Support Doubles and Support Redoubles
The Support Double was devised by Mr. Eric Rodwell, and is a method
that enables the opening bidder to clarify or show precisely the degree of
support of the suit of the partner or responder. This generally occurs in a
competitive auction, in which an opponent interferes at a low level.
The Support Double is generally applied whenever the partner 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 of the partner of a new suit and an overcall or raise by the
fourth player. The Support Double may also be applied when there is an immediate
overcall, followed by a new suit by the partner of the opening bidder, and even
after a low-level raise by the partner of the immediate overcaller.
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. The following examples should illustrate this
important point in the line of communication.
Support Double
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
1 |
| Double |
|
Pass |
|
2 |
|
|
In order to indicate a minimum raise which shows only a 3-card
support, the opening bidder, South, applies the Support Double. By bidding
2, North shows a
5-card Heart suit.
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
1 |
| 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
In this example, South, instead of applying the Support Double, would raise
the suit of the partner one level, and this raise shows exactly a 4-card
support. (Note: Some partnerships have agreed that this action shows a
4-card plus support.)
This is the difference between a one level raise and the principle of the
Support Double. The necessity of this method is apparent in that the opening
bidder has no other acceptable rebid with such a card constellation. The opening
bidder could have possibly bid 1 No Trump without the interference, but with the
interference, the opening bidder would promise a Spade stopper if the opening
bidder were to rebid 1 No Trump. If the opening bidder were to rebid 2 Diamonds,
then the opening bidder would normally be promising a 6-card Diamond suit.
Thirdly, raising the suit of the responder one level with only a 3-card support
is not generally acceptable. Thus the Support Double.
Support Redouble
If the interference is not the introduction of a new suit, but instead a
double, then the opening bidder applies the Support Redouble. The
following example illustrates this principle.
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
Double |
| Redouble |
|
Pass |
|
2 |
|
|
In order to show a 3-card support for the suit of the responder, the opening
bidder redoubles after an interference of a double. This is the entire
concept of a Support Redouble. Again, if the opening bidder had a 4-card Heart
suit, in this example, then the opening bidder would have simply raised the suit
of the responder one level. By bidding 2, North shows a 5-card Heart
suit.
Partnership Agreement
The Support Double and the Support Redouble are applied in low-level auctions
and many partnership agreements carry the condition that they should not be
applied above the two level. Some partnership agreements include the restriction
that they may be used only up to and including 2 Hearts. The reason for this
limitation by partnership agreement is the fact that a penalty double may become
ambiguous and its application place in question. The option of the penalty
double may be lost if the partnership agreement includes Support Doubles and
Support Redoubles on the three level.
The application of the Support Double in auctions, whereby the partnership is
not the opening bidder, is considered acceptable. However, the importance of the
value of the overcall becomes the fundamental element in determining the
effectiveness of the application of the Support Double. The partnership must
take into consideration whether the overcall is an immediate overcall or whether
the overcall occurs in Fourth Seat and can be deemed a balancing or competitive
call. If this application is included, then there must be a solid partnership
agreement.
Whatever the partnership agreement is, it is also important to remember that
all subsequent bidding becomes natural according to the individual partnership
agreement and the bidding system used.
Additional Support Double Auctions
There are not that many auctions, where a Support Double may be applied,
since the opening bidder generally has an acceptable, informative rebid. Other
auctions, which include the use of the Support Double and Support Redouble are
shown below. Examples are not presented due to the realization that the serious
and experienced bridge player will recognize the situation presented by the
auction.
In all of the following auctions, the double is a Support Double.
Bidding Sequence 1:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
| Double |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bidding Sequence 2:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
2 |
| Double |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bidding Sequence 3:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
Double |
| Redouble |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bidding Sequence 4:
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
Double |
| Redouble |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bidding Sequence 5
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
1 |
| Double |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This particular auction, whereby both Minor suits have
been bid by the partnership, may also become ambiguous since it is not clear
whether the double of the opening bidder signifies a Support Double or a
Negative Double showing a 4-card Heart suit. Again, a solid partnership
agreement is necessary, especially for this particular bidding sequence.
| South |
|
West |
|
North |
|
East |
| 1 |
|
Pass |
|
1 |
|
1NT |
| Double |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Case In Particular
In the case of an overcall in fourth seat of 1 No Trump, the opening bidder
may still, by partnership agreement, apply the principle of the Support Double,
as in the above example. This particular auction may become problematic owing to
the possible ambiguity of the double, especially if the double is not recognized
as a Support Double and, as a consequence, is not alerted. A solid
partnership agreement is necessary. A review of one such actual played hands in
competition is presented below, which stresses the importance of this
feature.
| Perry |
Pollack |
Greenspan |
Moss |
| 1 |
Pass |
1 |
1NT |
| Double (1) |
Pass |
2 |
Pass |
| 2 |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
(1) The double was not alerted. The Director was
summoned.
Event: Life Master Pairs, 12 August, Second Semi-final Session
Board 3 Dealer: South Vulnerability: East/West
The Facts: 2 made two, plus 110 for N/S. The Director was called after dummy was
displayed. South believed she had made a Support Double. North did not believe
that anyone played Support Doubles after 1 No Trump overcalls. North was
unsure as to the meaning of the double. The Director allowed the table result
to stand since neither East nor West had any clear action.
The Appeal: E/W appealed the Director's ruling. North and West were
the only players to attend the hearing. West believed that had he known South
was making a Support Double, he might have bid 2 No Trump. He believed that
North should not have removed the double. North said that South was a
relatively inexperienced player, a student of his, though a Life Master. He
had explained at the table that his partner might have meant the double as
Support Double, though he was not sure. He believed that removing the double
was the right action with his hand.
The Committee's Decision: The Committee believed that North went out
of his way to explain the possibilities for his partner's double, that it was
possibly meant as a Support Double, and that she was relatively inexperienced.
At this point E/W could have asked North to leave the table and had South
explain the intent of the double. The Committee believed that the decision
North had made to bid 2 could just as well have worked out badly for his side. The result
was rub of the green for E/W.
The Committee allowed the table result to stand and believed the appeal
just barely met the standard of having merit because N/S were not totally
clear on their agreement.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of
bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept
is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable
or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the
governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the
game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature
on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this
feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to
them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always
include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these
regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our
intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as
possible.