerted as a limit raise in spades. The opponents crawled in 3 and I passed. LHO made a game try and they settled in 4 and around to me. I held 3 defensive tricks which books them in my own hand and I did not think 4 would go down more than one so I made a D.S.I.P. double. BJ had a trick also so he passed and we got +200 against our –50 in 4

.

Another D.S.I.P. inference surfaced with an invitational auction. The opponents opened 1 and vulnerable against not, I doubled with a 4,4,4,1 10 HCP. LHO passed and BJ bid 2 invitational. RHO bid 3 so I had a decision to make. We are in a competitive auction so D.S.I.P. theory should apply when partner invites. I can bid 3 with my nothing as I am just competing in the absence of a D.S.I.P. double. The 2nd double by a takeout doubler is always D.S.I.P. We can make +140 in spades and they make +110 in clubs which is a substantial IMP difference. If I pass, BJ will also pass as he was all in with his 2 bid and did not have the controls for a D.S.I.P. double himself (he would need two controls for a double at the 3 level after my double).

Another auction BJ made a D.S.I.P. double but I did not recognize it as such. Both sides vulnerable I made a belated takeout double with 10 HCP with two defensive tricks. They leapt to a vulnerable game in 4 which was their suit I doubled at the two level. BJ doubled 4 with two defensive tricks and we were +200. BJ contends that the auction is still at the 4 level so D.S.I.P. doubles should apply. BJ had a huge heart fit with me and was willing to sacrifice in 5 if I could not stand 4 doubled. The opponents are bidding this to make so a trump stack double is probably silly (helps them play the hand) and a belated double is unknown as far as defensive tricks are concerned (could be quite shapely). I think I must agree with BJ that the double was a 3rd case D.S.I.P. double as they owned the auction so we are deemed as the pests.

Leeway

There are many auctions where the opponents put the partnership under pressure. This pressure occurs when the opponents are deliberately trying to jam you out of the auction. Examples are when they overcall 4 of a major, raise their partner's pre-empt or make tactical psyches over their pre-empts. One of the most common auctions is "spades over hearts" that you need to give partner lots lo leeway.

The was a hand in the Alberta Solvers Club where the idea was to give partner maximum leeway when he was under pressure.

Ax void AJ109xxx Kxxx.

You open 1 LHO bids 4 and partner bids 4. What do you do? Spades over hearts is the most common pressure bid in Bridge. This is an auction where I give partner lots of leeway. I pass so if 6 makes I apologize to partner and congratulate my opponents for applying the pressure.

Void x QJ10x KQJ1098xx

2

Pass

4

?

Do you bid 5? Of course you do. Partner realizes that you are under pressure so will not blast you into slam unless he is very Ace rich. Maurice says his rule of thumb in these kind of auctions is holding two Aces. I agree with him. Aces should be the criteria for movement in these jammed auctions rather then HCP with an unrealistic expectation of lots of values in partner's hand. Bids in the sandwich position are quite often done under pressure. Partner decides to put in a lead director or bid a long suit as a sacrifice attempt. A double in the sandwich position may also be light if it has the perfect distribution. Give partner leeway in these auctions.

OK. What does this all mean? D.S.I.P. doubles are based on partner being disciplined and having the values for their bids. Give partner some leeway and reluctantly pass in these auctions instead of trying to force the issue with a D.S.I.P. double. One of the premises of D.S.I.P. doubles is that you have a safe resting spot. If partner made a bid caused by the opponents' pressure tactics, he may not have what you expect. Double cards get replaced by green cards in these auctions. Taking your perceived fix is a prudent strategy.

At a certain level with certain auctions takeout doubles become co-operative/penalty doubles.

3

Pass

5

This is a horrible auction to do anything intelligent. Take your fix quite often by passing as partner had a chance to double 3 but did not. The double of 5 is co-operative but the best course of action is usually passing the double. This is an example of getting the best possible result rather then the best result possible. Being fixed is not a pleasant feeling but your partners should be applying the same pressure at the other table.

Overusing D.S.I.P. doubles is bad strategy especially at the lower levels. Doubling partials into games is still very much a disaster in IMPS. In IMPS, it is not a crime to sell out to the opponent's partial and defend it undoubled. A good rule of thumb for a D.S.I.P. double is use it If there is chance for a two trick set or more by partner converting your double. As with all bidding tools, D.S.I.P. doubles should be used with moderation as you are putting a lot of pressure on partner to "do the right thing". Tom Gandolfo originally labeled these doubles as Do Something Stupid Partner doubles if you use this tool too often without the appropriate hand. No number of systems or treatments will replace common sense or judgment in Bridge. D.S.I.P. doubles are no different. Quite often the Do Something Intelligent Partner starts before the double is made!

Matchpoint Doubles

The more I think about the trump stack penalty double in competitive auctions and the misery that goes along with it, I feel this bid should only apply in matchpoints and rubber Bridge. The bid is just not needed in IMPs with the IMP scale as a way of scoring. The IMP scale is a Robin Hood and takes from the rich and gives to the poor with respect to huge sets. In IMPS, you should be more conservative with respect to doubling them into game. D.S.I.P. theory goes along with that objective as both partners have input into the decision.

D.S.I.P. theory and matchpoints are not a good mix. There are many bad bidders in matchpoints. In fact, bad bidding is a tactic with many matchpoint players! D.S.I.P. theory assumes competent opponents as competitive decisions are based in part on what the opponents did or did not do. If the opponents are very bad bidders they might be in a partial when they should be in game. A D.S.I.P. doubles may push them into a game they were supposed to arrive at in the first place. Worse, the D.S.I.P. double might get converted, so they make it with their preponderance of unexpected HCP or unadvertised distribution.

Conversely, if the opponents bid on bad suits and randomly overbid, penalty doubles rather than D.S.I.P. doubles are the tool of choice. Penalty doubles were invented in the early days of Bridge to punish bad bidders. There is no shortage of bad bidders in matchpoints. Some parts of D.S.I.P. theory are transferable to matchpoints but not much. You do not have the IMP scale to protect you when you are playing D.S.I.P. doubles in matchpoints. Other players in the field are making penalty doubles in certain auctions so if you do not do the same, a low score for you is very possible.

Matchpoint doubles are necessary in this game. If you feel the opponents are stealing your partial you may make a "matchpoint" double" to protect your +140. -100 when they go down two undoubled is a bad score. Again D.S.I.P. doubles are not a tool for these auctions. 2nd doubles after making a takeout double are D.S.I.P. doubles. In matchpoints, I think they should just be penalty so you have values in their suits. In D.S.I.P. theory, doubles are showing values rather then a trump stack. In matchpoints the reverse should be true as bad players may have wandered into a Hornet's nest.

Frequent penalty doubles in matchpoints are a good tactical strategy. Declarers are weak so will misplay most hands. With the psychological pressure of a double they sometimes even find a way to go down. In a tough IMP match, frequent penalty doubles are a losing proposition. The tough opponents will play the hands better so end up making contracts that should have gone down and make them because you tipped them off. Yes, sometimes even good players make bad bids in IMPS but the frequency does not justify throwing out D.S.I.P. theory. In D.S.I.P. theory, you have the advantage of converting the double for penalty if either partner makes a D.S.I.P. double. Any structure that allows both partners to make a competitive decision has to be better then the single handed penalty doubles. Matchpoints is a very single handed game.

You have KQJ10 Axxx xx xxx, the auction goes:

1	1	Dbl	2
Pass	Pass	?

In matchpoints you double as 2 is not going to make. In IMPs, playing D.S.I.P. theory you just pass. Partner did not bid the good bad 2NT, he did not make a D.S.I.P. double himself or make a free bid. He probably has a minimum balanced hand so a partial is the limit of the hand your way. You take your plus by not offering them an opportunity for a better contract or having partner rescue them and move onto the next hand.

You hold KQJ109 x xxxx xxx, the auction goes:

1

4

?

In D.S.I.P. theory you pass. so if partner is too weak to re-open with a double, you just take your plus. In matchpoints, you might get a zero if many other pairs bid 4 and get doubled. Another example, in D.S.I.P. theory you overcall the heart opener with a spade with AKJxxx x xx AKxx, they bid 4 and around to you. You do not want to play single handed enforcer doubles in D.S.I.P. theory, so you double saying you still want to compete and a desire to bid 4. Partner with x QJ10x xxxxx xxx happily passes. The matchpoint field is in 4 doubled going for a number. D.S.I.P. wins in these types of auctions, as the D.S.I.P. double brought partner into the picture.

Another hand with a similar theme showing why you should not play D.S.I.P. doubles in matchpoints. You hold x AK10 xxx AKQxxx, you overcall 2 to a heart opener. LHO bids 2, partner passes so RHO bids 4 so now what? In matchpoints you double saying they cannot make game but with D.S.I.P. theory you must pass and take your plus.

You do not want to encourage partner to make a pseudo sacrifice by doubling. In fact by not doubling, partner might take that as a cue to sacrifice in 5 in the matchpoint game. With D.S.I.P. theory, when partner wants to sacrifice he does so by doubling, we convert at this end. Playing against top level opponents, these kind of decisions do not come up much when you have game beat in your own hand. The D.S.I.P. mentality works much better as the opponents are not bad bidders. In fact, they are very good and accurate bidders.

Tom Gandolfo has modified D.S.I.P. theory for matchpoints. He says just play D.S.I.P. theory when your side is competing with a fit. This is probably a very good matchpoint idea. D.S.I.P. theory was designed to apply in every auction where you are just competing when Forcing Pass theory does not kick in. Limiting D.S.I.P. theory to just when your side has a fit and is just competing simplifies things for matchpoints.

D.S.I.P. theory was invented for IMPS against good opponents. Sometimes we have had too many good results with penalty doubles so we forgot our roots. These doubles occurred in matchpoint games, an entirely different game from IMPS. IMPS are predicated on getting to games with good high level decisions. D.S.I.P. theory assists in both those objectives. D.S.I.P. theory is a new way of thinking the game of Bridge.

Anti - intuitive Doubles

Our bidding philosophy is "shape before strength' whenever possible. I bid my shape first, later on in the auction I bid my strength with a D.S.I.P. double. This action allows partner who has heard the bidding and is in a better position to make the decision, to place the final contract. The double prevents two horrible Bridge faults. Bidding your hand again and pseudo sacrifices. If you have already described your distribution to partner, she now knows with your D.S.I.P. double that you have both defense and distribution. The following hands demonstrate the power of the D.S.I.P. double.

IMPS nobody vulnerable, in 3rd seat you open 1 with x x AQ10xxx AQ10xx, LHO overcalls 1. Partner bids 2, the opponent bids a pre-emptive 3. You bid 4, they bid 4 so around to you again.

Playing with Tom and BJ this a simple decision. I have described my shape already, I have 1½ + 1½ = 3 defensive tricks so I double saying I would like to bid again. Partner has bid my singleton at the two level so she is in a way better position to place the final contract. The double being the most flexible bid in Bridge transfers the decision (blame) to partner. This is a Bridge World problem and 15 of the so called expert panel bid 5. This is a silly single handed bid which is in effect bidding the same distribution and values that you have already shown the table. 4 doubled could go for a terrible number as can 5 of your minor minor. Partner could hold 6 and 4! Partner's pass was not forcing so why guess?

Another hand which shows the single handed pseudo sacrifice. IMPS, you non-vulnerable and they are vulnerable. Partner opens 1 and the vulnerable opponents double. You bid 2 with x xx QJx A10987xx, they bid 2 and 4 respectively so around to you again. Again an easy bid for me playing with BJ and Tom. I have a maximum for my non-forcing 2 bid, so I double saying I want to bid again. Turns out partner has a penalty double of 4 but thought I might have virtually nothing for non-vulnerable 2 bid. She happily passes so we pick up +500. The expert Bridge World panel bid 4NT saying pick a sacrifice! Again a horrible single handed pseudo sacrifice. The wrong side of the table making the decision. Trusting the opponents all the time to make your decisions is not a winning proposition.

This hand shows how anti-intuitive D.S.I.P. doubles are. x x A1098 KQJ10xxx, the bidding goes:

1NT	3	4	Dbl
4	?

This hand is a D.S.I.P. double! You have defense and you would like to bid 5. Partner knows that you have distribution from your 3 bid. Partner's hand could be KQJ10 xxx xxx Axx or xxx QJ10 KJxx Axx. It was the latter so it is a double game swing. Partner with no wastage in spades pulls to 5, you win a double game swing as 5 is cold.

I am convinced that the trump stack penalty double is the most single-handed Bridge bid ever devised. Catering to that bid also causes single handed actions. Take this example from the Bridge World. IMPS, you are vulnerable and they are not. x xx AJxxxx AJ10x. They open 1 with partner vulnerable overcalling 2 and they bid 4. Playing with my partners, I make a D.S.I.P. double as I cannot have a trump stack on this particular auction as they announced they own their suit. The Bridge World panel bid 4NT for the minors! This with a hand that is all defense with Aces. This bid is truly silly as 5 or 4 doubled may be the best spot. Preserving the double to be absolutely penalty makes them do silly single handed actions. They base their own decisions on the opponents bidding rather than their own hands. It is worth it?

D.S.I.P. doubles do not leave home without them!

Penalty Conversion

With so many doubles now being "responsive" in nature or D.S.I.P., you need judgment when deciding whether partner's double should be converted for penalty. The main judgment factors are "duplication of value" in their suit or your own suit, length in partner's suit (s), controls and balanced distribution. Also the location of your HCP. Are they in the suit that partner expects them to be? Are these HCP located behind or in front of the opponent's suit? With the penalty doubles of old (circa 1920's to1980) you do not need judgment. You just close your eyes and pass as the double was for "business" so there is a trump stack over there. Doubles in competition today, even if you do not play D.S.I.P. doubles as a system, still require judgment whether they be pulled or not.

Maurice and I had an auction recently where this judgment comes into play. Klimo opened 2 which was alerted as showing clubs with a minimum opener. Maurice held Axx Qxxxx AKx xx and overcalled 2. Tom competed to 3 so I doubled with QJ10xx J QJ10x Kxx. I did not want to be shut out of the auction with my 10 HCP with 5-4 in the unbid suits so I doubled thinking that partner cannot interpret this as a "trump stack" double. We were playing against expert competition who have announced they own clubs. The double must be responsive/D.S.I.P. Bidding 3 is too singlehanded so deprives partner of the option of converting for penalty or finding the diamond suit.

O.K. what do you bid with Maurice's hand and why? At first glance this might be a hand just to leave the double in. You have controls and a balanced hand but wait a minute! Where are your HCP? All but 2 of your points are in the suits that partner is advertising with his responsive double. If your points were in hearts which is probably opposite partner's singleton, there is no fit with duplication of value. This would the main factor for leaving the double in. Also apply patterns taking the bidding into consideration to help in your decision. The opponents show up to 9 cards in clubs so partner may only have a doubleton club. Partner is short in hearts or else he would not have doubled. This gives him 9 or 10 cards in spades or diamonds. If you pass, the opponent's cards (HCP) are all in clubs and hearts which is a recipe for a lucky make for them. You bid 3 (taking the club ruffs in your hand) so +140 results as I am all in with my double. A pass nets you -470 as with two hooks onside for them and all 10 of our HCPS in diamonds wiped out by a singleton they make their contract.

Here is another hand that shows the principles involved in converting partners double for penalties. If your points are concentrated in the suit that you bid (which partner assumes they are with his double) then that is the factor for leaving the double in. O.K. I held a hand with Tom against the Bartons that I think the D.S.I.P. principles apply.

I held Ax xx AK KJ1098xx with everybody vulnerable.

I opened 1, Tom bid a spade and RHO bid 2. This was alerted to be a two suiter in hearts and diamonds with shortness in clubs. I felt like leaping to 4 but I did not want to go past 3NT so I bid 3. LHO bid 3 so around to me again. O.K. one last desperate attempt at 3NT so I bid 3 which LHO doubled and Tom bid 4. RHO bid 4.

I wanted to bid 5 very badly but why take such a single handed action? I have 4 booked in my own hand and I am short in his spade suit so why not put partner in the picture with a D.S.I.P. double? This has to be a competitive double so a try for a 5 game. If you wanted to "punish" the opponents you pass as you already have shown a big hand so partner can act accordingly.

If partner holds Jxxxx x xxx Axxx then 4 makes and 5 makes.

If partner holds KQxx Jxx xx xxxx then 4 goes for 500 and 5 goes for 500.

If partner holds Jxxx Jxx xx Axxx then 4 makes and 5 goes 1 down.

Here the judgment factor is where are your HCP concentrated and what is the length in your partner's suit?. If your points are in spades where partner expects them there is duplication of value as partner has no spade fit in this auction. A penalty pass is automatic with all your points concentrated in that suit. If your points are not in spades, they have a "two suited fit" so to speak so the hand will play well for them. You pull the double and get rewarded as it makes! Their doubled contract also makes so your judgment was essential.

I made two D.S.I.P. doubles playing with a Tormentee who wants to try them out but the required judgment resulted in a disaster both times. KQ Kxxx xxxxx Qx I opened 1, they overcalled a spade which the Tormentee doubled. The bid 2 so I bid 3.They bid 4 which came around to me so I doubled saying I wanted to bid 5 but I had defense. I had 3 quick tricks, partner held the KQ of spades wasted 10 HCP with shortage in my first bid suit. This is an easy conversion which nets us +300. The Tormentee bid 5 which went for -100.

Tonight I opened a weak 2 with xx Ax KQxxxx xxx, non-vulnerable vs vulnerable opponents. They overcalled 2, the Tormentee bid 3 so they bid 4 which I doubled (action) saying I wanted to sacrifice in 5 but I had defense in case partner was not interested. The Tormenee held xxx QxJ1098 KQJx so again an easy decision. I can hold at most 2 defensive tricks for my double, she has excessive length in my suit with only one defensive trick, so the pull to 5 is automatic.5 doubled goes for -300 against their +650 which is a top. Our result was -990 which was also a top but their way.

Anyway, D.S.I.P. doubles are not a tool for beginners as there are no rote rules for their application. You need experience and judgment to know when to pull partners doubles or convert them for penalty. Doubled contracts making are still defined as a Bridge natural disaster.

D.S.I.P. The Pass

In D.S.I.P. theory, the pass becomes the trump stack penalty double. Partner should bend over backwards to double with good defense or just pass otherwise in the pass out seat. Say you had this hand Axxx xxx KQ AKQJ and RHO opens 1. You double and LHO bids 3 partner bids 3 and RHO bids 4. You cannot double as that says you want to bid 4! This is an implied fit auction.You must pass and hope partner can double for you. At last there is an escape valve. Partner in the pass out spot cannot freely bid 4 as he must ask your permission with a double first if he has defense. You then convert and get your telephone number.

This is an impossible auction you say. Yes, in high level IMPS this auction is insane so it would never happen. However in matchpoints and Rubber Bridge this auction is entirely possible. The solution is not to play D.S.I.P. theory in those games. Leave the good old fashioned trump stack double in your system. One of the premises of the D.S.I.P. double is competent opponents so you do not come across these type of situations. The other assumption is the IMPS type of scoring where the scale itself cuts down the profits so to speak. Wrong end of the IMP scale is the most frequent comment with these kind of auctions.

The D.S.I.P. double at higher levels should always have the safety net of a lot of HCP. If you have their suit you pass and hope partner re-opens with a double. Say you have this hand Kx KQ10x Jxx AJ10x and the auction goes:

1

1

4

?

You have no guarantee that 4 can make but you do have 14 HCP. Why not play the double as D.S.I.P. saying I have cards. This gives partner the option of passing with duplication of value in diamonds or do something intelligent. With x KQ10x Jxx AQxxx you can still double as you have too much to pass and see if partner re-opens. Say you had x Q10x KQJ109 xxxx why double 4 for penalty in a live auction? Partner has been trained to use his double card in these auctions. He is not allowed to bid 4 with defense without doubling first. If partner wants to bid again then he will double 99% of the time and you convert.

It is more useful in the long run to have the advantages of a D.S.I.P. double in these kind of non fit auctions. What if the opponents just bid 3 with the same auction? This time the double can be cards with a tolerance for spades. A 3 bid is just competing and a 4 cuebid to show the huge spade hand.

This brings about a new generalization for D.S.I.P. doubles. D.S.I.P. doubles always apply when forcing pass theory does not. The only exceptions are when 1) Partner has made a pre-empt or 2) the opponents balance and are unlucky enough to hit your suit. In other words, the pass is the trump stack penalty double of choice. This is initial action only. Only one D.S.I.P. double in a round. All subsequent doubles are penalty.

Using the pass as a trump stack double has the advantage of the double whammy. Partner has defense since he is the doubler and you have the trump stack. A lethal combination to seal the opponents' fate. Gone are the days where partner traps you by making a trump stack penalty double and you do not have defensive values so you pull and get doubled yourself. Gone are the days that pulling partner's trump stack double is a tough decision to make. This is true because there are no trump stack doubles to pull!

OK there is a further nuance of a pass in competitive auctions. If either partner had a chance to pass and did so, a subsequent double by her is not D.S.I.P., it is penalty. We say in these auctions she was not actively competing.

1	2	2	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Dbl

Double is penalty as there has been a previous pass by the doubler.

Note the absence of trump stack doubles in the Garozzo system below. He uses the pass to show "trump stack doubles" and hopes partner has enough defense to make a "takeout double". Again if you analyze most of the successful trump stack doubles, partner had enough to double to show his defensive values anyway. I.e. the conversion to a penalty pass would have taken place.

Quoting Garozzo from his notes:

Our doubles are generally all takeout at all levels at least when doubler has not shown length in their suit. We use the Penalty double at low levels only when one of us has shown given a penalty pass. In penalty situations when we know we have balanced hands and we hold a certain majority of the points we utilize the double to suggest partner pass with length in the suit. One doesn't make a double if one doesn't want partner to convert to penalty.

Penalty Double

Despite the many takeout doubles there are standard situations in which doubles are penalty:

• Partner has opened a preempt
• We have made a Penalty Pass over a takeout double of a suit or NT bid higher than 1NT
• The double of a suit in which the doubler has shown 5+ cards
• We have already made a Penalty Double.

D.S.I.P. - Balance of Power

There is an article in the Bridge Bulletin where the author is describing "Balance of Power" penalty doubles. The author stipulates that these do not have a trump stack but show a willingness to compete. In other words, Do Something Intelligent Partner. He advocates that these doubles just indicate that the balance of power is in your direction. Your subsequent doubles tells partner the nature of your HCP. They are in quick tricks suitable for defense rather than soft values. Here are some examples he gives:

Kxxx xx Axx J9xx

1	Dbl	Pass	1
2	Pass	Pass	Dbl*

* Maximum for previous bid)

Axxx xx Kxxx Qxx

2	Dbl	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	3	Dbl*

* Maximum for previous bid)

AKxxx xx 10xx AJx

1	1	Pass	1
2	Pass	Pass	Dbl*

* D.S.I.P.

Kxx AJxx K10xx xx

1	1	Dbl	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl*

* Good negative double

AKQ Jxx AKxxxx x

1	1	2	3
Dbl*

* Good hand and no bid

x AKxxx AKxx Axx

1	1	1NT	2
Dbl*

* D.S.I.P.

The author insists that the penalty double is a "depending on context bid " and you should be able to work out auctions that do not promise a trump stack. He says if you are not behind the suit, it is not a trump stack double. I go one step further. Throw out the trump stack altogether in competition so you will get these auctions right all the time! Take your plus with trump stacks and hope partner doubles! I agree that balance of power doubles should be included in the D.S.I.P. double family. The reason we do not make these doubles now is that we are afraid of partner leaving them in with unsuitable hands fixed on the "never pull my penalty double" platitude. In fact, partners who made penalty doubles just based on HCP were considered dangerous as the contracts made more often then not. These contracts will not make with D.S.I.P. theory when partner converts for penalty however.

A Tormentee held a gilt edge 1,4,4,4 with controls and 15 HCP everybody vulnerable. She opened 1, they overcalled 1 and I freely bid 1NT which should show 8-10 HCP with at least one minor (I did not make a negative double showing hearts). They bid 2 so with her 15 HCP with support for one of partner's minors, she doubles. This says partner we have the balance of power maybe up to 25 HCP near game so do something intelligent. I bid 3 which is cold and they make 2 for a double partial swing. Another Tormentee held a flat 10 HCP with they opened 1 in 3rd seat non-vulnerable and partner makes a vulnerable takeout double. They pre-empt to 4 as a passed hand non-vulnerable vs vulnerable so the Tormentee doubles with her 10 HCP to announce that her side has the balance of power. If she does not, she loses 7 IMPS as they doubled with the same auction at the other table.

D.S.I.P. vs Doubles/Undoubles

D.S.I.P. theory emulates forcing pass theory when it is not obvious from the bidding that you own the hand. In forcing pass theory the bidding makes it obvious for both partners that the opponents are intruders. In many other auctions it is not clear who owns the hand. The D.S.I.P. double in a competitive auction says "I think we do own the hand " and I requesting permission to take the push to a higher level. If partner's hand is suitable to take the push then he bids otherwise he takes his plus by passing with duplication of value or an unsuitable offensive hand. The pass in D.S.I.P. says I just prefer to defend (maybe with a trump stack) unless you have extra and can ask my permission to take the push. The underlying assumption with D.S.I.P. is we own the hand in a competitive sense and want to signal the fact. We are upper range or maximum for our bidding so we show it by doubling or both partners just pass. D.S.I.P. doubles just asks a simple question of partner. Do we play the hand or do they play it doubled?

The reason we have this D.S.I.P. bid at our disposal is that we have thrown out the trump stack penalty doubles. We redefine the penalty double to mean I have defense and want to take the push rather then defend. Partner can of course overrule this request by passing the double. A D.S.I.P. double is an offensive weapon and that's how penalty doubles occur by partner converting the double. A pass may be a trump stack penalty double and like negative double theory partner will double with good defense and a willingness to take the push. At high levels this concept was born due to the clockwise nature of the game of Bridge. Partner would bid rather then double with an offensive hand and find too late and much to his dismay that partner had a trump stack in the opponents suit. The D.S.I.P. concept avoids that trap by transferring the decision to partner by doubling.

Contrast this with the double/undouble concept that was in vogue years ago. The underlying principle with that treatment is that we knew or highly suspected the opponents owned the hand. The double was a "permission to sacrifice" unless partner had enough defense to beat a high level contract. D.S.I.P. theory is not like that although it may turn out that way if the partnership takes the push and the analysis shows that the opponents could have made their contract. The D.S.I.P. double is asking partners permission to make the contract rather then sacrificing.

The double/undouble was centered around the pre-empt in "obvious sacrificing" auctions. On the other hand, D.S.I.P. theory involves opening bids, sound overcalls and take out doubles where it is possible that we own the hand later in the auction due to being at the upper range of our respective bids. D.S.I.P. is common when they are pre-empting, they are interfering with our NT, they are overcalling and we are making negative and responsive doubles. D.S.I.P. comes about due to the wide ranges of HCP of takeout doubles, opening bids, responses, overcalls and negative doubles. However, we do not have the luxury of a 2/1, demand two bid or cuebid to tell the partnership that we own the hand right away. The only way we can attempt to say we own the auction later in the bidding is by making a D.S.I.P. double. This double says I have a huge opening hand, response, overcall, takeout double, negative double, responsive double and on that basis we play the contract or they play their contract doubled. We do not have the nuisance value of partner misinterpreting the double as showing a trump stack. The D.S.I.P. double is an "anti -trump stack" double.

Like forcing pass theory, when we double we must play the hand or the opponents must play their contract doubled.. Unlike forcing pass theory, if neither of us double, the opponents play the contract quietly. There is no double asking partners permission to sacrifice. You sacrifice or you do not. D.S.I.P. does not cater to pre-empts or, weak twos or jump overcalls which are tools of the trade for sacrificing.

D.S.I.P. takes a clue from Doubles/Undoubles at the slam level only. This is an excellent tool to prevent pseudo sacrifices when the opponents voluntary bid a slam after partner has bid a suit. The principle of D.S.I.P. is that a trump stack penalty doubles do not exist. Penalty doubles only come about by being converted from a D.S.I.P. double. In slams it is folly to make a trump stack penalty double of a voluntary bid slam by the opponents. This assumption allows you to use D.S.I.P. theory like the double/undouble convention. Partner makes a bid of spades on the auction and you have xxxxx void xxxx xxxx and the opponents bid 6. You make a D.S.I.P. double asking partners permission to sacrifice. Partner holds KQJ of hearts and says thanks but no thanks. It is here the D.S.I.P. and Double/Undouble theory merge.

D.S.I.P. - Check Back

Whats in a name? We named our competitive doubles as D.S.I.P. as per a suggestion by Gordon Campbell. However if I had a chance to rename these doubles after the fact, I would call them "check back" doubles. You are checking back for partner's permission to bid again. You want to bid again very badly but you still need partner's input into the decision. Why?, because you are trying to ferret out duplication of value in their suit. Duplication of value is a killer in all competitive auctions. If you are playing the hand, you do not want values in their suit. If you are defending, a trump stack is nice for us and ugly for them. I used to believe that partner should not even compete with your suit if he had their suit. I now feel that this is unrealistic. However, you need a way to "check back" with partner, just not assume no wastage because the opponents are bidding their heads off. You can have it both ways with D.S.I.P. doubles. Pseudo sacrifices and bad competitive decisions should be a thing of the past.

What about duplication of value in one of their suits other than trump? I think this depends on how long you are in their suit. Tom Gandolfo had a hand online where "check back doubles" apply.

I held xx AK1098x xx AJx.

The auction went:

1	Pass	1	2
2	3	3	Dbl

Tom held xx Jxx AKQ10x xxx so with the bulk of his points in their diamond suit, should he convert? I do not think so as they are too long, transferable, so they are valuable offensively also. I should hold 3½ or 4 defensive tricks for my double. xx AK1098x xx AKx is a typical hand. They still make 3 doubled on this hand as they have a singleton heart on the board with a singleton diamond in declarers hand. I make 5 as the diamonds are a source of tricks. Length in a combined fit is a detriment to defense. Therefore, if you have a 6th trump, you should have an extra ½ trick elsewhere to compensate when you make a D.S.I.P. double.

What if Tom did have duplication of value in their trump KQx Jxx QJxx 10xx? I cannot make 4 with my 1st hand, they go for +300 or more in 3 doubled. What a difference trump or not convertible values make in converting doubles. Do not forget that a D.S.I.P.double is in effect inviting to bid again when you have a fit. It is just checking back with partner for duplication of value in their trump suit. The D.S.I.P. double is a game invite or an invitation to compete again unless you have a very good reason not to do so.

Non fit D.S.I.P. doubles are the true co-operative or optional doubles. I am saying I am doubling them due to the balance of power in HCP but not a trump stack. Since you may have no fit with me you can bid or pass depending on the defensive nature of your hand. In other words - Do Something Intelligent Partner.

Bidding Freedom

When partner has had a chance to make a D.S.I.P. double in a competitive auction but does not, all gloves are off. You can bid your suit, a new suit, Good-Bad 2NT or cuebid without the chance of partner punishing you. Why, because the negative inference that you did not make a D.S.I.P double comes into play. You cannot be bidding constructively or else you would have doubled initially. With this "protection" comes some freedom in your choice of bids.

BJ Trelford used this inference to invent a D.S.I.P. cuebid. This cuebid meant Do Something Intelligent Partner as I want to compete somewhere but without defensive values or a preponderance of HCP. I cannot hold values or I would have made a D.S.I.P. double instead. BJ had Qx QJ109 109876x x, the auction (everybody vulnerable) went

1	Pass	1NT	Dbl
2	2	2	Pass
Pass	?

A double here would be a classic D.S.I.P. double saying I have defense and would like to bid again. BJ was not sure if he wanted to compete again in diamonds or hearts but he did not want to sell out to 2 as we should hold half the deck. 6-4's are nice playing hands so we should not get punished at the 3 level. On the spot he bid 3, which he meant as take some action partner but I am weak, distributional so do not get too excited. A D.S.I.P. double without defense without actually making a double!

The D.S.I.P. double inference allows you the freedom to bid your distribution to the hilt. Partner will not take another bid based on your bidding. Bidding new suits, cue bidding, NT bids can never be forward going. This freedom is nice for pushing them up without fear of partner making penalty doubles or "taking you Seriously". This means that partner does not take you for extra by bidding again. You can compete without fear of misleading partner which invariably happens not playing competitive doubles. Free bids do not exist to show a good hand or else you would have doubled or used the "good bad 2NT" at the two level. I think this is why Tom Gandolfo likes D.S.I.P. double theory. These doubles give him still another excuse to bid while keeping partner quiet at the same time.

D.S.I.P. - Modified

For those skeptics who do not want to play "full blown" D.S.I.P. doubles there is a half measure. Tom Gandolfo suggests you can play D.S.I.P. doubles based totally on table position. If you are in front of the suit, the competitive double is always D.S.I.P. If you are behind the suit, the double is penalty. The reasoning is that you do not want partner to convert when the trump honours are onside.

This stance detracts from one of the advantages of D.S.I.P. doubles though which is to ferret out duplication of value for further offensive bidding. Maybe at the two and 3 level this modified approach makes sense if both you and partner are bidding. If only one member of the partnership is bidding, a double will never be a single handed penalty double. This re-opening double will always be D.S.I.P. regardless if you are behind the suit.

Here is an auction that occurred tonight.

1	Pass	1	1
Pass	2	3	3
Dbl

Technically this is not a classic D.S.I.P. double in that partner passed originally at the one level. Without discussion, the double though is still giving partner the option to pass rather than bid 4. However, if you do have a Serious trump stack and partner does not have a enough to re-open with a double, you have missed out for a bonanza. With the trump stack you do not need partner to have enough defense to beat this contract as a bare minimum will do. This is because the trumps are well located behind the bidder. There is also a "lack of competition" from the opening bidder in this particular auction even though partner is suggesting competing.

What about the major suit competitive auctions in the majors right up to and including the game level?

1	1	2	2
4	Dbl

Double is a typical competitive D.S.I.P. action. You would like to be in 4 unless partner has heart duplication of value whether its on side for them or not. In these kind of auctions where you must "give them their trump suit" the double is still D.S.I.P. Duplication of value in either hand is a detriment for your side bidding. Trump stack doubles in these auctions are just too restrictive.

I think the solution is that D.S.I.P. doubles still must be "depending on context" doubles. In the situation where only one of the opponents has bid a suit and you are behind the suit, a trump stack penalty double is still permitted. It would be nice to have a blanket rule that all competitive doubles are D.S.I.P. but in the real world things are not so neat and tidy. You still lose out with hands that can be converted becomes being "onside" does not matter. QJ10x, A109x KJ108 etc. You are gambling that partner does not have enough defense to re-open with a double and as your trump stack is so great you do not want her competing again either. I think this is the trade off between D.S.I.P. and trump stack doubles. You cannot have it both ways.

D.S.I.P. - 5 level

Forcing passes are applicable at the 5 level and above if you own the hand obviously. What if you do not own the hand or are not sure at this rarefied level? D.S.I.P. theory is only applicable in competitive auctions up to and including the 4 level. In a fit showing auction or not where you and partner are competing up to the 5 level, old fashioned penalty doubles should apply. In other words, a pass means you cannot beat their contract and suggests another bid. A double means that you have their trump and expect to beat it. Why the switch from traditional D.S.I.P. thinking at these levels? At this rarefied level, the number of their trump you hold can single handedly beat their contract.The penalty double cannot be ambiguous at the 5 level.

Quite often you are sacrificing in these auctions. It is better to use the double as a warning that even though you have nothing defensively over there, I have their trump so keep quiet. A pass gives you the "sacrificing" green light as in standard bidding. If we trust the opponents, we do not have defense in quick tricks at these rarefied levels but we may have their suit. It is at these high levels only that trump stack penalty doubles makes sense. A double really cannot mean anything else so it cannot be ambiguous. If you trust the opponents, how do you know your HCP are working for defensive purposes? A penalty double is a trump stack double period. Case closed. Do not double with tricks, pass or bid instead. Of course, if you own the hand, forcing pass theory is another matter.

Another reason for the switch from standard D.S.I.P. thinking is "taking out insurance" at the 5 level and above. It is always better to bid once more if you are not sure. Why take the chance for the quest for the holy grail-the plus. The only thing that should deter you is a trump stack in their suit so partner will warn you with a double at these very high levels. Tom Gandolfo held K10xxx AQ10xxx x x and opened 1. They bid 2NT vulnerable and I bid 3 which brought about 5 by them, Tom bid 5 which induced 6 by them. I passed so around to Tom. Here is why D.S.I.P. theory does not work at this level. Tom does not have the defensive tricks to double 6. At lower levels, he is forced to pass in D.S.I.P. theory as I may have a trump stack. This prevents us from sacrificing at this level. Tom bid 6 which went for -300 against their +1370. The sacrifice even beats their game. A trump stack penalty double should be the only bid to prevent partner from sacrificing. A pass should be a green light to bid or double. Traditional penalty double thinking is wrong at every level except these high levels. The reason is obvious. You know that you can beat a high level contract on their trump alone. You do not have such a luxury at lower levels.

Mike Gamble suggests one exception to the 5 level rule and this is the so called 3rd case of D.S.I.P. theory. There are only 3 possibilities with hand ownership in the game of Bridge. 1st case, we own the auction so forcing pass theory applies. 2nd case nobody does, so D.S.I.P. competitive doubles apply. The 3rd case is when they obviously own the auction. D.S.I.P. theory applies right up to and including the 5 level on this one vulnerability (terrorist vulnerable) only. The classic confrontation between spades and hearts with them owning the auction vulnerable vs us not, You bid 4 non-vulnerable so they decide to take the push vulnerable to 5. A double should be a permission to sacrifice with some defense. This means you can show your intentions immediately and not bid in front of partner's pending trump stack double. A pass should be a message to partner that you are happy to defend but not strong enough for a penalty double.

D.S.I.P. Doubles For Dummies

I have written a great deal on this subject. To break the subject down to its "bare bones" means there are only a few key concepts to remember. D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles. I repeat D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles. This means we are competing but do not own the hand as in forcing pass theory. This means that both sides must be actively competing for partials, games or slams. The D.S.I.P. double is an "insurance bid" saying I have defense and am requesting partner's permission to compete again. If you have an unsuitable hand with duplication of value in their suit, convert for penalty instead. If we drop out of the auction then subsequently double, it is for penalty.

The rules for competitive doubles are strict. Trump stack penalty doubles do not exist during the competitive auction as an initial double. The D.S.I.P. double has a different meaning. The double says I want to compete further but I have defense so I am deferring the decision to you in case you want to convert for penalty. If we "own the hand' forcing pass theory takes precedence over D.S.I.P. competitive doubles. The pass in D.S.I.P. theory might represent a trump stack in their suit and hoping for a double from partner. Bidding again in competition means I have distribution and a distinct lack of defense.

