You understand that doubling increases the scores. But imagine that the opponents are in 1 or 3: are you going to double them? That is difficult, because you generally have no idea whether you can defeat them on your own.
Over time, players decided it would be better to give the double another meaning, when the bidding is still at a fairly low level. You often need to tell partner: “I have some strength and a little of everything except the opponents’ suit. Do you happen to have a long suit?”
For example:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ? |
This is what a double means nine times out of ten today, as long as everyone has not yet had a chance to describe their hand: it is a “takeout double,” as opposed to the “penalty double” you already knew.
And it works in many situations. In fourth seat, you show the other two suits:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pass | 1 | Double |
1 would promise 5 cards (and would take priority over a takeout double if you had them). 2 would promise 6 cards. A double works well: I have Spades, Diamonds, and some strength—choose! If you want to master the details, here are the responses.
The player on your right opens 1. You have 13 HCP, one Heart, and four cards in each of the other suits. Which action taught in the course asks partner to choose a suit?
Learn more: responses
Respond in a suit at the lowest level with 0 to 7 HCP, and make a jump bid with 8 to 10 HCP (the higher you jump, the more cards you have in the suit you bid). Otherwise, respond in notrump with a stopper in the opponents’ suit (1NT: 7 to 10 HCP, 2NT: 11 HCP, 3NT: 12 to 15 HCP). For example:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double | Pass | |
| Possible responses | |||
| 11 | |||
| 22 | |||
| 33 | |||
| 44 | |||
- EastE 1
3+ Spades, 0 to 7 HCP
- EastE 2
4 Spades, 8 to 10 HCP
- EastE 3
5 Spades, 8 to 10 HCP
- EastE 4
6 Spades, 8 to 10 HCP
You respond to partner’s double with four Spades and 9 HCP after the auction shown below. Which level do the course guidelines call for?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double | Pass |
It also works when your side opened the bidding. Take a look:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Double |
Here, your partner opened. With your 9 HCP and partner’s minimum of 12 HCP, your side holds the majority of the points. But you do not know exactly what to bid: double and see how partner responds!
The takeout double in brief
A double generally asks partner to complete the description of their hand while promising a minimum strength:
- when partner has not bid, your double promises at least 12 HCP
- when partner has already bid, your double promises at least 8 HCP
Partner opens 1 and the opponent overcalls 2. With this hand, which action taught in the course lets you look for a red-suit fit?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
A special case: the Sputnik double
When partner opens 1 or 1 and the opponent bids 1, the double guarantees 4 Hearts, never 3. It is called the “simple Sputnik double” because it appeared in 1957, the year the Soviet satellite Sputnik was launched!
Partner opens 1 and the opponent bids 1. You have 9 HCP but only three Hearts. Does the simple Sputnik double taught in the course describe your hand correctly?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
In short, do not overthink it: when you have some strength and want partner to bid but do not know what to do, double. You will refine the criteria over time.
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