Support double
Encyclopedia
The support double is a term used in the card game contract bridge
. It is made by the opener after his right-hand opponent overcalls his partner's response to his opening bid,
convention
invented by Eric Rodwell
as a way of clarifying the amount of support held for your partner. It is normally used by the opening bidder in a competitive auction. The support double shows three-card support, no more and no less.
The convention came as result of the problem that, in competitive auctions, the opening bidder would often like to show 3-card support for partner's suit. However distinguishing between 4-card and 3-card support is important. 4-3 fits ("Moysian fits") don't play as well as real, 8+-card fits. Those situations occur much more frequently than the hands where the opening bidder would like to bid a penalty double over a 1-level overcall, thus the idea of replacing that "standard" usage with the conventional one.
The Support Double can also be applied when both opponents bid. The key is that the support doubler has opened , partner has replied in a new suit and the next player has made a bid.
The difference between a one-level raise or jump raise in the new suit, named by the responder and a Support Double by the opening bidder is the amount of cards for the suit support. A direct raise shows four+ card support, a support double shows exactly three card support.
Playing support doubles, North, the opener, has shown three-card support for South's 1 call. This is important because South might only have four hearts. Based on the South no trump bid, it can be assumed that South doesn't have 5 or more hearts.
Hand in hand with the support double is the Support redouble which also shows three card support. Examine this auction, which is similar to the one above.
North has shown three-card support for South's heart suit. South uses this information to form the next bid.
The assumption is that the overcaller must surely have at least 5 cards in the suit he has bid. As such a simple raise is normally sufficient to show some points and support. In such a situation, a double by the partner of the overcaller would be treated as either a Rosenkranz double
, a responsive double or a penalty double based on partnership agreement.
Here are several other less discussed examples but nonetheless valid examples of normal support doubles
Playing negative doubles or NOT, opener's double shows three spades. It is irrelevant that opener knows that partner has 5 spades (if playing negative doubles), the double shows three card support. The principle is that you and your partner use the opponent's bidding to assist your bidding. Clarify right now if you have 3 or four card support unless you have something else very important to say.
In this case with a really competitive auction, someone is probably stretching their bid.
West has opened and his partner has shown 5 clubs and 10 points yet South is showing a limit raise
of Hearts.
The double is still support. It is particularly important in this instance. BTW:The most likely culprit is South.
As East, your hand is xxxxx, xx, void, KQxxxx
The auction is
Without knowing RHO's next bid, if East knows there is a 9 card spade fit, East can bid 4 Spades even in an IMP game and expect a good chance to make it. However think about the same auction if partner doubles showing exactly 3 spades. This commentator thinks your bid now becomes a guess.
(ACBL) tournaments, support doubles must be indicated on the convention card and must be Alerted. Additionally, when opener makes a call other than a support double (including Pass) when the support double is an option, an Alert should be made if the partnership agreement is that opener's failure to double or to raise denies 3-card or longer support for responder's suit (normally, one would expect only 4-card or longer support to be denied by failure to raise responder's major suit). Per the "Alert Procedures" page on the ACBL website: "In general, when the use of conventions leads to unexpected understandings about suit length by negative inference, a natural call becomes Alertable." While the ACBL does make an exception for agreements that "have become expected and are fairly common," the fact that the ACBL continues to require an Alert for the support double itself argues against applying this exception; the requirement to Alert implies that the support double is not considered "expected... and fairly common" to date.
Most bridge clubs require a partnership to employ active ethics
, and the partnership should disclose all relevant agreements to the opponents. Secret conventions are not allowed.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
. It is made by the opener after his right-hand opponent overcalls his partner's response to his opening bid,
History
The Support double is a bridgeContract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
convention
Bridge convention
A bridge convention is a system of calls made during the auction phase of a contract bridge game which conveys a coded meaning about the players' card holdings...
invented by Eric Rodwell
Eric Rodwell
Eric Victor Rodwell is an American professional bridge player. He has won the Bermuda Bowl representing the U.S. five times and is one of ten players who have won the so-called triple crown of bridge: the Bermuda Bowl, the World Open Pairs and the World Team Olympiad...
as a way of clarifying the amount of support held for your partner. It is normally used by the opening bidder in a competitive auction. The support double shows three-card support, no more and no less.