D.S.I.P. doubles apply to initial action only. If partner has already made a D.S.I.P. double or non pass, penalty (trump stack) doubles apply later in the auction. This is a fundamental of penalty doubles. Once partner has reasonably described her hand, the other partner is captain of the ship for penalty doubles. You cannot compete again after partner's pass with a defensive hand without doubling first. However, after other bids by partner including an earlier D.S.I.P. double or a bid, the green light is on for penalty doubles.

When the opponents balance, we play the 'over/under' rule. If we are in front of their suit, the double is D.S.I.P. If we are behind the suit, the double is a trump stack penalty double. If our side pre-empts or makes a systemic pre-emptive bid or leaps to game, penalty doubles apply and not D.S.I.P. doubles. If the opponents pre-empt, the doubles are negative through 4 and higher levels they are D.S.I.P.

If partner overcalls or doubles and then doubles again, the doubles are D.S.I.P. showing a good hand defensively. They are not single handed "enforcer doubles" with a trump stack in their suit. D.S.I.P. doubles are not designed to combat horrifically bad bidders. If the opponents leap to game after finding their fit all of our doubles are D.S.I.P. and not penalty trump stack doubles.

D.S.I.P. doubles are quite often "balance of power" doubles indicating that your side has most of the HCP. They indicate a maximum for your previous bid whether it was a negative double, responsive double, overcall or takeout double, opening bid or response. It is never a "trump stack" double in direct competition. Trump stack doubles are only made by converting partner's double or after partner has described her hand with a D.S.I.P. double or bid.

A thorough understanding of forcing pass theory is needed to play D.S.I.P. doubles. You must know the cues that turn on forcing passes as D.S.I.P. theory kicks in otherwise. Good judgment is required to know when to pull doubles or to convert. Lebensohl is used when pulling doubles at a high level. D.S.I.P. doubles (like splinters) show a lack of duplication of value in the opponent's suit. Accordingly D.S.I.P. doubles prevent pseudo sacrifices as you double in front of partner rather than bidding in front of partner who may have a trump stack in their suit.

What is defense for the purpose of D.S.I.P. doubles? These are "quick tricks" as opposed to HCP. If our defensive tricks by the over-caller or takeout doubler is within ½ trick of booking the contract, we have a D.S.I.P. double. If responder who has limited her hand, doubles a minimum of 1½ defensive tricks are required.

D.S.I.P. doubles can apply right up and including 4 if we do not own the hand. At the 5 level with us competing, doubles are trump stack penalty. If the opponents voluntarily bid a slam and we were competing, a double by the opening leader says we do not have any defensive tricks. This is similar to the double/undouble convention.

Perry gave me this hand and asked if his double was D.S.I.P./Co-operative or for penalty. He held Kxx xx Kxxxx xxx and BJ opened 1 and they overcalled 1. Perry passed and they bid 2. BJ bid 3 and they bid 3 which Perry passed and they bid 4 around to Perry again. Perry doubled so what does that mean? As usual with "depending on context" bids, you must read the bidding to get your answer. Perry had a chance over 3 to compete to 4 and did not. Therefore the needed competition to define a double as D.S.I.P. was not there. Perry's double should look like Kxx QJ109 xxxxx x or the like. If Perry did bid 4 with his real hand of Kxx xx Kxxxx xxx then his double is clearly D.S.I.P. You give partner an option of bidding 5 and since you competed this round, the double cannot be penalty. You must have dropped out of the auction, for a subsequent double to be penalty.

Fit vs Non-fit Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles are defined for competitive auctions where you do not own the auction. These competitive auctions can be further subdivided to fit-non fit auctions. If we have shown a fit or the opponents have given us an opportunity to show a fit, A D.S.I.P. double shows defense so requests further offensive action. This understanding applies to any auction right up to but not including the 5 level if we have shown a fit.

OK, D.S.I.P. doubles are still defined in competitive auctions where we have no fit or have not had a chance to show a fit. However, the D.S.I.P. double has a different meaning. It is straight "card showing" tending to penalty as opposed to taking offensive action. With the appropriate hand, you still may take offensive action but the double is co-operative and does not show a trump stack. Let's define competitive auctions in this context. Balancing auctions are not true competitive auctions so the over/under rule applies. If the opponents are in a forcing auction or have a fit themselves, our doubles are conventional or D.S.I.P. You cannot make penalty doubles of their forcing auction or if they are raising their suits at any level. Take your fix if you have their suit! If you have not participated in the auction (no competition) and you subsequently double it is for penalty. You must have had a chance to pass a competitive bid at a lower level though.

Let us go through a few "non fit" D.S.I.P. doubles.

1	2	2	3
3	Dbl

This double just shows "cards". It does not show their trump or say anything about club support.

1

2

4

Dbl

This is a non fit D.S.I.P. double showing cards so do something intelligent over there.

1

Dbl

4

Dbl

This again this is a card showing D.S.I.P. double so not a trump stack due to the auction. A 4NT bid here would be Lebensohl.

1

2

2

Dbl

This is a special form of D.S.I.P. double. Doubling a forcing bid for penalty is ludicrous so this is "Snapdragon" showing a tolerance for diamonds with the unbid suit which in this instance is clubs. If they bid game, it is a card showing D.S.I.P. double.

1

2

4

Dbl

Sorry, if you have a heart stack you must pass and wait for the re-opening double that may never come. You cannot have it both ways. A double showing values will lead to a lot less fixes than the trump stack one. At least you get a plus with the trump stack hands and do not put pressure on partner to pull your penalty double.

Do not forget that one of the premises of D.S.I.P. double theory is that it ferrets out duplication of value in their suit for competitive decisions. This applies to non fit D.S.I.P. doubles also. That's why it is important to be disciplined in that regard. Vulnerable partner is allowed to pull the double to another suit if she feels it is the appropriate action. She is expecting HCP over there with no values in their suit. It's much better for partner to know rather than guess on an important matter such as duplication of value. These non fit D.S.I.P. doubles are close to just straight penalty doubles but minus the trump stack. They are true co-operative or optional penalty doubles. If you do not think there is a better alternative, just pass the D.S.I.P. double so we will/may beat them on superior HCP strength. You may have to bite the bullet, knowing that they are going to make the game doubled.

You are going to get fixed sometimes playing D.S.I.P. non fit doubles against some players. This is why re-opening doubles are so important if you have the quick tricks. Do not forget that partner can have a standard trump stack penalty double over there but cannot take any action due to the system. Protect him if you can, just take your plus if you cannot.

D.S.I.P. The Green Card

A pass is a bid that speaks volumes. If a partner, in a competitive situation, bids rather then passes, she is doing so on distribution and re-evaluating her hand based on new circumstances (shortness in their suit etc). A pass by her shows nothing extra or defensive values with a preference to defend with her minimum.

In D.S.I.P. theory, we throw out trump stack doubles as we do not compete with excessive values in their suit. We wait until they hang themselves and if partner re-opens with a double we convert. This is similar to negative double theory but partner is not required to re-open with a double. The auction can be passed out so let's just defend. So take this very common auction I had in the Red Deer tournament and see how the D.S.I.P. principles apply.

I held AJ109x AQx xx K10x and with the control oriented hand I decided to open a spade instead of a light 1NT. LHO overcalls 2 and Vish bid 2 and RHO doubles showing a 3 raise with values. I thought I needed more to redouble so I passed. LHO bid 3 and around to me again. Partner's pass says he prefers to defend for one of two reasons. One he is minimum or two his hand is defensive orientated but not a maximum. If he were maximum with defense he would have doubled himself.

Anyway around to me. If I had a minimum with defense I would pass quietly and hopefully try to beat 3 as partner's pass suggests that action. If my hand was more distributional, I would take the push to 3. With this hand I decided to make a D.S.I.P. double. This allows partner to pull with a minimum and leave it in with some defense. Vish passes and we collect +300. Three spades goes down one!

Opponent's hands:

Qx xxx AKQ10x 10xx

Kxx KJ10x J10x Jxx

D.S.I.P. - Misfit Auctions

There are still auctions where penalty "trump stack doubles" still apply in competition when partner has limited her hand with a conventional bid like a pre-empt, a weak two, a Michaels or Unusual 2NT, the double is punitive. We do not want their input into the decision as they have already shown their hand. This treatment is for the initial double only. If we have raised or made a lead directing bids subsequently, D.S.I.P. doubles apply. Balancing bids are subject to trump stack doubles if we are behind the suit. Obviously when we own the hand, it is established and obvious that it is our hand (after 2/1 etc), the double is penalty as per forcing pass theory. After we have doubled or converted for penalty, doubling their run-outs is obviously for penalty.

There are important low level auctions where trump stack doubles still apply. These auctions are called "misfit auctions". There is no hint of a fit for partner, NT or a responsive double as usually been bid.

1

2

2

Dbl

The double is responsive for the red suits. There is no obligation to hold clubs on this auction. The opponents subsequently bid 3 so if either partner doubled it is for penalty. D.S.I.P. doubles must have an escape hatch. In auctions where there is no place to go, when a "D.S.I.P. like double has already been made, the double is penalty.

1	1	Pass	1NT
3	Pass	Pass	Dbl

Partner by virtue of the 1NT bid says there is no fit established so promises values in hearts. The double gives no safe exit to the spade over-caller. Therefore the double is a "trump stack" penalty double.

A redouble usually shows no fit. Doubles after a redouble are penalty (forcing pass theory) so not D.S.I.P. doubles. The redouble was invented to start penalty double sequences so it works quite well. If either partner has converted a D.S.I.P. or negative double for penalty, doubling their run out is obviously a trump stack double. An exception to misfit auctions is forcing NT auctions.

A forcing 1NT auction is deemed not to be a "misfit auction" and D.S.I.P. applies.

1	Pass	1NT	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl

Double is a re-opening double not a trump stack penalty double.

If we have a fit established, the double is D.S.I.P. as there is a safe alternative to passing by bailing out to the agreed suit.

A rule for D.S.I.P. doubles at lower levels can be summed up two statements.

My recommendation is to limit the use of D.S.I.P. doubles to low level misfit auctions where:

• Doubler has previously limited his hand in such a way that he couldn't be positive of beating the contract and
• Doubler's partner will know there's a safe alternative to passing because the partnership has already bid and raised a suit, or because doubler has shown a two-suiter or one very long suit.

The above is an important exception to not using D.S.I.P. doubles in misfit auctions. If partner has shown two suits or a very long suit, how can her double be a "trump stack" double? Partner has limited his hand so how can he be sure of beating the contract? He cannot, therefore the double is D.S.I.P. D.S.I.P. doubles do not replace penalty doubles at low levels entirely (almost). At higher levels, D.S.I.P. theory makes trump stack doubles virtually extinct in competitive auctions (under 5 level). Of course, forcing pass theory takes precedence at high levels if we own the hand.

In fact, the main advantage of D.S.I.P. doubles at low levels is not rescuing opponents. Opponents in a bad spot do not get rescued by one of the partners bidding in front of the partner who wants to double them for penalty! The D.S.I.P. double as a permission to bid, gets converted by partner.

Competing with D.S.I.P. doubles means undoing all your instinctive doubling habits from your Bridge puppy-hood. Trump stack doubles simply do not exist in competitive auctions as the initial action. The concept of doubling initially to extract penalty bonuses are extinct. D.S.I.P. doubles only apply where there is an element of competition. Competing is defined as bidding when nobody owns the auction or you cannot tell from the bidding.

Trump stack penalty doubles should only be made when the partnership has already announced their hands so no need for guess work or "pulling" trump stack doubles. The rule for leaving in penalty doubles is do I have what can be reasonably expected from the bidding? In D.S.I.P. theory, you describe your hand first and all subsequent penalty doubles are left in. D.S.I.P. doubles are a pre-requisite for trump stack penalty doubles. You announce your defense via quick tricks along with your desire to compete again by doubling. Partner knows that you have no duplication of value in their suit and can act accordingly. Once hands have already been announced, penalty doubles (trump stack) may commence later in the auction.

D.S.I.P. doubles borrow heavily from negative doubles in that penalty doubles result from conversions. A D.S.I.P. double asks permission from partner to compete again. Partner has her say in this decision and can nix the request if holding their suit. These doubles apply as the initial action through 4. Trump stack doubles kick in at the 5 level.

To use D.S.I.P. doubles effectively, you must know when they do not apply. They do not apply when your partnership has pre-empted as your hand has already been announced. D.S.I.P. doubles do not apply when you own the auction as forcing pass theory takes over.

Conventional doubles like negative doubles, takeout doubles, re-opening doubles, responsive doubles, game try doubles and support doubles are all a subset of D.S.I.P. doubles. You want to compete but do not necessarily own the auction. Conceptually all doubles in Bridge apply in only two instances, when you own the auction and when you do not. When you overcall and follow up with a double, it is not penalty nor takeout. It is D.S.I.P. saying I want to bid again but I have defense in case you want to defend. A takeout double and a subsequent double is not penalty. It just means that I want to bid again with a big hand but will be happy to defend if that is your decision. For auctions that the double is confusing the default understanding is D.S.I.P. rather than forcing pass theory understandings.

D.S.I.P. Re-opening Doubles

Re-opening doubles in the balancing spot when the opponents have failed to respond are takeout doubles. Re-opening doubles in negative double auctions are D.S.I.P. doubles. What about re-opening doubles in "live" auctions where there has been bidding up to high levels beyond negative double range? The re-opening double should also be a D.S.I.P. double. You have defensive cards, no fit with partner and no trump stack. It does not necessarily show the unbid suits but "we have the balance of power" partner.

You are vulnerable and they are not. You hold AKxxx xx xx Kxxx and you respond a spade to partner's 1 opening bid. LHO bids 3 so what do you do? The most flexible bid is a D.S.I.P. double. Partner can convert for penalty, support your suit or do something intelligent. Do not bid 3 that is redundant and bidding 4 or passing is silly. A double is a flexible build that retains your options. You play negative doubles to 4, so a double is mandatory.

You open 1 and LHO bids 4 and around to you again in the re-opening position KQJ10 xx AKxxx xx. You have a clear cut pass. If you double partner is going to make the wrong decision 99 times out of 100. She expects you to hold x Axxx AKxx KJxx for such a double. What if you held Axx AKx AKxx J10x and the same auction. You have too many HCP with no trump stack so you should double. Doubles at this level are not takeout per se but D.S.I.P. which means partner pass or bid depending on your holdings in their suit.

INT by partner and you bid Stayman with x Axxx Kxxx Kxxx and LHO bids 3 around to you again. Doubling with values in their suit for penalty is not recommended when you are "in front" of the suit. A double here should be D.S.I.P. and leaving all options open. With values in spades, bid 3NT and yes they wiggled out of a penalty double.

Even with a 2/1 a re-opening double is D.S.I.P.

1	1	2	2
Pass	Pass	?

You hold Axx xxx Jx AKJxx, and should double 2 as it cannot be a trump stack when you are in front of the suit. Playing support doubles when the opponents bid in the sandwich position a re-opening double is always D.S.I.P. as partner may have a trump stack and convert. A double of a pre-empt in the sandwich position is a special D.S.I.P. double called a "Thrump double".

1	Pass	1	3
Dbl*

* The double says bid 3NT with a spade stopper. A pass or a direct 3NT bid would show spades.

Partner opens 1 and LHO overcalls 1. You bid a heart with Kxx AKxxx xxx Jx and partner rebids 2. RHO rebids 2 so what now? You have a D.S.I.P. double saying "partner my HCP are where you expect them" and I would like to compete to 3 but I have defense. The double cannot be a trump stack unless you assume the opponents are suicidal when they bid and rebid a suit. If you do have a trump stack, hope partner re-opens with a double.

When the opponents overcall and make a jump raise of their suit, a re-opening double is always D.S.I.P. You hold A10xxx Jxx J10x Ax and the auction goes:

1	1	1	3
Pass	Pass	?*

* Having this bid reserved for penalty is silly. The double is card showing saying I want to compete.

A special case of a D.S.I.P. double is if the opponents make a jump rebid in their suit. How many times do you want to punish them when they have jumped in their suit? A double should be D.S.I.P.

1	Pass	1	Dbl
3*	Dbl

* This double should be D.S.I.P. saying I have cards to compete but I do not know where.

In summary a re-opening double or competitive double is never penalty no matter what the auction is. You are making a "card showing " D.S.I.P. double. If you have their suit, bid 3NT or pass.

D.S.I.P. Pass-out seat

D.S.I.P. doubles apply in the pass out chair. The responsibility is a little bit different in that you have already have partner's view on the matter. Tom and I had three hands today that show this in action. I held QJx KQJx xxxxx x and the auction went:

1	Dbl	3	3*
Pass	5**	Pass	Dbl***

* 3 by me. ** Declarer bid 5 and around to me again. Tom's pass is not forcing as my 3 bid was at best invitational to game. Tom's pass was not D.S.I.P. as they bid at the 5 level. In the pass out seat Tom's preference was to defend rather than bid, so do I bid 5 which has no guarantee at this rarefied atmosphere. *** I doubled because I had some defense and they were at the 5 level. The contract went for -300 and 5 had no chance.

We had another auction where D.S.I.P. doubles applied in the pass out seat. I had K109xxx x Q10x KJ10 and we were vulnerable and they were not. Tom opened 1 and RHO bid 3. I crawled in 3 and LHO bid 4 and around to me in the pass out seat. Spades over hearts can quite often be bid on desperation so it does not turn on forcing passes until game is reached. When forcing pass theory does not apply, D.S.I.P. theory does. Tom's pass meant he has no interest in bidding 4 or he would have bid it himself or made a D.S.I.P. double. He therefore wants to defend or is waiting for some input from me to make his decision. I doubled saying I would rather we bid something than defend but I do have some defense. Tom pulled the double to 5 and went one down. Our partners were in 4 doubled at the other table making an over trick when they got off to the wrong lead. 4 cannot be beat so we won 12 IMPS on the board.

Tom had a hand that shows the discipline of D.S.I.P in the pass out seat. Tom held x xxxx AKxx Qxxx and every body vulnerable I opened 1. It went double and Tom bid 2NT which in our system shows a limit raise in hearts or better. His LHO bid 4 and I passed. Now what? Limit raises do not turn on forcing passes unless we accept game. I did not double 4 saying I wanted to bid 5. It does not sound like I have a spade trump stack pass taking into account the confident leap to 4 spades by the opponents. Despite his two defensive tricks and my vulnerable opener, Tom felt he had enough information just to pass. Boy was he right! A double void situation and 6 spades is ice cold even though I had 14 HCP!

Stan and Lisa had a D.S.I.P. like auction at a very high level. It went 1 with everybody vulnerable and Stans RHO bid 2. Stan bid an invitational 2NT and LHO bid 4 and Lisa bid 5. Stan held xx Q109 Q10xxx Axx which was quite a speculative 2NT bid based on the diamond fit. Stan gave preference by bidding 5 and LHO bid 5. Lisa passed and around to Stan in the pass out seat.

This is not a forcing pass auction nor is it a D.S.I.P. auction at the 5 level. Nobody knows who owns this auction with voids wiping out defensive tricks. This is common sense Bridge, Lisa would have doubled 5 saying she would prefer defending as she has 3 losers in the majors rather then two. She had Q xx AKJxx KJ109x. Anyway it was matchpoints so Stan bid 6! This aggressive bid probably won them the Open Pairs as they went for -500 (Lisa found the club queen so 800 was averted) and 650 was ice cold the other direction with a solid 8 card spade suit and a diamond void to his left. The pass showing an extremely offensive hand really helped Stan in his decision as he now knows there is no fast two spade losers in 6 and Lisa probably is 6-5 rather then 5-5. A double would show a 5-5 and on that basis she would rather defend on this auction. The pass to show the more offensive distribution is very helpful in these auctions. She does not have to single handedly bid 6 as her pass gives Stan the option to double 5 with an unsuitable hand with too many points in the majors.

Here is a hand at a lower level which shows D.S.I.P. theory in the pass out chair. I opened one heart and the infamous Steve Willard overcalled 2 and Tom made a negative double with AQxx Kx Jxx J10xx and Mr. Fowlie bid 3. This was passed around to Tom in the pass out chair. A D.S.I.P. double says let's bid something but I have a maximum for my previous bid with defense so D.S.I.P. Well, I had a flat opener with no spade fit so my decision was just to pass. +1100 when the smoke cleared against a very iffy 3NT game our direction with my 13 HCP!

Partner opens 1NT and you hold x xxx K10xx AKJxx and bid 2 and LHO bids 3 (everyone vulnerable) and it gets passed around to you. A double cannot be penalty in the balancing chair. You double and partner converts for +800. If you bid 4, partner raises to 5 and its down one! Anyway giving D.S.I.P. theory at the higher levels a work out today. The key is to recognize if the auction turns on forcing passes. If the bidding does not say we definitely own the hand, think D.S.I.P. theory. I believe that in competitive auctions at a high level switching modes to either forcing pass thinking or D.S.I.P. thinking is very helpful. I really appreciate Stan and Tom's input in developing D.S.I.P. concepts.

High Level Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles or competitive doubles were not designed for the higher level auctions. The 5 level and D.S.I.P. doubles are not a good mix. Having said that, if we have established our fit early with the opponents pushing us right up to and including the 4 level, D.S.I.P. theory still applies as long as we do not own the hand. The double means that I want to bid again in our suit but I have defense outside their trump suit. If we have not established a fit with the auction at a rarefied level say game and beyond,the double is penalty.

Contrast these two auctions.

1	2	2	3
4	Dbl

This is the classic D.S.I.P. double saying I want to bid 5 but I have defense.

1

2

4

Dbl

This is also a D.S.I.P. double but HCP showing rather than a huge heart fit. If you have hearts, you must make your decision right now to bid or pass. It is an actively competitive auction but you have not had a chance to show trump support for partner at a lower level. This changes the meaning of the D.S.I.P. double. The double shows "cards".

Competing against the higher ranking spade suit, showing a limit raise in hearts is impossible if they jam. If below game, the D.S.I.P. double shows a limit raise in hearts. This is the only exception to the rule that you must show the fit earlier before the D.S.I.P. double shows great support.

1

2

2

Dbl*

* Double is a limit raise in hearts.

1

2

3/4

Dbl*

* D.S.I.P. but HCP rather than heart fit. If we have a heart fit, we just bid it.

Our high level D.S.I.P. understandings are predicated on the fact that we do not double with at rump stack. Take these two hands:

void Jxx KQJ10xx KQJx. We open 1, they overcall 4 so partner doubles and around to you. This is a 4NT Lebensohl bid intending on pulling partner's forced 5 to 5.

If you hold void Qxx AQ109xxx AKx, you pull to 5 directly as a slam try. Our D.S.I.P. understandings are not valid if partner starts doubling with just trump stacks. The fact that they are in game does not change the meaning of D.S.I.P. doubles!

If it is still a live auction with us actively competing, the level does not matter up to but not including the 5 level. Doubles are still D.S.I.P. but with no great fit if you have not shown the fit at a lower level. If the auction had subsided and they are at a high level,the double is penalty or lead directing not D.S.I.P. They open a diamond, partner overcalls 2. You do not compete, they arrive in 4. If you now double, you are beating 4 with a club lead. D.S.I.P. doubles at higher levels. Do not leave home without them.

D.S.I.P. - Bidding Partner's Hand

I have heard many arguments in my time at the Bridge table which goes something like this. "You just bid your own hand - do not bid mine for me! " This statement is to prevent partner from wishful thinking in Bridge and placing cards in partners hand that would lead to the optimum result and bidding accordingly. In general, that is a good idea to avoid this. You describe your good hand and let partner place the contract. Do not bid her hand for her.

Not so with D.S.I.P. double theory though. Sometimes you must bid partner's hand for her. This is in the case of trump stack penalty doubles. Remember that partner is not allowed to make "trump stack" penalty doubles in competitive auctions. This includes balancing auctions which turns into a competitive auction.

I held xxxx void Q109xx KQ9x and the auction went:

1	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	2NT

I bid 2NT as scrambling for the minors as the likelihood of partner holding 4 spades on this auction is remote and I have an excellent playing hand in the minors. Partner bids 3 and it goes around to the opener who bids 3. Now what action do you take with your hand?

It looks like the opponents are getting a 4 or 5 nothing trump break. You could have zero HCP on the auction and you have 7 HCP. It looks like the opponents have over extended themselves. Anyway it does not hurt to find out as trump stack doubles are not in your repertoire. If partner has xxxx of trump, you can make a 4 or even possibly a 5 level contract in a minor. You want to compete again so you ask partner's permission with a double. You have unexpected values on the auction so this will substitute for the quick tricks normally needed for a double. You put the double card on the table and partner puts the green card on the table. Down 4 for +800 as both opponents were bidding on nothing and ran into a horrible trump stack!

In competitive auctions in the pass out seat do not forget that partner may not have competed again due to a trump stack in their suit. If you have the quick tricks in line with your bidding do not hesitate to re-open with a double. The auction goes:

1	1	2	2
3	Pass	Pass	?

Axx x KJxxx xxxx you have 1½ quick tricks and would like to bid 3 so you double. Partner has KQ10xx QJ10x x AQx and 3 doubled gets severely punished.

The D.S.I.P. double in competitive auctions has an entirely different meaning from a traditional double. You cannot lose by using it if your intent was to bid again anyway. The double preserves options a bid does not. There is no turning back after you have bid a suit. In all competitive auctions where you do not own the hand, do not leave home without the D.S.I.P. double!

D.S.I.P. Co-operative Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles were designed for competitive auctions where you do not "own the hand". The underlying concept behind D.S.I.P. doubles was to provide insurance in case partner has a trump stack. What about auctions where the nature of partner's bid has already indicated shortness in the opponents suit? In most auctions this means the takeout double and the balancing double. Here is where D.S.I.P. doubles and penalty doubles converge. There is no way that partner can convert with a trump stack as she has already announced shortness in that suit with a double. Enter the co-operative double.

1	Dbl	2	3
Pass	Pass	3	Dbl

This is not a D.S.I.P. double per se. Yes, partner is showing a maximum but she could hold values in their suit. This is not like an overcall or opening bid situation where you can have duplication of value and convert. You should only pull this double with extraordinary distribution and heart length. This is the elusive "co-operative double". Our definition of a co-operative double is a D.S.I.P. double with values in their suit but not a trump stack. A D.S.I.P. double generally shows no values in their suit.

Balancing doubles are designed to protect partner who may not have bid in the first place due to values in their suit. The odds of your balancing double having values in their suit should be negligible for D.S.I.P. theory purposes.

1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
2	Dbl

Double is not D.S.I.P. The reason you balanced was that partner could have a spade trap. She is saying yes you were right, I do.

The principle of penalty doubles vs D.S.I.P. doubles is that have you announced your hand already? If you have made an ambiguous overcall, opening bid, response etc you have not described your hand in a competitive auction. The 1st double must be D.S.I.P. to announce the type of hand you have i.e. your defense. Not so with a balancing double or a takeout double as partner already has a reasonably good idea what type of hand you have. That should mean partner is captain of the ship for penalty doubles.

BJ Trelford held this hand. KJx xx xxx AQ10xx and the auction goes:

Pass	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	3
3	Pass	Pass	Dbl

What is this double ? A balancing double as a passed hand is already defined within a very narrow range. Partner already knows your hand for penalty double purposes. A D.S.I.P. double is redundant as the balancer cannot have a trump stack and you have already described your hand. This double could easily hold their suit so the double should only be pulled with extraordinary distribution with clubs. The same type of thinking used when you pull penalty doubles rather than D.S.I.P. doubles. You do not need partner's permission to bid again as you are captain of this ship. However since we may have a superb fit in clubs this is a co-operative double. The doubler evaluates her hand based on controls and club fit before passing. A trump stack double demands a pass from partner rather than co-operate. This double still is not a trump stack double per se. With a true trump stack double,they would be playing it in 2 doubled.

Quick Tricks and Defense

It is difficult to quantify expert intuition and judgment. D.S.I.P. theory is in the domain of Bridge experts because they know how to evaluate a hand for defensive purposes. How much defense is required for D.S.I.P. doubles? This requirement obviously changes due to the level of bidding, whether it's the over-caller/opener or responder. I think to answer the question we should draw on the experience of Marty Bergen and Culbertson/ Lenz.

First of all we should be like Marty Bergen and borrow his expression "points - Schmoints". HCP are a recipe for disaster. In competitive auctions, there is distribution and trump fits that will render HCP useless in many cases. D.S.I.P. doubles should go back to the Culbertson/Lenz days where quick defensive tricks were the only requirement for an opening bid.

Quick Tricks:

• A or KQ = 1 Quick Trick
• King = ½ Quick Trick
• AQ = 1½ Quick Tricks
• AK = 2 Quick Tricks

The requirement for quick tricks for an opening bid or any defensive bids for that matter, have been around since the Culbertson times. The reason for quick tricks should be obvious to any Bridge player. Partners make penalty doubles, make competitive decisions, game and slam decisions based on partner's opening bid or overcall. If these bids do not have quick defensive tricks, doubled contracts will make and competitive decisions will result in you taking a penalty. Controls are a needed ingredient for slams and games. Eric Kokish calls these controls "transferable values" as they are useful for both defense and offense. Failing to have those cards will throw partner off in judging Bridge hands so bad decisions will result. Partner builds her judgment based on quick tricks.

Quick tricks are based on probabilities as is the game of Bridge. If there is a 50% chance that a card like a King or an AQ combination will take a trick than it's a ½ trick. Bridge was played for 25 years where this was the only requirement for an opening bid. In the 1940's, HCP were added as a requirement along with the basic quick trick criteria.

For judging competitive auctions for a D.S.I.P. double, A D.S.I.P. double by the primary player (the opener or over-caller) should have the quick tricks required to come within a ½ trick of booking their contract. The responder just needs to be maximum for his bid but measured in quick tricks! D.S.I.P. doubles are playing with fire. Partner must rely on your controls so with her holding in their trump suit she is able to confidently convert.

Do not forget in order to compete again, you do not need to make a D.S.I.P. double, you can just bid. You have plenty of distribution but lack the quick tricks to make a D.S.I.P. double. D.S.I.P. doubles and quick tricks are a natural marriage. Think in quick tricks for D.S.I.P. doubles. Back to the auction and early contract Bridge days where quick tricks were the main (only) way to evaluate a Bridge hand.

Breaking these rules result in needless losses. D.S.I.P. theory is not at fault, the players are. I held x xxxx 1098 A10987 and they opened 1 and responded 1. Tom bid 2 vulnerable and they bid 4. I was guilty of picturing the ideal hand for partner. No wasted HCP in spades with a long heart suit. I decided that 5 would be a nice bid so I invited partner to do so with a double. Tom held the worst hand possible for me KQx AKJxx xx QJx so he converted for penalty. Unfortunately they make the hand with two voids. I was ½ a quick trick short for my bid but the system was blamed rather than me who was the real culprit.

Tom was guilty of violating the Quick Trick requirement for a D.S.I.P. double KQxxx x QJx 10xxx. They opened 1 vulnerable and Tom overcalled 1. They cuebid 2 so I decided to give a lead director with x xxx K109xx AQJx and bid 3. They bid 3, Tom competed to 4 and they bid 4. I passed so around to Tom. Tom does not have enough defense to double. He can just bid 5 if he wants to make a sacrifice or pass. The double gets you -790 and -5.IMPS

Penalty Conversion Chart

The Bartons, in devising their control asking system, have some default understandings. An opening bid shows 2 controls as a starting point, a 2/1 shows two controls, a constructive response starts at one control, a NT auction starts at 4 controls for their purposes I believe. A splinter auction, jump auction or Jacoby auction starts at a pre-determined number of controls for the purposes of their system.

I think we should borrow a page from the Bartons and build a "conversion chart" for D.S.I.P. theory. In previous articles, we stated that we revert to Culbertson defensive tricks for the purposes of D.S.I.P. double theory. If an opener or over caller doubles a contract, she is showing within a ½ of a defensive trick of booking their contract using the Culbertson method. If responder or someone who has limited that hand in some way, we should play her for 1½ defensive tricks for her choice of making a D.S.I.P. double.

I think we should have some D.S.I.P. default understandings that could get refined over time but at least are guidelines.

• An opening bid shows 2½ defensive tricks
• An overcall at the two level shows 2 defensive tricks
• An overcall at the one level shows 1½ defensive tricks
• A takeout double shows 2 defensive tricks
• A balancing double shows 1½ defensive tricks
• A limited response shows 1 defensive trick
• A pre-emptive bid shows zero defensive tricks
• A strong NT shows 3 defensive tricks
• A competitive 2/1 shows 1½ defensive tricks

For the purposes of competitive auctions where forcing pass theory does not apply you convert partners D.S.I.P. double for only two reasons. You have a trump stack in their suit (the obvious one) or they are just too high based on defensive tricks so you do not feel like bidding up to that level. "Counting beans" in these D.S.I.P. auctions just means how many defensive tricks (quick tricks) your side is expected to take. Make a D.S.I.P. double when your expected defensive tricks in your hand with the default ones taking partner's bid into consideration, will beat their contract. You are inviting partner to bid again, of course, but you always must make allowances in case she just converts. If partner converts with their trump only, it is obvious that action substitutes for defensive tricks. Converting partner's D.S.I.P. double without trump is a rare action but it can happen in certain "balance of power" auctions. Sometimes the opponents bid badly vulnerable (Willard factor).

Do not forget to "bite the Bullet" if partner's double has put your side in a precarious situation. A doubled game making is a disaster in matchpoints but it is only a 4 IMP loss in IMPS. If you feel that partners action is not going to be "cost effective" for your side, bite the bullet and take your -4 IMP loss.

D.S.I.P. doubles have a risk factor. Sometimes they put the partnership in danger where remedial action is required for damage control. Tom Gandolfo held xxx Kxxxx xxx xx and the auction with everybody vulnerable went:

1	1	Pass	2
3	4	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	?

OK, damage control time. Partner is not going to be happy with this dummy at the 5 level. She shows 3 quick tricks for her double but they have a good chance of wrapping this one up. This is a good time to "bite the bullet" and give them their +790. This is only a 4 IMP loss so no big deal. It turns out you actually beat 4 doubled for +200 and 5 goes for -800. So we are only talking +16 IMPs riding on your decision.

Definitions

Thomas Bacon or was it Alexander Pope who said "Sir define your terms! ". A bid such as the double in Bridge takes on so many meanings " depending on context" of the auction. We define all doubles in Bridge as falling into two classes. Doubles that are made when you own the auction and doubles made when you do not. Simple start.

Penalty doubles made when you own the auction are defined under forcing pass theory. A double in forcing pass theory are either/or warning bids. They mean 1) I have a minimum so I am not interested in going to the next level so let's just take our plus. 2) I have duplication of value in their suit i.e. a trump stack double 3) I have a doubleton or more in their suit so I am warning you that we have quick losers in their suit (high levels).

All the remaining doubles (penalty) in Bridge are competitive doubles. Competitive, in the sense that we do not own the hand or are just competing to win the auction. We define all competitive doubles as D.S.I.P. doubles which generally means I have no duplication of value in their suit (transferable values only), I have defense measured in quick tricks and I am asking permission to compete again. If you have their suit, you nix my request by converting for penalty. You also nix the request if the double put us in a bad position so that we must "bite the bullet". A D.S.I.P. double is analogous to a partner of a successful splinter in that no duplication of value exists in their suit.

All other doubles conventional or otherwise can be thought of as a subset of D.S.I.P. doubles. The takeout double is a D.S.I.P. double as you do not know if you own the auction, you generally have nothing in their suit and you are asking partner to do something intelligent by biding something descriptive. Negative doubles are systemic D.S.I.P. doubles with unbid suit criteria as are responsive doubles, game try doubles, balancing doubles, re-opening doubles, Thrump doubles, undoubles, action doubles. The simple pass in a D.S.I.P. or negative double auction, can be a penalty double.

Trump stacks doubles are even a special case of D.S.I.P. doubles under this broad definition as you do not necessarily "own the auction". Trump stack doubles are only permitted at the 5 level and above or after partner has pre-empted in some way or by converting partner's re-opening or D.S.I.P. double. Trump stack doubles are also allowed after the auction has been previously clarified with a D.S.I.P. double. At the 5 level, you double them in 5 with xxxx xx KQJ10 xxx so you certainly do not own the auction at his rarefied level. At this level, D.S.I.P. means partner just pass please.

The last case of a D.S.I.P. double (so called 3rd case) is when they own the auction. This bid is an action double normally done when you are on the terrorist vulnerability or they have bid a vulnerable slam. The double even made by a pre-emptor is again asking permission to bid but when the opponents obviously own the auction, it is also asking permission to sacrifice. Partner only nixes the request when the opponents have an unpleasant surprise coming to them or we may just be limiting our losses.

Subsequent Double

D.S.I.P. theory applies to initial action only in competitive auctions. What do I mean by that? If you were teaching a beginner about penalty doubles, you would say leave in the double if you have your bid or what partner can reasonably expect from your bidding. You have announced your hand so captaincy comes into play by partner for penalty double purposes. In a competitive auction, if you have already made a D.S.I.P. double or made a bid other than pass, partner's double or your 2nd double is penalty (captaincy).

This should be obvious, as you have already announced your hand to partner so she does not need to get the information a 2nd time with a D.S.I.P. double.

The auction goes:

1	1	2	2
3	3	Dbl	Pass
?

Partner already knows that you do not have defense as you just competed to 3, you did not make a D.S.I.P. double. Partner's double must be KQJ10 of trump, or the like.

Change the auction to:

1	1	2	2
3	Dbl	4	Dbl

This is penalty as you have already described your defense and your desire to bid again with a D.S.I.P. double. You do not make a D.S.I.P. double after partner has made a D.S.I.P. double. It is the pass that elicits the D.S.I.P. double in competition. A pass can mean a minimum or a trump stack in their suit. If you wish to compete again with defense after a pass by partner, you do it with a double. If partner has made an overcall or a takeout double, it is quite a variable bid. Here the D.S.I.P. double is used by your side as an initial action requesting permission to compete. Your hand is the great unknown, so a D.S.I.P. double is used to request information about your hand.

1

2

3

Dbl

Double is D.S.I.P. saying I have cards so do something intelligent. It is an initial action, so it is not penalty. Contrast this with:

1	2	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	3	Dbl

I have not been competing, you already described your hand with a D.S.I.P. double, so this is penalty (captaincy).

D.S.I.P. double theory revolves around the pass.

Pass	Pass	1	2
3	3	Pass	Pass
Dbl

This is a D.S.I.P. double as it is an initial action after a pass. Partner would like to compete again but has defense. Penalty doubles as initial action by the partnership in competition just do not exist.

Here is a typical auction "in the trenches".

1	Pass	1	Dbl
2	2	2	Pass
Pass	3	Pass	Pass
3	Dbl

This is a penalty double as we had chances to make a D.S.I.P. double previously but did not. A D.S.I.P. double this late in the auction is not logical. There is enough information for captaincy considerations.

The penalty double is not dead in competitive auctions. However, the penalty double is extinct as an initial action. Whatever comes later reverts to old fashioned Bridge as partner has described her hand so captaincy enters the picture.

