DUB over 1NT Doubled

by Stan Dub

 

            I've never invented a convention, but some of my partners have begun calling one of my preferred treatments "DUB Over 1NT Doubled", if only to distinguish the method from what they play with other partners.  The treatment is fairly simple, so its possible others already play this somewhere under a different name.

 

            When our side opens 1NT (15-17) and the next opponent doubles, we play different methods depending on whether the double is penalty-oriented (for example, natural or Capaletti), or suit-oriented (as in DONT).  If the double is suit-oriented, we ignore the double and play all our systems on (stayman, transfers, Texas ...).

 

            If the double is penalty-oriented we have different agreements.  The "DUB over 1NT doubled" treatment applies only after a penalty-oriented double. Responder can redouble to play, and otherwise bids a 2-level suit to show 5+ cards in the suit, or passes.  Pass tells the NT opener responder wants to run but does not have a 5-card suit. Opener can bid his own suit to play with 5+ cards in the suit, but otherwise redoubles. Opener's redouble asks responder to bid his 4-card suits up the line.  This allows the partnership to find a 4-4 fit if they have one.

 

            The advantages of this method are that (1) responder can be guaranteed opener will pass 1NT redoubled if responder chooses to play it, and (2) if responder chooses to run, we can (a) play responder's 5+cd suit at the 2-level (including clubs), or (b) play opener's 5+cd suit at the 2-level if responder doesn't have one, or (c) if neither partner has a 5+cd suit, we can find a 4-4 fit (including clubs) at the 2-level. The only disadvantage is that responder will sometimes not know what to do, and may be forced to run rather than play 1NT redoubled, when he might be willing to gamble on 1NT doubled when not vul.

 

            This treatment is seemingly more important at IMPs than at matchpoints, because playing 1NT redoubled at IMPS can produce a swing, while at matchpoints the difference is likely to be slight.  But even at matchpoints it can be crucial to find a safe resting place as cheaply as possible when the opponents are poised to drop the axe. At IMPs the results can be spectacular, as in this hand I played in the finals of a knockout last year in Gatlinburg.

 

            As North, in 3rd chair, nv against vul I held A53,AT.KQ75,A753,  After 2 passes I opened 1NT.  LHO doubled (penalty) and partner redoubled

(penalty).  This was passed out.  The lead was K of spades and dummy tabled: xxx,QJxx,ATxxx,x (hands reproduced below):

 

                                                (dummy)

                                    x          Q         A         x

                                    x          J           T         

                                    x          x          x

                                                x          x

                                                            x

                                                (my hand)

 

                                    A         A         K         A

                                    x          T          Q         x

                                    x                      x          x

                                                            x          x

 

 

 

            I ducked a spade (RHO following), ducked a second spade and then won the third, RHO following all three times. It was then a simple matter to give up a heart and make 9 tricks for +960, gaining 13 imps when the opponents played 1NT undoubled at the other table making 120.  (If East switches to clubs after 2 spades, I can win the Ace on the first round, and then cash spades and diamonds to make 9 tricks on a strip squeeze, throwing east on lead with a club for a heart endplay after cashing diamonds and the spade.  East has KQJx, Kxx, Jx, KQxx.  At the other table, Frank Aquila passed 1NT with this hand and the opponents made 120.

 

            If this hand was played without the redouble, the score would have been +380 instead of +960.  That score would have gained 6 imps, instead of 13 imps, in a match we won by 7 (it would have been a tie)!