Intended audience: Newer/Intermediate; All
Both vul, as south you hold: ♠- ♥KJ109432 ♦109 ♣8653
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West |
North |
East |
South |
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1♣ |
Dbl |
P |
? |
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What do you bid?
Responding to takeout doubles is one of the first things a newer player should master. Essentially:
- 1. You must bid as responder. Bid your best unbid suit (even if a 3 card suit!)with less than 8 pts.
- 2. A jump in a suit is constructive showing the equivalent of 8-10 HCPs, with values good for offence or defence.
- 3. 1NT responses shows about 8-10 HCPs with a stopper in their suit.
- 4. A cue bid shows invitational values, around 10-12.
- 5. A double jump is a hand with 6-7 cards and preemptive values. Thus, 3♥ is the correct call on this hand. BONUS QUESTION: If partner now bids 4♠ what is your call?
- 6. If partner bids a new suit over your response it shows a hand too good for an overcall (17-20). If partner jumps it shows 21+ and is forcing with a single suited hand. For example:
West North East South
1♣ Dbl P 1♥
P 2♠
2♠ on this auction would be made on something like (a): ♠AKJ10xx ♥Kx ♦AQ ♣A53, whereas 1♠ would be bid on the same hand, less the A♣.
Answer to bonus question: Pass! Partner has a hand something like (a), where he can make game in his own hand but wanted to try for slam. His actual hand on this deal from Phoenix: ♠AKQJ1082 ♥A6 ♦54 ♣KQ
Important things to remember regarding takeout doubles:
- 1. A response at a minimum level could be very weak, and may be made on a three cared suit!
- 2. A new suit by opener after he doubles shows 17+ with a hand too good to overcall, and does not promise support for the other unbid suits.
- 3. Because of that, care should be taken not to jump to the four or the five level as the responder to the doubler.
- 4. If partner doubles and then next hand bids a suit, a double by you says I have 4+ cards in right hand opponent’s suit and at least6 HCPs).
5. A corollary to #6 above, if partner doubles, cue bids and then bids a suit, this is FORCING, likely with a very good two-suiter hand, such as ♠AKxx ♥AK ♦AKQJxx ♣x.
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