Taking Fixes

D.S.I.P. theory was not designed for competing against bad bidding opponents who want to commit suicide. D.S.I.P. doubles do not allow you the luxury of directly punishing bad bidders for their indiscretions in a competitive auction. You cannot have your cake and eat it too unless partner doubles showing defense so you convert. There are times where you just must take your fix and reluctantly pass when you know they are going down. If you do not, you risk allowing partner to bid again.

2	Pass	3	3
4	?

You have xxx AKJ xxx Jxxx so is it a double? No, unless the vulnerability and weird auction turns on forcing pass theory. 99% of the time a double would just be "card showing" with AKJ of diamonds rather than hearts. Playing the D.S.I.P. "style" of doubles, you should not double and just pass 4 quietly with this hand. You pickup +100 at their table and +150 at our table for +6 IMPS. Trump stack doubles are a hard habit to break but we cannot have it both ways. Do not mislead partner with an old fashioned trump stack double. Just take our fix and plus. With all your points in hearts, your side cannot make anything anyway. You cannot make trump stack doubles unless partner doubles and we convert. With bad bidding opponents, we will get burned once in a while.In this auction, partner may double 4 saying he has defense. 4 is probably going down if she does not double.The opponents are offering you a 6 IMP gift by judging wrong in a competitive auction, so just take it and get out of Dodge. Do not double and allow partner to now go wrong!

You have been playing the old style of penalty doubles for years.You now have a new saying in competitive auctions, I could not double as I had a trump stack in their suit. Sounds very weird but you hope partner re-opens with a double. Gone are the days of bad bidding opponents giving you a bonanza you do not deserve. Take your fix!

If this auction went to the 5 level:

2	Pass	4	4
5	Pass	Pass	Dbl

By all means double. This is the old fashioned trump stack double.

D.S.I.P. Half Measures

D.S.I.P. doubles were originally defined as competitive doubles where your side does not own the auction. There was a further stipulation that the ceiling for a D.S.I.P. double was up to and including 4. There must be an element of competition or the double could be interpreted as penalty. This double is further restricted that the penalty doubler must be behind the suit. Re-opening doubles should never be penalty doubles competition or no competition. Out of the blue trump stack doubles just do not exist with the D.S.I.P. mentality. Take your plus.

Take this hand. AQxxx x Kxx Kxxx both sides vulnerable. Partner opens 1 and RHO overcalls 1 and you bid 1. LHO bids 2 which partner passes and RHO bids 3 so you make a D.S.I.P. double showing cards. What did partner not do on this auction? Partner did not make a support double or bid the Good-Bad 2NT or bid freely. Sounds like a minimum over there xx xxx AQxxx AQx or the like. With no duplication of value in the heart suit we are getting to a tight 5 game which is a victory for D.S.I.P. doubles. If partner had duplication of value in hearts she would have passed and again a victory as they are too high with our 25 HCP including values in their suit.

Change the responder's hand a bit AQxxx Kxx x Kxxx and we have the fix hand for D.S.I.P. doubles. Given the same auction, the best bid in my opinion is pass and take your plus. They cannot make 3 with this hand but partner gets in your way. The chance of the double being left in is zero. Partner cannot have the hearts required to do so. Do we have game? Not very likely as the heart king is wasted and we do not have a diamond or spade fit required to make game. So discounting the heart king we have 9 HCP opposite a dead minimum over there. Pass and take our plus 100 or 200. At the other table they are probably going minus with our cards and we are looking at a size-able pickup. In fact, with the IMP scale, a penalty double does not enhance our pickup that much. We are earning 7 IMPs +100 +200 as opposed to 5 more for doubling. We must take half measures sometimes.

BJ Trelford contends that in auctions below game if you do not own the hand there is never a reason for a trump stack penalty double. I think this view is a bit too restrictive. Doubles in Bridge, D.S.I.P. or not still must be interpreted depending on context. If partner drops out of a competitive auction early and waits until they reach game, how can the double be anything else but penalty?

AKxxx QJ109 Ax xx. You open 1 and LHO bids 2 and partner bids 2 with RHO bidding 3 you pass and they bid 4. You had a chance to compete with a double or by bidding 3 and you did not. You cannot make up for lost time. This double must be penalty.

If you have opened, overcalled, bid a systemic toy or made a takeout double and there was no competitive auction therefore partner's double is not a "making up for lost time" D.S.I.P. double. It is penalty. The lack of initial action and no element of competition defines the double as penalty. I think with a number of auctions playing the D.S.I.P. mentality, you can have it both ways.

D.S.I.P. Competitive Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles designed to help in auctions where forcing passes do not apply. D.S.I.P. theory needs a narrow definition of the word "competing". When one side obviously owns the auction, the other side is not "competing" per se. They are sacrificing or otherwise making a nuisance of themselves. Competitive doubles do not apply when forcing pass theory applies. Very important to tune in on the difference.

If there is no element of competition an "out of the blue" double is penalty. Takes this standard auction.

1	Pass	2	4
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
?

There is no element of competing in this auction. Partner was willing to play 2 so the double of 4 cannot be D.S.I.P. all of a sudden inviting him to bid 4. The double has to be a trump stack penalty double. If the opener doubles 4 that is a different matter, as he may have game on his mind. A double of 4 by the opening bidder is D.S.I.P.

Vulnerability cannot be used to interpret if a double is D.S.I.P. or penalty. If you bid a 4 game vulnerable and they bid 4 non-vulnerable forcing pass theory is applicable. All other vulnerabilities and everyone competing up to the game level, D.S.I.P. applies. There must be an element of competition though. If they just jump to game, penalty doubles apply.

There is still an element of "depending on context" to interpret a penalty double. If the double makes no sense in a competitive connotation, it is a trump stack penalty double. When in doubt use the "clockwise" order of Bridge to guide you. If the doubler is behind the suit and there is no element of competition, it is a penalty double. If the doubler is in front of the suit, it is D.S.I.P. This principle is even more important when they balance or even if you balance and partner subsequently doubles.

1	2	Pass	Pass
2	3	Dbl

This has to be a trump stack penalty double. You are behind the suit and you have not competed.

1	Dbl	2	2
Pass	3	Pass	4

A double by either side is penalty as the competitive element is missing.

Do not compete when you have their suit. This lack of competition is what defines your penalty double later on. You open 1 non-vulnerable and you hear a 2 overcall vulnerable by the opponents. Partner bids 2 and RHO bids 3 and you hold AKxxx QJ10x Kx xx. You pass and LHO bids 4 and around to you so you double. This is penalty as you did not compete and "trapped" with their suit. Trapping is one of the defaults for penalty doubles. Say you had AKJ10x x xxx KQ109 so you compete with 3 and now they bid 4. Your double is now D.S.I.P. saying you want to bid 4. Competing with their suit is a filthy habit anyway as it induces pseudo sacrifices about 90% of the time. If your partnership has shown strength on the auction and subsequently bid game, it is a forcing pass auction and not D.S.I.P.

1	Dbl	2NT	3
4	4	Dbl

This is a penalty double as partner's 2NT is limit raise or better. D.S.I.P. is not designed for auctions where we have most of the HCP.

If partner has not shown any sign of life and comes into the auction belatedly, doubles are penalty by either partner as opposed to D.S.I.P. If partner has made a jump raise to the 3 or 4 level, doubles are penalty based on the "pre-empt " principle. You must always have your ear to the bidding to determine if forcing pass theory is in effect or D.S.I.P. theory is in effect or the 3rd case where just old fashioned trump stack doubles apply. There still must be auctions where you can double the opponents with a trump stack. It is just less common playing D.S.I.P. theory. D.S.I.P. doubles are not for the faint of heart.

D.S.I.P. Double Overview

O.K. Let's examine the structure of our D.S.I.P. doubles that we play. Negative doubles up to 4 and responsive doubles up to 4 are a disciplined form of D.S.I.P. doubles. Disciplined in the sense that they have an unbid suit requirement as well as the necessary HCP for the level of the auction. D.S.I.P. doubles do not have a suit requirement just a HCP requirement. Penalty doubles based solely on trump do not exist and are not part of D.S.I.P. theory.

With overcalls and opening bids, D.S.I.P. theory is in effect unless you own the auction and forcing pass theory applies. Tom Gandolfo had a hand the other day that shows D.S.I.P. theory in action.

xx A10x 109x AKJxx

1	Pass	1	2
2	3	4	?

There are 3 D.S.I.P. bids Tom can make. A direct 5 means he has distribution and no interest in defending. A pass shows an interest in defending. A double says he has a 5 bid with defense. Tom showed me the defensive hand by passing. With my hand I have the same 3 options. If I want to bid 5 to make with defensive values I double. This is in case Tom has some spade duplication of value and wants to convert for penalties. A direct 5 bid by me is a straight sacrifice especially in light of Tom's decision that he wants to defend. A pass by me is let's just defend an undoubled game.

The old fashioned way of doubling from either side with spade duplication of value screws up this auction. This means with a good hand and defense Tom must bid 5 which can be a horrible bid if I held spade values and wanted to convert 4 spades doubled. he has just rescued the opponents to tell me he had a good hand! The beauty of D.S.I.P. doubles is that if either Tom and I had a spade stack they play the contract doubled. Doubled by the partner that does not have spades and converted by the partner who does. Winning in both cases where the old fashioned trump stack double works only in one case.

When the opponents pre-empt past our negative double level is where D.S.I.P. understandings are very useful. You always know the double is based on HCP rather then their suit. Taking the ambiguity out of these auctions is worth a heap of IMPS.

x AKxx AJ10x Axxx

1	4	Pass	Pass
Dbl

You have xxx Qxxxxx Qxx x and bail to 5. You may make 6 on a hook! What if partner had an ambiguous double AKx x AKxxx Axxx. If you bid 5 you get murdered. If you pass and they have a diamond singleton, 4 doubled goes one down. In D.S.I.P. theory you have to pass this hand or take a gamble and bid 5.

You have xx Ax AKQxx AJxx and open 1 and partner bids a 1. RHO leaps to 3 so you make a Thrump double. A Thrump (3NT) double is a special form of a D.S.I.P. double which is used over pre-empts in the sandwich position or direct position. It asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit. If no stopper, make a natural bid or convert for penalty. When the opponents use raises of weak 2's and pre-empts to jam you, doubles are D.S.I.P. rather than takeout doubles. D.S.I.P. understandings are used in competition after your takeout doubles. Forcing passes are used only vulnerable against not when bidding game after a takeout double.

Nowadays, people at every level of skill seem to like coming into your strong NT auctions. Other then special understandings when they make artificial bids, I like a direct double of their natural bid to be D.S.I.P. This means if I have a trump stack double of their bid I would pass or if the vulnerability was wrong I would leap to 3NT. This puts some pressure on the strong NT hand to re-open with a double once in a while with the appropriate hand.

A natural 2NT in competitive auctions is very rarely used. 2NT is Lebensohl or scrambling or showing two suits. The D.S.I.P. double has replaced the natural 2NT bid if possible. A support double is a specialized D.S.I.P. double showing 3 card trump support for partner's major. You make trump stack doubles with D.S.I.P. theory by converting partner's doubles. If they run, doubles are trump stack doubles. If partner has a clear narrowly defined hand like a weak two or a pre-empt, trump stack doubles still apply.

Over strong twos up to the 3 level a direct double is systemic saying I have no controls. A pass says I have a control or better so do something intelligent. D.S.I.P. doubles are used over their toys like Michaels or Unusual 2NT if we do not own the hand. If we own the hand then forcing pass theory takes precedence. When the auction suggests that a trump stack double is not possible then the double is D.S.I.P.

1

1

4

Dbl

Double is the most obvious D.S.I.P. double in Bridge.

When you have an established fit but you do not own the auction, a double is D.S.I.P. When you have a big fit, your points are wasted for defense. If you have a minor suit fit established and the opponents have competed up to 3 level in spades a double should be a 3NT try, bail to 4 of a minor or in rare occasions convert.

Another special case of the D.S.I.P. double is the sandwich position after a forcing 1NT bid. A direct double is D.S.I.P. Trump stack doubles must be shown with a pass. This way we can convert for penalty from both sides of the table and show strong hands immediately with a double.

Eons ago when I first started playing bridge there was this concept of "free bids". This meant that if you had a chance to pass or bid, bidding showed a better hand. This resulted in a lot of distributional minimums being passed and partner had to make a series of guesses. Over the years this free bid concept led to partnerships getting jammed out of the auction and bad competitive decisions were made. Today Bridge is a bidders game and "free bids" were one of the casualties that went by the wayside.

O.K. what replaced "free bids" in expert circles. You guessed it, the D.S.I.P. double and the Good-Bad 2NT. You open 1 on xx Axx Ax AKxxxx and LHO overcalls 1 and partner doubles. RHO bids 2 and you are not quite strong enough to cuebid so you bid 3. The opponents bid 3 and around to you again again. Of course you make a D.S.I.P. double and this does not show a trump stack but a maximum for your previous action. O.K. same auction but change you hand to a 10 count that you opened xx Axx xx KQJ109x. The bidding goes exactly the same way.You make a "free bid" of 3 to describe your hand but this time you put the green card on the table when they compete to 3.

There is a place in Bridge for not playing D.S.I.P. doubles and that is in Balancing Theory. Balancing by its very nature is a gamble. Sometimes you lose by balancing and trump stack penalty doubles are a more effective weapon in these situations.

1	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	3	Dbl

Double is penalty. There is still a place in Bridge for trump stack doubles and balancing is one of them. You play the over/under rule though. If you are behind the suit, it is penalty otherwise D.S.I.P. If the opponents balance in NT, all doubles are penalty. If the auction is confusing then err on the side of caution that the double is D.S.I.P. rather then penalty. -730 does not translate into IMPS well.

D.S.I.P. vs Support Doubles

There is a misconception that if partner shows 5 of a major in competition, support doubles do not exist. Nothing can be further from the truth. Support doubles and redoubles are part of the "Law of Total Tricks". You can evaluate the defensive and offensive potential of your hand better if you know you have a 5-4 fit as opposed to a 5-3 fit.

The auction goes:

1	1	1	Dbl
?

You hold Axx Axx AQxx xxx and the opponent's double shows a heart fit. Over opponents' artificial doubles showing a fit, support redoubles should apply. You make a support redouble and the opponents jump to 4 and around to you again. You have 3½ defensive tricks and you would not mind if partner bids 4 so you make a D.S.I.P. double. What if you have a huge hand similar to the old fashioned redouble? The pass and double shows that type of hand.

Support doubles should be used in tandem with negative doubles as sometimes partner has a 5 card suit for a negative double. You hold xx KQx AKxxx Q10x and open 1. They overcall 1, partner doubles and RHO raises to 2. A support double to show 3 good hearts and wanting to compete is probably a good idea. Tom and I had a hand a while back that shows this support double in action. I held x Axxxx K10xxx xx and with everyone vulnerable Tom opened 1 and RHO overcalled 2. I doubled and LHO bid 3 bringing a D.S.I.P. double from Tom. I did not think we had game, so with my singleton in his suit I passed and collected +200. Wrong, 4 was cold for +620. If we change the D.S.I.P. double to a support double after all negative doubles, reaching 4 is rather simple. This changing a D.S.I.P. double to a support double is only for auctions where partner may have a 5 card major for his negative double. When the opponents make a take out double, support doubles are quite frequent.

1	Dbl	1	2
Dbl

Double is 3 card support. If RHO bids 1NT is the double support or penalty? I think the conventional support double is more common than the times we would have a penalty double of a freely bid 1NT from the opponents.

The opponents use a cuebid to show a limit raise or better quite often. Why not reserve the double of their cuebid as a support double? The cuebid is in effect just raising their suit anyway.

1	1	1	2
Dbl

Double shows 3 card spade support and 2 always shows 4 card support.

How about combining negative doubles with support doubles again? If partner's negative double can have a 5 card suit, we double to show a good 3 card suit.

1	1	Dbl	2
?*

* With xx KQx J10x AKxxx we double

Thinking in D.S.I.P.

D.S.I.P. doubles require an absolutely new approach to thinking in competitive situations.In actively competitive situations only two scenarios can be applicable. You own the auction or you do not. If it is self evident that you own the auction, standard forcing pass theory takes precedence. If you are actively competing and you do not own the auction or are not sure if you do, D.S.I.P. double theory takes over. The 3rd case is when they own the auction or at the 5 level, old fashioned trump stack penalty doubles or action doubles can apply. D.S.I.P. doubles are just the opposite of standard penalty double thinking.

A standard double in a competitive auction says I have a trump stack so put on the breaks partner. In D.S.I.P. theory, the double is just the opposite. It says I have defense and want to take offensive action with no duplication of value in their suit. Why the switch from traditional thinking? This is due to the nature of the game of Bridge itself. Bridge by definition is played in a clockwise order. In many, many competitive auctions, partner with no duplication of value and defense "likes his hand" and competes one more time in your suit. Much to your dismay this is the wrong action as you wanted to make a trump stack penalty double but did not get the chance. A single handed decision was made for the partnership rather than a joint one. Pseudo sacrifices at the game level and wrong partial swings at lower levels are very common. The culprit is duplication of value in their suit and standard penalty double theory. There are many bids in Bridge which ferret out duplication of value. Splinters are the most popular method. D.S.I.P. doubles are the tool of choice for finding duplication of value in competitive bidding.

QJ109xx AKQxx Ax void

This is a real hand from a Thursday night:

1	Pass	3	4
Pass	4	5	?

The opponents are bidding your void at the 5 level. You need next to nothing from partner to make 5, in fact 6 is a possibility. Every undisciplined Bridge player in the world would bid 5. They all would be wrong because when forcing pass theory applies you can afford to pass the decision to partner. The 5 bid does turn on forcing passes as they are obviously sacrificing. The opponents' actions can switch on forcing pass theory. Partner's hand is xxx xxx xx AQJ98. In forcing pass theory when you have a huge hand with defense and want to bid 5, you ask partner's permission to bid 5 by passing. Forcing pass theory is beautiful partnership bidding.

Does this removal of trump stack doubles mean that opponents can get away with murder? Of course not. Like negative doubles, penalty doubles are just done differently by converting partner's D.S.I.P. double. What if you were too weak to re-open with a D.S.I.P. double? This is actually a blessing and many times taking out insurance against penalty doubles making. Penalty doubles make when you announce to the declarer where the trump are and partner has very little defense to contribute. In D.S.I.P. theory this will never happen. Against very bad bidders who are have walked into a terrible trump stack are going to get away with it, if partner cannot compete again with a double. However you cannot make anything your way because of the duplication of value. The IMP scale robs these kind of results anyway. D.S.I.P. theory is not applicable for matchpoints or Rubber Bridge because the level of the opponents are a basic assumption. It is assumed that they are not suicidal. In other forms of Bridge, we not quite sure.

Was That a Penalty Double?

D.S.I.P. theory simplifies the penalty double. The trump stack double is virtually extinct in competitive situations so penalty doubles can be classified into two groups. The 1st group is forcing auctions where its obvious from the bidding we own the hand (redoubles and running from penalty conversions are included in this class). Forcing pass theory takes precedence over D.S.I.P. doubles and penalty doubles are in accordance with forcing pass rules or just trump stack doubles. Doubles of their 1NT bid or balancing 1NT is punitive and sets up forcing passes through the two level.

The 2nd group of penalty doubles is all the rest of the auctions where we cannot tell from the bidding that we own the hand therefore D.S.I.P. doubles apply. We are competing because we do not own the hand. Negative double theory is just a subset of D.S.I.P. doubles in my mind. Takeout doubles and re-opening doubles and balancing doubles are what I call "suit disciplined" D.S.I.P. doubles. You do something intelligent by bidding a suit or converting if you have their suit.

The above is far too neat and easy on the memory so naturally there are some exceptions in the D.S.I.P. group. The following trump stack double exceptions apply:

1. After partner pre-empts (any form weak jump shift, weak 2, 3, 4, Michaels, Unusual, 2NT, weak jump overcall, jump response to 3 level). The reason is that partner does not need the pre-empters input into the penalty double decision as he has shown his hand within a narrow range.

2. The 5 level - The 5 level belongs to the opponents for a reason. At this rarefied level we can tell with the number of their trump we hold whether they are going to make a contract or not. D.S.I.P. doubles do not apply.

Balancing and D.S.I.P. doubles could be a good mix so let's discuss.

The very common auction of 1 of a minor and 1NT response is a case in point. They balance with a major and you are the top of your range for a 1NT bid but you have nothing in their major, a D.S.I.P. double would be nice to show your maximum.

1	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	3	Dbl

This to announce a top of the range 2, so a D.S.I.P tool. Balancing doubles bring in redoubles which makes all doubles of the trump stack variety. Balancing 1NT bids brings in doubles to show top of range which is essentially punitive. re-opening doubles should be a common occurrence after the opponents have balanced so partner can convert. Balancing is risky so they must pay the price if they gambled recklessly.

It would be nice to have all penalty doubles be either forcing pass criteria or D.S.I.P. criteria but I see no way around a few for D.S.I.P. doubles. The dinosaur trump stack doubles still have their use in a few situations in the game of Bridge. I was reading Benito Garozzo's system and his penalty doubles only include conversions and after partner pre-empts. All other doubles are just showing values in his system.

Penalty Doubles of Games

On a crusade now to re-enforce penalty doubles of games at IMPS. Penalty doubles of games in matchpoints making is a near zero, penalty doubles of games in rubber bridge making hurt financially but in IMPS the scale encourages penalty doubles! I repeat - the IMP scale encourages penalty doubles of games. If they go down doubled you are making a bushel of IMPS. If they make the contract doubled you are losing 4 IMPS. If partners are not in the game making then the double will not matter anyway as wrong end of the IMP scale. So double games more frequently. This is a hard habit for matchpoint players to learn I am finding. Get rid of the reluctance to make penalty doubles of games in IMPS. There are "lead directing/penalty doubles" when you have not been competing. You have been listening to the bidding and they have invited or otherwise have shown nothing extra. In competition, doubles of games are still D.S.I.P. The double of a game in IMPS is more than just extracting a penalty it is giving information to partner. Your non double is also giving a message. You have a minimum or duplication in their suit. I had a hand tonight that encourages the penalty double of games concept.

x Q1098x AJ10xx Kx

Partner opens 1 and Mr. Fowlie overcalls 1. I make a negative double and LHO Mr. Willard leaps to 4 and around to me. Both vulnerable, what now? Should you bid 4NT to force partner to pick one of your suits. No, you are playing into the hand of the 4 pre-emptor. The 2nd double is not penalty but shows a willingness to play the hand somewhere but you have defense. You are just deferring the decision to partner and giving him an option.

If your negative double was based on distribution and very little defense now you can back in 4NT. x Q1098x KQ10xx xx is a vulnerability dependent 4NT. What if the opener has a good hand and wants to bid something? These auctions bring out D.S.I.P. theory even if you do not play these concepts formally. With a good hand and defense why guess at the 5 level? Double to say you want to bid but will leave the option of a penalty conversion open. What if the opponents are insane and you have a huge trump stack? Grit your teeth and pass! Partner will re-open with a double if he can. If he cannot, just take your plus.

When the opponents leap to game the definition of penalty doubles change. The double shows a good hand and says partner I am fixed. Forget about trump stack penalty doubles in these auctions. They simply do not exist.

Psychological Penalty Doubles

Using an article by Zia Mahmood as a basis for this strategy.

"You love bridge, just like the rest of us addicts. But have you ever thought about which part of the game excites you most? It could be a delight in fine bidding, the indulgent pleasure of a well-played hand, the artistic beauty of a killing defense, or perhaps a combination. They do all have an irresistible charm.

Actually, for myself, there is a fourth, even greater attraction: the psychological game. I find it fascinating. Surprisingly, although countless books have been published on bidding and play, almost nothing has appeared on this subject.

Psychological bridge can come in many guises but the satisfaction from a successful coup is always jumbo-sized. Just ask any player who ever deflected the opponents from attacking his weakest suit by playing it first. Or any adventurer on his way to slam who cuebid a control he didn't have and successfully stopped the killing lead.

What bliss, incomparable ecstasy that lingers on long after the event. The great advantage of these plays, unlike improvements to card play technique which can take years to perfect, is that they can be adopted instantly by any average player. This is a psychological penalty double, based not on the evidence of your cards but on ‘other' factors: the timing, the opponents' bidding or their table action.

You can use the double whenever the following 5 situations exist, and you have the slightest excuse

1. The impossible - sounding auction

As Opener you hold: 976 AQJ103 8 10842

Pass	1	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	3	Pass
Pass	3	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Dbl

The opponents stopped in 2 and now North has punished South for competing. Something went wrong; double them. You have a great lead and the one time in ten they make will be compensated amply by the juicy penalties of the other nine.

2. You want your opponents to run.

This is great for poker players. It starts with a familiar auction where the opponents struggle into a contract where you know they are about to get lucky and make: DOUBLE. The fear of a large number will help remove them to a ‘safer' resting place.

I was playing with David Berkowitz, the American champion, in the Vanderbilt tournament. He held:

J43 K103 J104 J1095

Sitting Responder, with South the dealer, he heard the following auction:

1	1	2*	Dbl
2	Pass	3	Pass
3**	Pass	3	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Dbl***
5	Pass	Pass	Dbl****

* Club fit, forcing but denies 4 spades, ** Looking for 3NT, *** a complete bluff, **** much happier

David could see that 4 on the 4-3 fit would make with the friendly trump break. He also knew that the opponents did not know this, so he doubled. A bad break might mean losing control and conceding a large penalty, so South reasonably ran to the ‘safety' of the known club fit.

Brilliant - yet all he needed to do was listen carefully to the auction and have the courage to make a Panther Double. You don't need to look as sleek as a panther to bid like one.

3. Invitational auctions.

This is my personal favorite. Whenever a limited hand accepts an invitation, the Panther should be ready to pounce at the slightest excuse. That excuse may be as flimsy as the fact that the last bid was made after a lengthy hesitation, suggesting an overbid, or at least a tight contract.

1NT	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT*	Pass	Pass	Dbl

* after a pause

The double, by increasing the stakes, places considerable pressure on the declarer who will proceed to misplace the high cards. In addition, his mind, filled with images of ghosts and bad breaks, will be unable to function clearly.

If the sequence above is for the more adventurous, the more common limited auction where the defender can foresee bad lies or breaks for declarer, is impossible to resist. Now the prey is helpless; it almost feels unsporting to pounce.

Armed with your new toy you decide to sit in on a high-stake rubber bridge game. Naturally you pick up our typical hand:

6 J982 Q1063 KJ98 and hear this auction:

Pass	Pass	1	Pass*
1	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	3NT	Dbl**
4	Dbl

* the boring collection becomes a little less boring when North bids clubs, ** the Panther Double: the auction is limited and more, both suits break badly.

E-W vulnerable. South Deals

	A72
	A3
	J84
	AQ1032
Q1094		6
Q7654		J982
A5		Q1063
74		KJ98
	KJ853
	K10
	K972
	65

Partner leads the seven of clubs and declarer finesses, losing to the king. South wins the heart return in hand to play the ace of spades and another spade. When you show out he wins the king while you throw a diamond. He now tries the ace of clubs and a club ruff and partner over-ruffs. Opener cashes the queen of spades and exits with a heart to dummy's ace. Declarer, desperate, and with no more entries to dummy, tries a diamond to his king. Opener wins and South's only other trick is his last trump. South ends up making three spade tricks, two hearts and one club; down four and +800 for Responder-Opener. Perhaps declarer could have done better but most humans don't perform well under pressure.

Now be honest. If you had picked up that insignificant looking Responder hand before reading this article would you have allowed your 800 to slip by? Life has no guarantees and I admit that sometimes the Panther Double can backfire. But you don't have to worry. If your partner screams after such a disaster, blame me.

4. The Psychic Double

I have played with partners that have made psychic doubles of Blackwood responses to keep the opponents out of bidding their make-able slam. Doubling the opponents to keep them out of them slam is quite the coup if you have a resting place to go to if they redouble. This normally happens when partner pre-empts and you have length in her suit. The opponents have a fit and your 10 HCP in your suit is wasted for defensive purposes. You have the advantage that you know this but they do not. Doubling a game to keep them out of slam is a reasonable gamble. Even if they redouble and they bid again it is very hard for then to get to their grand slam when you have doubled them in game!

5. Leading declarer to misplay the Trumps.

This type of double requires an "ear to the bidding". The opponents are having a slow invitational auction and they are about to get a horrible trump break.

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
4	Dbl

void Jxxx QJ109x J1098

The odds are that partner has 5 trump. Declarer does not know this and might start the trumps from the wrong hand. This is an invitational sequence so why not play with declarer's mind and double? If partner doubles with her 5 trump it might give the show away and declarer will play the hand accordingly and might get lucky and make it.

I made this double in an IMP match a while back and had Pitbull Lorna as a kibitzer. Lorna started to laugh when she saw my double card so she had to leave the table. When the smoke cleared, declarer went for +800 and could have made it if he played my partner for 5 trumps!

D.S.I.P. Part Two

In IMPS, I am a great believer in D.S.I.P. doubles as opposed to "never pull my penalty doubles" type of doubles. Why, well the IMP scale and our style of overcalling on very good hands dictate this philosophy. Take this hand not vulnerable vs vulnerable and RHO opens 1. You have x AK10 K1098 AK109x and decide to bid 2. LHO bids 2, partner passes and RHO surprises you by bidding 4. Should you double? In rubber bridge it is clear cut. +800 gets you $40.00 at a nickel. In matchpoints it is clear cut you must double and get your +800. Even if the field is not in 4 there might be people doubled in 3, so to go for the best score you should double. In IMPS put the green card on the table. Why? Assuming your intelligent partners are in a part score for +110 and you have these people in 4 down 3 for +300 you are winning 10 IMPS anyway. If you double and collect +800 you win +13 IMPS! In effect, in IMPS you are excluding D.S.I.P. double strategy for a 3 IMP gain!

In IMPS, if you double a game after overcalling you want partner to do something intelligent which includes pulling your doubles. Take the same scenario but take away the HCP in the opponent's suit. x xx AKJx AKJ10xx. Again you double 4 after overcalling 2. In other forms of bridge you probably back in 4NT to say pick a minor. This is very single handed. Partner can have heart values, spade values, shortness in clubs and would love to play it in 4 doubled. Why not pass the decision to partner with a double? This is not a penalty double or you would have just quietly passed and taken your plus. This is saying I want to bid 5 but because we are an established partnership, you can make the decision.

O.K. back to the theme of our overcalls being so variable in strength. We will overcall at the one level with very good hands. This has the advantage of getting your distribution in first and your strength later on. The down side of this is that good opponents can "smell" game your way and pre-empt you with advance sacrifices and tactical jump to games. The solution is to play D.S.I.P. doubles and double if you want to bid again and pass if you do have a trump stack plus. Everyone of us overcalls a heart with a spade on this hand AKQxxx x AQxx xx. They are vulnerable and we are not. Is this not an excellent opportunity to sacrifice in 4 and on a good day it might even make? In rubber bridge and matchpoints, why not gamble it out and single handily bid 4? In IMPS, do not even think about it. You have a partner over there so double. With the agreement that this does not show a trump stack, partner can bid 4 if it is right and passes if it is not. Partner gratefully passes with x QJ109 xxxx xxxx and you get +800 instead of -500. Quite a reward for allowing partner to be part of the decision!

Rubber Bridge and matchpoints tends to re-enforce single handed decisions. In IMPS, Bridge is truly a partnership game. Penalty doubles in IMPS have a different meaning. Partner must pull them when the situation dictates and that is when you have been in the auction or both partners have been competing. These are the old style co-operate doubles. Just eliminate trump stack doubles from your way of thinking and you will get it right.

Rebidding your hand

One of the annoying facets of the game of Bridge is partner bidding her hand twice. This is a basic hand evaluation no no. Once you have shown a distributional monster vulnerable and partner takes preference, you now bid it again thereby gambling that partner has the right cards. Playing D.S.I.P. theory you bid your hand twice in a different way. Why, because a D.S.I.P. double says I want to bid again but I have defense. This way of bidding your hand again brings partner in on the act.

BJ Trelford held the classic distributional monster void AJ10xxx AQJ10x KJ. He opened 1, they overcalled a spade with the opponents cue bidding 2. BJ bid 3 all by himself with a passing partner who gave preference to 3.

Not playing D.S.I.P. theory, I think you should gamble and bid 4 as they are bidding your void so you need almost nothing to make 4. It is a single handed bid though as partner has never been consulted in this auction. D.S.I.P. doubles are a tool to bring both partners in on the decision making process. You have showed 10 or 11 red cards already, so you can double saying you want to bid 4 but you have defense. The auction goes pass, pass and pass. Partner holds J98x K xx 109876x so you beat the contract one for +200 (close to 500). 4 doubled goes for -800 which happened at a few tables.

D.S.I.P. doubles take getting used to as you can double with offensive monsters that also have defense. The key being that partner has already heard you announce your distribution. The double actually allows you to bid your hand again but not in a fatal way. You have the best of both worlds by bringing partner into the picture who as heard you show the table that you have a 6 - 5 in the reds. She makes the decision from her side. This way of bidding reflects all good hands. If you want to bid again, do it with a double. Excellent!

D.S.I.P, doubles are anti-intuitive. Playing just a standard style you either pass 3as you are all in with you bidding up to the 3 level all by yourself or you take a calculated risk by bidding 4. I would bid 4 like a flash with that hand not playing D.S.I.P. doubles. Doubling when you want to bid with strong distributional hands takes getting used to but it is sound in theory. You have described your distribution to partner already so now describe the defense with a double. Change BJ's hand to void AJ10xxx AKQxx xx, he should just bid 4 as his defensive values are concentrated in his suits. Do not leave up to partner what you can do yourself. Just bid 4 so do not make it too hard on partner. D.S.I.P. doubles, do not leave home without them.

D.S.I.P. - Takeout

Partner makes an overcall and then subsequently doubles. What does the double mean? In the early days of Bridge, the answer was easy. The double now meant partner has some tolerance for the unbid suits so it is takeout. Some players like Peter Jones would play the double as a trump stack in their suit and penalty! In this day and age of strong overcalls at the one level and two level, the double as takeout has become extinct. Equal level conversion theory has also led to the demise of the double after overcalling being takeout. You would have already bent over backwards to make a takeout double initially if you had tolerance for the unbid suits. This is not a 2nd chance scenario where you are making up from your initial decision to overcall.

A double after overcalling first just means I have lots of cards and is D.S.I.P. The double takes on the D.S.I.P. meaning that I want to bid again in "my suit" but I am giving you the option of converting for penalty. The D.S.I.P. double just means that I have defense and am further describing the strength of my overcall. It does not mean I have the unbid major and I want you to take it out. In fact, its just the opposite. It is very remote that I have tolerance for the unbid major or else I would have taken different action initially. A D.S.I.P. double is not a takeout double as it is promising "cards" not the unbid suits. If you do takeout a D.S.I.P. double to a new suit you are on your own as far as the suit is concerned but I can contribute help with HCP.

A re-opening double in the pass out seat after an overcall is not for takeout. Again it just says I have cards and leaving the option open for penalty conversion of their contract. This style is just based on probability. We make strong overcalls as opposed to making off shape takeout doubles and we might have chosen to make a takeout double in the first instance. Having the double as now takeout puts the over-caller in a straight jacket and you miss many nice penalty conversions or miss an opportunity to get to game due to not describing the strength of your overcall. Bidding your suit again in the re-opening position is just that as you did not make a D.S.I.P. double.

What if you double their game after making an overcall. Is it takeout, a trump stack penalty double or D.S.I.P.? Again the double should be D.S.I.P. as the opponents have jammed you out of the chance to show the strength of your overcall and you are asking partners permission to bid your suit.

Here are some examples.

AKJxxx x KQxx Kx.

1	1	2	Pass
4	?

It goes 1 and you overcall 1, LHO bids 2 and partner passes and RHO bids 4.

I have seen players single handily bid 4 here and hit partner with x QJ109 xxx QJ10xx. -500 your way instead of +800 your way. A double by you should be D.S.I.P. because you would not be bidding or doubling with a trump stack in their suit. Partner will bid 4 or leave it in at her discretion. Say she had a hand too weak to bid 2 over 2. Qxx xxx J109xx xx is a hand that she will pull the double as cheap insurance and gets rewarded with +790!

In IMPS, if you double a game after overcalling you want partner to do something intelligent which includes pulling your doubles.

x xx AKJx AKJ10xx.

1	2	2	Pass
4	?

Again you double 4 after overcalling 2.

In other forms of Bridge you probably back in 4NT to say pick a minor. This is very single handed. Partner can have heart values, spade values, shortness in clubs and would love to play it in 4 doubled. Why not pass the decision to partner with a double? This is not a penalty double or you would have just quietly passed and just taken your plus. This is saying I want to bid 5 but because we are an established partnership, you can make the decision. A double of their major suit game does not mean you "forgot" to make a takeout double at a lower level. That is downright stupid! The double should mean just the opposite. I overcalled with such a strong hand because a flaw prevented me from making an original takeout double. Playing equal level conversion we can make off shape takeout doubles. The above auction should send a red flag message that I do not have the other major so D.S.I.P.

D.S.I.P. - Raising Overcalls

Still another use for the versatile D.S.I.P. double. With the number of pre-emptive raises and Negative Free Bids and nuisance bids in today's game, you need a bid to assist in responding to partner's overcall. Enter the D.S.I.P. double to show cards. This double can have support or may be responsive. You assume a responsive double and partner will clarify if she has support. A D.S.I.P. double is neither a support double nor a responsive double but it can be either.

The D.S.I.P. double relieves the overburdened cuebid to show limit raise or better with only 3 card support. The double also allows an "invisible cuebid" when the opponents suit out ranks your sides. If the D.S.I.P. double has support it just means partner is too strong to raise immediately and a cuebid was not appropriate with defensive hand and 3 card support.

1

2

2

?

You have a limit raise in hearts but you cannot cuebid as you are forced to game. Enter the D.S.I.P. double and then support partner. This allows you to just compete to 3 with competitive values. All the pre-emptive raises after partner's overcall.

1

1

3*

?

* Make a D.S.I.P. double with a limit raise in spades and only 3 trump. Partner assumes support in these auctions and 3 is the death response.

1

2

3

?

You make a D.S.I.P. double with a limit raise or better in partner's suit. This leaves the door open for a 3NT bid by partner to play. A D.S.I.P. double in these auctions with a minor overcall is similar to a TRUMP double in non overcall situations. Bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit as I have cards and most likely 3 cards in your minor.

When partner overcalls a weak two, a pre-emptive raise by the opponents is all too common. Enter the D.S.I.P. double to announce "cards" and possibly support.

2

2

3

?

This D.S.I.P. understanding allows you to compete to 3 with competitive values. You do not pre-empt over a pre-empt so 4 would be to make. This implies the double here would be interpreted as responsive or just "cards". The context of the auction defines the D.S.I.P. double. One thing is certain in all these auctions, we do not have their suit.