The convention came as result of the problem that, in competitive auctions, the opening bidder would often like to show 3-card support for partner's suit. However distinguishing between 4-card and 3-card support is important. 4-3 fits ("Moysian fits") don't play as well as real, 8+-card fits. Those situations occur much more frequently than the hands where the opening bidder would like to bid a penalty double over a 1-level overcall, thus the idea of replacing that "standard" usage with the conventional one.
Definition
The Support Double is generally applied whenever partner of the opening bidder names a new suit and there has been interference by an opponent. In other words, the Support Double normally applies after an opening on the one level has been followed by a suggestion by partner of a new suit and an overcall or raise by the fourth player.The Support Double can also be applied when both opponents bid. The key is that the support doubler has opened , partner has replied in a new suit and the next player has made a bid.
The difference between a one-level raise or jump raise in the new suit, named by the responder and a Support Double by the opening bidder is the amount of cards for the suit support. A direct raise shows four+ card support, a support double shows exactly three card support.
Usage
Take the following auction:| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| pass | 1 | pass | 1 |
| 1 | double | pass | 1NT |
| pass |
Playing support doubles, North, the opener, has shown three-card support for South's 1 call. This is important because South might only have four hearts. Based on the South no trump bid, it can be assumed that South doesn't have 5 or more hearts.
Hand in hand with the support double is the Support redouble which also shows three card support. Examine this auction, which is similar to the one above.
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| pass | 1 | pass | 1 |
| double | redouble |
North has shown three-card support for South's heart suit. South uses this information to form the next bid.
Exceptions
Support doubles are not used (except by special agreement) by partner of an overcaller.| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Double |
The assumption is that the overcaller must surely have at least 5 cards in the suit he has bid. As such a simple raise is normally sufficient to show some points and support. In such a situation, a double by the partner of the overcaller would be treated as either a Rosenkranz double
Rosenkranz double
The Rosenkranz double and Rosenkranz redouble are elements of a bridge bidding convention invented by Dr. George Rosenkranz, collectively known as the Rosenkranz double...
, a responsive double or a penalty double based on partnership agreement.
At what level
The above examples show the support double's use over 1 level overcalls. Partnerships usually decide to play support doubles through 2 Hearts or 2 Spades.Here are several other less discussed examples but nonetheless valid examples of normal support doubles
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| pass | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | double | ||
Playing negative doubles or NOT, opener's double shows three spades. It is irrelevant that opener knows that partner has 5 spades (if playing negative doubles), the double shows three card support. The principle is that you and your partner use the opponent's bidding to assist your bidding. Clarify right now if you have 3 or four card support unless you have something else very important to say.
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| double |
In this case with a really competitive auction, someone is probably stretching their bid.
West has opened and his partner has shown 5 clubs and 10 points yet South is showing a limit raise
of Hearts.
The double is still support. It is particularly important in this instance. BTW:The most likely culprit is South.
Importance of 9 Card fits
There is a lot of literature for advancing players on the importance of determining 8 vs 9 card fits. Here is one example of its importance:As East, your hand is xxxxx, xx, void, KQxxxx
The auction is
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 |
Without knowing RHO's next bid, if East knows there is a 9 card spade fit, East can bid 4 Spades even in an IMP game and expect a good chance to make it. However think about the same auction if partner doubles showing exactly 3 spades. This commentator thinks your bid now becomes a guess.
ACBL Rules
In American Contract Bridge LeagueAmerican Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
(ACBL) tournaments, support doubles must be indicated on the convention card and must be Alerted. Additionally, when opener makes a call other than a support double (including Pass) when the support double is an option, an Alert should be made if the partnership agreement is that opener's failure to double or to raise denies 3-card or longer support for responder's suit (normally, one would expect only 4-card or longer support to be denied by failure to raise responder's major suit). Per the "Alert Procedures" page on the ACBL website: "In general, when the use of conventions leads to unexpected understandings about suit length by negative inference, a natural call becomes Alertable." While the ACBL does make an exception for agreements that "have become expected and are fairly common," the fact that the ACBL continues to require an Alert for the support double itself argues against applying this exception; the requirement to Alert implies that the support double is not considered "expected... and fairly common" to date.
Most bridge clubs require a partnership to employ active ethics
Bridge ethics
Contract bridge is at a same time a social game intended for all ages, and a competitive mind-sport. As such, while streaming for success, players are expected to conduct ethically and courteously towards each other...
, and the partnership should disclose all relevant agreements to the opponents. Secret conventions are not allowed.