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Negative Doubles in Bridge
The negative double is probably the most useful of all the defensive bidding conventions in use. It’s an important tool to use after the opposition have overcalled your partner’s opening bid and you do not have enough points to bid over the opposition
When double does not mean penalties for the opposition
Requirements
It is important to know exactly when the negative double applies. The bidding must follow this sequence
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The Sequence for a Negative Double
| Opener Bids | Opponent Overcalls | You Bid | Opponent Bids |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C | 1S | ‘X’ negative double | Pass |
The opening bid may be in any position even a passed hand but it must be one of asuit (not a notrump bid). The opposition bid must be in a natural right up to the level of 4.
Point Range of a Negative Double
The minimum points is usually 7 or more. Many partnerships agree that with 10+ points you would be free to make other bids so usually the maximum partners agree on is 10 points or can depend on your partnership agreement