Rescuing Opponents

There is an inherent risk in competing. If you do not compete enough and sell out, you will lose IMPS in double partial swings. If you over compete, you run the risk of the penalty double or in some cases just rescuing the opponents from a bad spot. I detest rescuing bad bidders from disaster by bidding again or in front of my partner when she wanted to double them. One of the main advantages of D.S.I.P. doubles is that you bring partner into the picture when you want to compete again. A joint decision will ensure that the opponents do not get rescued and your side finds the best partial.

The opponents are vulnerable, you have Kxx QJ109 Q1098 xx. The opponents open 1, partner overcalls 1. RHO bids 2 so do you bid 2? Before D.S.I.P. doubles, I would pass with this hand because I did not want to encourage partner to compete or make a pseudo sacrifice. With D.S.I.P. doubles, it is now safe to compete. Why? because if they bid again with partner wanting to compete with some defense, she will do so with a double. I have no problem with a trump stack in their suit as I convert for penalties. Without D.S.I.P. doubles, time after time partner rescued them from 3 to 3 going down our way. D.S.I.P. doubles prevent rescuing the opponents by over competing. The D.S.I.P. double also prevents pseudo sacrifices as partner would double first to compete again even at the game level.

A local couple, very vocal critics of D.S.I.P. doubles, bid this hand the following way. Kx KJx xx AKJ109x. I opened 1 in 3rd seat and they overcalled 2. This was passed around to me who had a reasonable 6-4 but with a singleton heart so I chose to re-open with 2. They wanted to compete again and not sell out for 2 which is reasonable. He bid 3 to compete and BJ doubled. This went for -800, his partner held J10xx Q10xx KJ10xx void. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles, you show a good overcall with defensive strength via a double. This of course gets converted so its our side that is scrambling to hold 2 to the minimum number down possibly doubled! This action is the classic case of partner bidding to rescue the opponents from a bad spot. I have seen this happen more times than I can count. This horrible practice provided one of the main incentive for us to introduce D.S.I.P. doubles.

A double is just too versatile a bid to waste on trump stack doubles or takeout in competition. By not playing D.S.I.P. doubles in competition, to me is just straight bad single handed gambling. Partner does not know if you are bidding again on strength or distribution. You must guess so if you guess wrong possibly a disaster. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles, I can compete again to 3 so partner knows that I am doing it on distribution rather than HCP strength as I did not make a D.S.I.P. double. Partner is now better placed if more bidding takes place. In fact, playing D.S.I.P. double allows you to compete more with distribution as partner will not get carried away by punishing you for pushing them up. Without D.S.I.P. doubles, by over competing you caused partner to make a bad penalty double because you "bid twice". They make the doubled contract, when all you wanted to do was push them up. With D.S.I.P. theory, you have described your hand as distributional when you competed again just by bidding as opposed to doubling. If partner now doubles for penalty, she is basically on her own.

Your bidding philosophy (trapping, avoiding misfit auctions) should be based on not rescuing the opponents. Rubber Bridge players know that the most lucrative way to make money is to give bad bidders enough rope to hang themselves. Extracting a penalty should be the first thought and not the "thrill" of playing the hand yourself. Tom Gandolfo opened 1NT, the vulnerable opponents play Capelletti so they bid 2. I doubled with Kxxx QJx Axx Jxx which Tom alerted as Stayman. Tom's RHO bid 2, so should Tom introduce his 4 card major? Of course not, as they are vulnerable and you are not, so you may be just rescuing the opponents from a disaster. If it is your hand, partner will double again, so you may choose to show your 4 card heart suit at that time. They bid 3 which partner doubles so you just pass. They go for 1100 with top defense and you cannot make anything!

D.S.I.P. - Responsive

The Bridge World Standard treatment of doubling opponents' raised suits after partner overcalls is responsive showing the two unbid suits. I think this is a poor treatment. BWS also plays a new suit bid by the partner of the over-caller as non forcing. This is also a very bad treatment as it eliminates the cuebid as limit raise or better. You need to use a cuebid just to create a force which muddles these auctions badly. BWS stands by these "Negative Free Bids" so they can compete better. I would prefer a new suit to an overcall remain as a one round force. With two unbid suits just bid them or make an Unusual NT bid to show a two suiter.

Borrowing a concept from Snapdragon doubles, the best solution is to play a D.S.I.P. double as showing specifically the higher ranking of the two unbid suits and tolerance for partner's overcall.

Axxxxx x K10x Q10x

1

2

3

Dbl

You have made two bids in one. I have spades and diamond support. If you had AKxxxx xxx x Q10x you would bid 3 which denies support for the overcalled suit.

You can use this bid as a "showing where you live" game try when partner has overcalled a major.

KJ10xxx Kxx Kxx x

1

1

2

Dbl

This D.S.I.P. double shows spades and heart support. A fit showing double if you will.

Now the Negative Free Bid just to compete.

Jx KQxxxx xxx xx

1

2

2

Dbl

You are too weak to compete to 3 directly so the double does it for you. You do not need a "Negative Free Bid".

The stronger hand comes into play where you have a choice of a forcing bid or a D.S.I.P. double.

Ax AQJxx 109xx Jx

1

2

2

Dbl

You bid 3 directly and partner bids 4 and you are out of your 3NT game which makes. Doubling first and bidding 3NT after the 3 bid gets you two bids in one. You show a good hand with hearts but you do not "end play" the over-caller. Partner holds xxx x Axxx AKQ10xx and 3NT is your spot.

The "classic" Snapdragon double is when there is only one unbid suit. You double to show that suit and tolerance for partner's overcall.

1

2

2

Dbl

Double shows hearts and club tolerance.

Shape before Strength

Playing D.S.I.P. theory determines your bidding style with respect to takeout doubles vs overcalls. The old style is to determine if a hand is "too strong to overcall". This is the strength before shape philosophy. By playing D.S.I.P. theory, it is easier to buy into the "shape before strength" philosophy. A recent hand in a Sectional brings this home.

Maurice and Susan vocal critics of D.S.I.P. theory, play strength before shape with respect to their decisions whether to overcall or double. Maurice held AKQxxx x AJx Kxx, RHO opens 1 so what do you bid? You have the boss suit so you cannot lose by doubling as you pull anything partner bids to spades. The only danger of this approach is partner playing you for even a better hand as you did not choose an overcall. Susan held J xxx KQxxxx xxx so with zero duplication of value in hearts and the club Ace where it should be in the opener's hand, they got to an excellent 5.

This won IMPS for our side as the other side choose to overcall but do not play D.S.I.P. theory. If you are going to overcall with hands of this strength, you must have a D.S.I.P. double later in the auction to describe the strength of your overcall. Witness what happened at our table with Barry Pritchard and Harold Brend. Tom opened 1, Barry overcalled 1 (as I would). I made a negative double, pass and Tom bids 2. Here is where Barry fell from grace. The ugly penalty double confusion reared its head. Would Harold interpret the double to show hearts? Barry felt given our bidding, Harold held absolutely nothing so just bid 2. They played it there for +200 as they made five.

OK a D.S.I.P. double to the rescue. You double 2 to show your heart shortness with a very good overcall. The bid says I have a rock overcall so do something intelligent partner. If that means converting 2 doubled for penalty this is fine. Partner now evaluates her hand on the basis of heart duplication of value. She leaps to 4 and passes 4 if that is bid along the way to 5 as a choice of contracts. I do not think you can play strong overcalls (shape before strength) without a subsequent double just to show your power. The two concepts go hand in hand. Why not jump to 3 to show a good overcall later on in the auction? This is not a good bid as it may rescue the opponents. A jump bid should deny defense and show a suit or distribution. What if partner has x KQJ10 xxxx xxxx and you just missed out on +800 in 2 doubled against +140 in spades or worse going down one. The double is the most flexible bid in Bridge.

Overcalls and Doubles

Modern overcall style is to show shape before strength. The old fashioned way was to show strength before shape. You would double to show 16 HCP or more therefore you were forced to make off shape take out doubles even with one suiters. The modern way is to overcall with pretty good hands. The limit of the strength of these hands is if partner were to pass, would game be missed?

Since our overcalls can be quite strong, D.S.I.P. doubles are needed to clarify the HCP later on in the auction. Trump stack doubles are therefore thrown out of the equation with all overcalls. They simply do not exist right up to and including the game level. After you have opened the bid, responder cannot make trump stack penalty doubles as you play negative doubles usually up to the 4 level or higher. Now with overcalls, you cannot make trump stack doubles as D.S.I.P. theory kicks in.

AKJxxx x KQxx Kx

1	1	2	Pass
4

I have seen players single handily bid 4 here, hit partner with x QJ109 xxx QJ10xx. -500 your way instead of +800 your way. A double by you should be D.S.I.P. because you would not be bidding or doubling with a trump stack in their suit. Partner will bid 4 or leave it in at her discretion. It is not a takeout to the other suits. It is a takeout to my suit or pass. It cannot be a takeout double as I already had that choice at the one level and I did not exercise that option. Say she had a hand too weak to bid 2 over 2. Qxx xxx J109xx xx is a hand that she will pull the double as cheap insurance and gets rewarded with +790!

Tom and I had auction a while back that shows this point well. The vulnerable opponents opened 1 vulnerable in 4th chair. Tom decided to compete as a passed hand not vulnerable with AKxx xx QJxx xxx so he bid a spade. The opponents bid 2, I held a nice playing hand Jxx xx Axxx KQ10x. So I bid 3, the opponents bid 4 so around to me. Time to bid a nice non vulnerable sacrifice against their 620? No, this is terribly single handed. Let partner decide instead, by you doubling and asking partner's permission to bid. Partner knows you do not have hearts on this auction as this is a D.S.I.P. double situation. Tom passes 4 doubled so it goes for +500. 4 doubled goes for -300 our way on a silly Moysean. Doubles in competitive auctions should never be trump stack doubles. The pass card is reserved for those types of hands after overcalls. Do not rescue bad bidding opponents by bidding. Preserve your options by doubling.

Since we overcall on very good hands with expert opponents leaping to game on weak distributional hands quite often, a double of a game must be clarified. Having it never being a trump stack double when we are in the auction competing is an excellent understanding. If you do have some trump values so you feel you can beat their game, just put the green card on the table. Bridge is a partnership game so partner will go wrong in these auctions if doubles alternate between good hands or trump stacks. It is a hard habit to break but pass with trump stacks instead of doubling. You are playing IMPS in a strong field so it is not a loss. They will probably play the wheels off the hand so end-play you in trump anyway. The double now has a different meaning with D.S.I.P. theory.

In IMPS, I am a great believer in D.S.I.P. doubles as opposed to "never pull my penalty doubles" type of doubles. Why, well the IMP scale coupled with our style of overcalling on very good hands dictate this philosophy. Take this hand not vulnerable vs vulnerable and RHO opens a heart.

You have x AK10 K1098 AK109x so decide to bid 2. LHO bids 2, partner passes, RHO surprises you by bidding 4. Should you double? In rubber bridge it is clear cut. +800 gets you $40.00 at a nickel. In matchpoints it is clear cut, you must double and get your +800. Even if the field is not in 4, there might be people doubled in 3, so to go for the best score you should double. In IMPS, put the green card on the table. Why? Assuming your intelligent partners are in a part score for +110, you have these people in 4 down 3 for +300 you are winning 10 IMPS anyway. If you double and collect +800 you win +13 IMPS! In effect, in IMPS you are excluding D.S.I.P. double strategy for a 3 IMP gain!

In IMPS, if you double a game after overcalling, you want partner to do something intelligent which includes pulling your doubles. Take the same scenario as above but take away the HCP in the opponent's suit. x xx AKJx AKJ10xx. Again you double 4 after overcalling 2. In other forms of Bridge you probably back in 4NT to say pick a minor. This is very single handed. Partner can have heart values, spade values, shortness in clubs and would love to play it in 4 doubled. Why not pass the decision to partner with a double? This is not a penalty double or you would have just quietly passed and taken your plus. This double is saying I want to bid 5 but because we are an established partnership, you can make the decision. A double of their major suit game does not mean you "forgot" to make a takeout double at a lower level. That is downright stupid! The double should mean just the opposite. I overcalled with such a strong hand because a flaw prevented me from making an original takeout double. Playing Equal Level Conversion, we can make off shape takeout doubles. The above auction should send a red flag message that I do not have the other major so D.S.I.P.

Game Try Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles are competitive doubles. The double is defined as showing defense and wanting to bid again. A direct bid is just competing with a pass meaning I would rather defend. Taking a cue from Maximal Game try doubles, D.S.I.P. doubles in some instances can function as game try doubles. Have you ever heard partner lament " well I bid again freely so why did you not bid game". This time, partner for competing had a nice hand with defense, so you made game. However, the last time he bid he was "just competing" freely to push the opponents up so which hand does he hold this time?. Let the D.S.I.P. double suggest the difference in the two hands between just competing or Serious game intentions. You can get to your game with a variety of hands with which you overcalled or balanced.

The Maximal game try double uses the double by opener to suggest a game try if the opponents jam you out of your bidding room to make a natural game try bid. A D.S.I.P. double is more general so just shows a good competitive hand with defense. This gives the partnership information that can be utilized as a game try. This understanding frees the over worked cuebid to show limit raise or better to hands where partner has 4 trump with a good hand (unless no interference of course). A limit raise hand with only 3 trump can be described with a D.S.I.P. double in a competitive auction with two unbid suits. Of course 3 card support is more defensive than 4 card support so the cuebid with 4 card support helps in game try decisions. You lose a "responsive double" for the two unbid suits but I suggest a 2NT bid to describe these hands.

Axxx Axx Q10xx xx. With a heart opener and a spade overcall by partner, this is an obvious 2 cuebid. Take away a spade and add some interference and I suggest a D.S.I.P. double or a "Good-Bad 2NT" treatment.

1

1

2

?

Axx Axx Q10xxx xx

Doubling with this hand shows the limit raise values with 3 trump. A two spade bid is better defined with the D.S.I.P. double in your repertoire as you will not be "heavy" with a simple raise. If you have 5-5 in the unbid suits so you want to make a responsive double, bid 2NT instead.

1

2

2

Dbl

This double shows a 3 bid with 3 trump and limit raise values. A 3 cuebid shows limit raise values or better with 4 trump. Say you had x KQxxx QJ10xx xx with the unbid two suits. Bid 2NT to describe these hands as a natural 2NT bid is virtually impossible in these auctions. To make 3NT you need a fit and a partner who can double or cuebid. A western cuebid will get us to 3NT if it is there.

Say you have a balancing auction where you might get to game. The auction goes 1 in third seat by the opponents, partner passes. Your RHO bids 1NT, partner balances 2. Your RHO bids 3 so you hold this hand A1098 Kxxx x K10xx. With 4 trump it is time to "punish the balancer" and bid 4. What about with 3 trump with this hand? A1098 Kxx x K10xxx. A D.S.I.P. double is in order so the balancer looking at the vulnerable opponents passes with xx Qxxxx AJ108 Ax and the carnage ensues. Knowing partner only has 3 trump with his double helps in conversion for penalty decisions.

A simple overcall situation.

1

1

2

?

Axx xx AQxx 1098x make a D.S.I.P. double instead of cue bidding. With Axxx xx AQxx 109x you should cuebid.

This is the Law of Total Tricks in action. Partner has K109xx xx Kxx AJx plays a spade partial with the D.S.I.P. double but bids a vulnerable game with the cuebid by partner. Hand evaluation has vastly improved for the over-caller knowing that 4 trump is over there. Hard to bid hands are assisted with D.S.I.P. doubles.

How many times have you had this dilemma?

1

2

2

?

xx Axx K10xx K10xx or a whole range of invitational hands with 3 trump. You cannot cuebid 3 to invite as you are in game so you bid a heavy 3 or worse jump to game which is supposed to be pre-emptive. You now can double to show your limit raise hand with 3 trump. Add another trump xx Axxx K10xx K10x, you have a 3 forcing to game bid. Minor suit overcalls are assisted greatly with the D.S.I.P. double as cue bidding sometimes pushed the auction to 4 of a minor (beyond 3NT) which may be too high. Knowing that partner has 4 trump will assist you in many competitive decisions if the opponents sacrifice or bid game.

What if the opponents responds 1NT to your partner's overcall? A D.S.I.P. double showing a limit raise with 3 trump makes a lot of sense as 1NT doubled could get converted. A cuebid showing 4 trump with a good hand should be standard. A penalty double without a fit is a very rare hand indeed so not advisable unless to expose a psyche somewhere.

1

1

1NT

Dbl

The doubler holds Kxx xx Axxx KJ10x so his hand is described quite well.

Converting for penalty can occur knowing partner has a fit for the overcall. With Kxxx xx Axx KJ10x, cuebid 3 as game is highly likely.

If the opponents make a systemic pre-emptive jump raise to the 3 level its best to keep the double as responsive (3NT to play).

1

2

3

Dbl

Bidding game with a fit and a good hand is an obvious action. For the lower levels using D.S.I.P. doubles as game try doubles with 3 trump makes perfect sense to me.

Negative Free Bids

D.S.I.P. doubles are obviously forcing bids unless the contract gets converted holding the opponent's trump. I have never liked "Negative Free Bids" directly as it complicates the 2/1 structure and negative double theory. However, when we overcall at the one, two and three level and they interfere, we should play Negative Free Bids. We can make a D.S.I.P. double with all good hands that you do not want to cuebid. This is one of the advantages of D.S.I.P. theory. You do not need free bids to be forcing one round when you have a D.S.I.P. double available, so you are allowed to compete, setup sacrifices or just get in a lead director. The D.S.I.P. double or cuebid does the rest. You do not need 3 forcing bids in competitive auctions where you have a D.S.I.P. double, a cuebid or a bid in a new suit all forcing. This is overkill.

If RHO does not interfere, this eliminates your D.S.I.P. double so a new suit is a one round force. Let's take some example hands where partner overcalls their weak two with RHO interfering The definition of a Negative Free Bid is that your bid is simply not forcing.

2

2

3

?

5 KJ10765 986 K32. This is the classic "Negative Free Bid". You paid your card fees so bid 3 non forcing

2

2

3

?

52 AKJ84 76 KQ52. Since 3 is a Negative Free Bid, you make a D.S.I.P. double. Partner has AKJ10x xx KQx xxx so you catch them speeding +800.

2

2

3

?

97 KQ4 875 AJ763. Classic D.S.I.P. double, I have cards and do not know what to do. Do something intelligent partner and may the force be with you.

2

2

3

?

42 QJ4 8 AJ109764. Negative Free Bids apply at the 4 level also. 4 is not forcing but not suicidal either.

At the one level, your D.S.I.P. double tends to be "Snapdragon" or just HCP. A free bid is negative and not forcing one round.

At the 3 or 4 level, same rules apply. When you have a D.S.I.P. double available none of your "free bids" are forcing not even one round.

AQ109xx xx xx xxx

3

3

3

3

Why not bid 3, it's not forcing. With a stronger hand double first and bid spades.

Defense vs Pre-empts

D.S.I.P. theory has a unique relationship with the opponent's pre-empts. The penalty double is never and I mean never a trump stack double at any level. Doubling pre-emptive overcalls for penalty by responder is an almost certain recipe for disaster. To distinguish between a trump stack double and I have "cards" double is impossible. The ambiguity is just too great. One double has got to go, so the trump stack double disappears.

Here is a hand from last night Jx Q1098 AK 98765, the opponents are vulnerable and you are not. Partner opens 1, LHO "pre-empts" 4. Virtually the entire field from Thursday night IMPS doubled 4 for penalty. The opener held a lot of defensive tricks void Axxx 9xxx AK10xx. So with them being vulnerable and you having a void in spades, this is certainly going to be a juicy set, right? Wrong! The average score for the board was -790 or -990 as the "pre-emptor" held AKQ1098765 x xxx void.

Now for those players who play D.S.I.P. theory over pre-empts. This is a D.S.I.P. double from either side of the table. The direct double would say I have cards so do something intelligent, the balancing double says I have 3 defensive tricks for my opener so do something intelligent. If you have their trump, please convert. This results in +650 as 5 doubled makes with an over-trick. One pair got to that spot for an astronomically huge IMP pickup.

One enterprising pair got to two spades (me and BJ) when RHO passed a forcing pass as she only had 11 HCP for her opener.

Pass	1	1NT	Dbl
Pass	Pass	2	Dbl
Pass	Pass	2

This should have been a huge pickup for us as 4 doubled is -200, but the field does not understand suit preference signals. They cash the AK of diamonds and partner with QJ10x of diamonds on the board plays the 9 on the 2nd diamond. This high spot must be suit preference so you switch to a heart and get your diamond ruff. The entire field switched to a club which got ruffed for -990. We lost 12 instead of winning +200 +170 +9 IMPS because the entire field is defensively challenged. BJ and I had a very accurate auction to buy the hand in 2 against their cold 6 and lost 12 IMPS.

D.S.I.P. - Pre-empts

One of the tactics when your side has pre-empted is backing in and "showing where you live".Since this involves an element of risk, a fit with partner's pre-empt is necessary. These type of auctions fit the criteria for D.S.I.P.doubles rather than penalty doubles which are the norm when dealing with pre-empts.You do not own the hand, you want to hear partner bid his suit unless he feels he can beat the contract. How does partner know when to leave it in? Well you bid for a purpose. Is he short in that suit or does he have unexpected defense?

Here is an example. Partner opens 2 and the opponents double. You hold xxx xx xxxx AKJx and bid 3 at favourable vulnerability. The auction goes:

2	Dbl	3	3
Pass	4	Pass	?

And around to you again. Maybe a 4 sacrifice is in order? Why do it single handedly? Make a D.S.I.P. double saying I would like to bid 4. This is a 3rd case D.S.I.P. double where it appears the opponents own the hand. Partner has KQJxxx xxx x Qxx and says OK. You go for -100 and they make +620. Instead partner has AKxxxx xxx xxx x and converts. You get 3 clubs and two spades for a surprise +500!

In general, if you just raise partners pre-empt and double their final non slam contract it is not a penalty double situation as the auction dictates they own the hand. The double says I would like to sacrifice but I have defense and am not overly long in your suit. Your call partner - do something intelligent. I just do not see the percentages in doubling a freely arrived at game by the opponents after I have raised your pre-empt suit. If I feel I can beat them, I just put the green card on the table. I do not want to single handedly make a pseudo sacrifice so I double with defense and let you make the final decision.

The most common example is the simple raise of a weak two.

2	Dbl	3	4
Pass	Pass	?

The 3 raise can mean anything. Why not have a D.S.I.P. double to say let's sacrifice or leave it in depending on your hand? The pre-emptor should be able to read that it is the opponent's hand. Only the 3 bidder can take D.S.I.P. action because he just may want to take his plus if they landed in a bad spot.

3 by partner and the opponents double and I bid 4. They bid 4 and around to me and I double. Did I just make a clever trap bid and I have them where I want them? This assumes idiotic opponents who are making freely bid suicidal game tries. I think the double should be D.S.I.P. saying let's bid 5 but since I also have defense you may want to pass if you can contribute something. Of course if I took no action and I double their contract that is penalty and partner must put the green card on the table.

Pre-empts in 1st and 2nd seat should be disciplined with no outside stuff. No such thing as disciplined pre-empts in other seats though. All the more reason to play D.S.I.P. doubles. I am a passed hand and partner pre-empts 3. RHO bids 3 and I bid 4 and they bid game in spades and around to me again. I think it's a good idea to sacrifice but I have a couple of defensive tricks. 3rd Case D.S.I.P. double time! I double and partner has pre-empted with AKx xxx x QJ1098x! They got caught speeding. If partner had a real pre-empt he bails to 5 and we do our sacrifice thing. I think a single handed sacrifice by a passed hand partner should not be permitted.

Tom and I had an auction against Chris B which was a 10 IMP swing. I held xx AK108x Jxx xxx and the auction went 1 to my right and pass by me and a 2 bid by Chris.Tom bid 3 and RHO bid 4. I backed in 4 and LHO bid 5 and around to me again. Is this a time for a 5 sacrifice? Might be but let partner make the decision with a 3rd case D.S.I.P. double. Partner holds x Qxx KQ1098xx xx and 5 goes one down against their plus +600. Change partners hand to Qxx x AQ10xxxx xx and 5 doubled goes for +500! Normally when partner pre-empts D.S.I.P. doubles do not apply. The D.S.I.P. rules change though when partner raises the suit directly or by implication.

With slams and partner pre-empts or overcalls the ground rules are different again. A double of a slam by the partner of the pre-emptor shows no defensive tricks whether he supported partner or not! If you are vulnerable and they are not, when a sacrifice is impossible due to vulnerability, a double is lead directing as you are ruffing partner's suit!

D.S.I.P. Jump to Game

One of the defaults for a penalty double is a pre-empt. If you or your partners pre-empt, old fashioned penalty doubles apply. When you open or overcall and partner jumps to game or makes a conventional pre-emptive bid at the 3 level, he is describing his hand as pre-emptive in nature. You know quite a bit about his hand already so D.S.I.P. doubles are not necessary. You know enough to take action yourself without his input as in all pre-empts he has described his hand pretty well already. This means that you are captain of the ship and can control the auction. If you double it is penalty and if you pass, it ends the auction for your side.

Stan Cabay gives a couple of auction that describes the above principle well. Both vulnerable.

1	1	1	4
4	?

You have xx AJ10xx Kxxxx x and are vulnerable. You hear partner pre-empt to 4 and they bid their game. You are content so you pass which ends the auction. You do not want partner making a D.S.I.P. double as you no longer want anything to do with this auction.

You are vulnerable and they are not.

Pass	1	1	4
4	?

You have xx Qxxxxx AQ AQx and after partner has pre-empted to 4 vulnerable, you decide that defending a not vulnerable 4 is a good idea so you pass. This ends the auction for your side.

These hands point out that D.S.I.P. doubles are not necessary in every competitive auction. D.S.I.P. doubles are intended to help in variable ambiguous auctions. When partner makes a descriptive pre-emptive bid, old fashioned penalty doubles work quite well.

Eric Kokish says that after partner makes a simple raise and you jump to game regardless of the vulnerability, the pre-emptive rules apply. Forcing passes do not apply and neither do D.S.I.P. doubles. Eric contends that this is a captaincy situation and the crew can only make a penalty double. If the captain, doubles it is also a trump stack penalty double. The above rule changes if the opponents bid slam. If partner pre-empts and they bid slam, a double by either partner is a request to sacrifice and not a penalty double. Making penalty doubles of voluntary bid slams makes no sense, so we play it s the "double/undouble" tool for preventing pseudo sacrifices.

Hard and fast rules with D.S.I.P. doubles are rare but this one is etched in stone. If the opponents leap to game after finding a fit, a double is always D.S.I.P. from either side. You cannot make a trump stack double of any auction where the opponents, after finding a fit, leap to game. All doubles are "card showing" so defers the decision to partner to convert or bid. Well, you say this is obvious, the auction dictates that the double cannot be a trump stack. Yes, this is true but sometimes you encounter bad bidders so you may have a trump stack. Against these types of people, grit your teeth and put the green card on the table. You might be pleasantly surprised when partner doubles if he has defense.

D.S.I.P. doubles always involve competitive bidding. The opponents finding a fit and jumping to game is an exception. Doubles are always D.S.I.P. in these auctions where the opponents leap to game.

1	1	Pass	4
Dbl

1	3	Pass	4
Dbl

A takeout double is following the same principle so you definitely must grit your teeth if you have a juicy trump stack double.

1	Dbl	Pass	4
Dbl

This is not a spade trump stack. The spade trump stack is shown by the green pass card. Playing D.S.I.P. theory, you cannot make single-handed enforcer doubles of opponent's games. Of course, if partner has competed by raising your suit (unless pre-emptive) a double is always D.S.I.P.

The above is why D.S.I.P. theory is not practical against weak opponents. If the opponents jump to game, we must give them their due that they have their trump suit wrapped up. D.S.I.P. theory is based on that assumption. The opponents may be bidding on nothing HCP wise but give them their trump suit. D.S.I.P. doubles are often pulled, so do not double with values in their suit. Partner cannot hang you as he must double if he wants to bid again also.

What if the opponents single handedly jump to game? Again we have to give them their trump suit. A double is D.S.I.P. but not negative. There is a difference. A negative double is disciplined so has unbid suit requirements. A D.S.I.P. double at this level is a penalty double without their trump. The key phrase is "without trump" which makes partner pulling the double much easier. If you have a trump stack, you are forced to pass and hope partner doubles. A hardship, yes, maybe but it comes with the territory of D.S.I.P. doubles.

Coming with the territory of this D.S.I.P. theory is the strength of a game bid, as opposed to a D.S.I.P. double as opposed to a pass. A pass is simply the same opener you started with or a penalty double of their game. A double says you have a good defensive hand so would like to bid game. A game bid is the weakest action and may even be an advanced sacrifice. The D.S.I.P. double gives you that option. Say you opened on Axxx Qx Kx Kxxxx, the auction went:

1	1	1	4
?

If you feel like bidding 4 (just because of the terrorist vulnerable) go ahead and bid it as you have the inference that you did not make a D.S.I.P. double. Partner will not punish you. Add the club Ace to this collection so you make a D.S.I.P. double instead.

An out of the blue double is still penalty.

1	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Dbl

We cannot magically find a takeout double when we passed at the one level. This is a trump stack penalty double.

D.S.I.P. pre-emptive Auctions

The opponents pre-empt to make life difficult for you. They cramp the bidding and make you guess. If you guess wrong it can be expensive. D.S.I.P. doubles are a good counter measure for pre-emptive maneuvers by the opponents. First of all throw penalty doubles out, when one partner raises the pre-emptier. Penalty doubles just do not exist. If you have their suit, pass and wait for the re-opening double. A double says I have cards and no clear cut action. Tom Gandolfo had a hand tonight that shows D.S.I.P. theory in action at the 4 level.

3

3

4

?

K10x 9xx 109xx AJ10

You have defensive values but no clear cut action. Why guess at a 4 contract? You double which gives partner the maximum number of options. I held Qxx AQJ10x KJxxx void so over the double I bid 4. Tom is at the 4 level anyway so he bids 4 which gets doubled. I know I cannot stand the heart tap because Tom cannot have 4 trump on this auction. I bail to 5 and a disaster is averted as they may not even double that contract! If partner does not make a D.S.I.P.double and guesses the 4 is the spot, I would never pull 4 doubled. It goes for a telephone number on this particular hand and 5 is down one! Not bad against -130 in clubs!

When the auction has prevented you from describing your hand and raising partner, D.S.I.P. doubles just show cards and no clear cut choice of bids. Bidding in these auctions are quite often just straight gambling by guessing. D.S.I.P. doubles help alleviate the guess and even allows partner to pass with a non offensive hand and wastage in their suit. As long as the criteria for D.S.I.P. doubles are there, a double will assist partner. We do not own the hand or partner has no idea that we own the hand, D.S.I.P. theory applies. The last statement is important. If you had 16 HCPs in the above auction, how does partner know it? Without a great fit double anyway and then cuebid. This reserves the direct cuebid for fits only in these pre-emptive auctions.

Forcing pass auctions only apply if it is obvious to the partnership that they own the auction. If one partner is in the dark, D.S.I.P. double theory is the default. Trump stack doubles have no place in competitive bidding.

D.S.I.P. and Pre-empts

D.S.I.P. theory is a way of thinking penalty doubles in Bridge. In pre-emptive auctions by the opponents, D.S.I.P. theory still applies. Even if you have trapped with the opponent's suit, the only way the opponents can play the contract doubled is if you convert partner's double. Single handed trump stack "enforcer" doubles simply do not exist.

There are many pre-emptive auctions where the opponents are or might be stealing from you.

2

Pass

3

3

Pass

4

3

Pass

4

1

Pass

3

1

Pass

3

In these auctions, it is the responsibility of the partner in the sandwich position to get in their and bid with the required shape even though the HCP are not quite up to snuff (vulnerability taken into consideration of course). Do not punish partner in the sandwich position by getting slam happy or stretching to tight contracts. He will play you for about 7 HCP (law of pre-empting) and bid accordingly anyway. Bidding in the "sandwich position" is quite often pre-balancing as in all pre-emptive auctions.

O.K. the auctions has gone:

2	Pass	3	Pass
Pass	?

Passed around to you. Partner has had a chance to double with the right distribution but did not. This does not mean you let the auction die. AKxx xx Axxx xxx with this hand you thought you were too light to double initially but now that the opponents have limited their hand you can back in with a double. Change you hand slightly by adding a heart and I would pass. The bidding marks partner with shortness in hearts yet he did not double.

A lot of these auctions are "vulnerability dependent" and bidding not vulnerable vs vulnerable can suggest a sacrifice. With other vulnerabilities, the double shows "cards" but not a trump stack and partner is supposed to do something intelligent. Sometimes doing something intelligent can just be passing and handing them 4 IMPS for their game making doubled. You cannot win them all when these doubles carry some risk. Usually these doubles have a flaw that prevented you from doubling in the first place like shortness in an unbid suit or not enough HCP for the level you are asking partner to bid. You choose to double now because you are "bidding the table" as the opponents are telling you that we have something. Taking your fix and passing with values in their suit is automatic. Taking your fix with a lot of other hands with no duplication of value is not generally recommended.

Doubling by you in these auctions may take some scrambling to find your fit. Equal Level Conversion just means that I do not have that suit partner let's try again. Quite often partner is just going to pass your double as you show cards and he has defensive values also. A trump lead is automatic on these auctions and sometimes they get caught speeding.

I had a hand tonight with Barry Pritchard that shows the importance of "getting in there" in the sandwich position when the opponents may have re-pre-empted. Everybody vulnerable Barry's RHO opens 2. Barry held QJ J10xx Axx KQxx and passed. LHO bid 3 and I doubled with 109xxx void KQxx AJxx. Barry bid 3NT and I started the scramble with 4. Barry bid 4 to show the club fit and RHO doubled and I passed to slow things down. Barry bid 5 and that contract happens to make for +600. If I pass 3 the auction will go around to Barry and he is in a very difficult situation. He knows I am very short in hearts yet I did not double. Based on that information he will probably pass. We collect a paltry +100.

D.S.I.P. - Thrump Doubles

Playing negative doubles through 4 brings in the concept of D.S.I.P. Doubles (Thrump) at the 3 level. One of the objectives of pre-empting is to get you out of your nice 3NT contract to an inferior contract such as 5 of a minor. Marty Bergen invented the bid which means a double at the 3 level asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in the opponent's suit otherwise bid naturally. If you open a major and the pre-empt is in the other major the Thrump double really makes sense even if not playing the convention. Conceptually the double is a "Western Cuebid" asking partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit.

x xxx xx AKQJ10xx.

1

3

?

Do you really want to bid 4 when a double asks partner to bid 3NT with a heart stopper?

xx xx AKxxx AQJx.

1

3

?

Do you really want to bid 4 when a double asks partner to bid 3NT with a spade stopper?

AKxx AKxx xxx xx.

1

3

?

Double as D.S.I.P. and if partner bids 3NT with her 4 card major live with it.

Thrump doubles also work when they pre-empt in the sandwich position. If you have a good hand with a stopper, just bid 3NT on most vulnerabilities. If they are vulnerable and you are not, you can have the partnership understanding that the double is penalty. It makes no sense to have a penalty double on the other 3 vulnerabilities as partner will re-open with a double with any excuse.

The problem with Thrump doubles in general is when partner opens a minor rather than a major and they pre-empt at the 3 level. You can still double with the classic negative double looking for a major fit but partner's first obligation is to bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit rather then bidding a major. This means that you are in 3NT instead of your 4-4 major fit. No big deal as with the distribution around the table the major is probably going to break 4-1 anyway.

Another problem is you do not have the "trump fit" inferences anymore.

1	3	Dbl	Pass
3	Pass	4

This bid does not imply a spade fit and showing the club ace looking for slam. It means I have clubs and we struck out trying to get to 3NT. A double of their pre-empt at the 3 level by responder (opener needs a rock) can be totally D.S.I.P. I have a flat 14 HCP with no stopper in their suit so I do not know what to do. Bid 3NT or pass or do something intelligent based on the vulnerability!

The Thrump double works when they pre-empt in the sandwich position also. A double is always a Thrump D.S.I.P double at the 3 level. There are various ways of "pre-empting" in the sandwich position. If the opponents make a jump raise in the sandwich position, a double at the 3 level is a Thrump double.

1	1	1	3
Dbl

Or even after a 2/1.

1	1	2	3
Dbl

Remember they are trying to get you out of your 3NT game! Some partnerships can modify this understanding depending on the vulnerability.

The Bergen invention of a Thrump double is just a variant of the D.S.I.P. double. The first intelligent thing partner should do is bid 3NT or pass with a trump stack!

A D.S.I.P. double at the 3 level should always have "Western Cuebid" overtones to it. BJ Trelford had 18 HCP with a balanced hand against the Bartons. They were vulnerable and we were not. He opened a minor and they overcalled a spade and made a negative double. RHO leapt to 3 so what should the opener do? A double is appropriate with the balanced 18 HCP or a long suit requesting a 3NT bid. With 18 HCP you are requesting partner to do something preferably intelligent.

Against Tom Gandolfo, BJ held x A xxxx AKQJ10xx and BJ opened 1 and LHO bid 2. I bid 3 and Tom interfered with 3. The odds of partner converting for penalty in this auction are minimal so I would make a D.S.I.P. double to request a 3NT bid. If partner does not bid 3NT, I will retreat to 5.

Converting partner's Thrump double for penalty should be a very rare bid. The Thrump double is so variable I would only convert for penalty with a trump stack at the appropriate vulnerability. Partner's Thrump double is unlimited as to HCP, fit and distribution so it is very difficult to convert.

Bergen's original article below:

Thrump Doubles

"Thrump doubles," as described here, were invented by yours truly. While they certainly are different, experience has shown that they are essential at the three level. What is a Thrump double and why do we need them? The discussion of the bidding on this hand will clue you in.

Q7 Q2 1087 AKQJ75

Once your partner has opened the bidding, you are thinking about 3NT. In fact, I will bet that is the case regardless of which suit your partner opened. You will show your clubs and points and hope partner bids notrump sooner or later.

Nice plan. Now suppose that your RHO jumps to 3, 3 or 3 before you are able to make your first bid. Are you going to give up on the 3NT contract you were heading for? If you make the "normal" 4 bid, do you expect partner to provide the five tricks you will need to bring home 5?

What is my suggestion? Make a negative double. However, instead of defining it as looking for the unbid major(s), think of it as looking for THRee notrUMP. On most hands where partner has a stopper in the opponent's suit, you would like him to bid 3NT.

When is this needed? When the enemy's natural jump overcall reaches 3, we cannot necessarily show our suit without going past 3NT. Here are the 10 auctions where the opponent has made a natural, preemptive jump overcall above 3 and below 3NT.

1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3), 1 - (3).

Must you have a solid suit? Absolutely not. A Thrump double would be totally appropriate after 1 - (3) with:

• 864 65 AQ754 AQ2 or
• 93 K7 KQ10865 KQ8 or
• 63 A2 852 AK10854

Now you are responder after 1 - (3).

K3 84 AKQJ5 J753 (Double, hoping partner bids 3NT.)

KQ863 KQ2 K7 985 (Forget your spades. You have hearts stopped so bid 3NT.)

