6.0 Competitive Bidding

Game Try Doubles

When we have bid and raised to the two level, and an opponent bids at the three level when opener is next to speak, he can compete to the three level by rebidding his suit. This will ordinarily show extra length or distribution. As with the co-operative doubles, bidding to the three level is not invitational.

In order to invite game, opener must either bid a new suit if he has room for a help-suit game try, or double the opponents at the three level. After a double, responder judges how far to advance. Some partnerships play that game-try doubles are only on if you have no other bid available as a game try, for example:

Some partnerships play that since you can bid 3♥ as a game try, double is for penalties. I prefer to bid 3♥ if I have a help suit game try in hearts and use the double for all other hands that want to invite.

This is something you should clarify with your partner when you put “Game Try” or “Maximal” doubles on your convention card.

If opener passes, competitive doubles are available to the responder, as in any other situation where we have stopped and the opponents outbid us as the three level. It is considered that we have stopped since opener did not make a game try and responder has already limited his hand.

Examples

Co-operative Doubles

6.1 Unusual Versus Unusual