Competitive bidding: takeout doubles and responding

The biggest change in bridge over the last twenty years is how competitive the auction has become. Traditionally it has been a failing in Scottish bridge as the conservative style of many strong players has found them being regularly outbid.

An important consideration for any partnership is to understand what doubles mean: takeout, penalty, game try, ‘values’, negative.

RULE: Low-level doubles are takeout

A double is for takeout if all of the following are true:

  1. The opponents have bid a suit at the one-, two- or three-level.
  2. Partner has not bid.
  3. The double was made at the first opportunity.

As its name suggests, a takeout double asks partner to bid. The doubler must bear in mind that a minimum response could be very weak since his partner normally must bid. It is possible for partner to convert a takeout double to a penalty double by passing, but this requires very strong trumps and should never be done on weakness. Passing a takeout double at the one level is therefore very rare, although it's a more likely option at the two or three level.

Traditionally a minimum takeout double would be:

(1H) Dbl

S Kxxx
H x
D KJxx
C AQxx

Opening values with shortage in the opponent’s suit and support for all the other suits. A takeout double can also be made with a very strong hand.

However, it is rare that you will be dealt the perfect takeout double and today people will double on less suitable hands. The key features of a modern takeout double are:

(1D) ?

S KJxx

H AJxx

D QJx

C xx

Double: minimum points but support for both majors.

(1H) ?

S AQJx

H xx
D AKJxx
C xx

Double: a good hand with four spades that will convert a 2C response to 2D.

(1S) ?

S Ax
H Kxx
D Axxx
C Kxxx

Double: not ideal distribution but non-minimum and important to get into the auction

(1D) ?

S AKxx
H Axxx
D Axx
C Kxx

Double: too strong for 1NT overcall, so double and rebid 1NT.

(1D) ?

S AQxxx
H Kxxx
D x
C Kxx

1S: I would overcall my 5-card major and then double (or bid) on the second round to show hearts.

(1C) ?

S AQx
H KJx
D QJxxx
C xx

Double: more important to show support for both majors than overcalling a weakish suit.

Responding to a takeout double

A simple suit response shows 0-8 points.

A jump response shows 7-11 points. With a four-card suit and 7-8 points I would normally just make a single suit response. With a five-card suit I would jump with 7-8 points if the points are in my long suit.

A cue bid response shows any 11+ points hand and is forcing to suit agreement or game.

Doubles in competition

"First double shows values, second double is takeout, third double is penalty"

There are a number of auctions where you make a strength-showing double without specifically showing a suit. In these, the intent behind subsequent doubles can be murky and the above mantra is intended to help.

For example,

(1NT)          Dbl          (2H=nat)         Dbl=?        Takeout

(1NT)          Dbl        (2H=spades)         Dbl=?        Takeout of hearts!

1D                  (2D=majors)         Dbl        (2H)
Dbl=?        Takeout

1D                   (2D=majors)         Dbl        (2H)
Pass                 (Pass)                Dbl=?        Takeout

1H                   (2NT=minors)        Dbl         (3D)
Dbl=?        Takeout

Once you have made a takeout double, this is presumed to show all the other suits and subsequent doubles are always penalty.

1NT  (2H)  Dbl=takeout (2S)                                1NT   (2C=majors)  Dbl=values  (2H)
Dbl=pen                                                Dbl=takeout