AK A64 AK83 J852 ** (Once in a blue moon you will have a great hand with a stopper in the opponent's suit. In that case, you can start with a negative double and then explore for slam.)

Thrump Double Summary.

• Applies when the jump overcall is 3, 3 or 3.
• Tells opener to bid 3NT when he has a stopper in the opponent's suit.
• Says nothing specific about responder's holding in the unbid suits.
• Almost always denies a stopper in the opponent's suit.
• Responder denies a five-card major that he could have bid at the three level.
• Promises at least 10 HCP with denies three-card support for opener's major.

Worth noting: Responder could have a very long minor.

D.S.I.P. Competitive Toys

Weak 2's, Michaels cuebids and Unusual 2NT bids are pre-empts. With the latter two bids, Tom and I only play them weak or strong as intermediate two suiters are handled with overcalls. We do not want to assist the opponents in playing the hand or confuse competitive auctions by overusing these toys. If we have a moose that is a different story as we will be playing the hand or they will be doubled. Generally with pre-empts, D.S.I.P. theory does not apply. This is true because we are already supposed to know the hand within a very narrow range. This is only a half truth though. A two suited hand can be weak with a lack of defensive tricks QJ10xx QJ10xx xx x or weak with defense AJxxx Axxxx xx x.It is a bit of a stretch calling the 2nd hand "intermediate" therefore you cannot Michaels with the hand.

If partner makes a forcing bid like 2NT over a weak two or a cuebid after a Michaels or Unusual 2NT it conveys to the table that we own the hand. Therefore penalty doubles apply throughout the auction. What if partner just competes by bidding one of the suits? In these specific auctions I see no reason why D.S.I.P. theory should not apply. You would like to avoid pseudo sacrifices in these auctions also and a D.S.I.P. double is a tool to do this.

The auction goes:

1	2	3	3
4	Pass	Pass	?

You have QJx xxx AKx xxxx and you can passively pass 4 not vulnerable against vulnerable hoping to beat it. Why not have the best of both worlds? You double and if partner has K10xxx x QJ10xx xx he pulls to 4. You do not have to make the decision for both sides of the table. Change partner's Michaels hand to Axxxx x xx KQxxx and you catch them speeding in 4 doubled.

Of course if the Michaels hand wants to sacrifice with defense, he can double from his side when you have "opened the door" by competing. Vulnerability conditions, distribution (6-5 instead of 5-5) as well as defensive tricks are variables in these competitive auctions. With so many variables, D.S.I.P. doubles can assist on who is going to buy this hand. By the mere act of competing you relinquish your "captaincy" to the auction and allow partner to compete within the framework of D.S.I.P. doubles. Leaping to game is just competing as you could have bid 2NT or cuebid initially.

If partner had a chance to make a strong bid but does not, D.S.I.P. doubles apply. I think a leap to game should allow D.S.I.P. doubles into the fray. Gone are the days where you are trying to "trap" the opponents with a clever leap to game with your defensive 18 HCP.

I still remember a hand in the Red Deer Calcutta where Tom opened a weak 2 not vulnerable and I had a reasonable hand so I took a shot and bid 4. The infamous Mr.Willard came in vulnerable at the 5 level with a 5 bid and back to me. I did not have enough to double him so I passed and we got +100. Disaster as we can make 5! The rest of the field was allowed to buy it in 4 as there was no Willard factor at their table. Tom has a void in diamonds and he cannot bid as Willard could have run into my 150 honours in diamonds. I feel I should be able to make a D.S.I.P. double as I did not bid 2NT going in. Tom can then make the decision from his side even though he opened a weak two. A jump to game is so ambiguous that I think you should always bid 2NT or cuebid if your side "owns the hand".This switches on forcing pass theory. If you do not show a sign of strength by just competing,D.S.I.P. theory applies.

D.S.I.P. Pre-empts

When playing in a tough field there are certain auctions where you have to trust the opponents. These auctions are where their actions dictate that they have their trump suit wrapped up and they are making tactical game bids based on lots of trump. These auctions quite often include bids like Michaels, Unusual 2NT, pre-emptor just leaping to game in a major or minor. These type of auctions are automatic D.S.I.P. doubles for the defending side.

These doubles are pulled quite often depending on the vulnerability or the playability of your hand. The D.S.I.P doubles always have less then 3 trump to an an honour (maybe xxx) in their suit and just says I have some defense or offense so do something intelligent. If for some bizarre reason you do have their suit you must pass and partner might make a D.S.I.P. double!

The Steve Willards of the world love jumping to game on almost any kind of hand or distribution.

1

1

4

This auction is a very frequent bid in Steve's bridge vocabulary. Why? Years of experience has shown that the opponents cannot handle such a bid. He either steals the hand when 4 is cold, plays 4 down 3 undoubled, opponents play 4 doubled going down as a pseudo sacrifice or an unwise penalty double for +790. D.S.I.P. doubles are the best defense by far for this type of action. Doubles do not show trump in any of these auctions. It says I do not know whether to defend or bid but I do not have an abundance of cards in your suit or I would have bid. I will not have a singleton in your suit or their trump as I would wait until you make a D.S.I.P. double and convert for penalty.

D.S.I.P. doubles are essentially negative doubles in these pre-emptive auctions. You just cannot expect a trump stack when the opponents are daring you to double them. Having this trump stuck mentality will just destroy you in these auctions. The doubles are far more useful as saying I do not have a clear cut action, YOU do the right thing. They make a Michaels cuebid and you double and they still jump to game anyway. Good players are not suicidal so when either defending side doubles its is D.S.I.P. as I do not have clear cut action. In these auctions "do not pull my penalty doubles" are thrown in the waste basket where it belongs.

At higher levels dealing with pre-empts, negative doubles and D.S.I.P. doubles converge. Negative doubles have disciplined suit requirements and Tom and I still play negative doubles to 4. Beyond 4 right up to 7, D.S.I.P. doubles apply and just show "cards". These "cards" will not be in their suit however as you just pass and hope for a re-opening double.

You hold x x Kxxxx AKQxxx and the auction goes:

1	4	Dbl	Pass
?

If you play trump stack doubles there could be a lot of wasted spade values there and maybe its best to just pass and collect your plus. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles, you do something intelligent and bid 4NT to show both minors. Partner bids 5 and you are plus +600. Partner's hand is xx AK10xx Q1098x x. I actually watched an opponent bid 5 with that hand and go 3 down vulnerable!

D.S.I.P. - Passed Hands

When partner has pre-empted a weak two or made a weak jump overcall or even a pre-empt at the 3 level with the opponents intervening, an initial double is obviously penalty. You know partner's hand within a tightly defined range so it is easy to determine the fate of the opponents. What if you are a passed hand and partner pre-empts? Well you would not be doubling very often you say. Not so. We do not open bad defensive 12 HCP or even 13 HCP hands. Partner's 3rd seat pre-empts are quite variable in strength so opponents can get into trouble especially if they bid NT. You also want to differentiate between a competing hand and a suggestion to sacrifice. Why not interpret a passed hand double after partner's pre-empt as D.S.I.P.rather than penalty?

This hand came up. Kxxx AQx xxx K10x and partner opened a weak 2 in 3rd seat. The opponent overcalled 2NT so what do you do? If partner has a healthy weak two, they get murdered. If not, you want to compete to 3. A double must show a fit as a passed hand on this auction and in effect is asking partner to leave it in with a maximum and pull with a minimum. Just common sense Bridge.

Vulnerability of course is a consideration with D.S.I.P. doubles after partner has pre-empted. I was a passed hand with Axx QJ10x K109x xx and the auction went 1 to my left (vulnerable), 2 (non-vulnerable) by my partner and 3NT to my right. I want to sacrifice if partner has a weakish hand and want to defend if he has a maximum. A D.S.I.P. double gets the best of both worlds. As a passed hand, the double must show a fit. Never pull my penalty doubles cannot be applicable when I am a passed hand. Do Something Intelligent Partner.

I see no reason to have this passed hand understanding with any pre-empts by partner (jump overcall, weak 2, 3 or 4). This D.S.I.P. double is a cousin of the D.S.I.P. double called an action double. Partner in 3rd seat opens 3 and they overcall 3NT. You have Kxxx Axxx xx Kxx so you double saying you want to bid 4 but with defense. Partner was making a tactical 3rd seat pre-empt with xx xx AJx QJ109xx and 3NT gets murdered. Change the hand to void xx xxxx QJ109xxx and we bail to 4 and the partnership can judge whether to sacrifice from here on in. The pre-emptor can also get into the act with a 3rd Case D.S.I.P. action double. A double says I have defense but I want to create some action so leave in the double or pull.

I can never see a situation where partner pre-empts and you double a suit for penalty as a passed hand. This is idiotic with a trump stack as you just helping them escape to a better spot. Why not play the double as D.S.I.P. with a fit? You have defense with a fit rather than just being a nuisance.

Pass	Pass	2	3
Dbl

It makes no sense for a passed hand to be doubling them into a game when partner has pre-empted. Playing it D.S.I.P. now let's partner into the picture for sacrificing purposes. If you bid 3 directly you are suggesting a sacrifice as you do not have defense. A D.S.I.P. double says you do and want to compete to 3. Being a passed hand gives you more D.S.I.P. double inferences. Its almost like having two convention cards. One for passed hand doubles and one for not.

D.S.I.P. - Weak Jump Overcalls

Whenever the opponents make a weak jump overcall at the two level, it robs you of the opportunity to show a good minor hands below 3NT. The 2 level pre-empt as taken away your jump to the 3 level to show invitational hands. The natural 2NT bid by opener should be sacrificed in all these auctions. Play it as Lebensohl (Good-Bad 2NT) so natural bidding at the 3 level can show extra. Also use Lebensohl when the opponents jam you past the two level in the sandwich position after your partner makes a negative double. Without a negative double by partner and they pre-empt in the sandwich position, also use the double as D.S.I.P. as your initial action and that replaces the natural 2NT bid. The double still right sides the NT as the stopper is behind the jump over-caller. If responder does not want to play the NT, he can cuebid which puts the NT played by the doubler.

1	2	Dbl	Pass
?

A Axx Kx AJ109xxx

A natural 3 bid is strong as you did not bid 2NT Lebensohl, forcing partner to bid 3 (Good-Bad 2NT).

Say you had this hand xx AJx K AKJ10xxx and you open 1.

1	Pass	1	2
?

You can bid 3 knowing partner will take you for a very good hand. Say you decided to open x Jxxx K AKJ10xxx and the same auction. This time you bid 2NT Lebensohl and partner bids 3 which you can pass. Lebensohl and D.S.I.P. go hand in hand. The old natural 2NT bid is replaced by a D.S.I.P. double when possible. Free bids now show good hands as the 2NT bid shows the bad ones.

When balancing or re-opening after a weak jump overcall, you are robbed of your space to make invitational bids. A rule should be to use Lebensohl with D.S.I.P. doubles to counteract the opponents taking away your invitational sequences. Take this hand for example.

Ax K10xx AKx A109x

You open a club so LHO bids 2 and around to you for a re-opening double. Partner bids 3 or 3 now what? You gamble and bid 3NT and partner has nothing for you and you are -300. The next time you try this auction you hit partner with 8 HCP with a useful diamond suit and you make 630. The best way out of this dilemma is to play Lebensohl by passed hand partner in this auctions. Partner did not bid 2NT going in, so 2NT now is an idle bid over your double as a passed hand. You are forced to relay to 3 so partner chooses the contract. Bidding 3 or 3 directly will show some values so 3NT should make. Still another auction where Lebensohl clarifies things!

The following is from Stan Cabay on the subject of D.S.I.P. and Lebensohl:

"When we open the bidding and the opponents "pre-empt" at the 2-level removing our ability to make game invitations as in:

1

2

?

1

2

Dbl

Pass

1	Pass	1	2
?

1	1	Dbl	2
?

It is far more useful to give up the natural meaning of 2NT and instead to use it as Lebensohl (Good-Bad 2NT). Then, after:

1	1	Dbl	2
?

3 shows a minor 2-suiter with about 15-17 HCP, 3 shows a 1-suiter equivalent to a jump rebid, 3 is highly invitational to game, and so on.

Weaker distributional hands are shown by preceding your natural call with 2NT requesting partner to relay to 3. So, then what is to be done with a hand containing a stopper and invitational values when the usual meaning of 2NT is denied? We can sometimes make a DSIP double, or if that is unavailable just take a shot at 3NT hoping to bid and to play those 23 point games as well as Hamman or Meckwell. NT contracts are often difficult to defend. In return, the accuracy in bidding suit contracts, whether they be partials, games or slams, greatly improves."

D.S.I.P. Strong NT

The strong NT is the corner stone of our bidding system. With that in mind its best to have a thorough understanding of all the agreements around this one bid. Regardless of the vulnerability, if we bid game after a strong NT and they bid game, we assume forcing pass theory applies. With 15-17 over there and you bidding game, it is not productive to have doubts and apply D.S.I.P. theory.

D.S.I.P. theory applies when the opponents overcall at the two level after a strong NT. Many modern partnerships play negative doubles at the two level but that is too restrictive in my mind. Negative doubles have to be disciplined with a specific suit requirement. D.S.I.P. doubles do not have to be disciplined, they just have to have HCP with relative shortage in the opponent's suit.

Maurice had an impossible hand to bid in standard playing with Klimo the other day. J10 A10xx Qxx J10xx. Klimo opened 1NT and the opponents overcalled 2. Maurice now had a problem. Selling out to 2 does not seem to be right and forcing to game does not seem right either. It's a type of hand where you need partner's input into the decision rather then making a single handed decision for both sides. Enter the D.S.I.P. double! This allows partner to bid or convert or bid NT depending on his hand. Maurice bid 3 at the table and the partnership was committed to game with a probability of going down with only 8 points largely made up of jacks and queens. This ultimately led to a minus when partner made a bad decision later in the auction.

When the opponents pre-empt at the 3 level over the strong NT, negative doubles make a lot of sense.

I held this hand playing with Osama Lambert. AKJx xx xx AKxxx and the auction went:

1NT	3	Dbl	Pass
4

1NT (vulnerable) and a 3 not vulnerable pre-empt to my right. I doubled and Osama made an excellent bid of 4 with Q10xx Ax AKQx J10x. The final contract was 6 for +1430 and at the other table they played 4 doubled for -500.

At high levels (above 4) assume forcing pass theory over your 1NT opening as opposed to D.S.I.P. theory clarifies auctions.

In 3rd seat, I held 1098x AJ1098xx void xx and the auction went:

1NT	2	4	Pass
4	5	Pass	Pass
?

KQx KQ xxx AKxxx

When I pass, I am showing shortness in their suit and a willingness to play 5. You have an easy decision with nothing in diamonds and you bid 5. This contract makes slam if the spade jack is well located. What if the partner of the over-caller bid 5? When the 1NT bidder passes 5 it has a different meaning. Since the NT bidder must have some length in diamonds, the pass show no or little duplication of value in diamonds and a willingness to bid 5. Change the NT bidders hand to Kxx KQ Qxx AKxxx. He would bid 5 if we were vulnerable against not and take our plus at all the other vulnerabilities.

Tom had a hand in Calgary that shows forcing passes in action over strong 1NT auctions. vulnerable, I had x x Axxxxxx 10987 and Tom opened 1NT. 2 overcall by Judy and I bid 2NT Lebensohl and Gordon bid 4. Tom had Ax Kxx K109x AKxx and although he had a beautiful 17 HCP there was no forcing pass situation established yet as I could just have been competing for a partial. Tom accordingly passed.

A double by him in a non forcing pass action would have been a "trump stack" double saying he had 4 doubled beat in his own hand. Anyway around to me and I bid 5 vulnerable which now switched on forcing passes as I contracted for a vulnerable game. Gordon then bid 5 so Tom had a "forcing pass" decision. Tom had 1st round control of spades, a huge diamond fit and all controls. He wants to invite 6 so he passes.

He does not double because he can beat 5, everyone at the table knew 5 cannot make with a strong NT over there and a partner contracting for a vulnerable game. Anyway with Tom's pass the decision comes around to me. With a 7-4 and an Ace I go for it and bid 6.

Thanks to Tom's pass of 5 showing diamonds and a favourable offensive hand, this contract is ice cold for +1370 as the club position is favourable. 5 doubled goes for a 100 and only because the heart Ace was to the left!

Anyway, be aware that a strong NT and a game bid by partner turns on forcing passes and act accordingly. Forcing passes allows both partner's input into the decision so that you do have to make single handed decisions!

1NT and Doubles

When the opponents pre-empt at the 3 level over your INT, it is best to play negative doubles. Doubling them for penalty with their long suits is just not "cost effective". It is better to find a major fit or get to your 3NT contract. For years, a double of a natural bid at the two level was penalty. The modern trend is to play them as negative with strict suit requirements. I disagree with that treatment. I prefer the double to show cards 7 HCP with upward with no clear cut action available. If they are vulnerable and we are not, the double is old fashioned penalty. In other words, a D.S.I.P. double most of the time. A trump stack double is shown by passing or bidding your 3NT game. The D.S.I.P. double in these auctions conveys the meaning of "I do not what to do" so over to you for your input.

This understanding changes your Lebensohl treatments. A direct jump to 3NT now shows a stopper. Without a stopper, you just double their suit and pull partner's suit to 3NT if the HCP warrant it. Partner now knows you do not have a stopper so bids accordingly.

D.S.I.P. NT Defense

I still have not bought into negative doubles at the two level when the opponents interfere with our NT opener. At the 3 level negative doubles make a lot of sense but at the two level there is always a way with Rubensohl or Lebensohl or cuebids to find your right spot. You just do not need negative doubles. What you do need in my opinion is a bid that describes just "cards" and I do not know what course of action to take.

I think the double at the two level should be D.S.I.P. except in one vulnerability. They are vulnerable and we are not, the double should be a good old fashioned trump stack penalty double. At all other vulnerabilities the double should just say I have "cards" so do something intelligent partner. I will never have a trump stack for my double as a green card or a 3NT bid will hit the table at these vulnerabilities. A D.S.I.P. double as opposed to a negative double can be defined as an "undisciplined negative double". Negative doubles have strict unbid suit requirements whereas D.S.I.P. doubles just shows HCP with a willingness to compete on that basis alone.

The vulnerability should play a big part in determining our type of double. If we are vulnerable and they are not, a penalty double is certainly not a great idea. We have to beat them 4 just for a few IMPS if we have our vulnerable game. A double makes more sense to announce HCP with no other clear action. At equal vulnerability, I think a double showing cards rather than a trump stack stands out. It is best just to take our game rather than a set at equal vulnerability as a rule.

The reason I like Rubensohl is that partner announces her suit immediately so I am in a better position to take action if RHO interferes. Same principle exists with a D.S.I.P. double. If RHO makes a nuisance of himself after his partner has bid, I am in a better position to compete after a D.S.I.P. double by partner or introduce a 5 card major if I have one. We use a 2NT free bid as a club transfer so we need a bid that replaces a 2NT natural bid. The D.S.I.P. double does the job nicely.

What about 1NT overcalls? Again I think doubles should be D.S.I.P. and negative doubles at the 3 level. With the multitude of toys that the opponents use over your strong NT's in this day and age, D.S.I.P. doubles are a good counter measure to put partner in the picture. Again as in all D.S.I.P. theory it's a request to compete but leaving the option open for partner to convert. Penalty doubles are next and negative double last as an effective tool against their interference, in my opinion.

Weak NT Defense

The debate about which is a better system : weak NT's vs strong NT's will go on forever. However, quoting Gordon Campbell "people do not know how to handle weak NT's" and therein lies their effectiveness. The opponents are taking a risk opening 1NT with those values so do not rescue them.

There are many 2 suited "toys" now that all you to describe your hand after a weak NT. There is more to it then that though you must play the vulnerability with those bids. If the opponents are vulnerable and you are not, bend over backwards to double as opposed to your systemic toy. If you are vulnerable and they are not, use your toy to find your vulnerable game and forget the double. What do you bid with this hand in the balancing after a weak 1NT?

AKxxx AKxxx Kx x

You should double with all vulnerabilities except one. If you are vulnerable and they are not trot out your systemic bid to show the majors and then raise partner. Go for the vulnerable game rather than the non vulnerable set.

D.S.I.P. theory comes into play against weak and strong NT's. You make the assumption that when partner doubles and they are running, you own the hand through the two level. This allows you to play the best defense against weak NT's which is partners first double is always D.S.I.P. rather then trump stack. This allows you to show "cards" and an interest in competing rather than a trump stack. This D.S.I.P. double allows the opponents to remain in trouble from both sides of the table as the original doubler can now convert for penalties (do not rescue opponents with cards). If responder does have a penalty double, she makes a forcing pass and partner will double with shortness and the hand gets converted.

KQJ10 Ax xxxx xxx

1NT	Dbl	2*	Pass
Dbl	Pass	?

* You cannot double 2 initially as that shows shortness so you pass and partner re-opens and you know what to do.

xx AKxx Qxxx xxx

1NT

Dbl

2

Dbl

You double showing shortness and partner converts with KQJ10 Qxx AKxx Kx

Beware the balancing spot with weak NT. You have the inference that partner took no initial action and that RHO usually runs out with nothing. A double in the balancing spot shows a good hand against weak NT's because you are no longer "protecting " partner who might have an opener. If you do double and hit partner with nothing and no long suit to bid there is the "automatic 2 bid" by partner. This is a signal to start running yourself and partner does not necessarily have clubs. The SOS redouble is used in conjunction with this run out, if you do not have clubs.

The double of Stayman just shows cards against weak NT and is not lead directing. The double of artificial bids after partner doubles is penalty and not shortness. In these artificial "run out " auctions its best that all doubles be penalty so there is no misunderstanding. One of the disadvantages of weak NT's is that they are susceptible for some pretty bad sets. Not so though, if opponents are not geared to take advantage of this. Since you out-gun them pretty badly in these auctions, the lead is most often a trump.

What if they make an artificial run out? Double is still D.S.I.P. showing cards. If you have that artificial suit, you will always have a chance to bid it later. The pass shows that suit in theory anyway so partner may play you for that suit. You still own the hand at the two level if they are running.

With the above, your arsenal is not quite complete against the annoying weak 1NT. Lebensohl from the defenders side should be standard. You may have hands that fall in the cracks between a double and a pass. You of course pass with a good hand but what if they run with the vulnerability in their favour. Play a new suit as absolutely forcing as per Lebensohl so you can grope for the best game or even slam. With distribution and a lack of values, bid 2NT Lebensohl so partner must relay to 3 and you can compete.

1NT

Dbl

2

?

With x xxx KJ10xxxx xx, bid 2NT Lebensohl.

With x xxx AKJxxxx Ax, you bid 3, forcing a la Lebensohl inference.

Still another place where Lebensohl simplifies difficult auctions. You do not need a natural 2NT as the D.S.I.P. double shows that hand (cards).

D.S.I.P. Sandwich Position

With an understanding that a double of the opponent's bid in the sandwich position is support or D.S.I.P. (depending on auction), it is a good idea to play a variation of Lebensohl called "the Good-Bad 2NT ". It is only defined for the opponents bidding in the sandwich position and preventing you from distinguishing between competitive and invitational hands. A penalty double is still a pass in these auctions and partner should re-open with a double. I still feel a direct 2NT should be natural though (non sandwich position). This bid was made popular by Marty Bergen. It brings back the concept of "free bids" showing a good hand as you would have bid 2NT just to compete. Like Lebensohl, partner must relay to 3 unless he is too strong to do so. Here is a write up on the bid from the net:

"This highly useful concept can best be explained with an example.

Say you open the bidding with 1, holding xx AKxxx x KJ10xx

Your partner responds 1NT and your right hand opponent bids 2. Despite your mere 11 high card points you'd love to bid 3. After all, you know the opponents have at least eight Spades (partner denied four when he bid one No Trump), so you can't leave them on the two level.

The problem with bidding 3 is that you would also have to bid 3 with a 17-count! How does partner know if you're just competing, or if you really have a good hand? This kind of problem comes up all the time, you'd love to bid, but you're afraid to mislead partner about the strength of your hand.

We solve this problem with Good-Bad 2NT, a variation of the Lebensohl convention (actually it is Lebensohl). It enables us to compete to the three level in a very effective manner.

Here is the rule:

In a competitive auction, when RHO makes any two-level call, our 2 NT bid is not natural. It shows a desire to compete to the three level, and requests that the partner bid 3, after which the 2NT bidder shows his suit.

If the suit is Clubs, the 2NT bidder can pass the forced 3 bid. Bidding directly on the three level (without relaying first with 2NT shows extras. With diamonds you'd bid 2NT, then 3 after partner's forced 3 bid.

1	1	Dbl	2
?

You hold xx AKJ10xxx Kxx x

An easy 2NT bid, partner won't play you for an 18-count when you pull his 3 relay to 3.

If you held Kx AKJ10xxx Kxx x, you would bid 3 directly.

1	1	Dbl	2
?

You hold xx KJ10x AKxxx xx

In Standard, you'd feel uncomfortable bidding a free 3. But you can't leave the opponents in their eight-card fit on the two level. Playing Good-Bad 2NT, you bid 2NT, followed by 3, to let partner know that you have a minimum.

The number of auctions in which this 2NT option is available is staggering. However, we've found that in some situations it doesn't make sense to play it. Any Serious partnership should take a little time to discuss when it should or should not apply. Some of the exceptions, discussed in Better Bidding With Bergen, are the following:

• 1. When 2NT would clearly be Unusual.
• 2. When either side has opened 1NT.
• 3. When the opponents have opened with a big Club.
• 4. When the opponents make a penalty double.
• 5. When we have already found a fit.
• 6. When we are already in a game forcing auction.

Even if you choose not to discuss exceptions, you do have to use a little common sense. Let's say your partner opens 1, they bid 1, and you make a negative double holding Axxx Ax xxx AJxx.

They raise to 2 and your partner bids 2NT Good-Bad. He's probably got a weak 3 bid or a weak 3 bid. You certainly can't afford to bid 3 since he will pass if he has Clubs! So, you simply bid 3 and partner will know you have a good hand.

Look how easy it becomes to handle situations like the following.

You hold Ax Axxx J10xx Jxx and the bidding goes:

1	1	Dbl	2
3	Pass	?

You made a negative double and heard partner bid 3 over their raise to 2. You know that partner has a good hand since he didn't bid 2NT. So, you can comfortably raise to game.

If partner held only Kx KQxx KQxx Jxx, he would not have bid a direct 3. He would have started with 2NT, and you would bid 3 (no reason to bid 3 since, if he has Diamonds and Clubs, you would prefer to play in Diamonds). Now, when he bids 3, you can pass without worrying that you're missing a game.

Using Good-Bad 2NT, you will be able to compete quite effectively when the opponents find their fit on the two level, and that's what the LAW wants you to do! You certainly will not suffer from the lack of a natural 2NT bid. It's not a bid you really need. Telling partner whether you have a good or a bad three level bid is a much more useful piece of information to convey. "

D.S.I.P. and 2NT

There is a correlation between the natural 2NT invitational bid in competition and D.S.I.P. double theory. In the early days of Bridge, 2NT was a standard bid in competition to show a balanced invitational to 3NT hand with a stopper in the opponent's suit. Over time, experts have realized that this bid is ineffective and 2NT is not a place to play a partial in a competitive auction. They realized that a D.S.I.P. double could replace the 2NT bid to show that particular HCP range. If you have enough values to make 2NT, the opponents are usually going for -300 their way. The "old" meaning of the 2NT was replaced by Lebensohl (Good-Bad 2NT), Scrambling 2NT or showing unbid 2 suits or whatever. O.K. what if you did have the old fashioned 2NT invitational hand in competition, how did you describe it? The D.S.I.P. double to the rescue.

O.K. there are still auctions where 2NT has the old fashioned meaning. If the opponents overcall at the one or two level, 2NT is still natural. If partner overcalls at the one or two level 2NT still has its natural meaning. After a takeout double, the direct 2NT bid still has its natural meaning. If partner overcalls and RHO makes a simple raise, a 2NT bid is shown by a D.S.I.P. double. To right side the 3NT, partner will cuebid their suit. I prefer a direct 2NT in this situation as showing the unbid suits. There are passed hand and trapped hand considerations which help interpret the 2NT bid.

With takeout doubles and RHO bidding or raising her partner, 2NT is Lebensohl and a D.S.I.P. double shows 2NT values. 1 - DBL - 2 - DBL shows a natural 2NT in values. If partner is interested in 3NT, she will cuebid and the doubler will bid 3NT with a stopper. Partner may choose just to convert the double and lead trump. If partner's double is made in the sandwich position especially when the opponents are bidding spades, the 2NT bid can be defined as a scrambling bid.

1	Pass	2	Dbl
Pass	2NT

This is not natural, a pass would show that hand. They are not making 2 doubled if you have spades and a 2NT HCP range hand and partner has a double. This 2NT bid means just pick your lowest suit and let's scramble to the best spot. If I bid a suit instead of 2NT, you have the inference that it is 5 cards or longer.

If partner had a natural 2NT and did not bid it and later pulls a double to 2NT it is Lebensohl.

1	2	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	2NT

In balancing auctions, 2NT as Lebensohl does not make any sense.

1	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	2NT

2NT is not natural so its just "scrambling" to find the best spot.

1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
2	2NT

2NT is not natural as a D.S.I.P. double shows that hand. I would play 2NT as saying pick a minor partner.

This auction shows the minors

1

Pass

2

2NT

But over spades

1

Pass

2

2NT

2NT should show any two suiter.

The 2NT bid in competition is a "depending on context bid." If it can be interpreted as natural, treat it as natural. If partner had a chance to make a D.S.I.P. double then the 2NT is probably an artificial competitive bid. A re-opening 2NT bid should be natural but based on "playability". A flat NT type of hand in that position should be described with a double. If you have a flat NT type of hand in competition, describe it with a double rather then a 2NT bid.

1	1	Pass	2
Dbl

Double shows a flat NT type of hand.

We do not play artificial game tries in competition so 2NT can be defined as something else. Maximal game try doubles are a form of D.S.I.P. doubles. Bid game, retreat to a partial or convert for a penalty. A 2NT bid in the sandwich position is the "Good-Bad 2NT".

1	1	Dbl	2
2NT

2NT is the "bad" and forces partner to relay to 3.

A bid by the opener now shows a minimum.

There should be an understanding that whenever you were going to bid 2NT as a natural invitational bid with the opponents interfering, wield the D.S.I.P. double instead. This gives partner an extra option to leave in the double for penalty. Tom Gandolfo and I had a sequence recently that shows this treatment in action.

1	Dbl	Pass	1NT
2	Dbl	Pass	?

Tom for his two doubles had Qx Axxx K1098 AKx. If no interference, he would have tried 2NT as a game invite. The double by him gave me an option so I pass for +300 and 3NT is two down! A free 2NT bid by Tom should mean let's compete in a minor somewhere. Bidding 2NT as natural just takes away an option and could be rescuing them.

Anyway, the blend between D.S.I.P. doubles and the old fashioned 2NT bids are obvious and leaves an artificial meaning to your 2NT bids in competition. In the sandwich position these 2NT bids are the "Good-Bad 2NT" Some partnerships play the Good-Bad 2NT in the sandwich position period. When they bid in the sandwich position and when your own partner bids in the sandwich position after an overcall. The memory aid for the "Good-Bad 2NT" is the sandwich position.

If you eliminate trump stack doubles from your repertoire in competition, doubles are a useful tool with a multitude of practical uses. Discuss with partner.

If the opponent's bid is systemic but natural (maybe showing a second suit), the double is still D.S.I.P. showing "cards". If their bid is artificial, the double means they took my bid away. D.S.I.P. doubles include the hands that fit the requirement for negative doubles but are all inclusive in that there is no specific suit requirement for the double.

The only exception to this treatment is the trump stack double without compensating HCP. You just pass and hope partner re-opens. With their suit and HCP, you might just choose to bid a vulnerable 3NT rather then passing. The only downside to this system is the requirement for partner to re-open after bidding 1NT. He should double with shortness in their suit or otherwise pass. If responder has a trump stack double and the 1NT bidder passes, at least a plus is picked up!

I had a hand tonight AJxx 109x Q10 J10xx, partner opened a strong NT with RHO overcalling 2. What do you do? You can pass or bid 2 to compete. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles, you can double. You hit partner with 17 HCP' and AJxx of hearts! Just 800 for your side against a partial making your way. A bad bidder just got caught speeding when you might have rescued them.

Say you had xx AJx KQxx Qxxx, partner opens a NT with RHO bidding 2. Without a D.S.I.P. double in your arsenal, you would leap to 3NT to show you do not have a stopper. Here you can get the best of both worlds.

If partner has spades, they play it there doubled for a huge number. If partner does not have a spade stopper, you find your fit at a low level so maybe get to a magic 5 of a minor game or a 4 heart game. If partner has a spade stopper, you get to your 3NT game. Win, win and win.

Partner should always bid 2NT with a stopper in these auctions after a D.S.I.P. double unless he wants to convert for penalty. Otherwise, he scrambles by bidding his lower ranking 4 card suit or a 5 card minor if dealt that. You may find your 4-4 major suit fit by scrambling but if partner has a major and game going values he may have chosen an initial cuebid as Stayman rather then doubling. In D.S.I.P. auctions, we are probably just scrambling for a safe partial resting spot. Do not overuse the D.S.I.P. double. if you have a safe alternative bid. Action after a D.S.I.P. double is pretty straight forward. Partner bids game if he feels its there but the rest of the time we are just trying to find a suitable resting spot. Converting for penalty is also a frequent option.

The D.S.I.P. double is handy when your side overcalls 1NT but they interfere. Tom Gandolfo had a hand that shows this bid in action. xx Kx xxxxx Axxx, they open 1 non-vulnerable and vulnerable partner overcalls 1NT. RHO bids 2 so now what? You could be cold for 3NT or a partial or you could extract a +300 penalty. A D.S.I.P. double to the rescue! You double, partner has 17 or 18 HCP so he will probably opt for a vulnerable game. 2NT is not invitational by the 1NT over-caller after a D.S.I.P. double as that is redundant (the D.S.I.P. double is already invitational) so the 2NT says pick a suit so let's play a partial. A new suit by the 1NT over-caller, also suggests a partial. I had a minimum with 5, so I bid 3 and we collect +140. If they compete to 3, they are in -300 to -500 territory.

If the opponents bid a new suit after a 1NT overcall, a double is still D.S.I.P. It just means I have cards so do not know what to do. It is surprising how frequent these auctions come up. Good players like bidding on nothing in these auctions so the D.S.I.P. double can give you lots of options. As usual in D.S.I.P. theory, the double replaces the old fashioned invitational 2NT bid. The 2NT bid is always Lebensohl/Rubensohl even if they are raising partner or switching suits. The D.S.I.P. double removes the ambiguity in these auctions.

The sandwich position is where D.S.I.P. doubles can really assist the auction. Nick and Judy show the confusion that can rise with "traditional" penalty double thinking. Nick held AK9x KJxx Qx 10xx and opened a weak NT. Tom passed, Judy bid 2 which is non forcing Stayman in their system. I bid 3 so Nick cannot make a penalty double as the 2 bidder may hold nothing. Around to Judy, she holds x 10xx K10xx AKJxx. She is maximum as possible for not making a forcing 2 call. She is in front of the spade bidder, so a trump stack double is unlikely. A D.S.I.P. double is probably the most flexible bid. Judy at the table bid 4, went 1 down when 3 doubled goes for 500.

D.S.I.P. and Takeout Doubles

D.S.I.P. theory changes how we think competitive auctions after your side makes a takeout double. The takeout doubler is usually short in the opponent's suit but can be quite variable in HCP strength. D.S.I.P. doubles apply after takeout doubles from both sides but the bidding must indicate that the opponents own their trump suit. If the auction dictates that the double is not a trump stack double, it is a card showing D.S.I.P. double. The 2nd double by the takeout doubler is D.S.I.P. just showing a maximum measured in quick tricks. Confusion could arise between forcing pass theory and D.S.I.P. double theory. If we are vulnerable, contract for game and they interfere not vulnerable it is our hand so forcing pass theory applies. If we contract for game in all other vulnerability scenarios after a takeout double, D.S.I.P. doubles apply because we do not necessarily own the hand. This is very important as pseudo sacrifices and bad competitive situations are the norm for these auctions.

1	Dbl	2	4
4	?

Pass is a possible auction in all vulnerabilities except us being vulnerable and they are not. The pass is forcing in that one vulnerability.

1	Dbl	2	4
4	Pass	Pass	Dbl

They are vulnerable or equal. This double says I want to bid 5 but I have defense so I pass the decision to you.

You have Kx Q10xx AKxx J10x for your takeout double so you figure them playing at the 4 level doubled is a good spot. If your side has just invited to game, D.S.I.P. doubles apply in all vulnerabilities rather than forcing passes. There are no forcing pass situations. If either you or partner have cuebid, forcing passes are turned on so D.S.I.P. theory does not apply with any vulnerability.

1	Dbl	2	3
4	Pass	Pass	?

Partner's pass is forcing saying his preference is to go offense. A double says he is minimum, pass and pull a slam try etc.

These type of D.S.I.P. auctions prevent pseudo sacrifices when either partner has duplication of value in the opponent's suit. The double passes the decision to partner who is in a better position to "do something intelligent". Penalty doubles do not exist until we reach the 5 level unless we own the hand due to vulnerability or other forcing pass considerations. Even if you have a good hand and cannot cuebid, partner does not know we own the auction. Therefore D.S.I.P. theory applies or is assumed instead of forcing pass theory in those situations.

1	Dbl	3	4
4	Pass	Pass	?

xxx A10xxx AKx Qx

You bid this 4 contract to make but partner does not know that. So you double saying you want to bid 5 but I have defense. Partner's pass already says he prefers to defend so the double will be passed 99% of the time. What do you bid if partner doubles saying he wants to bid 5? His double must have a singleton or void in spades so a 6 bid by you is not unreasonable. Remember partner would pass with a dog or bid 5 directly with the appropriate hand.

xx KJ109 Axxx xxx.

1

Dbl

4

?

You are forced to pass. Partner with AKxx void xxxx AKxxx re-opens with a double and they get badly punished. You only lose in this one situation. Partner with his void in hearts is too weak to double and passes. You take your plus - 50 at a time. You cannot make anything anyway so not a significant loss. Your direct double would be D.S.I.P. so partner invariably will bid 4.

What are 2nd doubles in Bridge after making an initial takeout double? Why make a takeout double twice? The 2nd double should be D.S.I.P. showing lots of HCP but no clear cut action. It does not mean a trump stack as the frequency does not justify that bid. Maurice had an auction recently where the 2nd double assisted him in bidding a club slam.

2	Dbl	2NT	Dbl
4	Dbl	Pass	4NT
Pass	5	Pass	6

The 2nd double was D.S.I.P. showing extras so he used this information for the vulnerable slam. A cuebid or jumping in a suit shows other types of strong hands. What are doubles by responder of the takeout doubler if they are in a suit promised by the takeout doubler? These are check-back doubles.

