Standard American Lesson 7
♠ Doubles
A takeout double can be made after the opponents have opened the bidding. It shows 13+ TP and at least 3 cards in all of the unbid suits.
Double is written by making an “X” on the bidding pad.
Your right-hand opponent opens 1♣. What is your bid?
| ♠ KQJ10 |
13+ TP, support for all unbid suits. |
| ♥ KJ6 |
Double and then pass whatever your |
| ♦ Q832 |
partner bids. |
| ♣ J7 |
|
| ♠ KQJ108 |
This time you should simply show |
| ♥ 632 |
your spade suit with an overcall of 1 ♠. |
| ♦ K8 |
|
| ♣ A74 |
|
| ♠ KQJ |
You have lots of points, but not |
| ♥ Q9 |
enough length in the unbid suits |
| ♦ 984 |
to do anything. Best to pass |
| ♣ AQ932 |
and hope your opponents get too high.
|
| ♠ AQJ10 |
Wow! Double to force your partner |
| ♥ AKQ6 |
to choose a suit and then leap to |
| ♦ AKQ5 |
game in whatever partner chooses. |
| ♣ 2 |
|
♥ Responses to Takeout Double
You must bid, unless the opposition bids before your turn and thus cancels the double. You should bid even if you have no points at all. Remember that partner has promised support for all unbid suits.
Most of the time your partner will not bid again after making a takeout double. Therefore, if you have a reasonable hand yourself, it is your responsibility to show your points. Remember that partner has an opening hand, so you should bid as if you were responding to an opening bid.
The opening bid is 1 ♦, partner doubles and the next player passes. What do you bid?
| ♠ 9763 |
♠ A763 |
♠ A763 |
| ♥ 62 |
♥ 62 |
♥ 62 |
| ♦ 7653 |
♦ K653 |
♦ 63 |
| ♣ 653 |
♣ Q53 |
♣ 95432
|
|
|
|
| 1♠ (obligatory) |
2♠ |
1♠ (keep it low!) |
| ♠ 976 |
♠ A97632 |
♠ Q63 |
| ♥ KJ8 |
♥ A2 |
♥ 62 |
| ♦ QJ53 |
♦ K65 |
♦ AQ53 |
| ♣ 653 |
♣ Q5 |
♣ AJ32
|
|
|
|
| 1NT |
4 ♠ |
3NT |
♣ Overcall or Double?
You now have two ways of entering the auction after the opponents have opened.
-
You can overcall if you have a good 5+ card suit. Remember that points aren’t important for an overcall but you do need a good suit.
-
The other way of entering the auction is with a double. Strength does matter for a double. You should have at least 13 TP and support for the unbid suits.
This is really important! If your partner doubles, then you must bid, unless your right-hand opponent bids and thus cancels the double. If your partner overcalls then you shouldn’t bid unless you have a fit with your partner. You will only need 3-card support to ensure a fit, because an overcall promises a 5-card suit.
BL 7 © House of Cards 2008: info@bridgedoctor.com
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