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1. • CommentAuthorsharpe
   • CommentTimeOct 17th 2008

    
   can some one explain what is ment by negatve double
   Im a novice player..
2. • CommentAuthoresjaysoftware
   • CommentTimeOct 19th 2008

    
   After your partner opens with 1 if a suit, and next opponent overcalls, a double by responder shows interest in the other two suits.
   Requires about 10 hcps and 4 cards in any unbid major.
3. • CommentAuthorTerrence
   • CommentTimeMar 29th 2009

    
   The above comment is not exactly correct. If your partner opens 1C or 1D and your RHO bids 1H, then a 1S bid promises at least 5 spades and a negative double promises only 4 spades. When partner opens a suit and your RHO bids one major, a negative double promises the other major and MAY OR MAY NOT promises the remaining unbid suit. For a well-written essay about negative doubles, which gives you correct information throughout, read Bernard Magee's essay at by clickin here: http://www.mrbridge.co.uk/library/neg_doubles.pdf
4. • CommentAuthorDaisy
   • CommentTimeMay 28th 2009

    
   If your partner opens 1C or 1D and your RHO bids 1H, then a 1S bid promises at least 5 spades and a negative double promises only 4 spades.
   
   The above is not at all universal practice by those who play negative doubles. If playing negative doubles, do come to an agreement with partner about the above suggestion.
5. • CommentAuthorTerrence
   • CommentTimeJun 12th 2009

    
   As Bernard Magee said in http://www.mrbridge.co.uk/library/neg_doubles.pdf, at the bottom of page 11,
   
   "When you have a choice of making a negative double or bidding at the one level, the double always shows four cards, thus:
   1C - (1H) - Dbl The negative double shows 4 spades
   1C - (1H) - 1S You can use the 1S bid to show 5."
   
   The above truly is universal practice by those who play negative doubles properly. When given a free opportunity to distinguish between a four card suit and a five card suit, go for it. If your partner does not know about this treatment, it's a teaching opportunity :)
6. • CommentAuthorDaisy
   • CommentTimeJun 18th 2009

    
   Terrence, your argument is not strengthened by the use of the word "properly". Your preferred method is extremely popular, but there are lots of players who do not think that it is best.
7. • CommentAuthorTerrence
   • CommentTimeJun 19th 2009

    
   Another excellent source of information is RIchard Pavlicek's Web site. For those who wish to read what another expert writer and world-class player says, you can read http://www.rpbridge.net/5a00.htm where Pavlicek has a free lesson on negative doubles. He says
   
   "With five (or more) cards in the unbid major suit make a negative double only if your hand is too weak to bid that suit."
   
   I have never seen in print an expert player advocate a a position different from the standard that if partner opens a minor and RHO overcalls 1H that a negative double shows 4 spades and a spade bid shows 5 (or more) spades.
8. • CommentAuthorDaisy
   • CommentTimeJun 30th 2009

    
   Just browsing through my own small library, I have found Andrew Robson advocating using a double in this situation to deny 4 spades (a popular treatment in America), Eric Crowhurst suggesting that with 4 spades one would choose between making a negative double and bidding one spade, and Terence Reese and David Bird saying that a negative double suggests 4 cards in any unbid major but does not promise them, and also suggesting negative free bids.
   
   And many players think that using a negative double just to show a responding hand with 4 spades is much too limited a use for this valuable and flexible call.
9. • CommentAuthorTerrence
   • CommentTimeSep 29th 2009

    
   In fact, the discussion about problem 1 in the link below is a perfect way to end this discussion. Here's why: it provides the views of about 20 or so different experts with respect to the auction
   
   --- 1C 1H ??
   
   and most of them discuss the negative double and spades. There are at least 4 or 5 different styles of opinions here. Andrew Robson's is the last comment in answer to #1. He said "for me the double guarantees four spades," whereas some others did not hold that view.
   
   http://www.bridge-forum.com/Archives/Bid_with_experts_september_2000_answers.html
   
   is the link. Just cut and paste!
10. • CommentAuthorJeremy
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2009

     
    I'm sure that the most popular treatment of 1C (1H) x is that it shows 4S with 1S showing 5+ and incidentally you don't need anything like 10+ points to make a negative double at the one level as the second comment suggests. A hand such as
    S KJxx
    H xx
    D Kxxx
    C xxx
    would be a suitable minimum.
    
    The quoted link from the previous post is about 9 years old, Eric Crowhurst's opnions a couple of decades before that and ideas do change. It is certainly true that in expert fields some do play a double to deny 4S. Some even play 1S to deny 4. However this is not a treatment best suited for those new to negative doubles.
    As the auction gets to a higher level it is more difficult to maintain any promises about 4 cards in the other major and x then tends to say I have some points but no other clearcut action so for example if partner opened 1C and the next hand overcalled 3S and you held
    
    S Qx
    H KJ9
    D AQxxx
    C Jxx
    
    you have no clearcut action but an opening hand and have to do something. Double although flawed is probably making the best of a bad job. At least there are upsides e.g. 3NT or pass by partner as well as the downside of landing in 4H on a 4-3 fit but if it wasn't difficult then opponents would not bother to pre-empt.
11. • CommentAuthorpirate22
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2009

     
    To add more fuel to the topic you hold xx-Qx-jxx-KJ10xxx- s/h/d/c
    I use x=any 8=11 points.
    1n/t= any 12/14 with stop
    cue =any 12/14 with no stop.
    therefore any bid over opps bid is weak, and less than 8 points,hence above hand
    i would bid 2cl,and any limit raise in pards bid suit is also weak,less than 8 points.Ref whether, to bid 1 sp to show 5 or x to show 4 card spade,either bid, made how many points does either bid show 5/6/7/8/9/? regards
12. • CommentAuthorJackC
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2010

     
    Ok, but what do you recomend after 1C, (1H). when you are, say. 3,3,4,3, or 3.3.5.2 with a few points. You were all set to respond 1D but no longer can and 2D (if you were strong enough) promises a five card suit and 10+ points. If you pass partner will never know you have any points. The negative double fits the bill perfectly and is especially useful when your points are down at the 6/7 level. I find it too useful a bid to restrict it to showing a particular suit.
    
    After 1C, (1H) I would also double on a 3,3,4,3 hand with 11 ish points and no Heart Stop.
    
    In any event the original questioner now realises that there are sveral variations in use. The best advice then is,surely, to experiment with your partner till you find a version that suits you .
    
    JackC
13. • CommentAuthorJeremy
    • CommentTimeJul 15th 2010

     
    The problem with doubling and not promising 4 spades is when the opponents bounce you so it goes 1C (1H) x (4H) and now partner with a good hand and 4 spades can't really afford to bid 4S. You can bid 1S promising only 4, use the double for hands without a four card spade suit and partner will know a bit more but it is still useful in my view to be able to distinguish hands with 4 and 5 card spades so if I had one of the awkward hands above I would look to bid NT if I could. I might bid 2D if I had an 11 count. I might pass with an unsuitable 6 or 7 count. If I were too good to pass I would make the best available bid and with 3-3-4-3 even without a stop that may still be 1NT.