D.S.I.P. doubles at low levels by responder of the take out doubler asks partner's permission to compete again if they are in a suit that a takeout doubler might hold. If responder wants to bid again and he has defense he doubles to "ask permission".

You hold 10x Kxxxx Ax 109xx and the auction goes:

1	Dbl	1	2
2	Pass	Pass	?

You feel it's a good idea to bid 3 but you have 1½ defensive tricks so you double first. Partner has a defensive hand with AJ9x of spades and only 3 hearts so he passes. Just +800 for your side and yes you make 3! D.S.I.P. doubles work well with the Equal Level Conversion philosophy. The takeout doubler might not even hold your suit so double if you want to bid again to check back. Do not rescue opponents who might be in a bad spot by bidding again. Check back with partner by making a D.S.I.P. double!

If they are bidding their suit and responder doubles after a takeout double, it is still D.S.I.P.

1	Dbl	2	2
Pass	Pass	3	Dbl*

* Double says I am maximum for my bid measured in quick tricks.

Pass and Double

When the opponents make a conventional bid or a takeout double after your side has opened, how do you define a pass followed by a double?. The reflex action when you want to start a penalty double sequence is to double their conventional bid or redouble. A pass and double should be D.S.I.P. saying I want to compete somewhere or you can convert with their suit as I have some values.

1	2	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl

10xx Axx xx KQxxx

They are vulnerable, you are not with partner opening 1 and they make a takeout double. You play 1NT as a transfer to clubs so how do you show an old fashioned good 1NT bid just under a redouble? This is the pass and D.S.I.P. double sequence.

1	Dbl	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl

xx xxx Axxx KQxx

On these auctions, opener will like her hand if she is short in their suit and make a D.S.I.P. double herself or bid to compete. If she has their suit or a defensive hand she will pass as you have shown nothing as responder. A double by responder now caters to that eventuality. If responder bids at the one level and subsequently doubles, it also obviously D.S.I.P. as you did not redouble or choose a double over their conventional bid.

A direct double of a conventional bid or a redouble should setup forcing pass theory for one round. If you have values but not strong enough to turn on forcing pass theory, you should choose the pass and subsequent double route.

xx AQxxx Kxxx xx.

1	2NT	Pass	3
Pass	Pass	Dbl

You are not quite strong enough to double 2NT going in, which should setup a forcing auction. The pass and D.S.I.P. double should not get you into too much trouble. A direct double of 3 by partner is D.S.I.P. opposite a passing partner so what is she supposed to do with a good hand with clubs? She waits for your D.S.I.P. double or pass. Just like negative double theory, protect partners penalty double.

The opponents interfering over your NT brings out the concept of pass followed by a double. If you want to double them for penalty, you should double immediately to broadcast your intent. Passing first and waiting until they have found their spot brings out the D.S.I.P. double.

1NT	2*	Pass	2
Pass	2	Dbl

Pass is scattered values saying let's compete somewhere unless you have a partnership agreement that this sequence is penalty. When you play a double as systemic (eg Stayman), a pass and double is penalty on one vulnerability, they are vulnerable, you are not. On all other vulnerabilities, the double is D.S.I.P. so just leap to your 3NT game with their suit.

What if they open an systemic bid like 2 as 4-4-4-1 with 11-15 HCP, or a precision 2 or a Flannery 2?

In these auctions, balancing with a double does not exist. You should have your methods of entering the auction over these bids discussed so a pass and a subsequent double is penalty. Tonight playing with a tormentee the auction went vulnerable vs not 2 (Flannery) pass by my partner, 2 by them so around to my partner who doubled.

I held x Qxxx K10xxx 10xx so what do you do? This one is easy as you have 5 HCP but RHO did not even attempt a game try. You have a singleton spade so the spades around the table are 4-5-3-1 or 4-4-4-1. I passed, we collected our 1100 as they were playing in partner's 5 card suit with 18 HCP.

Scrambling 2NT

Some people play the game of Bridge by way of rote rules or platitudes. One of the worst of these platitudes is "do not pull my penalty doubles". Beginners are told to live by this rule as they have yet to develop any Bridge judgment. Penalty doubles must be pulled if the situation warrants it! You use criteria like vulnerability, expected compensation and possible bigger and better things as considerations for pulling a penalty double. You leave in doubles if based on your bidding you hold what partner can reasonably expect. I was playing with a tormentee who opened 1 vulnerable on AKxxxx KJxx void Axx and RHO bid 2NT also vulnerable. I doubled and the bid went around to the 2NT bidder who bid 3 which I doubled. Do you leave in the double?

3 doubled is definitely going down as you have 3½ defensive tricks. You have a diamond void so they are getting a bad trump break. With the penalty compensate for your sure vulnerable game or possible slam? Diamond duplication of value will probably prevent a slam. Can you make game your way? Probably guaranteed as you have extra and partner shows a good hand. Therefore the set must be in the +800 range for a good board. You have an offensive playing hand instead of a defensive hand. The void in diamonds is a deterrent in defense as you cannot switch to a trump and probably more diamonds are going to appear on the board. I pull this double and apologize to partner if it is wrong.

Many players pull doubles because they are ashamed of their opener. This is the last reason to pull a penalty double. This could be your only chance for a plus as game is now iffy. If you opened on 11 HCP but you have your defensive tricks this is an excellent time to leave the double in. You pull doubles with offensive hands not weak hands. Partner cannot "reasonably expect" that you have a 5-5 or a 6-4 or a 7 card suit which are playing hands. These are the hands where penalty doubles are routinely pulled. Partner announces shortness in your 1st suit but she may have length in your 2nd suit which kills your hand defensively. Partner can reasonably expect a light opener as they come with the territory.

You open 1 with a nice playing hand and your 2½ playing tricks xx KJxx x AKxxxx and LHO overcalls 1NT which I doubled. Do you leave in the double? Do you have a hand that partner can reasonable expect with a 1 opener? You have an offensive playing hand. If partner leads a diamond or a spade she will not be happy. Discretion is the better part of valor so I pull to 2. I held AJxxx Axxx Ax xx and thought that 1NT doubled was in the 1100 range when my partner passed. A 6 card diamond suit appeared on the board and they did not pull the double to 2. They made +180 when my spade lead was a disaster. We have a shot at 6 our direction!

I play 2NT as an impossible bid in these auctions where partner has pulled your double of 1NT. You never want to play a hand in 2NT invitational with a strong 1NT to your right. If you wanted to invite to game you would simply bid 3. A jump in a suit should be forcing and a simple bid at the two level non forcing. I would bid 2NT as saying "describe your hand further" and lt's scramble to our best spot. You bid 3 and I would bid 4 and we get +650 instead of -180. Pulling doubles is "scrambling" in any sense of the world.

I was playing with BJ Trelford against the wiley Lee Barton. In 3rd seat Lee opened 1NT which BJ doubled for penalty and Lucille made a punitive redouble. I held xxxx Qxx KJ9x Ax so the auction had a distinct odor to it. As expected Lee pulled to 2 which got passed around to me. I doubled and Lee bid 2 and around to me. Doubling 2 is not a good bid as it appears that his escape suit is quite solid when BJ could not double. Enter the scrambling 2NT bid. I could not have spade values or they would be playing the contract doubled. You do not have the luxury of a natural invitational 2NT in these auctions. BJ bids 3 after your 2NT, which described the nature of his double so I carry on to 4 for +620.

If they escape to a suit and neither one of us can double, a 2NT bid is also scrambling saying lt's find our fit. We bid are suits up the line until we find our fit as in all scrambling auctions. 2NT and 2 are the two most widely known bids for scrambling purposes. The SOS redouble is another tool of the scrambling trade.

Pulling Penalty Doubles

In a perfect world you would never have to pull penalty doubles. Some penalty doubles you never pull because you were never in the auction or you have what you announced for your previous bidding. All other penalty doubles are D.S.I.P. (Do Something Intelligent Partner) so pulling the double is a must.

O.K. if you are going to pull penalty doubles on occasion you may as well have a tool for doing this. Lebensohl relays to the rescue. Pitbull Pat and Susan had an auction where the opponents were scrambling after getting doubled. The auction went:

1	1NT	Dbl	Pass
Pass	2	?

xx Jxxxx Qx AKxx. Partner's pass is forcing and you want to compete anyway. 2NT cannot be natural as you would have doubled. This bid relays to 3 and 3 shows this kind of hand. 3 directly would be forcing with better hearts.

x xx KQJxxxx KQx

You open a diamond and LHO bids 4 and partner doubles. Pulling the double directly should be a slam try. You should never pull penalty doubles from a position of weakness, it could have been your only chance for a plus. Put the Lebensohl relay to work. Bid 4NT and force partner to bid 5 and now 5 shows this kind of hand.

x xx Jxxxx Jxxxx

Partner opens a diamond and LHO bids 4 and it comes around to partner and she doubles. What does the pull to 5 mean? You did not bid 5 directly so you are under those values. Why not have your cake and eat it too? Bid 4NT and partner relays to 5 and 5 shows this directly. If you had say KQxx of diamonds and an outside Ace pull to 5 directly from a position of strength. You are vulnerable and you can convey that you have values. If the opponents bid again or partner might have slam interest you have done your job.

D.S.I.P. - Systemic Toys

How do "systemic toys" like disturbing their NT, Michaels and Unusual 2NT mesh with D.S.I.P. double theory? Michaels cuebids or Unusual 2NT are only bid on weak distributional hands or very strong hands. In a competitive auction after you have used the toy, a double by the toy bidder simply means that you have the upper range for your Michaels or Unusual 2NT. You could be void in their suit for the double and if partner passes she is converting holding their trump.

What about the partner of the "systemic toy" bidder? In my mind, a systemic toy that has a weak or strong range should be treated as a pre-empt for systemic doubles. Like a pre-empt, partner knows more about your hand then you do of his. A double by responder should be penalty as that hand is the great unknown and your hand is quite known as to distribution and probable HCP range. This is the basis for penalty doubles.

Everybody has some sort of toy to disturb the opponents NT. Here is where D.S.I.P. doubles can be very effective by the systemic bidder. If the opponents are non-vulnerable and you are vulnerable, you should prefer bidding your toy with a strong hand. The vulnerable game you may reach is far more lucrative than 1NT doubled going down non-vulnerable.

You hold AKQxx AKxxx xx x and they open 1NT. On every vulnerability except vulnerable against non-vulnerable you would double 1NT rather than using your toy. OK, you hold this hand vulnerable and they open 1NT. You bid 2 or 2 whatever bid shows the majors and they bid at the 3 level and around to you. You make a D.S.I.P. double telling partner you have a huge hand for your systemic bid on this vulnerability. Systemic toys can be used as 3rd case D.S.I.P. doubles. The opponents own the auction so you double to give partner the option to sacrifice. Since you have described your distribution, the double now says you have some defense but you are not positive that you can beat the contract single handedly.

What if you have nice defense and you make your systemic bid over 1NT on equal vulnerability or even non-vulnerable against vulnerable and you just want to compete again after they bid a partial? Again you can make a D.S.I.P. double saying that I have the distribution for my bid and I just wish to compete again. If you have their suit, you can pass as I can contribute some defense. Not making a D.S.I.P. double and bidding again is just bidding your hand twice.

BJ Trelford made an excellent 3rd case D.S.I.P. double tonight against Maurice and Susan. He held KQJ10x KJxxx xx x and was non-vulnerable against vulnerable opponents. He bid our toy (2) which shows the majors and Susan doubled. I bid 2 and around again to Susan who bid 3NT. Passed around to BJ who made a D.S.I.P. double! On this vulnerability, it cannot be a rock or he would have doubled 1NT rather than using the systemic bid going in. He is making a D.S.I.P. double as a sacrifice or leave it in at my option. The opponents have announced they own the hand. He does not want to make a single handed sacrifice as 3NT may have no play if I am stacked in the minors with a reasonable defensive hand. Why not have the best of both worlds with a D.S.I.P. double? My hand is xx 1098 xxx Axxxx and I have an easy 4 bid. This gets doubled and I go for -100 against their +630! What if BJ held AKQJ10 Jxxxx xx x and the same auction occurred? You would quietly put the green card on the table and take your one trick set. You do not want to risk the opponents or partner ruining your sure set.

Toys and Doubling

Doubling a suit in a forcing auction cannot be penalty except when partner has pre-empted or bid a pre-emptive toy (captaincy considerations). One of the rules of D.S.I.P. theory is whenever one of the partners has pre-empted, old fashioned trump stack doubles apply. When partner makes an Unusual 2NT bid or a Michaels bid even though its an either/or bid it is assumed to be a pre-empt in the initial instance. The double must be reserved by the "pre-emptor" to show the strong hand (either/or). The double by responder is deemed to be penalty.

BJ Trelford held this hand. Jx Kxx AKJxx xxx non-vulnerable vs vulnerable opponents with the auction proceeding:

1

2NT

3

?

The 2NT is a two suiter which is either very strong or weak but never intermediate. BJ cannot double 3 (penalty) saying he would like to compete either in clubs or hearts so he must compete by bidding 4. This gets passed around to the 3 bidder who doubles but RHO pulls to 4. I have KQ 10987xx void KJ109x so what are my options? I have the weak hand as I passed 4 already and the vulnerable opponents must be believed that they own the hand.

This is 3rd case D.S.I.P. theory. The vulnerable opponents own the auction so we are the intruders. The pre-emptor is allowed an "action double" with an extraordinary hand in light of her bidding (violating captaincy). With my hand, I would love to sacrifice to 5 after partner has bid hearts but I should not do it single handedly. As I am the pre-emptor, I should make an "action" double saying I want to bid 5 but I have defense that I normally would not have. BJ happily converts so we get +500 instead of -500.

In any of the other 3 vulnerability situations, the pre-emptor is only allowed to double (violate captaincy) if she has the strong hand. This one vulnerability (the sacrificing vulnerable) gives an opportunity for an action double as the auction has shown the pre-emptor cannot have the strong hand.

What if BJ had xx xx AKJxx AQxx?

He would bid always under the assumption that we have the weak hand for bidding our toy. If he has strength, he should cuebid instead of leaping to game.This describes the nature of his game bid, puts me in the picture so I do not do something stupid if they bid again. In rare cases, I may hold the strong hand for the toy so leaping to game with a good hand should be avoided.

Say I had the strong hand KQ AQ10xx void KQJ10xx, they open 1 so I bid 2NT strong and they bid 3 non forcing.

BJ has Jx KJxx J10xxx Ax so he should not just bid 4 as that may be bid on nothing. He has an obligation to cuebid first in case I have the "or" hand. I jump to 6 which gets converted to 6 so we get to our slam.

In auctions where the systemic toy is either/or, a cuebid by responder should describe the defensive hands. This is catering to the trump stack penalty double. Jumping through hoops I believe it is called.

The reason why responder must make the cuebid in these systemic auctions is because the ambiguity of the toy as being either/or.

You hold either AKQxx AKJxx x xx, or Jx Qxxx Axx Axxx, and the auction goes:

1

2

3

?

What is a 4 bid? Should partner move because he has the stronger hand? Maybe partner assumed you had the weaker hand so are bidding pre-emptively with nothing xx Qxxxxx x xxxx.

Responder should always make a cuebid going in, then bid 4 with a good hand. You may get to grand slam in hearts despite their interference.

D.S.I.P. - Negative Doubles

D.S.I.P. doubles are based on "duplication of value" in other words what are your values in their suit. To compete or not compete is based on defensive tricks and what you have in their suit. In 3rd seat the opponents opened 1 and BJ Trelford overcalled 1 with xx AK10x AJx Jxxx. The opponents made a negative double and I held KJ10 987 KQxx xxx so I competed to 2. They bid 2 so around to me again in the pass out seat so do I compete again?

D.S.I.P. doubles should be coupled with your understandings around competing against the opponent's negative doubles. We should have half the deck as they died in 2. You have a maximum in HCP for you 2 bid. Let D.S.I.P. theory be your guide. Partner did not make a D.S.I.P. double nor did he compete to 3 himself. A D.S.I.P. double in these pass out situations should be protection in case partner had spades. Looking at your KJ10 of their suit you simply pass as partner is not going to convert for penalty and she had no interest in competing herself. HCP in their suit are poison for offensive purposes and they tell a story.

If you do make the very "bad bid" of doubling, partner should bid 2NT and not 3. He knows that the opponents are on a 4-4 spade fit or worse and that the doubler has around 10 HCP. This gives your side 23 HCP to their 17 HCP. Why go to the 3 level in a very probable 4-3 fit when your side has the majority of HCP? The only thing bad that can happen is a 5-1 heart break which is what happened. 2NT with a club lead is cold for 8 tricks. 1 club, 4 diamonds, 1 spade and 2 heart tricks. Partner does not have 4 on this auction for two reasons. With 9-10 HCP with 4 trump, he would have made a different bid going in. In addition, D.S.I.P. doubles rarely have 4 cards in partner's major as D.S.I.P. doubles get converted quite often for penalty. Partner's hearts must be weak as she did not redouble showing a high heart honour or jump raise showing 4 trump. All indicators lead to a 2NT bid. Who cares if they run all 4 spades as that is only 4 tricks for their side.

Partnerships should have sound agreements over negative doubles by the opponents. Our agreement is that all bids are lead directing and anchored around partner's overcall suit. A redouble shows a simple major raise with a high trump honour. A 1NT bid shows a raise in partner's suit with values in opener's first bid suit. A jump raise shows a simple raise with 4 cards in partner's overcall suit. Bidding the unbid suits is a lead director and shows a simple major raise. A simple raise always shows 3 trump and bad ones at that. Good information on which to base a final contract or make an opening lead against their contract.

Redoubles and Forcing Pass

No not forget that playing D.S.I.P. theory necessitates that you switch between two different modes of Bridge thinking. If you "own the auction" forcing pass theory applies and D.S.I.P. theory does not exist. Redoubles by responder or opener imply that you "own the hand". Penalty doubles turn on forcing passes at any level. If you double 1NT or systemic bids like Unusual NT, Michaels or other systemic toys you "turn on " forcing pass theory, so trump stack penalty doubles come into play.

BJ Trelford has quite a hand that drives this point home. AJ109xxx J KJ10x x.

I opened 1 and LHO doubled. BJ redoubled! My RHO bids 2, I doubled so all pass. When the smoke cleared, +1100 against non-vulnerable opponents for our side. Hard as it was for BJ to believe, my double was penalty! I held x AK10xx Q98 KJ10x, so I thought that defending was a good idea.

Maksymetz/Jacobs introduce a twist to forcing pass theory when partner doubles a conventional bid like Unusual NT or Michaels. They call this concept the "double pass". Even though penalty doubles should apply in these auctions, they revert to negative double theory or D.S.I.P. theory. They play the first double by opener as just showing a good hand suitable for defensive action. A bid of course would be an offensive hand that you planned to pull the penalty double anyway. A pass could be a trump stack penalty double in their system or just a minimum. The initial doubler must re-open with a double in all cases.

The advantages to their idea is that a penalty double is only going to occur if the opener's hand is suitable defensively. If the original doubler has their suit, of course the double gets converted which I suspect if the most frequent action. If the opener has their suit, of course the double gets converted the other way.

The drawback to this system is the "single handed" trump stack double is impossible by the original doubler. If opener passes just with a minimum, the penalty double must be pulled as the doubler might not even have that suit. This is insurance against them making a doubled contract with light major suit openers. As usual, with these type of understandings you muss give away something to get something. They must feel this a safer way to play penalty doubles in these type of auctions.

AKxxx Kx xx KJ109

1	2NT	Dbl	3
Pass	Pass	Dbl

Partner's hand is xx Axxxx AKJx xx

AKxxx Kxx Axx xx

1	2NT	Dbl	3
Dbl

Partner's hand is xx Axxx xxx AKJx

There style is similar to how we play penalty doubles of 1NT with them escaping. The 1st double just shows cards so the pass is the penalty double. The penalty double responder must re-open with a double so the contract gets converted for penalty. This in effect is introducing D.S.I.P. concepts in a forcing pass auction.

Bidding Game - Forcing Passes

As every Bridge player knows or should know, forcing passes are "turned" on when it is obvious we "own the auction". Even if you have pre-empted and partner has made strong bids before finally bidding game, forcing passes are turned on. What if you just jump to game say vulnerable against not? Does that turn on forcing passes? No, because there is no excuse for laziness. If you have a strong hand, you would cuebid or otherwise take it slowly. Fast arrival by jumping to game is pre-emptive.

BJ Trelford has come up with an idea that makes sense. If the opponents interfere non-vulnerable with a toy when you are vulnerable (terrorist vulnerability), sometimes it is best to jump to your vulnerable game with a good hand. This is a tactical bid so they have no room to establish their fit for sacrificing. Quite often the Unusual 2NT or Michaels bid is essentially a pre-empt. It is not sound Bridge to "pre-empt vs a pre-empt" so bidding a game vulnerable either as a passed hand or not should turn on forcing passes! When you jump to game after a pre-empt it is usually to make, so that bid turns on forcing passes on any vulnerability. Should be no different over their pre-emptive toys! This applies in this one vulnerability only. A jump to game on any other vulnerability is pre-emptive.

BJ held this hand QJ10xx KJx xxx Ax.

I opened 1 vulnerable and LHO bid 2. Opposite a vulnerable opener you are going to game but what are the dangers of bidding 3 as a cuebid? You leave 3NT open so they find they minor fit for a sacrifice! Vulnerable sacrifices vs non vulnerable opponents are so rare as to be discounted so why not make the 4 bid vulnerable as strong? This would turn on forcing passes in an auction where forcing passes need to be turned on because the opponents quite often bid on nothing after their toys have been introduced. Anyway Paula was on my right and bid 5. If I thought forcing passes were in effect, I have a clear double so we pick up +500. I passed, 5 was bid and went down for a huge swing when partner thought forcing passes were in effect due to the vulnerability.

When the opponents interfere using their toys, it is very important for partnerships to have their forcing pass understandings "ironed out". Lack of discipline and forcing pass structure is not a good mix. If you just bid for the sake of bidding, forcing passes cannot work. Forcing passes assume your side are disciplined bidders. A bid has a meaning other than just re-enforcing the fact that you paid your card fees or a compulsion to disturb their auction.

D.S.I.P. Balancing

I originally thought that D.S.I.P. doubles should not be made when the opponents balance. Penalty doubles seem to be a better way of handling balancers who are taking a risk. Since Bridge is played in a clockwise direction, I think that view can be modified. We can have our cake and eat it too. When the opponents balance and we are behind the bid suit, a double is penalty otherwise all doubles are D.S.I.P. For example:

1NT	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	2	Dbl*

* Double is penalty.

1NT	Pass	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl*

* Double is a D.S.I.P. double.

Why double when you were willing to play 1NT and your trump are on side for declarer? That seems to be a recipe for disaster. However by making a D.S.I.P. double, the contract might get converted now that partner knows you have some defense. If not converted, we scramble for a partial.

Do not forget that the opponents are taking a risk by balancing. Do not rescue them. Your first inclination should be to transfer the decision to partner if you cannot make a penalty double. Playing D.S.I.P. doubles this way is like old fashioned Bridge. If you think they cannot make it and you are behind them, you double. Partner's double just shows cards as she is in front of the balancer.

The 1NT bidder can get on the act also. If the bid is made to the left of the NT opener and the auction gets passed around to the 1NT opener, a double shows shortness and is for takeout. If the balancer is to the right of the NT opener, the double is penalty (depending on partnership agreement). Same rules if partner opens a minor and you respond 1NT. If you are in front of the balancer or over-caller, the double is D.S.I.P.

1	Pass	1NT	2
Pass	Pass	Dbl*

* The double here is D.S.I.P. showing a max.

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
Pass	2	Dbl*

* DBL is for penalty.

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
Pass	2	Pass	Pass
Dbl*

* Double should be D.S.I.P. and not a trump stack as you are in front of the suit. The hands do not fit well if you do have their suit, so a pass hoping for a plus would appear to be the percentage action.

Another standard balancing auction is:

1	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	3	Dbl*

* Double which should be for penalty because partner is behind the clubs.

1	Pass	2	Pass
Pass	Dbl	Pass	3
Pass	Pass	Dbl*

* You are in front of the club bidder so the double is D.S.I.P. This makes sense as it is an important part of D.S.I.P. double is asking permission to bid again. If you are in front of a suit you want to compete in your suit or have partner convert because the trump is sitting behind the balancer. Partner did not want to double directly because he was not sure how strong defensively you were.

If the opponents make a balancing double and either partner redoubles all bets are off. All doubles are now penalty in front of or behind the bidder it does not matter. If partner did not redouble, a double can be D.S.I.P. if in front of the suit bid. These auctions are more difficult as its hard to determine who has the suit, the bidder or the take out doubler.

What if we balance and they bid are there any D.S.I.P. doubles? Yes if a competitive auction ensues. D.S.I.P. doubles come into play. The over/under rule should apply. If we double behind the suit it is penalty. Do not forget there are two types of D.S.I.P. doubles. If we have already found a fit, it means "I want to compete again". If we have no fit, the double is just "cards" tending more to penalty.

2	Pass	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	3	Dbl*

* Double is D.S.I.P.

Pass

Pass

3

Dbl*

Double is penalty (cards). Trump stack penalty doubles do not apply in competitive auctions.

Mike Gamble brought up an interesting observation. When the takeout doubler doubles initially and then backs into our auction with a suit, we should define that bid as a balance and the over/under rule should apply. If we are behind the suit, the double is penalty. We had this common auction.

1	Dbl	2	Pass
Pass	2	?

The double should be a trump stack penalty double.

D.S.I.P. Balancing Principles

Balancing obviously should be thought of for D.S.I.P. purposes to when they balance and also after you balance. When partner fails to respond to an opening bid and a competitive auction ensues, penalty doubles apply not D.S.I.P. doubles. This is the "pre-empt" principle as partner already knows a great deal about your hand anyway since you passed. This principle also applies if partner passes originally in a competitive auction and comes in belatedly or supports partner later in the auction. D.S.I.P. theory does not apply. When your side balances, you can use D.S.I.P. doubles to clarify the situation.

You hold Jxx Axxx Q10x Kxx and the auction goes:

1	3	3	4
Pass	Pass	?

This is the semi-balancing balance of power D.S.I.P. double.

You have the 4th heart for offensive purposes with maximum defense for your previous bid, so you should double. 4 doubled goes for 500, 4 went one down!

Balancing is a very ambiguous art form so any help in clarifying the auction is gratefully accepted. I held A10xx Ax A109x xxx, the auction went:

Pass	Pass	1	Pass
1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	2	2	?

This is a time to use the D.S.I.P. double. You have defense and you want to compete to 3. If partner has a trump stack in hearts, this contract doubled will be the optimum spot.

When partner balances and the opponents make a jump rebid, a double is always D.S.I.P. This is because in the balancing seat, partner does not promise perfect distribution so it's very rare that you will catch someone with a trump stack your direction.

1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
3	Dbl

Double is D.S.I.P. so does not show diamond values.

When you have a good hand but a bad suit, the safe approach is to balance rather then giving the opponents the option for a penalty double by bidding directly. I held this hand KJ109 K10xxx KQx x and the auction went:

1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	Pass	2
Pass	Pass	3	?

Sounds like the opponents are in a 4-4 fit with a 4 –1 break. I would like to compete further with my hand so I make a D.S.I.P. double. Partner has xxx Jxx Axx QJ108 and converts for +500. Change his hand to 4 small clubs and 3 has a good chance.

Support doubles and redoubles go hand in hand with D.S.I.P. The purpose of a support double or redouble is to show a 3 card fit with partner. I held Axx Axx AQxx xxx, and the auction went;

1	1	1	Dbl
ReDbl

With the double alerted as a systemic heart raise.

I redoubled to show a 3 card raise, the opponents leapt to 4. Around to me again and I am vulnerable against not vulnerable but 1 have 3½ defensive tricks. I make a D.S.I.P. double saying I wanted to bid 4. Tom had KQ10xx Jx 109xxx x and we get to a beautiful 620.

Both not vulnerable so this auction shows the D.S.I.P. 2nd double in action. Tom held x Q1098x AKx AQxx and the auction went:

1	Dbl	2	2
2	3	4	Pass
Pass	?

This is a classic D.S.I.P. double in the pass out saying I have lots of defense so I would not mind if we bid 5 or if your hand is defensive Let's play 4x. I would bid 5 which makes unless they get a ruff. 4 makes so its a win-win.

When they balance after we open the bidding, we play the "over-under rule". If the double is in front of the bid suit, it is D.S.I.P. If behind the suit, the double is penalty. This principle applies to the overcalling side also. We cannot make a penalty double in front of the suit in the balancing chair.

BJ held Jx Qxxx Axx xxxx, they opened 1. I overcalled 1 and they doubled with a pass by BJ. Opener bids 2 so I compete with 2 which gets passed around to opener who bids 3. This bid gets passed around to BJ who doubles in the balancing chair. This double is not penalty by the "over/under rule". I bid 3 which is cold for +140.

D.S.I.P. Free Bids

Eons ago when I first started playing bridge there was this concept of "free bids". This meant that if you had a chance to pass or bid, bidding showed a better hand. This resulted in a lot of distributional minimums being passed and partner had to make a series of guesses. Over the years this free bid concept led to partnerships getting jammed out of the auction and bad competitive decisions were made. Today Bridge is a bidders game and "free bids" were one of the casualties that went by the wayside.

O.K. what replaced "free bids" in expert circles? You guessed it, the D.S.I.P. double and Lebensohl. You open 1 on xx Axx Ax AKxxxx and LHO overcalls 1 and partner doubles. RHO bids 2 and you are not quite strong enough to cuebid so you bid 3. The opponents bid 3 and around to you again.

Of course you make a D.S.I.P. double and this does not show a trump stack but a maximum for your previous action. O.K. same auction but change you hand to a 10 count that you opened xx Axx xx KQJ109x. The bidding goes exactly the same way but this time you use the Good-Bad 2NT and bid 2NT. This forces partner to bid 3 which you pass.

2/1 in competition works the same way. Partner opens 1 and the opponents overcall 1. You have xx AKJxx Axx Kxx and bid 2. The opponents bid 2 and around to you. You double to show your strength and forcing nature of your hand. This double does not show one hundred honours in the spade suit. If your first 2 bid was xx AKQxxx xxx xx and the auction goes the same way you can bid a non forcing 3 bid and partner knows you do not have defensive values.

Penalty double advocates say that since you limit your hand with a bid than subsequent doubles should be trump stack penalty doubles. Nonsense, these are the same players who ignore free bids and freely bid a "limited bid" on 11 HCP one time and 15 HCP the next time. You hold xxx AJxx KQJxx x and open 1 and LHO overcalls a spade and partner doubles with RHO bidding 2. Of course you bid the Good-Bad 2NT to compete, spurning the free bid concept. They bid 3 and all pass. Change your hand to xx AKxx AKxx xxx, and you will make the same "free bid" of 3 which shows a good hand. This time you double 3 so does this show a trump stack in spades? Belated D.S.I.P. doubles to the rescue. The 3 bid showed a good hand but not 4 defensive tricks.

Free bids are just the opposite from the old days. Bidding freely usually means you do not have enough to make a D.S.I.P. double. Remember though, if partner makes a 2/1 and they interfere, forcing pass applies and not D.S.I.P. theory. I hold QJ10987x x KJ A109 and decide to open 1 and partner bids 2. The opponents interfere with 4 so what are you forcing pass options? With a weak distributional hand that you were planning to pull the penalty double you bid in front of partner as a "pass and pull" is a slam try. AKQJxxx x KJ A109 is a pass and pull. A pass just means you will respect partner's decision to double. A double is just penalty and a pass is just getting out of the way for partner to double or otherwise describe her hand.

An adjustment in thinking is required for your penalty doubles. There are no trump stack enforcer doubles in competition unless forcing pass theory applies. These hands are handled by converting partners double or just letting them playing the contract undoubled.

Trapping and Exposing Psyches

There are auctions where the Do Something Intelligent Partner means just pass. These are belated single handed doubles by partner where he could have made a takeout double or negative double at a lower level. The double later in the auction does not mean he suddenly woke up and found that he had a takeout double. These are non competitive auctions but partner makes an out of the blue double. One if the principles of D.S.I.P. doubles is that you have a safe resting spot from the bidding, another is there has to be an element of competition. In these auctions, there is no safe bail out spot nor were we competing. These are not co-operative doubles. You just pass.

These auctions of course are the result of the "tactical" or bad bidding by the opponents. The opponents are vulnerable and open 1 spade. I have KQJ109 AK xx Axxx so I would rather trap vulnerable than rescue them by bidding. RHO has a legitimate spade opener so they land in 3 spades. I now double. This is not D.S.I.P. because partner can have zero HCP in this auction so no where to go. What if RHO has made a blatant 1 spade psyche with a diamond escape suit? Partner puts him in 4 spades so I double. He now bails to 5 diamonds so its obvious to all that he psyched. My pass is forcing so I pass the decision to partner to do something intelligent which includes bidding 5 spades.

Common psyches are over a weak two/ pre-empt or after a takeout double at the one level.

2

Dbl

2

Dbl*

* Double is exposing a spade psyche so not a D.S.I.P. double. Even at the one level, the auction goes:

1

Dbl

1

Dbl

You have xx AKxxx xx Kxxx so you double to expose the psyche. If RHO did not psyche, he is in deep trouble anyway.

Balancing doubles of their strong 1NT contracts are D.S.I.P. doubles in the co-operative sense. Leave it in with some values so pull otherwise. If you do not have a suit to pull, bid 2 so we can't start a scramble. 1 by RHO, you have a club opener yourself. They are vulnerable so you would rather trap than bid.

The auction continues:

1	Pass	1NT	Pass
Pass	Dbl

So that double shows the club trap. Tom and I play 2 as a takeout to the majors in those auctions. What if you make a belated double in a "live" auction i.e. in an auction that has not ended yet?

1	Pass	1	Pass
1NT	Dbl	Pass	?

This double shows the unbid suits of hearts and clubs. If you want to double the final contract for penalty you must wait until the auction is over. Who knows maybe their next bid is 3NT!

A direct double of a strong 1NT is a co-operative double rather than a penalty double that I have 1NT beat in my own hand. My hand shows a strong NT also or a hand too strong too overcall, so do something intelligent partner The double is not an order too pass as I need your judgment to determine whether 1NT is really going down. We could bid a vulnerable game or whatever. You need a control or around 6 HCP to leave the double in. If they run, let's assume it is our hand so a direct double of their run out suit is D.S.I.P. With a trump stack you must pass and wait for a re-opening double to convert. If I hit you with nothing initially, make an automatic bail to 2 to start a scramble if you do not have a long suit.

Negative Double theory has an element of trapping involved. If you had a chance to make a negative double earlier but you did not, all subsequent doubles are penalty.

1	2	Pass	Pass
Dbl	3	Dbl

This is clearly penalty as partner bypassed a negative double in the first instance. Trapping vs D.S.I.P. is an interpretive decision to make at the table. D.S.I.P. theory needs partnership understandings but it is logic based. It's a way of having an agreement for all your penalty double agreements not covered by forcing pass theory. This is another reason why D.S.I.P. theory should be for experts only. Judgment is required to read the context of the auction. Not always easy.

Quick Trick Criteria

With D.S.I.P. theory, a 1st double in competition means partner I have defense, nothing in their suit and I would like to compete again. In a rare occasion, you can have values in their suit as long as the criteria that you wish to compete again is met. Cards in their suit may be good for offense (transferable) since they are well located.

BJ Trelford had such a hand KJx xx xxx AQ10xx, in 3rd seat everybody vulnerable RHO opens 2. The auction goes pass, pass and I balance with a double. BJ bids 3 which I alert as constructive (we play Lebensohl) but the opponents bid 3. BJ in effect has already shown his hand by using Lebensohl so there is a case that D.S.I.P. theory should not apply as you have already shown your values in a competitive auction. However, values do not always equate to defensive tricks, so I think D.S.I.P. theory should apply. In this particular auction though, values in their suit are highly likely. BJ paid his card fees so did not want to sell out for 3, therefore he made a D.S.I.P. double.

Anyway, I pulled the double as I have way too many clubs to leave the double in for penalty (I thought). The opponents doubled 4, BJ makes an over-trick for the rare score of +910. I held xx AQ10xx Kx 987x. If I chose to convert we get +500 for 3 doubled anyway as the hearts are very favourably located for our side as are the clubs and spades. Good hand for yours truly as I could not go wrong. Change my hand to xx AQ10xx Axx xxx, and I would have passed so we get the proverbial telephone number +800 in 3 doubled. BJ is supposed to have 3 to 3½ defensive tricks for his double in this auction (I am a passed hand), so simple arithmetic in counting defensive tricks allows me to convert.

Usually in competitive auctions, trump penalty doubles per se are thrown in the waste basket. If you have them too high by competing good enough, take your plus. There are auctions though where the D.S.I.P. double and the penalty double converge. As long as you are content with partner pulling your penalty double, go ahead and make a D.S.I.P./ penalty double. If BJ had a trump stack of KQxx of spades with the same hand he would of course have passed the re-opening double. He should not double if he just planned to push them higher because he knows 99% of the time I will pull the double. Possibly he should not even have competed with a bad trump stack in their suit, unwilling to pass for penalty in the first instance.

If I held x AQ10xx Axxx 109x, I would double 3 based on his "Lebensohl" bid showing values with my maximum defense for a passed hand balancing double. BJ can convert for the telephone number. Playing D.S.I.P. theory you must bid the table and sniff out the occasions that partner may have a trump stack penalty double. In negative double theory, you just re-open with a double in case partner has a trump stack. In D.S.I.P. theory you must read the table better and pick your spots before you double again. Playing D.S.I.P. theory you must resist the urge to be "trigger happy" and wait for partner to double for you. Not always easy.

Dual Mode

In all auctions, there are only two possibilities or "modes" of operation. Either you own the hand so forcing pass theory applies or you do not and D.S.I.P. theory applies. When you do not own the hand, it further breaks down to nobody owning the hand (competing) or they own the hand. There is no other alternatives possible. When competitive auctions die or you have reached the 5 level of course, trump stack penalty doubles can kick in.

Tom and I had an auction tonight that shows this duality concept nicely.

1	Pass	1NT	2
3	4	5	Pass
Pass	?

OK. My bid is Michaels so we avoid making that bid on intermediate hands. Does my pass of 5 have any meaning in the forcing pass sense? No, because Tom's 4 bid could mean anything so forcing passes are not turned on. We are at the 5 level so its just old fashioned penalty doubles.

O.K. we normally think D.S.I.P. theory when forcing pass theory does not apply under the 5 level. Now what does my pass mean even at the 5 level? All it means is that I prefer to defend probably without any outstanding distribution as I did not double to discourage bidding at the 5 level. O.K. on this particular hand, Tom did make a tactical bid of 4 as he held xxxx K9xx xxxx K.

