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Negative doubles are a cheap way of exploring if there are defensive interference possibilities in a major suit. It is used only after an opponent has opened the auction.
“Negative” in this case means that the bidder is NOT challenging the opponent’s ability to make a contract in the suit he or she just bid. It means something else.
Negative doubles most often occur after the following sequence
| North | East | South | West |
| 1 ♣ | Pass | 1 ♥ (or 1 1s) | Double |
This double is a negative double and means: “I have a pretty good hand, enough for a light overcall, with four Spades (or four Hearts, as the case could be).” In other words, the negative double means the player using the bid has four cards in the major unbid major suit. If he/she had at least five Spades, he/she would simply have bid 1 Spade. (And if he/she had at least 5 Hearts, he/she would simply bid a 2 Hearts overcall over a 1 Spade opener.)
If partner also happens to have 4 Spades and a few points, the opponents may be able to reach a good “stealing” or “sacrificing” contract in that suit, which would otherwise be hard to find.
And even if the openers eventually do get the contract, the “negative double” bidding may be a good lead-directing defensive strategy.
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What is a Barry Crane double? I was in a bidding auction that went like this
Dealer East
N/S – Vul
East South West North
1club pass 1diamond 1spade
Dbl 2spades Dbl pass
3hearts pass pass 3spades
pass pass pass
What was the first? Was it showing 4 hearts?
Was the second responsive also saying bid the hearts I also have 4 ?
I was told that the first should have been alerted as a Barry Crane Double.
You opinion is needed
Thanks