Negative Double
The Negative Double is a simple and very necessary convention. It goes like this:
Opener ………..Opponent……….Responder
1 of a suit…..An overcall ….Double
Responder’s double is not intended to penalize the opponent’s bid. It is a negative double showing 4 cards in the unbid major suit(s).
Three important points about negative doubles.
1) Through what level? Some play the negative double through 2♠ while others play the convention through 3♠. Some argue that the negative double should be on through all levels. It is something for you and your partner to discuss. Most commonly, the negative double is played through 3♠. This means, of course, that if an opponent overcalls at the 4 level or higher, the responder’s double in intended for penalty.
2) What does the negative double say about your hand? The negative double shows, first, any unbid majors. Second, the negative doubler should have tolerance for the other unbid suit or for opener’s suit. When you make a negative double, you announce that you have the unbid major suits, but partner may not be able to bid the major suit there must be some place to go!
3) How many points do you need to make a negative double? It depends on the level of the bidding when you make the double. If the negative double is made at the 1 level, 6+ points is adequate. If the negative double is made at the 2 level, the doubler should have 10+ points. There is no upper limit. You can use the negative double even with a very strong hand.
Consider these special bidding situations:
Opener ………..Opponent……….Responder
1 ♣………………….. 1 ♦ ………………….. double = both majors 4 ♥ and 4 ♠.
Opener ………..Opponent……….Responder
1 ♣ or 1♦ ……… 1♥….………….. double = exactly 4♠. If you had 5♠, you would bid 1♠. Bidding this way, distinguishes, for partner, between a 4-card suit and a 5-card suit.
There is a bit more to learn about negative doubles, such as rebids by the doubler and the opener, but if you work on understanding what I’ve explained, you can handle this important convention.
This is a convention that everyone should play. It will come up regularly in your bidding. Put this convention in your bidding repertoire. You will find it useful.