Required Double

Required ?  Whenever opponents sacrifice by bidding over your voluntarily bid game, your side must double for penalties even if opponents occasionally make a doubled contract.

Otherwise, you are a sitting duck for opponents to steal you blind.

Examples of the Required Double

N              E              S                  W

1©              P              2§ *         Dbl

3©              3ª            4©              4ª

???    North must double or bid 5©


1§                      P                 3ª

P                    4ª             5§           ????

West or East must Double or bid 5ª.  Pass lets opponents steal the hand.


The High Level 'Double or Bid On' Convention

Using the previous example hand . . .

(1) If West doubles, it means he has 2 losers in Clubs.

(2) If he passes, he has 1 loser in Clubs.

(3) If he bids 5ª, he is void in Clubs -- East can use this information to try slam if he thinks it's possible because of West's Club void.

If East doubles rather than bidding 5ª, it's for penalty and West should pass. The obligation on East to Double or 'take the push' has been placed if West passes -- West is NOT giving up the hand -- he is telling East about his Club situation.


(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998  All Rights Reserved