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From: kfl@cmu-cs-speech2.ARPA (Fu Lee)
Newsgroups: net.rec.bridge
Subject: Re: A question about negative doubles
Message-ID: <206@cmu-cs-speech2.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 8-Mar-85 18:52:55 EST
Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-s.206
Posted: Fri Mar  8 18:52:55 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Mar-85 06:41:30 EST
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 22

In answer to the question about 1C-1D-1S-Dble:

(1) Double is not negative.  Negative double only applies when partner
    opened the bidding (usually in a suit), RHO overcalls, and you double.

(2) If you don't have any agreements, this double is for penalties, and
    is not alertable.  If this double means anything else to your partnership,
    then it is alertable.

It is extremely rare that you'd want to make a penalty double in that
situation, so there are a number of conventions you could use (or make up).
The way I play is : In any XX-YY-ZZ-dbl sequence, where XX,YY,ZZ are 
all different suit bids, and below 3N, the double means
"I have the fourth suit, plus tolerance for your suit." - something
like xxx Axxxxx Kx Jxx.  If ZZ is above 3N, double is for penalties.
If XX and ZZ are the same suit (RHO supported LHO), the double is responsive.

Given the hand Qxx Axxx Kx Jxxx, and without and prior discussion,
I would bid 1N in matchpoints, and 1N or 2D in IMPs or rubber depending
on opponents.

/Kai-Fu