It Don't Mean Nothin'

Time for a pop quiz: matchpoints, nobody vulnerable.

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♠ A J 9 2  ♥ K 8  ♦ A 10  ♣ 10 7 6 4 2

Partner	RHO	You
1 ♦	2 ♥	?

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♠ Q 10 7 3  ♥ A 6 5 4 3  ♦ K 5 4  ♣ 6

You	LHO	Partner	RHO
Pass	Pass	1 ♦	2 ♣
?

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♠ A Q 7 4  ♥ K Q 9 3  ♦ K J 5 2  ♣ 7

Partner	RHO	You
1 ♦	2 ♣	?

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♠ A Q 10 3  ♥ 10 2  ♦ 8 7 4  ♣ 9 5 3 2

Partner	RHO	You
1 ♦	1 ♥	?

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ANSWERS: Double, on all four hands.

THE PRINCIPLE: A free bid promises at least a decent five-card suit, and appropriate strength as if there had been no overcall. When partner opens and your right-hand opponent overcalls, bidding a new suit is called a "free bid." (If you pass, partner will still get a chance to bid again, hence the term.) A free bid by an unpassed hand is forcing for one round. If you are playing 2/1 Game Force, a free bid by an unpassed hand at the two level or higher is game-forcing.

A negative double does not mean a weak hand. A negative double promises at least some values, just not exactly the right hand for a free bid at this moment.  It means that a free bid would be a misrepresentation of your hand, either about strength or shape.

Most experts today play that a negative double promises at least four-card support for the unbid major. If there are two unbid majors and you can only support one of them, you should have good support for partner's original suit so that you can retreat back to that suit if necessary.

THE EXCEPTION: When partner opens 1♣ and your opponent overcalls 1♦, the negative double promises exactly 4-4 in the major suits. With any other major suit holding, bid as if there had been no overcall.

-- Ray 
Better Bridge in 5 Minutes. Guaranteed! (or the next one is free)