Beyond TOX, the Power Double

I alluded in a previous post that most of us "grew up" learning that power doubles over opening bids (beyond the 4441 TO types) start with 17 points. Some of us discarded that notion pretty fast once we started playing in expert partnerships.

Here's the discusion. Seventeen counts are easily handled with one level overcalls. If partner doesn't respond (bid 1N with 8 or so, or raise with 6 or so) then you don't belong in game. Staying at the one level is good enough. Should partner show a limit raise or better with a Q bid, we know what to do. Bid game. If partner shows a simple raise, we might have our game tries down within our partnership and evoke those sequences. Easy. The hands we absolutely need to start with a TOX are those hands with which advancer would not bid a notrump nor make a simple raise and the hand might still belong in game.

You know how 2C openings are basically nine tricks? Well these power X are basically eight tricks. My partner had such a hand in the pro am the other day. He needed to field this hand over a 1D opening at the two level. ATxx,Kx,A,KQJTxx. Now, if he bids two clubs, what am I going to do with Kxx,Txxxx,xxx,Ax? Ugh, probably pass. Cold for 3N. Partner needs to start those hands with a double.

Warning, whenever you start a TOX with such hand and you are meager in the opener's suit, you might expect it to go all pass. There you are, defending the opening bid at the one level. That's why it's a lot safer to power double with appreciable "stuff" in the opener's suit or no-trump type hands too strong to overcall 1N directly. Then partner is not likely to have a stack in opener's suit.

A couple of prologues I need to share with such actions. Keep this one handy. If it goes 1m (X) all pass then your obligation is to lead a trump. As one of my mentors once told me, if you don't have a trump, leave the room and look for one. When you find one, return and lead it. Yes, it is that important. Partner will have QJxxx(x) in the trump suit and the last thing you want to do is finesse yourself into declarer setting up a high card in his/her hand......or allow a ruff in dummy. Lead trump, period.

Another prologue is everytime you double and subsequently bid your suit, you have such an eight trick hand (unless you talk about specific exceptions with your partners). So, even if the opponents put the auction to the test with raises, if you've taken a free bid as advancer you are forced to keep the auction open. For example, the auction (1C) X (2C) 2D, (P) 2S cannot be passed. If you've taken a free bid over responder's bid, you've promised six points at least and with a partner who promised eight tricks by doubling and bidding his/her suit, you are absolutely commited to game. See how this all works together?

As per usual, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Isolde