Penalty Doubles and Reopening Ones
Presented by Pat McDevitt at the Watertown
Sectional on February 24th, 2007
1. When opponents interfere,
overcall or sacrifice.
2. You have balance of HCP
3. You have trump stack and they have no place to run.
4. When you want partner to lead your suit, dummy's first bid suit.
e.g., 1any-1H
1N – 2N
3N – P
(you have XX AKJ9 X X X J10XX)
5. Sacrifice at 5-level, after you have bid game
6. Reopening doubles by partner after preempt of opening
7. Doubles after opponent overcalls 1N and you have 8+hcp with good lead.
8. Opponent opens weak NT (12-14) and you have 15+ hcp with good lead.
9. Double of 4S preempt.
10. Slam doubles:
1C – P – 1S – P
3S – P – 4N – P
5H – P – 6S - ? (You have QJ109 of S)
11. After partner has redoubled their double, and your game unlikely.
12. When vul opponents balance at 3-level
13. When vul opponents balance at 3-level where you estimate total trumps as 16
or fewer.
EXAMPLES
1. 1S – 1N - ?
J X X Q J X X
K Q J X X Q 10 X Q J 10 X X
Q X X K 10 X K X X
X X J 10 X X Q 10 X X
2. 1C – 1H - 1N – 2H - 2N – 3N - ?
X X X X X X
A Q 10 X K Q J X X
J 10 X X J 10 X X
X X X
3, 1N – P – 3N - ?
X X A Q J
A K Q 10 X K X X
X X X K Q X
X X X X X X X
3. 1S – 3H – 4C - ?
X X Q J X X
10 X X X Q X
X X X X X X
10 9 X X K Q 10 X
Books to read: Reese on Play, Masterpoints by Kit Woolsey, Killing Defense,
Kelsey, Mike Lawrence on Overcalls