The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-27
! EASY LESSONS IN
! AUCTION BRIDGE
BY PAUL II. SEYMOUR
Author Of "Highlights on Auction Bridge"
Article Eight.
Defensive Bids
Copyright. by Hoyle. Jr.)
(Continued.)

| a No trump DID Dy second nanu
| "A over dealers suit bid should not
be made simply as a defense; that is,
1t should not be made with less than
original bid strength, which Is two
quick tricks. 1t may be made il sec
ond hand holds as good as an original
bid including one stopper in dealers
suit. but Is much safer when holding
two such shoppers.
The following hands should be bid
one no trump second hand over deal
er's bid of one spade:
"a S-A 10xx, Xxx, DIX OK,
C-Kxx.
(2) S-KJ1O, H-xxxx, DIX OK,
C|Kxx
(3) S-KQx H-Kxxx, D-Qxx,
C|Qxx.
| 60 The informatory or negative
double of suit bid is used by second
hand when he holds good no trump
hand in all the suits but the one bid
by dealer. 1t reveals this kind Of hand
to his partner who is expected to bid
in response to it.
To be known as informatOry a dou-
BILE must be made at doubler's first
opportunity to double and before his
partner has bid or doubled.
The informatory double is a real
weapon of offense IL properly used
and responded to by an intelligent
partner, but when made from too
weak a hand or from one Of unfavor-
able distribution or when the partner
is not thoroughly acquainted with its
proper use it often acts as veritable
boomerang. It's use as a defensive
measure when holding less than orig
inal bid strength is especially dam
gerous for all but veteran players.
The idea of the informatory double
is that after an original suit bid the
best chance which the opposing part
ners have of obtaining the offensive
Is by their quickly discovering the
best suit for their two hands. For
second hand to bid minor might
do as a defensive measure but could
scarcely be expected to promise
game without a very strong hand. II
second hand holds four cards of each
, major it Is of vital Importance to
discover which of these suits his
partner can support, and this the in
formatory double does at once.
Therefore the best distribution for
the doubling hand would be four cards
with some strength in the remaining
major if the bid doubled is a major,
or in both majors If the bid doubled
Is a minor. With this as common
understanding it is an accepted con-
vention that in response to a double
of this kind the partner should bid a
four-card major in preference to a
strong four-card or even a five-card
minor.
The minimum strength required for
an informatory double is two quick
tricks, and it is much better to have
two and quarter or two and half.
AS a general rule these should be
distributed so as to protect all OF the
remaining three suits, so that il part
ner has two shoppers for suit doubled
and does not have four of major he
may bid no trump.
The following examples illustrate
the foregoing and if carefully studied
will enable any player to make prop
er use Of the informatory double.
After dealers bid of one club, sec
ond hand holding
Q) S-AQxx, H-Kxxx D.
ok, C-xx should double.
(2) S-AQxx, H-Qxxx, D.
KQxx, C-x should double.
(3) S-A OK, Xxx, DIX XXX
C-xx should pass.
(4) S-AQxxxx, H-Qxx, D.
AK, C-x should bid one spade.
60 SIX, H-Qxxx, D-AKxx,
C-xxx should pass.
co. SIX, Xxx, D-AKQx,
C-Kxxx should pass.
O-S-Axx, H-K OK, D-xxxG
C-AJx should double.
(S) SAX, Xxx, D-Axxx.
C-QJxx should bid no trump.
No. 8 lacks the requisite 2 or 21a
quick tricks, Nos. 5 and lack favor
able distribution and the result would
be embarrassing if partner respond
ed by bidding a spade No. is strong
enough for no trump bid but would
be more effective If partner bids
either major. However, if partner bid
diamonds, this hand would go to no
trump.
Here also it makes some difference
whether the dealers bid is a major
or minor suit A minor suit should be
passed more frequently than a major
because there is so much more apt to
be other bidding which will give sec
ond hand chance to make more In.
telli0ent bid ON the next round