NEGATIVE DOUBLES

When is a double a Negative Double?

Negative Doubles are used by responder after:

1.  Partner opens the bidding 1-of-a-suit, and
2.  The next opponent makes a natural suit overcall of 3 or lower.*

* Basic SAYC only uses Negative Doubles through 2, but the modern standard is to play them through at least 3

Here are some examples of Negative Doubles:

1 (1) Dbl . . . negative double
1 (2) Dbl . . . negative double
1 (3) Dbl . . . negative double (the overcall is below 3)

The following are NOT Negative Doubles:

1 (1N) Dbl . . . not a neg x: 1NT isn't a natural suit overcall
1 (2) Dbl . . . not a neg x:  2 isn't a natural suit overcall
2 (2) Dbl . . . not a neg x: partner didn't open 1-of-a-suit
1 (4) Dbl . . . not a neg x: the overcall is higher than 3
1 (1) 2 (Dbl) . . . not a neg x: partner didn't open the bidding

What does a Negative Double show?

A Negative Double guarantees that responder has at least ONE of the unbid suits* -- always the unbid major if there is one.

Responder does NOT promise length in both unbid suits*, but he does promise "two places to play". In other words, if he only has 4 cards in one of the unbid suits he needs to have a backup plan in case opener doesn't have support. Responder can either have:

1.  both unbid suits,
2.  one unbid suit + support for opener's minor, or
3.  one unbid suit + a stopper/values for notrump

1.	North	East	South
	1	2	Dbl

Responder would double with all three of these hands:

both unbid suits	one unbid suit + support	one unbid suit + notrump
K Q 8 7	A 7	A Q 3 2
J 6 4 2	Q 10 9 3	8 4
A 9	K J 8 5	9 6 5
8 7 5	9 6 2	A Q 5 3

* The auction 1 (1) Dbl is the only exception to this rule. After 1 (1) responder can bid 1 or 1 with a 4 card suit, so Dbl promises 4-4 in the majors. (Responder could also be 5-4 in the majors with a weak hand of 6-10 pts.)

Why make a Negative Double?

Why would responder make a Negative Double instead of bidding his suit directly? There are two possible reasons:

a)  he only has a 4 card suit, and/or
b)  he doesn't have enough points to bid the suit at the current level

Compare these two pairs of auctions:

2a.	North	East	South		2b.	North	East	South
	1	1	1			1	1	Dbl
	1= 5+ , 6+ points					Dbl = Exactly 4 , 6+ points

3a.	North	East	South		3b.	North	East	South
	1	1	2			1	1	Dbl
	2= 5+ , 11+ points (forcing for 1 round)					Dbl = either: a) exactly 4 , 6+ points, or b) 5+ , 6-10 points

	Example 2 bid:		Type a) dbl	Type b) dbl
	9 7		K 4 2	8 3
	A Q J 4 2		A J 6 5	K Q J 9 5 2
	A 9		10 9	9 6
	8 7 5 3		8 7 5 3	10 7 4

How many points does a Negative Double show?

It depends on the level of the auction. The best guideline is to think about how high the double will force the auction, especially if opener doesn't have support. Responder needs to be strong enough to give the partnership some safety at that level of bidding.

• After a 1-level overcall, responder only needs 6+ points to double.

• After a 2-level non-jump overcall, responder's double shows about 8+ points. Opener still has the option of rebidding 2 of his own suit if he doesn't have support for responder.

• After a 2-level jump overcall responder should have close to invitational strength to double, because if opener doesn't have a fit he will have to bid 2NT or go to the 3-level. This translates to a good 9 hcp or more.

• After a 3-level overcall, responder's double shows invitational or better strength (a good 10+ hcp).