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From: plh@ukma.UUCP (Paul L. Hightower)
Newsgroups: net.rec.bridge
Subject: Negative Doubles
Message-ID: <1193@ukma.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Mar-85 11:29:32 EST
Article-I.D.: ukma.1193
Posted: Thu Mar  7 11:29:32 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Mar-85 07:03:34 EST
Organization: Univ. of KY Mathematical Sciences
Lines: 32

>About two weeks ago I held (approximately...my memory fades quickly):
>
>S Qxx
>H Axxx
>D Kx
>C Jxxx
>
>LHO was dealer and opened 1C.  Partner overcalled 1D.  RHO babbled something
>to the effect of 1S.  I wanted to take some action...we play negative doubles
>and so I decided to make a 'negative double'.
>Question:
>
>1) Can this properly be called a negative double, given that LHO opened
>instead of partner?  Is there some other term?

This is called a responsive double.  The same term applies after partner's 
takeout double : 1C-Double-1S-Double can be used to show hearts, for example.

>2) Regardless of terminology, is it alertable?  (Partner did not alert it.)
>I certainly don't intend it to be a penalty double.

Yes, all doubles intended for takeout after partner has bid are alertable.
This is an obvious anachronism; the convention card should be sufficient.

Personally, I doubt that any double of 1 of a suit is best used for penalties;
also, when partner has overcalled and RHO bids at the two level, how often will
you have a whopping penalty?  Most doubles at the 1 and 2 level when no one has
bid notrump can be used profitably as negative, responsive, competitive, or
whatever.

Paul Hightower
University of Kentucky