Woolsey and penalty doubles

[henry...@yahoo.com]

In another thread I referenced Woolsey and his idea that the double
over the overcaller should be penalties and show 4 pieces, and the
double under the overcaller should show 3 and be penalty oriented.
Here is the entire discussion (see pp 126-127 in Matchpoints):

98
52
AJ63
AJ875

AQJ64
KJ87
T2
K2

1s (p} 2c 2h

"This should produce a comfortable penalty and NS probably don't have
a game. If the cards do lie favorably enough for NS to make a game,
they mayu score +500 against 2hx.

... Let's change the hands slightly:

98
J52
AJ3
AJ875

AQJ64
K87
T62
K2

NS have the same cards and once again it is right to double. But how
do they know? ... The answer is that North must do the doubling....
The double in front of the overcaller does not show a trump stack, as
does the double ahead of the overcaller. North's double in this
sequence simply shows a fair balanced hand, no fit for partner, and
three trumps....

Lastly, suppose the player in front of the overcaller holds the long
trumps:

98
KJ52
J3
AQ875

AQJ64
87
AT6
K62

You can't get them all the time. With these combined hands and the
same auction the opponents will escape unscathed, for South should not
sit for the double with two small hearts. Note that this might not be
too bad for NS. With the heart honors lying well for EW then penalty
may not be so secure, and the club fit give 3NT a good chance to
make."

O realize that this is different from a weak 1nt opening bid and a
pass by responder, since in these auctions North has shown values via
the 2c response, but I think the principle is still valid in a weak
1nt context.

Henrysun909