Here is the beauty of the D.S.I.P. system and 5 level bidding in general. You can just pass as the 5 level belongs to the opponents or you have two other options. The double of course is penalty at the 5 level. A 5 bid means I have loads of distribution so I think 5 is a good bid. I have AKJxx x xx QJ10xx, so Tom's tactical bidding has done its dirty work and 5 goes one down. Tom made a tactical bid with their trump but I cannot get in his way by bidding other than with a penalty double. In D.S.I.P. theory, the opponents are making an attempt at game (competing) or sacrificing its just not clear. If it were clear that they were sacrificing, forcing passes apply for our side.

Say Tom had Qxxxxx x xxxx Kx and since spades are the bully suit he would just have bid 5 as he feels that -500 is better then –650. O.K. what if the auction went a little bit differently. Say I doubled 1NT originally with AKJxx x Ax QJ10xx (we cannot bid Michaels with an intermediate hand and defense). They bid 2 so Tom decides to make a tactical bid of 4. Now when they bid 5, I would make a penalty double since they are at the 5 level. Tom just quietly passes the double so we collect our 500 or 800 with a club uppercut for Tom's heart 9.

Switching back and forth into two different modes of thinking either forcing passes or D.S.I.P. is the key to these auctions. Say the auction went a little bit differently again. I double 1NT with AKJxx x Ax KQJ109, and they bid 2 so Tom bids 2 to compete with Qxxx K9xx Qxx xx. I leap to 4 vulnerable so in the pass out position they bid 5. Now my pass has a different meaning as I show a huge hand for jumping to a vulnerable game. This time forcing pass theory applies. My pass means that I would like to bid 5 as opposed to doubling their sacrifice. Tom would simply double them for penalty with his hand so that ends the auction. Forcing pass theory is when we own the hand so they are deemed to be sacrificing. D.S.I.P. theory is for competitive auctions where nobody owns the hand or they do or you cannot tell from the bidding.

In forcing pass theory there are some subtleties. 2/1 as a passed hand or in competition does not turn on forcing passes until our side bids game. Same subtleties with invitational sequences, as they do not turn on forcing passes until game is reached. Contrast this with a normal 2/1 where forcing pass theory is in effect immediately or with a 2 opener. In auctions where forcing pass theory kicks in (game is reached by your side) the auctions are originally deemed to be just competitive auctions. In competitive auctions, D.S.I.P. theory is applicable. D.S.I.P. theory is applicable when both sides are actively competing until forcing pass theory takes over. This is why it is so important to know Forcing Pass theory.

Here is a hand that shows this concept of forcing pass "taking over" nicely. void KQxxxx Ax AQJxx, and you open 1. LHO overcalls 1 and partner bids 2. RHO bids 3 so you make a slam try of 4. LHO bids 4, partner doubles. Since you made a slam try, we have switched modes to forcing pass theory. Partner's double is as per forcing pass theory. She knows how many spades are around the table from the bidding and she has heard your slam try. She is warning you not to bid due to spade duplication of value. You trust partner and reluctantly pass. Partner's spades are KQ9x so a blood bath ensues.

Forcing Pass Auctions

In order to play D.S.I.P. doubles effectively, you must know when they do not apply so forcing pass theory takes over. O.K. we will assume you know the understandings involved in forcing pass theory but let's examine the auctions which "turn on" forcing pass theory. There is also a "when" factor with forcing pass theory. Sometimes forcing pass theory does not "kick in" until you bid game with the opponents bidding again. Otherwise, forcing pass theory is in effect immediately.

Essentially forcing pass theory applies when it is clear that you own the hand. You must have your ear to the bidding so finely tuned to pick up the auctions that forcing pass theory applies. The obvious auctions that turn on forcing passes are when your partnership opens:

• A strong 2.
• Direct 2/1 bid
• A redouble 10 HCP +
• Limit raise or better auction and game reached by either side
• Systemic forcing bids (Jacoby 2NT, inverted minors, strong jump shift, reverse etc)
• Game bid vulnerable against not in a non pre-emptive auction
• Double of their NT (forcing through 2 level)
• Penalty double or conversion
• Penalty double of a 2NT conventional bid (after weak 2 or similar)
• 2/1 in competition and game reached by your side
• 2/1 as a passed hand and game reached by you side
• When its obvious opponents are sacrificing against your game (they signed off previously or are two passed hands etc)
• When you or your partner have voluntarily bid game after an adverse opening preempt (other than 4 or 4), or preemptive jump overcall, all subsequent passes by your are forcing.

Examples:

2

4

5

Pass

3

4

5

Pass

1	2	4*	4
Pass

*Here we cannot jump to 4 with a weak hand since you do not pre-empt over a pre-empt).

Unless we are vulnerable and they are not, the following sequence is an exception since we might be saving:

4

4

5

Pass

When your side has overcalled at the two level and partner has responded in a new suit. You own the hand so forcing passes apply after you bid game.

Let's discuss a couple with examples submitted by Stan Cabay. A 2/1 in competition is forcing only one round if the suit is rebid but if you continue on to game, Forcing Pass Theory kicks in as your 2/1 shows a reasonable hand.

1

1

2

2

Responder has KQx K109xxx xx xx, and doubles for penalty which ends the auction.

3	Pass	4	4
Pass	Pass	?

Pass	Pass	1	1
2	2	3	3
4	Pass	Pass	4
Dbl

South has xx Ax QJx QJxxxx and is doubling to warn partner that 5 is not a good idea as per forcing pass theory.

Forcing Pass Theory

When you own the auction, forcing passes are on from the very start. (2/1, systemic bids like inverted minors, Jacoby 2NT, strong 2 openers etc.) In forcing pass auctions, the double is to be interpreted as a warning mostly with respect to their suit. The double in forcing pass theory is any one of the following 3 hands: a minimum or losers in their suit or duplication of value in their suit.

A forcing pass is a "green light" with respect to the opponent's bid suit. It does not show a great hand but shows a preference to play the hand as we are short in their bid suit. How short depends on the level of the auction. At the 6 level, the forcing pass shows 1st round control.

What is not always obvious is forcing passes can be "turned on" later in the auction. Tom Gandolfo had a hand last night that shows forcing passes in action. Tom opened vulnerable against not with a very bad hand.

AQJxx xxx KJ Q10x

1

2

3

4

Partner's hand may be a limit bid so forcing passes are not on. A double of 4 is for penalty and a pass shows a minimum hand (unless playing D.S.I.P. theory). Tom passed to show his minimum.

Pretty simple stuff so far.

Pass	Pass	4	5
?

O.K. partner has now contracted for a vulnerable game so forcing passes are now on. The meaning of your pass and double now changes. A double now "discourages further offensive bidding" using the language of the Bridge World. A pass would say "in the light of showing I had a minimum previously, I am short in their suit so if you want to bid 5 its O.K. by me."

A side issue of forcing pass theory is the meaning of a direct bid. If forcing passes are on, a direct bid means that you feel you can make the contract. If forcing passes are not on and you do not change the level of the auction, bidding your suit is the weakest bid you can make.

1

2

3

Dbl

A 3 bid here says I have a dog. A pass leaves room for partner to take some action so its more encouraging and of course a cuebid is even a better hand. If partner has forced to game say in this auction.

1

2

3

3

Forcing pass theory is now on even with the possible non fit as you own the hand. A double would say I am short in clubs or a minimum and this would be a good place to get a plus. A pass is a better hand then a double and we await further clarification by partner. A bid would in most cases confirm club support.

Do not forget that you have a responsibility in forcing pass auctions. Recently a partnership opened 2 and the opponents were sacrificing in 6 not vulnerable against vulnerable. Partner held xx QJ10xxx J10xx x and neglected her forcing pass responsibilities and passed 6! This pass shows 1st round control in spades in forcing pass theory and partner duly bid 7 which went down one when they cashed the spade ace.

Depending on Context

Bridge bidding has a very limited vocabulary. To make the language of bidding "richer" many bids must be interpreted depending on the context of the auction. The forcing pass is a superb concept that has been around a long time. It is definitely a "depending on context" bid. It is a myth to think that forcing passes apply only if your side is forced to game. When forcing passes were first invented, that was probably the case but over the years that definition was way too restrictive. Now forcing passes are in effect when your side " owns the auction". What does that term mean? This term has to be defined depending on the context of a particular auction. Has partner made a strength showing bid that is in the limit raise or better range and they are in game? Has partner made a 2/1 in competition or as a passed hand? Are we vulnerable against non vulnerable opponents and we bid game? What are the opponents doing non-vulnerable? Have they pre-empted or as both passed hands are now in game? Are the opponents obviously taking a sacrifice? Has partner doubled and bid single-handed vulnerable to game or a high level? Has your side made a penalty double or redouble and they are running?

All the above defines whether your side "owns the hand" and if you do, forcing pass theory is in effect. The Bridge World gives this hand You open 1 in 3rd seat vulnerable vs not with A Jxx AQxx AKQ10x, a cool 20 HCP.

The partner of the passed hand opponent bids a pre-emptive 2 and your partner as a passed hand makes a 2/1 of 2. The non-vulnerable passed hand partner of a pre-emptor now blasts to 4. What should you bid? The Bridge World panel said this was an obvious forcing pass situation. Partner has made a 2/1 vulnerable and two passed hand non-vulnerable opponents one of whom pre-empted are in game. The panel voted for a forcing pass again taking the table action into consideration. The opponents have announced that the hearts are 6,3,3,1 or 6,4,3,0 around the table. This gives partner a singleton or void in hearts. A forcing pass is the best bid because it gives partner a chance to describe her hand. If partner chooses a double, It gives you a chance to show your monster as you "pass and pull" to 4NT which should show the minors. A forcing pass is a win win situation.

Partners must be on the same wavelength for forcing passes. For example, in an expert partnership, it is totally impossible that this particular auction gets passed out. An established partnership trust each other. Trust and forcing pass theory is a good mix!

Klimo gives me this hand from the recent Bermuda Bowl won by the Italians. AKx Ax AKxx AQxx you are vulnerable and they are not. In 3rd seat they open 3 and you double. LHO bids 6 and around to you. Forcing pass theory has obviously kicked in with auction. So what should partner have for his pass? He would double with any heart card so we give the KQJ of hearts to the opponents. There are only 10 HCP left in the deck taking the heart cards out of the equation. Partner's pass encourages bidding so I would think he holds HCP in the 7-10 range. With heart cards out of the way, all his points are pulling full weight in their suits. The Italian after some thought put the 7NT card on the table. Partner came down with 9 HCP with he claimed 13 top tricks! Klimo says wow!

Forcing Pass - No Fit

Standard forcing pass theory was invented for when you own the auction and you have an announced fit. The agreements for this scenario have been discussed at length in previous articles. What about forcing pass auctions where you have not established a fit? These non fit forcing pass auctions revolve around the penalty double. Power + no fit equals trouble for the opponents. The pass in these situations just means I have values for my previous bid so I am getting out of the way for partner's penalty double. It says nothing that I prefer offensive action or tolerance for your suit. The pass just simply says that I lack a penalty double of their contract. A double means penalty of course and a bid means a distributional hand that I would have pulled your double anyway. You have bid in front of partner's impending double for a reason. A pass and pull is a slam try with shortness in their suit. A direct bid does not necessarily mean shortness in their suit but it is still a good bet.

Normally these type of forcing pass auctions occur at low levels but that's not always the case because the opponents can jam you. Take this auction. You have xx AKQxxx Kx Q109 and open 1. Partner bids 2 and RHO bids 3 with you bidding 4. LHO bids 4 and partner bids 5 so what is your decision?

Partner did not go the pass and pull route nor did she give you a chance to double. Her bid is not a slam try but does she have the singleton spade? With a spade void and a good hand, the pass and pull would stand out. That hand gets thrown out with this auction. With 2 spades and a 5-5, I think she would just get out of the way and respect your penalty double. All roads seem to lead to a 6-5 but how strong? x x AQJ10xx AJxxx could be a hand. x x AQJ10xx AKxxx is too strong as she would pass and pull with that hand. How about x x Axxxxx AKxxx? Anyway, I feel that the pass and pull inference is too strong to ignore so I give partner leeway and pass 5. What about keeping the auction open with a 5 bid? Does this have any merit? I think only for the opponents. if you have decided that there is no slam why be at the mercy of a 3-2 diamond break? x x Axxxxx AKJxx, 5 is cold even with a 4-1 diamond break.

The moral of the story is when you own the auction fit or no fit, think forcing pass understandings. The inference that partner did not pass and pull will keep you out of many bad slams in cramp auctions. Forcing pass theory was invented to help combat intruders who enter your forcing auction. Without sound understandings, they will cause bad decisions time after time. D.S.I.P. theory was invented to combat the opponents when you do not own the hand. Bad decisions in competitive auctions are the norm and "bidders" prey on that fact.

Penalty Doubles - Forcing Auctions

One of the very basics of bidding is to know when particular auctions set up a force on the partnership. There is nothing more discouraging in Bridge then to pass the decision around to partner thinking that the pass is forcing and partner passes!. Partner just cannot do that for any reason other than an outright psyche! Regardless of partner having minimum values or is ashamed of a previous bid or any other excuse that can be thought up, she cannot pass if there is a forcing auction. This erodes partnership confidence and trust and will lead to disasters in the long run. Even if the result is right, the means to get that result is wrong and is not worth it.

There are many ways a forcing auction is established, the common ones being a 2 opener, 2/1, Jacoby 2NT, 4th suit forcing, a new suit by responder, new minor forcing, a redouble, a cuebid, a systemic bid showing limit raise or better etc. All these bids allow nice and slow auctions until game is reached and if the opponents interfere they cannot buy the contract undoubled.

Another bid that sets up forcing auctions is the penalty double. I wish that were a generalization so it is easy on the memory but no such luck. Assuming that non of the above "forcing considerations" apply a penalty double initiates a force on the partnership. Let's review some common situations:

The opener re-opens with a double and partner converts. This sets up a forcing auction if the opponents try to wiggle out. Either partner can pass the bid around to partner for some sort of action.

A direct penalty double of 1NT sets up forcing passes through the two level. i.e, the opponents cannot buy the contract at the 2 level undoubled unless the partner of the 1NT doubler has run herself. (partnership understanding)

Take out doubles at the 3 or 4 level and partner converts for penalty. Forcing situations apply when the opponents start running.

When either partner makes a direct penalty double as opposed to a negative, responsive etc

Systemic penalty double (Unusual 2NT or Michaels etc)

O.K. that is a nice generalization and easy on the memory. All penalty doubles set up a one round force. Wrong! An exception is made for penalty doubles after take out doubles at the one and two level. Why! The logic behind this exception is that the take out doubler is announcing the unbid suits and the opponents are bidding them. This may be a psyche or an ill advised bid. The partner of the take out doubler can convert or make a penalty double with a lot less then normal due to this fact. The penalty double is made on the assumption that the take out doubler has some length in that suit also. If you put too strict a requirement on your penalty doubles after take out doubles i.e. enough values to punish them even if they run then you are going to miss out on a number of good sets or be the victim of psyches. The take out double structure is an exception to the penalty double setting up a force. If it were otherwise, your side could get murdered. Say partner made a 12 HCP take out double and you doubled their suit bid with your 8 HCP. They escape and partner passes it around to you. If you play that pass forcing, you have to bid at the 3 level vulnerable and maybe go for your life! If the takeout doubler bids again, she is doing it on her hand and not because you doubled for penalty.

Some example auctions:

1

Dbl

1

Dbl

RHO could be psyching a spade with hearts. You double 1 because you expect to beat it or expose the psyche. You do not have to hold enough values to establish a forcing auction.

KJ10xx x Axxx xxx

1	Dbl	Pass	Pass
1

The pass of 1 doubled does not set up a forcing auction.

xxx QJx x KQJ1098

1

Dbl

2

Dbl

You were about to bid 2 and they did! The double does not set up a forcing auction because partner has announced clubs with the takeout double.

J10xx xx xx AQJ10x

Now for the infamous Susan/Pat auction:

1	Pass	1NT	Dbl
2	Dbl	2	3

The double is for takeout and could easily announce clubs. The double of 2 is still bidding the takeout double not saying that I have a rock and setting up a forcing auction. Is 3 a forcing bid? Absolutely not. It shows a very good hand (like the hand Susan held) but not forcing. You cannot be forcing based on partner's penalty double of 2 as the penalty double was already made based on your take out double! If Pat had horrible wasted values in clubs or spades and a singleton diamond, 3 is the place to play it. The auction sounds like a good 6-4 in diamond and hearts, so with the hand that Pat had I would have bid 4 not because the 3 bid was forcing but because I had 3 trump and my points in hearts so the hand must fit well.

With xxxx Qx x KQJ1098. I would double 2 and pass 3 on this auction.

With a non takeout double auction and you make a penalty double, the ground rules change.If you do not have enough overall strength to establish a forcing auction and they are in a bad spot then you just let them play it there. If you do double, the expectation is that you have enough values to stand partners double if they escape. As noted previously, the takeout double auctions are an exception to this penalty double rule.

Some partnerships say that a penalty double never sets up a force on the partnership. I think this makes no bridge sense as the penalty double conveys information to partner about the overall strength of the doublers hand for further action by the partnership. This non forcing concept may be good in matchpoints (non Bridge).

2/1 Doubles

When partner makes a 2/1, D.S.I.P. theory is replaced by forcing pass theory. However, my partners and I have the understanding that 2 after partner's 1 opener is not forcing to game if the suit is rebid. After a major opener, a rebid of a minor is not game forcing. We have these understandings to make our forcing 1NT structure more manageable by taking these hand types out of the equation. In addition, we play 2/1 in competition as not a game force if the suit is rebid. To cover these hand types, D.S.I.P. theory comes into play. In the heat of battle, since these hands are an exception to the rule, we still assume forcing pass theory. However, if it presents itself that we can indicate the different hand type, we seize the opportunity.

Partner opens 1, you bid 2 with Jx Ax xx AK109xxx, they overcall 2 which gets raised to 3 so around to you. A direct double simply means my 2/1 was of the game forcing variety so D.S.I.P. A pass would say I just have a club suit type 2/1. Same with hearts bid over spades in a competitive auction. A direct double after a minor 2/1 bid is like a Thrump double. Bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit. With a singleton in my suit and the appropriate hand, feel free to convert for penalty.

What about 2/1 in competition? Same basic idea. A direct double just tells partner your 2/1 is now forcing to game. If you just had a suit 2/1, you would simply rebid your suit non forcing. You have the choice of a cuebid also but that should imply a fit with partner. Ax AKQxxx xxx xx. Partner opens 1, they overcall 2 you bid 2 and they bid 3 so around to you. A double here just means that your 2/1 was Serious, so we are going to game somewhere or they play it doubled. A double works like a cuebid but you are conserving room and giving partner an option. A 3 bid would not be forcing.

xx AKQxxx xx xxx

Partner opens 1, you bid 2 and they bid 3. This gets passed around to you. Your 3 bid is not forcing, but you "owe" partner another bid. You must double with a game forcing 2/1. A direct double is a more flexible bid to show your game forcing values. A cuebid sometimes rescues the opponents from a bad spot. A cuebid should imply a fit with partner in most cases. All bids in 2/1 auctions other than rebidding your suit are of course forcing to game with our understandings.

1	Pass	2	Pass

This is always forcing to game. There are no D.S.I.P. understandings in these auctions. Doubles and passes are in accordance with forcing pass theory.

Game Bid Interference

In all auctions with the opponents intruding right up to but not including the 5 level, only two scenarios can apply, forcing pass theory or D.S.I.P. theory. The 3rd option of simply old fashioned trump stack doubles do not apply in competitive auctions unless at the 5 level and above or a pre-empt took place. A double does not mean you have a trump stack and a pass means you do not have a trump stack. When the opponents enter the auction, this should turn on a red light. You have an obligation to think forcing pass theory or D.S.I.P. theory. Your passes and doubles will have new meanings depending on which mode of operation the auction takes.

Let's discuss the auctions where we have bid game and now they interfere. Its not that we bid game that turns on forcing passes its how we bid game. A jump to game never turns on forcing passes no matter what the vulnerability with one important exception. If they pre-empt, we do not "pre-empt over a pre-empt" so a jump to game turns on forcing passes. Otherwise, to turn on forcing passes the partnership must have redoubled, doubled or made another strong bid like a cuebid, 2/1 or a reverse. All forcing pass and D.S.I.P. theory entails is keeping the partnership informed in order to make the best possible competitive decision. Pseudo sacrifices at the game level are prevented by D.S.I.P. theory as duplication of value in their suit is highlighted during the auction.

Undisciplined players do not play Forcing Pass theory. It interferes with their destructive style that their bids can mean anything because they are trying to "fool" the opponents Poker style. The fact that partner is fooled also means she is just the 3rd opponent. Who cares? Playing against Peter Jones and Lorna, the auction goes 1 by Lorna, 4 by Peter Jones. I had a decent hand with a long diamond suit so I "bid the table" and bid 5. Lorna has a decent hand but she is non-vulnerable vs vulnerable so decides that in light of partner's pre-emptive bid, a sacrifice in 5 is called for. My partner doubles but they go down only one as Peter tables an Ace with an outside KQ combination. 5 doubled goes for -500 but there is no semblance of forcing pass theory due to the undisciplined 4 bid. Undisciplined jumps to game in the major always seem to get partner rather than the opponents.

My partner in the Calcutta held Axxxx Kxxxx xx x, and I opened 1. Would you ever consider pre-empting to 4 with 1½ defensive tricks? Slam is, of course, cold but partner will never move after the pre-emptive bid is made.

You hold QJ10xx KJx xxx Ax, and partner opens 1 vulnerable and they interfere 2. What is the hurry to leap to game with such a strong hand? Make a bid that turns on forcing passes to put partner in the picture. The opponents quite often crawl in at the 5 level at this vulnerability so Let's put partner in the picture re forcing pass theory.

These auctions would turn on forcing passes.

1	Pass	2	3
Dbl*

* Game Try

1	Pass	2	3
4*

* Cuebid

1	Pass	2	3
4/ *

* 2nd suit

In the absence of these bids, say we jumped to game or got pushed to game, D.S.I.P. theory applies. Also a red flag appears if the opponents have made a takeout double. If we do not take the time to redouble or cuebid before bidding our game, forcing passes do not apply.

What if in competitive auctions your side makes a game try and you bid game? They subsequently interfere at the game level. Is it forcing passes or D.S.I.P. theory that rules? A game try is a sign of strength so if game accepted, forcing pass theory applies. In all competitive auctions, we bounce back and forth between forcing pass theory or D.S.I.P. theory depending on whether we eventually own the auction. It is essential that you know the signs that cause either understanding to apply. It is easier to know the forcing pass rules as they are quite strict. In all competitive auctions, D.S.I.P. theory applies by default. You must own the auction for forcing pass theory to come into effect. If you are in doubt whether the auction has turned on forcing passes, default to D.S.I.P. theory. In D.S.I.P. theory, you are allowed to pass the auction out.

Tactics - Forcing Passes

In my opinion, the best weapon ever invented in Bridge to handle the opponents tactical bids is the forcing pass. Why? Forcing passes bring in the partnership element of Bridge and allow a joint decision instead of a single handed decision which usually leads to disaster. We have had multi Emails on forcing passes before, but due to their importance, it does not hurt to discuss them again.

Forcing passes are defined as assigning a meaning to the pass when it is "your auction" in order to give partner information to assist in making a decision. Forcing passes are most frequent in sacrificing auctions by the opponents and penalty double auctions.

O.K. the hardest concept to grasp with forcing passes is to know when they apply I.e. when do you own the hand? Here are some guidelines:

• 1. Obvious that you own the auction – 2 opener, 2/1, Jacoby 2NT or similar strong bids like cue bidding and systemic doubles.
• 2. Any systemic auctions that show limit raise or better and game is reached by either side
• 3. Penalty doubles and systemic bids that encourage penalty doubles (1NT doubled etc)
• 4. Vulnerability considerations i.e. contracting for a vulnerable game

O.K. what are some auctions that forcing passes do not apply. Just because you bid game does not mean forcing passes are on. The infamous leap to 4 of a major in competitive auctions does not "turn on forcing passes" especially with vulnerability taken into consideration. To turn on forcing passes, a cuebid or new suit or double must have been bid previously.

"Limit raise or better". The key word is the better. A straight limit raise auction does not turn on forcing passes until game is reached and accepted by your side. If the limit raise hand can be "better", forcing passes apply if either side bids game.

The auction:

1	2	2*	2
Pass	4	Pass**

*limit raise or better, ** Pass is forcing.

There are three classes of forcing passes. One type is that the partnership is just "getting out of the way" for partner to make a penalty double when you own the auction. This pass has implications also. This pass means that you have the values that partner can reasonably expect you to have given the auction. If you bid in front of partner, you are showing weakness and distribution that you would not have stood for the penalty double anyway (6-5 etc). If you pass and then pull the double you are giving partner the information that you are interested in more than the penalty double is going to bring in (vulnerable game or slam). A special case of these type of penalty double forcing passes is over weak NT. Partner doubles 1NT and the opponents are running. Partner's pass is forcing through the 2 level as there are assumed values. Partner is not obligated to bid just because she has values. The pass gives that information and partner can make a penalty double if warranted.

The next class of forcing passes is that you have a fit and the opponents are sacrificing or otherwise in your auction. In these types of auctions, the pass is geared to "playability". If you want to encourage partner to bid again due to shortness in the opponents' suits or another reason you pass the decision to her.

A double gives the information that from your side let's take our plus as I have duplication in their suit or a real dog. A direct bid says that you feel that the contract is going to make and a pass and pull is a slam try. At high levels the pass has strict suit requirements in the opponents suit. A pass at the 6 level shows 2nd round control or better and a pass at the 7 level shows 1st round control.

The last class of forcing passes are those defined by vulnerability or what the opponents are doing in your auction. Quoting Mr. Cabay:

"Good partnerships (especially those that extensively use pressure bids) play the vulnerability. So, when they bounce around with favorable vulnerability, you can be sure they have nothing; and, when they bounce with unfavorable vulnerability, you can be sure they expect to make. The difficult cases are the equal vulnerability, especially both non-vulnerable (Meckwell have a name for both non-vulnerable, something like the "sewer vulnerable").

So, I strongly agree with your treatment when unfavorably vulnerable (assume the opponents have nothing, so the pass over their preempt is forcing), and strongly disagree when favorable (they have the goods). The other two cases are tough. When both are vulnerable, the opponents are still likely to have the goods, so I prefer to play non - forcing passes. With both non - vulnerable, I throw up (i.e., I have no preference), but there should be a partnership agreement.

These forcing passes are when the other guidelines to forcing passes are not present. For example:

1

1

4

?

Let the vulnerability be your guide.

Intelligent use of forcing passes is the best counter defense to double game/slam swings. I will give two hands from the same Swiss match where the forcing pass prevents double game swings.

xx AJx A109x Axxx. Bob Crosby

void KQ10x Kxxxx KJxx. Peter Jones

First seat Mr. Jones opened 1 and LHO bid 2 Michaels and I bid 2 which shows a limit raise or better in diamonds. RHO bid 2, Peter passed and LHO bid 4. I deduced that partner could have spade shortness as the opponents are certainly not bidding on HCP! Therefore I made a forcing pass which says that I would rather play the hand than defend. Peter and I have an understanding that once we have opened and the other hand has a limit raise or better we "own the hand" and forcing passes are on if either side bids game. Note on this hand, if the minors behave, 7 Diamonds makes. In reality, the diamonds were 3-1 and the clubs were 4-1 so only 5 diamonds made. Actually our partners were in 4 doubled making on this hand!

Another hand which shows the forcing pass principle comes from Ms. Lambert and Lloyda playing together.

KQJ10 Qx KQJ10xx x Anita

Anita opens 1 and LHO overcalls 1 and Lloyda bids 1. 2 by RHO and Anita bids 2. 3 and Lloyda bids her vulnerable game 4. The auction does not end here (LHO was Steve Willard) who bid 5. Is Lloyda's pass forcing and if so what does it mean? First of all Lloyda contracted for a vulnerable game. It should NOT be an advance sacrifice against 4 (if it were, she would back in 4 after they bid 4) to make it an obvious sacrifice.

Anyway, her pass is forcing and shows heart shortness and a willingness to play 5. With the diamond fit, 2 Aces, heart shortage and the 5th spade all lead toward a forcing pass. Why make a single handed decision for the partnership when you can pass information to partner? Lloyda passes and Anita with her offensive hand happily bids 5. Note 5 doubled makes on this hand! 5 makes.

A9xxx x Axxx Q109. Lloyda

In my opinion, the ultimate in a good partnership is how they handle forcing passes. All aspects of forcing passes and competitive auctions should be ironed out.

O.K. now an example of a different type of forcing pass.

1	2NT	Dbl*	5
?

* One or both minors, HCP which sets up forcing passes.

Unless the opponents are suicidal you must give them the club suit. Partner probably wanted to double diamonds, short in spades and now it appears has hearts.

AJ10xx KQxxx void Jxx

With this hand I would bid in front of partner to show the weak distributional hand.

AKQxx xxx Kx Jxx. I would double to show my values are in spades and to discourage her bidding again.

AJxxx Axxx Kx xx. I would pass and respect partner's decision.

AJxxx AKxxx Kx x. I would pass and pull the double to 5 as a slam try.

Eddie Kantar wrote an entire book on forcing pass theory. There are some twists and turns in forcing pass theory. The main one is when in the auction does forcing pass theory get turned on.

1	Pass	3	3
Pass	Pass	Pass

With 3 being a limit raise is an auction that can happen as game has not been bid by the opening side.

1	Pass	3	3
4	4	?

This pass is forcing as game has been accepted by partner. The opponents are deemed to be in a sacrificing situation.

Forcing Passes - Game Force Auctions

Do not forget when partner makes a strong bid like a reverse, strong jump shift or a 2NT rebid, this action turns on forcing pass theory when the opponents interfere. Forcing pass theory takes precedence over D.S.I.P. theory as this is not a competitive auction, you just have an intruder in your midst. This is the classic example of switching modes from D.S.I.P. to forcing pass theory.

Non-vulnerable vs vulnerable I opened 1 and BJ responded 1. I rebid 2NT and LHO entered the auction with 3. Even if you are light for your response, the 2NT bid turned on forcing passes. BJ Trelford held 1098xxx Kxx A10xx void so what are his options? A double is penalty saying that I have club values or I just think this is the best spot to get a plus. A pass says that I prefer offensive action, but if you do double I will abide by your decision. A bid says I strongly prefer offensive action so we are ignoring the intruder. Of course, pass and pull is the slam try as is a cuebid.

With BJ's hand I would make a forcing pass and abide by partner's decision. They are vulnerable vs not and he has 1½ defensive tricks and they just bid partner's suit at the 3 level. I have an easy decision. AKx AJ10x Kxx K109 since I have 7 HCP with length in spades and minimum length in clubs with a finesseable honour, I will abide by partner's preference to take offensive action. Partner prefers offensive action so I will use his judgment in making my decision. I will bid 3 and partner will bid 4 which gets us +450. 3 doubled only gets us +200 and a zero on the board. Do not forget that a forcing pass is a bid that is conveying information to me re partner's hand type.

Change BJ's hand slightly just by taking away one spade and adding a club. 1098xx Kxx A10xx x. With this hand I would double 3 as there is no guarantee of a game and the spades could be breaking very badly. We have a club loser, a diamond loser and a possibility of 2 spade losers with a bad spade break. Victory for +200 and thank you opponent!

Change BJ's hand to Q1098xx Kxx AQxx void and he has a pass and pull slam try. With a lesser hand he could have made a direct cuebid as a slam try. Do not forget the "step responses" in forcing pass theory. The opponents have given you an opportunity to describe your hand within 5 levels of strength as per forcing pass theory. Take advantage of forcing pass theory on which to base your Bridge decisions and watch your bidding accuracy improve immensely. You even will prefer to have Steve Willard, Ray Grace and Osama in your auction so you can describe your hand better.

Game Bidding

Bidding a vulnerable game against non vulnerable opponents normally turn on forcing passes. I say normally but there are exceptions. If you leap to the game when you have had a chance to make a stronger bid, forcing passes are not turned on and neither is D.S.I.P. theory. Old fashioned captaincy is applicable instead. The game bidder runs the show so his double is penalty. We consider that there is no real element of competition in these auctions as we just leapt to game. I had an auction recently which shows this concept dramatically.

My partner vulnerable against non vulnerable opponents open 1 with QJ QJ10x AKxxxx x so I responded 1. RHO doubles with partner leaping to 4. They bid 4so I pass. Is my pass forcing? No, because the way we got to the vulnerable game does not show any defensive strength. 5 vulnerable only goes one down so is this the famous vulnerable sacrifice vs a non vulnerable game. Not a chance, as the non vulnerable opponents are cold for 7 on this hand! Partner exercised his captaincy rights and wisely passed.

Bidding games pre-emptively no matter what the vulnerability, do not turn on forcing passes. You must have made a strength showing bid earlier which makes the forcing pass situation obvious. Do not get lazy with your cue bidding or introducing a new suit when you have a very strong hand. Leaping to game with strong hands will give partner the wrong impression of your hand if the opponents bid again. Think forcing pass theory when the opponents are lurking. Same with overcalls or weak twos. Do not just jump to game with strong hands. Indicate some strength first to turn on forcing passes. If you do not, partner will always assume you are the captain of this auction so will not join the party.

1

2

Pass

?

xx Axx KQxx KQxx

Do not get lazy and just bid 4. Laziness and forcing pass theory is not a good mix. cuebid 1st to turn on forcing passes. Do not forget that either opponent can bid again so put partner in the picture for forcing pass purposes. Leaping to game with big hands are for Kangaroos not Bridge players. If partner opens a weak 2, they double or overcall at the two level, 2NT or redouble should be bid to turn on forcing passes rather than leaping to game. If they enter the auction, you can use forcing passes as a tool. Its not that you bid game, it's how you bid game that turns on forcing passes. When forcing passes are turned on, even your partner who has opened a weak two or otherwise pre-empted is invited to the party. He has a responsibility in forcing pass auctions also. Do not forget, D.S.I.P. theory is not involved in these jump to game auctions. The game bidder is simply captain of the auction. This lack of D.S.I.P theory allows for tactical bids by the game bidder. The limited hand can make an action double though non-vulnerable vs vulnerable.

Bidding Cues turn on forcing passes. Always remember that, so do not leap to game with huge hands even if the opponents are not in the auction. They may back in later so you wish you had a forcing pass tool at your disposal! If you do leap to game with a good hand, you are in charge. D.S.I.P. theory does not apply for you if your side just leaps to game. D.S.I.P. theory applies for the other side though, if they are wise enough to play competitive doubles.

Forcing Passes - 2 Level Overcalls

The two level overcall has changed over the years. The values for an overcall have been steadily creeping upwards so that in modern Bridge it is equated to an opening bid. If you have overcalled at the two level and partner introduces a new suit, I feel that a basic assumption should exist that your side "owns the hand". If your side owns the hand, the opponents are deemed to be sacrificing and forcing pass theory kicks in.

I was playing with a tormentee who has very limited experience with forcing pass theory. When Bridge was invented, a double and a pass were very straight forward. In a competitive auction, a pass meant that in your opinion the contract was going to make and a double meant that a contract was not going to make. Very simple. Around the 1940's, Bridge experts decided that this notion was too simplistic in auctions when the opponents were interfering in your auction and perceived to be sacrificing. They decided to change the meaning of pass and double in these specific auctions only.

The tormentee held this hand with both sides non-vulnerable. x KQxx AKQxx Qxx and LHO open 1. Most bidders would choose a takeout double but the tormentee choose to introduce his good diamond suit by overcalling 2. My RHO bid 2 and I introduced a new suit by bidding 3. LHO leapt to 4 and the tormentee chose to bid 5 as he felt that that this contract had a good chance of succeeding. This got passed around to the opening bidder who decided to bid 5. The tormentee decided that the "5 level belongs to the opponents" and since he had a nice hand and partner was bidding strongly they could not make 5. He subsequently doubled and we were –650 as they made their contract.

I wrongly voiced my displeasure at his bid forgetting about his inexperience with such auctions. In these auctions, it is standard thinking to define new meanings for the pass and double. These changes of definitions are the basis of forcing pass theory. Even if you are not 100% sure that you can set the opponents, you make the assumption that you can when you "own the auction" after strong bidding by your side. You contracted for a non-vulnerable game at the 5 level after a 2 level overcall. Partner has made a strong bid, so it is understood that this is your hand. Forcing pass theory comes into play and new meanings for pass and double emerge.

A pass does not mean that you think the opponents are going to make their contract. It is assumed that they cannot make their contract at this level. A pass means that in light of the auction, you would prefer that partner takes the push to the next level. It usually means that you have a control in the enemy suit and enough values to warrant such action. A double has an entirely new meaning other than they cannot make their contract (the assumption being that they cannot). The double is a warning that further bidding by your side is not a good idea. This double could mean that you have duplication of value in their suit (penalty double) or length in their suit (a doubleton) or you lack the overcall HCP strength to go to the next level.

In this auction, you have a forcing pass which brings partner into the decision making process. Your pass says that you would like to "take the push" as you are short in their suit and have the distribution and HCP to warrant such a partnership decision. Based on this information being communicated to me, I have an easy 6 bid and we go for –50 in 6.

When this notion was first invented, The Bridge world thought that a pass being a forcing bid was a ridiculous idea. A pass is not supposed to be forcing! Over the years, forcing pass theory has become standard Bridge and an excellent way to bring partner into the decision making process in tough competitive auctions. The above is just an outline to forcing pass theory. Kantar has written an entire book on this subject alone. Tormentees must learn forcing pass theory to keep advancing their skills at this very difficult game.

Looking For Cues

Playing forcing pass theory you must look for the cues that turn on forcing passes. Forcing passes and their implications are a huge part of Bridge for expert partnerships. It is a way of making joint decisions in high level competitive auctions instead of one partner just taking a guess. Honing in on the nuances of auctions that switch on forcing passes for your side is a must. Cue #1 is vulnerability and a vulnerable game bid by your side. An opponent vulnerable opened a Flannery 2 with xxxx AKxxx AKx x and my non-vulnerable partner overcalled 3. They leaped to 4 and I bid 5. What should the Flannery bidder do? Partner bid a vulnerable game so its your hand. If you own the hand forcing pass theory applies. The opponents bidding your singleton makes your hand better so you want to encourage partner to bid 5. A pass is forcing and conveys the message " partner I would like you to bid 5" A double says the 5 level belongs to the opponents partner. A 5 bid with a systemic auction is just not allowed as partner knows your hand already. With this hand partner declines the invitation with her minimum and 5 doubled goes for 500.

Maurice had Qxxx Qx AKJ10xx x against Peter Jones and partner. The auction went:

1	Pass	1	2*
Pass	2**	4	Pass
4	5	5	?

* 2 by Maurice vulnerable vs not and ** I cuebid 2. This cuebid means that it is our hand and forcing passes apply (Cue #2). Peter Jones bid 4 and his partner bids 4 and I contract for a vulnerable 5 game. Peter Jones bids 5 so what should Maurice do? He should double at the speed of light saying he has a dog and let's just take our plus. We got our +500 and on to the next hand. A forcing pass by Maurice shows an invite to 6 and a heart control.

