Takeout Doubles

Other Uses of Double

You have seen how we use double in the position directly after the opening bid, but there are other situations in which we want to deliver a similar message. Watch the video to see some examples.

Try some hands

Hand 1

Both of your opponents are bidding, but you can get involved in the auction in a way that gives partner a pretty good description of your hand.

Hand 2

When partner opens the bidding you can see that you have enough strength for game. Your right hand opponent overcalls and now your need to find the description of your hand that will help your side to find the best game contract.

Hand 3

Both opponents and your partner have bid before you get a look-in. You don’t have fit with partner’s suit, but you can still make a helpful bid. The play is tricky, but see if you can guarantee two ruffs in each hand. Hint: look at clubs before diamonds!

Hand 4

You are going to be defending this hand for a change. See if you can help partner to get the defence off to the best possible start and beat the contract.

Back

Other uses of double

Question 1/6

What does Ophelia’s double show here?

Ophelia's opponents have bid two suits, so her double shows the other two suits, at least 4-4. She should have close to an opening hand in terms of points to do this, but with more shape, say 5-5, she can have fewer points. The opponents' bids are natural (showing the suits they bid) so her double shows the unbid suits.

What about in this auction? What is Ophelia showing here?

Again, in this situation the bids so far are natural, so the double is showing the unbid suits - in this case clubs and spades. She needs fewer points than in Q1 - only about 8+ - because her partner has bid. Ophelia won't have heart fit, because she could bid hearts to show that.

Ophelia is really getting into the swing of this doubling thing. What is she showing this time?

Once again, natural bids, so showing the other suits. This is just a regular takeout double but in the fourth, rather than the second seat. The SOS criteria still apply, that is Ophelia should have Strength: an opening hand (she is forcing partner to bid at least 2♠, or at the three level if their long suit is a minor), tolerance for the Other three suits, and Shortage in hearts, probably a maximum of two cards.

Ophelia is taking a break, and Walter is doubling this time. What does his double show?

In just the same way as a double after a club opening and a diamond overcall (minor-minor) the double would show both majors (the unbid suits), this double shows both minors because both major suits have been bid naturally. If Walter had good hearts he would bid hearts, and if he had good spades he could bid NT at the appropriate level for the strength of his hand.

Walter’s response to his partner’s 1NT opening is Stayman, an artificial bid asking about major suits. This would be alerted by your opponents (the alert is shown here by the little blue ‘A’). What does Ophelia’s double show?

Walter's bid is artificial - it's not showing clubs - it's asking whether Penelope has a four card major. Doubles of artificial bids are 'lead directing', indicating good cards in the suit that has been bid artificially. Ophelia's's double shows a good club suit, suggesting that Boris should lead a club if he finds himself on opening lead.

Here, Walter’s 2♥ bid is a transfer to spades. What does Ophelia’s double show?

Again, this is a double of an artificial bid - in this case a transfer to spades - so it's lead directing. Ophelia is showing a good heart suit, and that she would like Boris to lead a heart if he gets the chance. Don't be tempted to make these lead directing bids just because you have an ace in the suit (which will almost certainly take a trick anyway). You should have at least four cards in the suit (preferably five) and two of the top three honours to do this. Otherwise you might talk your partner out of a better lead.

The links below will take you to the Bridge Training website, where you can practice using double in different ways before playing the hands. In the first three hands, leaving the master trump will be the card play theme. This is when the opponents only have one trump left between them and it is higher than all of yours – normally we shouldn’t draw it because it wastes two of our trumps on a losing trick. Bear that in mind as you have a go at the hands.