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which side is..running scared?!

Catching them..or bailing out?

Doubling a 1NT opening, especially when the opener is in the 12-14 hcp range is relatively common. Such a double would have at least 15 hcp and would not require the partner to move to a suit contract unless they were very weak or maybe very distributional.

One approach of a partnership who have been doubled in 1NT is for the 1NT opener’s partner to pass with a couple of different types of hand and for the opener be required to redouble if able or maybe bid a 5-card suit. The opener’s partner may, after the redouble:

Pass to play  or run to a 5-card minor suit.

That is the approach East-West were using in today’s deal. We look at the deal from the doubler’s perspective. The doubler has a rather unusual hand:

 

We asked our Panel whether they agreed with South’s initial double and then what they would bid next? 1NT is 12-14 and West’s pass of that bid asked for the redouble as stated above. West is either weak with a minor or is prepared to stand 1NTxx.

Generally, most approved of our double:

Stephen Blackstock : “Pass. On a good day we will defeat 1NTxx by a lot. We are missing many facts here. Is 3 now forcing? How strong would 3 over 1NT be? Could I have shown hearts and clubs  or hearts and another? It maybe that double is the best of an unsatisfactory bunch, but with no information about our methods it is hard to say.”

Peter Newell: I agree with double. I do not like other options and at least double is strong and keeps the bidding low for now. It looks very unlikely that the final contract will be 1NT doubled or redoubled.”

Andy Braithwaite: I am happy with the double.

 

There was one exception:

Kris Wooles “Prefer 5: No I wouldn’t double. Too off shape. Would likely bid 5.”

An unusual bid for an unusual hand. There could be multitudinous contracts by-passed here, even other game contracts and for both sides.  

One interesting aspect is what has North shown by their pass of 1NT doubled.

Michael Ware “ I play that partner’s pass shows some values - you must run with nothing first - otherwise how does the doubler know what to do subsequently?

Anthony Ker “ North’s pass of 1NT is a positive pass saying they are happy to defend and have a few points (5+). I would expect them to run otherwise warning me they have a very poor hand.”

So, with little, North must run. To a long suit?

Peter Newell “I would be happy to take my chances against 1NT but this seems unlikely. I think against this system partner will pass often to see where they want to run or whether they want to play 1NT redoubled.  I would expect partner to bid a 5+ suit with a weak hand that did not want to defend 1NT doubled otherwise mostly pass. 

Nigel Kearney : “ I think North should pull the double immediately with a weak hand and a five card suit. With most other hands they should pass, typically either good enough that they are willing to defend 1NT doubled or redoubled, or weak with no five card suit and intending to bid their lower suit offering two places to play if 1NTXX comes back.”

If I pass the redouble, it's likely LHO will bid diamonds. Alternatively, LHO may have enough to pass, then partner will most likely run to 2 on some hands such as xxxx xxx xxxx xx or maybe a bit stronger. Neither of those will make it easier for me on the next round. Instead I will take the opportunity to show a very strong hand by jumping to 3 now. It would be nice to keep hearts in the picture but I can't do that unless someone helps by bidding 3.”

And say North held a balanced hand?

Stephen Blackstock “ North's pass of 1NTx tells us nothing. He should pass with any balanced hand, or a hand with a suit of substance willing to play for blood. I hope he passed in tempo; if so his values and hand type are undisclosed.”

It seems North’s pass of 1NTx either shows a willingness to defend this contract, even redoubled or may simply not know where to run! So, do we bid as South after the redouble?

Leon Meier “ Pass: They're almost certainly about to bid 2, which will likely come back around to us. At that point if we bid 3 is it forcing? I wouldn't think so. We would have to bid 3 or double for take-out. There is not a solution which involves bidding at this point in the auction though so I pass and see what develops. Planning to bid 3 over their 2.”

Anthony Ker “Pass: I will pass the redouble. The plan is to double them in clubs or hearts, assuming they run, or see if partner wants to double them in 2. If they settle in 2, I will bid 3.”

Andy Braithwaite "Pass: “Partner’s pass denies a 5 card suit to run to if weak.

I am passing in expectation of a positive score even if they can cash 5 diamonds and A. - 200 at Pairs is usually a good score and it is a long road to 5.

If they run to diamonds, I will bid 3 unless partner puts an x on the table.”

And sticking with his big club jump:

Kris Wooles “ 5: North knows East has to redouble so may have a very weak hand prepared to wait and see or some values and happy to defend 1NT. Either way I cannot risk passing ( 1NT could easily make) so I’ll now bid 5.”

Peter Newell “3: it looks very likely that West has diamonds and I have no interest in defending against diamonds so am keen to make a descriptive bid while we have more room. I'll bid 3 while kind of an underbid, is a jump so must be pretty strong.

3NT doesn't look that likely (as a diamond lead looks probable and partner is unlikely to have a double diamond stopper which will be necessary when the opponents have the A) but yes partner could easily pass with nothing but the J and a few clubs and we are very likely to make 5.  Bidding 3 does give us a chance of finding a heart fit as over 3, I will bid 3.” 

Michael Ware “Pass: I think it is a very bad day when they have either A and 6 diamond tricks, or J is a second stopper. Seems a huge percentage to play here if possible.”

Yet, most think that it would be very unlikely for 1NTxx to be the final contract. However, the player who would “run scared” is not the one anticipated by many of the Panel:

 

West was about to pass the redouble leaving North looking for somewhere to go. They might have started with diamonds, though South would correct to clubs and as far as North would be concerned, that would be the final contract.

At the table, South decided to bid over the redouble of 1NT. They chose 4, very highly suggestive of game though North declined. Indeed, that bid also silenced West and the heart fit was subsequently lost. 4 was indeed the right level since there were two trump losers though the heart game was not found. A jump to 3 might just have encouraged West to compete in diamonds. Then, the heart fit could be found though would North feel like raising? We will never know.

In conclusion, it seems North’s pass of 1NTx would normally suggest value except perhaps as here when they have nowhere to run. It is not clear whether a pass of the redouble by South is the best action. 3 may win the day especially if West did compete further, though on many others, Kris Wooles’ jump to game might be the big winner.

Richard Solomon

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