Another Maurice auction. He held AQxx A J109x KJ10x and RHO opened 1 and he doubled. The auction went 2 and 4 vulnerable by me around to the 2 bidder who now decided to bid 5. I passed and around to Maurice. Forcing passes apply so what should Maurice do? I said I wanted to bid 5 with my pass. Maurice accordingly bids 5 and they need to find a ruff to beat 6 as I held Kxxxx xxx KQxxx void. 5 doubled only goes for +300.

Do not forget forcing pass theory in these kind of auctions also.

4	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	4	Pass	Pass
5	Dbl

The opponents were willing to play in a partial and we bid a vulnerable game so its our hand and forcing pass theory applies. I doubled saying I wanted no part of 5. If I passed, it shows a willingness to bid 5. With my partner's hand we should be close to making 6. I would pass with Qxx KQxxxx xx xx saying I would like to bid 5. Partner held AKxx Axx x AKxxx and 1430 would be lay down. I doubled with my hand xxx QJxxx xxx xx warning that 5 is not the spot.

Cue #3 is where passes are forcing from one side only. This is where one partner has indicated a huge hand by opening 2 or make a takeout double and bidding game single handed vulnerable. A takeout double or even an overcall with a cuebid can turn on "one way" forcing passes. The big hands pass is forcing on the little hand but not vice versa. The pass by the hand who never "attended the party " is not forcing on the big hand. The pass has the old fashioned meaning that "I am broke". The double by the little hand means I am not entirely broke.

The auction went:

1	Dbl	1	Pass
2	4	5	?

I doubled and jumped to game vulnerable against not vulnerable and they bid 5. Tom had xx xxx xxxx A9xx and doubled to tell me that he can contribute something to this auction. The double helped me and took the vulnerable push and got doubled and made an over-trick. What if Tom held xx xxx xxxx xxxx? He would pass 5 and I would act accordingly that he is probably broke over there.

What if our auction went a little differently?. Same auction but instead of LHO bidding 5, RHO bids 5. Now the huge hand makes a forcing pass to partner. The little hand must do something. With Tom's first hand xx xxx xxxx A9xx, the Ace would tip the scale in favour of a 5 bid. With the 2nd hand xx xxx xxxx xxxx he must double! Partner doubled and contracted for 10 tricks vulnerable and passed a 5 level decision around to you. You cannot shirk your responsibility.

These hands came up recently and there was a common thread among all of the hands. Not once was the forcing pass element picked up at the table and wrong decisions were made every time. The means that the cues that turn on forcing passes are being missed. People who are used to playing with weak partners have trouble with forcing pass theory. They miss out on the joint decisions that forcing pass theory brings to the partnership. Ignoring forcing pass theory means that you must make the decision for the partnership single handedly and very bad results follow. In important decisions, both hands should contribute to the final result. Strong auctions by your side i.e. 2/1, game forcing strong jump shifts, penalty doubles, 2/1 in competition or as a passed hand and game reached all turn on forcing passes.

Forcing Passes - Pre-empts

There are two ways of combating the so called "modern pre-empts". One is by trapping when you have their suit and rely on the opponents to get themselves. Modern pre-empters consider their partners as fair game also. Just like in any psychic bid, it is their partners rather than the opponents that result in their undoing. Their unfortunate partner is going to believe the pre-emptor and disaster quite often occurs. The doubling will commence when they finally come to rest somewhere.

Your partnership should have special balancing rules against these bad pre-emptors. BJ and I have the understanding that when they are vulnerable and we are not, a balancing double just shows cards and does not need unbid suits for takeout. We are just bidding the table that we have trapped non-vulnerable vs vulnerable. These pre-emptors have no consideration for vulnerability so we pay special attention to vulnerability. In all other vulnerabilities our balancing doubles return to normal.

The best weapon by far against these pre-emptors is to have special rights for your partnership vulnerable vs non-vulnerable. In this one vulnerability scenario only, forcing passes are automatically turned on when they pre-empt and jam you by bidding game. Bridge is a game of probabilities. You do not gear your system to rare eventualities. The majority of the time when the opponents are jamming you non-vulnerable against vulnerable, you actually do own the hand. What about the rare time that they are bidding to make? We still assume it is our hand and the worse thing that can happen is they make their doubled contract. Lose 4 as redoubling is so rare as be considered negligible on these auctions.

The auction goes:

3	Dbl	5	?

You are vulnerable against non-vulnerable.

Forcing pass theory is automatically turned on. You hold xxx xxx xxx xxxx so you must double as this is a forcing pass situation. Partner has 16 HCP for her double but despite all those HCP they make it anyway for –550. So what? The advantages of forcing pass theory is 99% of all the other hands that your partnership may hold in these auctions so you really do own the hand.

Forcing pass theory allows both partners to make a joint decision in determining the final contract. You have AKxx Kxxx xx xxx so you can safely pass to partner saying you want to bid vulnerable at the 5 level. You do not have to make the decision for the partnership and guess the diamond distribution. Partner will make the decision based on your pass. Otherwise you would have to force to slam that may not make our choose a major yourself which could be a Moysean with a 5-1 break. The best spot might be 5 doubled so let partner decide through forcing pass theory.

The pass and pull part of forcing pass theory is an excellent slam try tool at the 5 level. You have AKxxxx Q10x x xxx so you simply pass 5. Partner with Qxx AKxx xx AKQx doubles 5 and you now pull to 5. These pass and pull auction must by definition show a control in the opponent's suit or otherwise you would have bid 5 directly to make your contract. AKxxxx Q10x xx xx is a 5 bid. You also would not pull the double with two fast losers in their suit.

Since we do not have a trump suit already established in their pre-emptive auctions, a double does not say that we have losers in their suit as that is silly. The doubler is marked with shortness so unless she doubles to tell you otherwise you assume shortness. A free bid of 5 says that you feel you can make the contract but says nothing about length in the opponents suit. The pass and pull does though as the doubler can hold two in their suit.

If after a forcing pass and the original doubler chooses to bid rather than double, you can assume shortness in their suit. Therefore with some hands you may bid slam on that basis. AKxxx Kxxx xx xx so you make a forcing pass and partner bids 5. Partner holds Qxx AQxxx x AKxx so you carry on to 6 and all is well. Forcing passes vs pre-empts. Any help is welcome.

Biting the Bullet

Watched the final sessions of the Bermuda Bowl with Italy vs USA. Two D.S.I.P. hands came up on which I would like to comment. Actually, there were many many D.S.I.P. situations that came up. The Italians do not play strict D.S.I.P. theory like we are proposing, but what they play is very close. AQJx void Q10xx AJ10xx was opened 1, Meckstroth overcalled 1. Nunes passed and Rodwell bid 4 doubled by the opener with both sides non-vulnerable. Nunes held xxx xxx Jxxx xxx so what do you bid? No delay at the Vuegraph so I knew he quickly passed. 4 doubled making was the result so the Italians lost 4 IMPS. Not a disaster at all but if he refused to bite the bullet by bidding something it would have been a disaster.

"Biting the bullet" comes up quite often in the game of Bridge where partner inadvertently puts your side in trouble. This usually happens with a double by partner with you being vulnerable and they are not. Some examples are leaving in a double of 1NT for -180 or so rather than you bidding vulnerable with a horrific hand so possibly go for -800. Partner makes a balancing double of a weak 2opener, you hold xx J109xx xxx xxx with you being vulnerable and they are not. Passing for penalty might work out to be the best bid as –470 might be your best score!

1

Pass

4

Dbl

You are vulnerable vs not with xxxx xxx Qxx Qxx. Do you bid 4 vulnerable vs not?. I do not, as we are going for a minus anyway vulnerable vs non-vulnerable. I would rather gamble it out that 4 doubled may go down. If not -590 vs -200 to -800 is a trade off anyway. In fact, with my partners if I do bid a vulnerable game vs non vulnerable opponents, I feel there is a reasonable shot of making it. This action turns on forcing passes on this one vulnerability only.

Same Italian, he opened 1 again non-vulnerable vs vulnerable this time. He held A10x void AQJx Qxxxxx, Rodwell overcalled 1 with a negative double by Versace. The opener bid 2, Rodwell bid 3 which was raised to 4 by Meckstroth. Nunes decided to sacrifice non-vulnerable vulnerable vs vulnerable so he bid 5 which was doubled and down -500. Trouble was this is was pseudo as Versace held Kxx A10xx 1098x xx. In D.S.I.P. theory, the 1st double after a passing partner under the 5 level is a request to bid something. Versace would say thanks but no thanks so pickup a 700 swing. Single handed sacrifices are just that. Single handed!

Q10987xx J1098x x void with everybody vulnerable.

Do you open 3 or make the disciplined pass? Soloway opened 3 and the Italians passed at the other table. This got raised to game in spades which has no play. The Italians at the other table took a single handed pseudo sacrifice to 5 doubled for -500. Partner of the 3 pre-emptor held A Axxx Kx Axxxxx. The 5 bidder heldx KQ AQJ109xx xxx. At the table I was watching, Versace passed, Nunes opened 1 so Rodwell "pre-empted" 3. The Italians found their heart fit which make +680 but this time no sacrifice as Meckstroth had a spade stack so thought 4 might not make.

Anyway is what quite evident that bidding or passing at high levels is still a crap shoot at the World Championship level. D.S.I.P. theory is an attempt to make these decisions less single handed. It seemed that every time somebody made a single handed sacrifice trying to be a hero, it did not work. Same problem in all these auctions was that partner was not consulted or asked to be a part of the decision.

The reasons why the Italians won the Bermuda Bowl is that they played better. Pretty profound observation.

Forcing Pass

An established partnership has tools to counteract Bridge terrorism. Bridge terrorism is when the opponents are trying to "blow up" your auction with destructive bids. Forcing pass theory is a hand evaluation skill designed to combat terrorism. My partner had two auctions where our counter terrorism tools failed us in one instance but succeeded in the other. I held x Qx KQ109x KQ98x and partner opened 1. RHO overcalled 1 and you bid 2 which shows a limit raise or better and automatically turns on forcing passes if they or us reach game. Forcing passes are the best anti-terrorism tool invented in Bridge. However, the tool is useless if you do not "pick up" on the forcing auctions where it applies. Forcing passes are like step responses in that each action shows an increasingly better hand.

Anyway, after the 2 cuebid, the opponents leap to 4 so what do you do with x Axxx AJxx Axxx? With forcing pass theory, there are 5 bids in your repertoire to convey your hand to partner. Each "step" shows increasing values on which partner can base his decision. The bids are double, pass, direct bid, cuebid and pass and pull the double. This hand is not a double as that shows a dog or duplication of values or losers in their suit. A pass is the next step saying I would prefer you to take offensive action if I had my choice. The next step is bidding directly. This action is saying we can make our contract even if you have a minimum over there for your previous bid. A cuebid is of course a slam try and the pass and pull the double is probably having aspirations for a grand slam.

Partner with this hand made a wrong forcing pass decision. He bid 5 which says we can take 11 tricks even if you held a minimum for your bid on this auction. I held way more than a minimum, 15 points in support of diamonds counting distribution so I bid 6 which has no play. With no wastage in spades, partner must have the 3 Aces for his bid. x Qx KQ109x KQ98x. Partner should just make a forcing pass and I would have bid 5 for our +400. A forcing pass is a 5 bid needing some help from partner. You have 13 HCP with with your spade shortage you should encourage partner to bid 5 by passing. You base your forcing pass auction on the assumption that partner holds the minimum for a variable bid. You assume a limit raise in diamonds and bid accordingly. If partner has more he might bid 6 so you bid your own hand and not partner's hand.

A few hands later we got the board back thanks to forcing pass theory. I held AJ10x AQ10x Qx xxx vulnerable against not vulnerable so I refuse to open 1 with those hands. I opened 1 and partner bid 4 and RHO doubled.

OK the first bidding clue comes into play re splinters. There are forcing pass understandings specifically applicable to splinters. If I bid directly over the double that is the death response saying I have club duplication of value. A pass shows offensive interest so that's what I did. LHO jammed by leaping to 6!

Partner held KQxxx KJxx KJ9x void so all his forcing pass options come into play. He chose the pass so I had an easy 6 bid for +1460 and 13 IMPS for our side. When you play against terrorists, be sure you are up on your "homeland security" i.e. forcing pass theory.

Forcing Pass 2

The forcing 2 bid is a unique bid with respect to forcing pass theory. It's the only action in Bridge that turns on forcing passes with one bid. Forcing pass theory with 2 openers needs to be modified slightly in my opinion. It is obvious Bridge that the opponents cannot buy the contract undoubled or we cannot pass below game. The double by the 2 opener should show all the balanced NT hands or 3 suiters but not a trump stack. Double by responder initially can show a negative, penalty or controls depending on your partnership agreement.

3 more actions to define with the context of forcing pass theory by the 2 opener. The direct bid, the pass and the pass and pull. I think the direct bid by the 2 bidder should be the weakest bid possible so if made at the game level not forcing. Even if partner responded 2 or a positive response, the 2 opener bidding at the game level does not setup a force on partner.

The auction goes:

2	Pass	3	3
4*

* Is this bid forcing?

Since partner has made a positive response does she owe another bid?

The answer is no because of the pass and pull aspect of forcing pass theory. If the 2 opener wants to make a slam try or force to higher levels, the pass is the stronger bid of choice. If the 2 opener now pulls partner's bid or double to a new suit, she is stronger than bidding it directly so maybe even a grand slam try.

Meckwell have modified their forcing bid structure to have a pass interpreted as a relay to a double. After the obligatory double, a bid means a two suiter. Without that understanding, it is just standard pass and pull theory. In forcing pass theory, the pass and pull is always the strongest action available. I prefer the pass at the two or three level to be played a la Meckwell. Partner must re-open with a double so now a bid shows a two suiter. This is because I open strong two suiters with 2 rather than at the one level. At higher levels game or higher, the pass just means that I am setting up a "pass and pull" scenario to show a slam try.

There are two more bids to describe in these types of auctions. The cuebid and the NT bid. If at the 3 level, why not have 3NT to play by opener? The 3NT bid is probably based on a long minor with a stopper in their suit. An initial cuebid by the 2 opener, is not allowed as that is natural exposing a psyche in 2 theory. If later in the auction, a cuebid should imply a fit for partner.

Special attention must be given when the opponents jam your auctions with the boss suit spades. 4NT by the 2 opener has to be interpreted as a cuebid and show any two suiter combination. A double at the game level of the opponents suit is penalty so has no systemic meaning. It could mean let's just take our plus or describing the NT range of hands. Responder can still pull to 4NT as a relay to clubs so a direct pull by responder would be a slam try. This Lebensohl understanding by responder should apply in 2 auctions also.

Forcing Pass Theory III

Forcing pass theory was designed to impart Bridge discipline on a partnership. Instead of making singe handed decisions for the partnership, you transfer the decision to partner with information in which to can make the ultimate vote. Partnership Bridge in action. A hand that drives forcing passes home came up Thursday with Tom and Maurice. Tom opened 1 and BJ doubled with Maurice bidding 2NT showing limit raise or better. This bid does not turn on forcing passes immediately but does if partner bids game. The opponents are considered as intruders as your side should own the auction in the forcing pass sense. Not playing forcing passes makes high level auctions a crap shoot involving just a series of guesses that you either luck out or do not. A very undisciplined way of playing the game of Bridge.

Maurice held AJx A Jxx Jxxxxx which was the limit raise range for his bid. The vulnerability was equal so there was no real advantage to playing the hand. I bid 4 with 10xxx Jxxxxx xx x and Tom turned on forcing passes by accepting the game and bidding 4. BJ had x KQxx Axxx Axxx and figured upping the ante to 5 in this Bridge poker game was the correct strategy. OK forcing pass theory is applicable. By bidding 5 you are saying that you do not need partner's input to the final decision as you are very confident that 5 will make. By passing you think 5 will make but you need partner to make the final decision for you. A double says 5 level belongs to the opponents so let's just take our plus. Pass and pull is a slam try. Standard stuff that is any Bridge players repertoire.

On this hand, experts would choose the forcing pass. This says we do not have duplication of value in hearts but I lack the 4th trump which adds to my defense and detracts from the offensive potential of the hand. I have no assurance that 11 tricks are there but if you have the correct hand I may have. Tom with his hand has an easy decision KQxxx xx KQ109 KQ. 15 HCP, no aces so he will happily decline partners invitation to bid 5. He will double and with a trump lead, I go two down for -300. Tom would have made the right decision as 5 goes one down. When this board came down, Tom said this was not the dummy he was expecting on the auction.

This is an interesting play and defensive hand. Tom got the heart King lead from BJ won on the board by Tom. After long thought, Tom concluded correctly that the spades were at least 4-1 so he could not draw trump as we would switch the contract to 5NT by tapping him with hearts when one of the Aces got knocked out. Accordingly, Tom needed to leave the trump on the board as insurance against the heart tap. He lead a club and BJ read the situation correctly and gave me a club ruff so 1 down. What if Tom attacked diamonds instead? I play the diamond 9 and BJ must duck. Tom is not drawing trump for a reason, so BJ should figure out the trump are 4-1. The contract is doomed again as BJ has the option of giving me a ruff in either minor!

Anyway a good example of defensive bidding by BJ Trelford that worked out due to an opponent's unfamiliarity with forcing pass theory.

Penalty Doubles - One level

Expert players who can defend should not have an aversion to defending one level contracts doubled. Sometimes these are the bloodiest penalties and game is sometimes questionable your way. The redouble in Bridge most often signals no fit and says "let me at them". Even if your philosophy is lots of negative or D.S.I.P. doubles at the one and two level, the redouble is certainly a special case where penalty doubles are the order of the day.

Andrew Speers brought up a hand where the concept of preparing for a one level double is highlighted.

xx xx AKQxx xxxx

Everybody vulnerable and partner opens 1 in 4th seat. You bid a diamond and your LHO backs in with a double. Partner redoubles which is punitive and promises no fit. Your RHO passes and it is your bid. Think of what is going on here. You have 9 HCP instead of 6 and they are all concentrated in diamonds where partner is short and expects your points to be. True your 4 clubs do not help the defensive cause but you are doubleton in both majors. This means that if partner is 4-4 in the majors the opponents are on a Moysean at best. Think of card location. Partner's majors are located behind the majors in the doubler's hand. This could kill honour cards and major suit finesses will all lose. Now think HCP. LHO is a passed hand and probably has 10. Partner who redoubled can be 16-20. This means you out gun them horribly in HCP with the worst case scenario for them is that your side has 29 HCP.

Peter Jones says he might double with the diamond hand if RHO bids a major since he smells blood. I would pass and when partner doubles I would be more then happy to defend. This could be very ugly for the opponents. Just as an example, let's construct a possible hand for the doubler of one of a major.

KQxx KJxx J10xx Q

AJ10x AQ10x x AJxx

They end up in 1 doubled and your trump lead is mandatory. Partner wins a small heart and leads a diamond. You win and lead another heart. Declarer tries the heart jack and the queen wins. Partner cashes the heart Ace and the club Ace and leads the 4th heart and declarer wins the King. Declarer leads a diamond and you win and come back a spade. Declarer will be lucky to come out with 3 tricks. That is +1100. 3NT might even go down your way! We could vary the cards and the result could be +1700 to +500. We gave the board 12 HCP with the re-doubler only 16 HCP. It could be a lot worse.

O.K. back up and what does a bid of 2 mean after partner redoubles? If you bid in front of an impending penalty doubles this means that you are weak and distributional and you would have pulled the double. If you pass first and then pull the double it is from a position of strength not weakness (the same forcing pass criteria as high level contracts). You probably have a monstrous club fit and you want to bid your grand or small slam in clubs. Say you had xx x Axxxx KQ109x which will lead you to +1370 in clubs. You pull the double to 3 and you are on your way.

I notice a lot of people shunning low level doubles and I think it goes back to their "puppyhood" in Bridge development where one level doubled contracts did not yield good results.

Co-operative Doubles

I feel take out doubles are only defined for auctions up to and including the 3 level. With auctions at the 4 level and above, a takeout double turns into a co-operative double. This double is not penalty but unlike takeout doubles, it gives partner the option to pass with a bad hand. You do not do that at the one, two and 3 level but you can get away with it at these high levels. Why? Partner doubling at this level can easily have the contract beat in her own hand on general strength. You with a flat nothing may go for your life at this level if you bid. With distributional weak hands, my partners bail out with 4NT Lebensohl after a 4 level double.

At this level you have options. If you have a flat nothing, you just pass and hope for the best. If you have a distributional nothing you bid 4NT which is Lebensohl. If you bid, you expect to make this contract. Bidding at the 4 level and above turns on forcing passes with any vulnerability. The weaker hands in these high level auctions are taken away with Lebensohl and passing. You do not have the "Lebensohl" or passing options at lower levels.

The above is especially so vulnerable vs non-vulnerable. On this vulnerability, you can go for your life bidding with a flat nothing. Passing should be an automatic reflex with a horrible hand. Therefore bidding must show values and turn on forcing passes.

2	Pass	4	Dbl
Pass	5	5	Pass

This is a forcing pass auction on any vulnerability by the Lebensohl inference. Partner did not bid 4NT so she has values. There we own the auction and forcing pass theory kicks in.

At the 5 level of course, you never pull the double out of a position of weakness. You only bid if you have slam intentions or a game certainty. If they bid again, forcing passes are automatically turned on.

5	Dbl	Pass	5
Pass	Pass	6	Pass

This pass is of course forcing as we do not pull the double with a weak hand.

You have the "Lebensohl inference" with many auctions at the 4 level.

1

Dbl

4

Dbl

Our bid turns on forcing passes automatically as you did not bid 4NT Lebensohl. This understanding is very helpful in these type of auctions. Forcing pass theory is turned on depending on the context of the bidding. If your side shows enough strength that you "own the auction", forcing pass theory applies.

Pre-empts and Forcing Passes

Pre-empts which are defined as opening weak 2's, 3's or 4's have a rule associated with them. Once you have pre-empted, partner is captain of the ship so you cannot bid again. Nonsense! There is a time when partner expects you to bid again and that is with forcing pass theory. When partner contracts for a vulnerable game after you have pre-empted, forcing passes are turned on. Partner is not bidding a vulnerable game as a sacrifice so if she is, she must live with that decision. There are times when partner bids a non vulnerable game after your pre-empt, forcing passes are also turned on but that needs some previous bidding indicators.

When partner opens a weak 2 and you have a good hand, bid 2NT to turn on forcing passes at the game level. Do not leap to game when your side owns the auction as there are opponents lurking. Bridge is a partnership game so even a pre-empter has the right to know what is going on. Forcing pass theory involves both sides of the table.

Just a reminder of simple forcing pass theory for pre-empts. It is based on the opponent's bid suit only. If the pre-emptor is short in the opponent's suit, a forcing pass is in order. If the pre-emptor has two or more he issues a warning double. If he has a singleton or better, a green light forcing pass. This is the only exception to the pre-emptor cannot bid again law.

A hand was given in this months bulletin. Partner opened 3 vulnerable, RHO overcalls 4 non-vulnerable. You hold Axx AKxx KQxx xx and bid 4 vulnerable. This turns on forcing passes. LHO bids 5, partner makes a forcing pass so around to you for you decision. You decide to go for the +650 and bid 5. Partner's hand is KQJxxxx xx Jxx x so the contract is cold. Change partner's hand to KQJ10xxx xx xx xx, he issues a warning double so you take your plus. Pre-empters can and should help partner with these type of decisions.

You open a weak 2 in the major, partner leaps to game vulnerable or bids 2NT first and they back in with 5 of a minor. The weak two bid has an obligation to tell partner how many cards in the opponents suit he has with a double or pass. Partner did not commit to game vulnerable to hear himself talk. OK, now the rare times forcing passes are turned on non-vulnerable after you pre-empt. These situations are where partner has made a strength showing bid like 2NT, a new suit, a cuebid or a redouble and later committed their side to game. The opponents now stick their noses in at a high level. Forcing passes apply so you are again obligated to give your count in their suit in accordance with forcing pass theory.

When you pre-empt at the game level vulnerable, partner takes a vulnerable push at the 5 level.

4	4	5	5
?

Double if you have 2 or more spades, pass with one. They may have pushed you into a vulnerable slam. Use the opponents as a stepping stone if they over compete.

There are other times a pre-empt can bid again. Disciplined pre-empts are for 1st and 2nd seat only. In 3rd seat or 4th anything goes. In these seats an "action double" is permitted by the preempter. This means partner I was really kidding when I pre-empted, as I have some outside stuff. Do Something Intelligent over there based on this information. I opened 4 with the outside AK of diamonds, they crawled in 4. I want you to bid 5 or convert for penalty. Rules are made to be broken.

The big hand making a forcing pass on the pre-empt has a different interpretation. The pass is an asking bid in their suit. The pre-emptor must double with two or more, bid with one in the suit and can cuebid with a void in their suit.

3	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	4	Pass	Pass
?

The opponents are non-vulnerable vs vulnerable so 3NT was bid to make. The pass is forcing and asks about the spade suit. The pre-emptor will bid according to the length in the spade suit.

Perry Khakar held this hand in Regina Qxxx Axx AJ10xxx void and I opened a weak 2. There is no real intelligent way to probe for slam but if partner shows a good suit after your 2NT query, there may be a slam. With your distribution, there is danger that the opponents will enter the auction so you bid 2NT to turn on forcing passes. Bidding 4 just shuts partner out of the decision making process as she has no idea whether you are re-pre-empting or not. After your 2NT bid, the opponents bid 4NT showing any two suiter. Partner now doubles to show a top end weak two so you already have extra information with which to work.

Your RHO bids 5 so you make a forcing pass. Partner doubles and you now bid 5 as a "pass and pull slam try". Partner carries on to 6 and it is a 50% grand as partner has a singleton heart. AK and the diamond queen. An excellent auction to get to your 6, as you used the opponents bidding to your advantage.

Judgment in Bridge

Bridge judgment is not teachable. This comes from years of experience which the Pitbulls obviously have (No Pat I am not taking a shot at your age). Hand evaluation, duplication of value, the art of passing when appropriate, misfits, the 4th trump, pre-emption, sacrificing, game tries, slam tries, penalty doubles, balancing, safe overcalling, forcing passes, lead directing bids, taking cheap insurance, D.S.I.P., risk taking are all judgment calls. The team that gets this right in the heat of battle will be Canada's representatives. Experienced teams have the self confidence and Bridge skills to get most of these judgment situations right.

Forcing passes are an excellent tool to get some judgment situations right. I know I have addressed forcing passes in past Emails, but one last time with a hand Tom and I had in Calgary. Forcing pass theory comes into effect when your side "owns the auction". You own the auction when partner shows a limit raise or better hand and when you have opened 2 and after penalty doubles. It is also in effect if you bid a vulnerable game and the opponents interfere also at the game level but non-vulnerable.

O.K. once you have the forcing pass criteria in place and you have a fit with partner, the opponents now enter your auction.

Five elements constitute forcing pass theory:

• 1) The double is the worst hand, maybe losers in their suit or just an unsuitable hand.
• 2) The pass invites partner to bid if she wishes as you hand is suitable to be pushed to another level
• 3) The direct bid, why leave up to partner what you can do yourself? This means you have extra and expect to make the contract.
• 4) Cuebid or new suit as a slam try
• 5) Pass and pull the double, the biggest hand and a slam try.

xxx J109xx Ax AJx

Tom held this hand vulnerable against not. I opened 1 and Tom responded 1. Klimo doubled and I jumped to 2. Nick jammed with 4 and Tom bid his vulnerable 4 game. Klimo now bid 4 non-vulnerable and I made a forcing pass encouraging Tom to bid rather then double. Without forcing pass theory, Tom might make the wrong decision and double or pass. We can make +680 on a hook and Klimo goes for –50 in 4not doubled.

x AQxx KQ109xx xx

Even with my 11 HCP, I am close to bidding 5 myself but Tom has the right to expect more. My pass says I am perfectly happy with a 5 bid. I am not saying that Tom should bid 6 over my pass (King of makes 5 dicey). If I had bid 5 directly, Tom should Seriously consider 6 for +1430 with his two Aces. The opponents broadcasting all the spade and club cards should help in that decision. If I had heavy club cards instead of hearts, I should double to slow the auction down. If they own the black suits, my pass should say we own the reds. Two suited fits always should encourage bidding one more time.

This hand shows a tool (forcing passes) to assist in bridge judgment. These tools do not replace Bridge judgment but are tools to assist your partnership. These kind of hands cost 12 IMPS all the time. Established partnerships, armed with forcing pass theory, should get these types of judgment decisions right 9 times out of 10.

Doubles as Cuebids

As anybody who follows the Bridge World Master Solvers Club knows, panelists always seem to cuebid when they have a good hand and do not know what to do. Playing D.S.I.P. theory, you have the luxury of using a double as a cuebid! D.S.I.P. theory replaces cuebids to describe the same hand types as these panelists were trying to do. You double to convey the same message of showing a good hand but you do not know what to do. The double is far more flexible, as a cuebid could rescue bad bidding opponents.

The way we play our cuebids after an opening bid or an overcall is fit showing, so cuebids show limit raise or better values. Since we do not know if the cuebid is the "better", these cuebids do not turn on forcing passes. If the level of the cuebid is at the game level or forcing to the game level when you are vulnerable or equal vulnerable, forcing passes are turned on. Same idea with splinters. Splinters are fit showing limit raises or better. If splinters are bid at the game level vulnerable or equal, forcing passes are on. Auctions in general where bids force to game vulnerable or equal vulnerability, turn on forcing passes. Auctions that invite to game do not. More leeway is allowed when you are not vulnerable against vulnerable (terrorist) as tactics enter into the equation. D.S.I.P. doubles quite often replace cuebids, so the thinking should be exactly the same as if a cuebid was made.

O.K. why the review of forcing passes? This is important because by default in all auctions where forcing passes do not apply, D.S.I.P. theory does apply. Trump stack doubles are only allowed in rare auctions like when the opponents balance or converting other types of doubles or pre-empts.

Playing with Tom, I held AKx Kxx J10xxx xx.

The auction went:

1	1	Pass	2
3	Pass	Pass	?

I could just bid 3 now but that violates D.S.I.P. theory. What if Tom had clubs? He is not allowed to double as that shows a 3 bid with defense. He could have a ridiculous hand like xx Q10xxx x AKQJx so by you bidding 3 you rescued them from a disaster. A double also describes your hand as a defensive hand with only 3 card support instead of an offensive hand with 4 card so partner can compete accordingly. If Tom bid 3 over 3 he is just being a nuisance as "free bids" do not apply when you have a D.S.I.P. double at your disposal.

Do not forget that you have obligations after you cuebid to describe you hand and leave partner options.

Say you had Axxx KQx KQxx xx.

The auction went:

1	2	3	Pass
3	4	?

You should double saying you have a 4 bid with defense. Partner's hand is Kx AJxxx Jx QJ10x, so 4 doubled goes for a huge number. A D.S.I.P. double can be thought of as a re-cuebid with defense.

Do not let a void deter you from making a D.S.I.P. double. You cuebid with a void so you can make a D.S.I.P. double with a void as the intended meaning is the same as the cuebid. Tom Gandolfo had void AJxx Axx AKJxxx and they opened 1 everybody vulnerable.

This is a takeout double as you have the other major, quick tricks and are strong enough to bid 3 over partner's bid. Say you do overcall 2, they bid 2 with partner bidding 3 and they bidding 3. You would like to cuebid as you have 8 tricks in NT or a possible club slam. You do not want to bypass 3NT with your cuebid as you are jammed by the rank of the spade suit. You double instead and partner bids 3NT. This makes for +630 and 5 fails by one trick.

D.S.I.P. theory demands that you know when forcing pass theory applies with cuebids so you are keenly aware of the vulnerability. You can catch the opponents speeding from either side of the table instead of rescuing them by bidding from one side. D.S.I.P. theory also describes your hand for sacrificing or for avoiding pseudo sacrifices. Trump stack doubles are virtually extinct in competitive auctions! When you remove something as basic as trump stack doubles from your system you need many treatments to compensate. D.S.I.P. theory has to be studied and understood. This is a non standard concept so only recommended for expert partnerships.

Slam Level Decisions.

When your side is bidding a slam with the opponents are in the auction obviously forcing pass theory applies. The reverse process when you are interfering with the opponent's slam auction brings in D.S.I.P. theory though. You obviously do not "own the hand".

D.S.I.P. theory takes a cue from Doubles/Undoubles at the slam level only. This is an excellent tool to prevent pseudo sacrifices when the opponents voluntary bid a slam after partner has bid a suit or you both have. The principle of D.S.I.P. dictates that trump stack penalty doubles do not exist especially at the slam level. Penalty doubles only come about by being converted from a D.S.I.P. double. With slams, it is folly to make a trump stack penalty double of a voluntary bid slam by the opponents. This assumption allows you to use D.S.I.P. theory similar to the double/undouble convention. Partner makes a bid of spades on the auction so you have xxxxx void xxxx xxxx, the opponents bid 6. You make a D.S.I.P. double with no defensive tricks asking partner's permission to sacrifice. Partner holds KQJ of hearts so says thanks but no thanks. It is here the D.S.I.P. and Double/Undouble theory merge.

There was a hand in Salt Lake City where the Canadian pair took a pseudo sacrifice in 6 doubled opposite a vulnerable minor slam. The result was duplicated at the other table as the Italian pair took out insurance also. One hand was xxxx Axxxxx xx x, the other AKQxx xx xxx xxx. The Canadians found their spade fit early so when 6 was reached, one partner made a single handed decision to sacrifice. D.S.I.P. theory was invented to avoid single handed decisions. In these kind of "obvious sacrificing" auctions there is an obligation to double the slam to tell partner to not count on him for any defensive tricks. Hence, a pass must show a defensive trick or better. Around to the AKQxx hand in the balancing spot so warned that partner may have a defensive trick he simply passes. There is no obligation to double unless he has no defensive tricks himself.

Maurice and I had an auction where you must forego the lead directing double in a competitive auction. The opponents were vulnerable, we were not. The auction went:

1	Pass	1	3
Dbl	Pass	Pass	4
4	5	6	Pass
Pass	?

The 3 bid by partner shows a long solid suit probably with an outside card and asks me to bid 3NT with a spade stopper. I held x J1098 xxxx xxxx so felt a non vulnerable vs vulnerable sacrifice was in order. Even if their slam went down, the penalty might be less then their game! I do not want to do this single handed so I double to tell partner I have no defensive tricks so over to you for the final decision. Maurice bids 7 and he goes for -300! 6 is cold for –1430 so you calculate the savings. I do not think in these competitive auctions you can have the luxury of a lead directing double. The double/undouble comes up more frequently when you are on the auction so should over-ride lead directing doubles in these auctions.

Of course, you could be wrong as voids could wipe out both Aces but the huge gain when both defensive tricks cash is worth it. The information gained by doubling at the 6 level makes a decision easier if the opponents take the push to 7. Partner will not sacrifice opposite your Ace in their trump suit as he has doubled already to show his nothing so you make the decision to pass their grand. Double/undoubles have no merit other than at the slam level in my opinion, as it is too hard to judge defensive tricks. Judgment is necessary as lead directing doubles take precedence when you are not being a nuisance. The doubler is usually on lead for the undoubles. You have to "know" that it's an obvious attempt to sacrifice from the vulnerability and bidding.

Constructive Bidding (D.S.I.P.)

Discipline or lack of discipline determines your style of playing Bridge. If your style is just bidding to complicate things for the opponents, partner cannot read anything into your bidding. Destructive type bidding is for “solo artists” unless on the terrorist vulnerability. Constructive bidding can be greatly enhanced by communicating with partner via the double. A double allows partner the final say in a competitive auction.

K987 x xxxx xxxx

The auction goes:

1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
2	3	?

A disciplined player knowing that partner did not redouble or bid 3 would not bid. This is a fight that we cannot possibly win when partner just bids 2. A 3 bid should mean that given my initial pass. I have a hand that may warrant a sacrifice later on. Holding only 4 with a singleton in partner's first suit that is the last message you want to convey to partner. Assume you do encourage partner by bidding 3 with them reaching 4. You now have an obligation to undo your previous sacrifice encouragement and make a penalty double. Do not forget that you have a partner. 4 doubled goes for -300 but partner thought he had the green light to bid 5 when you passed. This went for a telephone number and it was a pseudo also as the opponents were in the wrong game.

D.S.I.P. doubles have a fail safe built into the sacrificing structure. If they own the auction but you intruded, a double says I am “asking permission” to sacrifice with defensive tricks. 4 doubled now gets converted so all is well rather than make a single handed sacrifice. When bidding is meaningless, all you can do is believe the opponents and pass. Bridge is no longer a partnership game so you may as well go to a Casino. Gambling is a very single handed endeavour.

D.S.I.P. doubles allow you to play an undisciplined style in competition if you want. The fact that partner did not double after showing a distributional hand, means he does not have a good defensive hand. This means you can bid more without partner punishing you. Do not overdo it though. Partner had a shapely hand recently, opened 1 and the vulnerable opponents overcalled 2, Partner passes, they bid 2 so opener bids 2. They bid 3, you now bid 3 so they bid 3. Pass around to you again. You have the inference that partner does not want to compete with a good hand as he did not double. You pass so they miss a vulnerable game. In actuality, opener’s partner bid again, to push them into their cold vulnerable game.

Do not forget that forcing passes can be turned on even for a pre-empting partner. If partner opens 3 vulnerable, you contract for a vulnerable game with the opponents coming into your auction, forcing passes are turned on. Same with a double after a weak two. This double says we own the auction. 2 - 3 - double. It is silly telling the weak two that you have spade support to invite competing. The double says “let me at them” but more than that it turns on forcing passes and invites the preemptor to double also. Forcing passes are a huge part of constructive bidding and partnership Bridge.

Garazzo says do not enter a fight that you cannot win. If they have the ammunition, do not bid just to hear yourself talk. All it does is help the opponents. They having the bully suit or the majors, you are beat before you start so why bid again? Good opponents will not let you buy it so you may give wrong information to partner. Pushing opponents into their best spot is a serious Bridge error. Green pass cards have a lot to do with bidding in Bridge. Discipline and the pass card are a good marriage. “Anybody can bray like a Jackass” a wise Bridge player once said. There is an art to passing when it is right. A pass is a non destructive bid.

Splintering at the 4 level with any vulnerability should turn on forcing passes and say we own the hand. Why give information to the enemy otherwise? If it is their hand, they will buy the contract so you have helped them play the hand. Playing a disciplined style, you need to identify the difference between competing vs ownership of auction. Otherwise, you are just bidding to impede the opponents all the time so that defines your style. A partner is not required playing this destructive style.

Whether you have bought into D.S.I.P. theory or not, you must put partner in the picture when competing. The double is the most versatile bid in competition to say that you want to bid again bit with a good defensive hand or we own the auction for forcing pass purposes. Bidding again remove some of your options and partner does not know if you bidding to compete or bidding again because you have a good hand. Constructive bidding means when you bid again you are doing it for a purpose. D.S.I.P. theory allows you to truly compete better.