home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Cream of the Crop 11
/
Cream of the Crop 11-1.iso
/
games
/
marvin01.zip
/
03WEAKNT.CMA
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-09-11
|
4KB
|
94 lines
MARVIN VS WEAK NOTRUMP OPENINGS
Overcalls
Simple overcalls have the same (artificial) meaning as against a
strong notrump opening. See the previous chapter. Jump overcalls
are preemptive, even in the reopening position.
The Business Double
The weak notrump opening is an overbid that should be penalized
more often than it is. Anyone who contracts to take seven tricks
at notrump with only 12-14 HCP (or even less) must be punished for
impudence, lest it become a habit. The instrument for punishment
is the penalty double.
To double a weak notrump for penalties you need a hand that figures
to take more tricks than the opening hand. This is not just a
matter of points, but also of playing tricks, stoppers/entries, and
opening lead considerations. You can double with 9 HCP when holding
seven spades to the AKQ! A weak notrump opener should be able to
take about four tricks, so you need 4-1/2 or more to double. A good
strong suit is especially desirable, to make the opening lead an
advantage rather than a disadvantage.
This hand, with 14 HCP, is a pass over a 1NT opening that shows
12-14 HCP: S-A32 H-AK8 D-K542 C-764. Not enough playing tricks, few
honor cards, no good lead. This hand, with 13 HCP, five playing
tricks, many honors, and a good lead, is a minimum double: S-QJ1097
H-AJ9 D-KJ8 C-J10. If the notrump opening shows 13-15 HCP, you need
a slightly stronger minimum.
If the hand contains a singleton, it is wise to have a little
extra, especially if the singleton is higher ranking than any long
suit you may have. Partner may bid the singleton, and you don't
want to go to the three level with a doubtful hand. A simple
(artificial) overcall may be a safer action with an unbalanced
hand.
Reopening Doubles
A double in the reopening position must be stronger, considering
that the notrump bidder is sitting over the doubler. Tenaces and
isolated honors should be reduced in value, while sequences are
desirable. A marginal double should have something in every suit,
to support partner's opening lead (or runout bid). A singleton or
void is particularly undesirable, since partner is sure to lead (or
bid) the suit. If you do double with a very short suit, you should
have a place to go if partner bids it.
An alternative sort of reopening double is the artificial double,
always used by a passed hand, or the "strong suit" double, both
described in MARVIN VS STRONG NOTRUMP OPENINGS. There are two
reasons for an alternative: 1) Penalty doubles with distributed
strength are less frequent in this position, with the notrump
bidder sitting over the doubler; 2) A third hand who passes a weak
notrump opening will have some strength if their policy is to
always bid with bad hands.
I recommend playing both ways, choosing the approach that is suited
to the opponents' methods. Double for penalties with distributed
strength if they tend to pass 1NT with bad hands; otherwise use
the type of reopening double you employ against strong notrumps.
Needless to say, you have to ask about this before the bidding
starts. If you are an unpassed hand and have forgotten to ask
(asking at decision time would be unethical), assume they always
respond with a bad hand and use one of the alternative doubles for
reopening when third hand passes 1NT.
The complete text of MARVIN VS WEAK NOTRUMP OPENINGS comprises
eight single-spaced pages. It adds the following sections to the
above material:
Partner's Action After a Business Double
-- Pass or bid?
When the Opponents Run
-- Can they escape?
When an Escape Bid is Natural
-- Is a double business or takeout?
When There's a Natural Redouble
-- Who should run?
When the Escape Call is Conventional
-- How to cope?
After a Voluntary Takeout
-- What to do when partner passes and third seat bids