Alerting doubles
I've searched, but can't find a definitive answer. My understanding was that doubles were never alerted - but I've had an absence from the game, and some local club members think they should be (sometimes). What is the situation please?
Now a specific problem - we used to play DONT over 1NT and double showed a 6-card suit. We decided to change, and specifically agreed on Cappeletti where double is a strong penalty oriented hand. We especially agreed on this use of the double.
So partner (west and dealer) passed and the bidding went all the way round to south who opened 1NT. Partner immediately doubled. Now obviously this can't be a 16+ point hand - and I guessed partner had forgotten our change of aggreement. I held a flat 8 pointer so should probably bid NT or pass; rather than, say 2C (allowing partner to pass or correct). As it happened, north started a Staymen sequence so I could justifiably (I think) keep out of it, and they ended in 3NT.
No explanation was ever asked for but should I have alerted the double? Our agreement is it's penalty oriented but I was almost certain it was an error.
BTW, for what it's worth, North later said she was also certain it was a DONT long suit (and she could correctly work out it was diamonds). South also assumed it was DONT, because a week before he had been party to a discussion where we had said we did play DONT (but wasn't there when we decided to change).
Latest Posts on this Thread
- NICK WHITTEN14 Jul 2022 at 08:48AM
What the Manual says about alerts includes:
[1] Your methods must be fully and freely available to the opponents
and
[2] Doubles should not be alerted
There are two schools of thought as to how they are best interpreted together
School [A] believes it is Ok, in some situations, to break rule [2] as the most practical way to make sure Rule [1] is fully complied with.
Citing “Rule [1] uses stronger wording ‘must’ rather than ‘should’”
and “alerting a call which is self-alerting never damages the opponents”School [B] believes rule [2] must always be complied with.
Citing “The pre-alert procedure (or a slip of paper on the table saying ‘please ask about our doubles as some might have an unexpected meaning’) is sufficient to make sure Rule [1] is fully complied with”.
“You pays your money and makes your choice”
The most important thing for a director is to always make consistent rulings
- Joe Brown15 Jul 2022 at 11:49AM
Thanks. Most helpful and a clearly worded answer. I think I probably sit in the 1st camp.
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