Responding to suit openings after intervention

Responding to Suit Openings after Opponents Double

If you have watched the video about takeout doubles, you will know that doubling the opening bid is a useful tool for when you have an opening hand but no clear suit to overcall. Here, we are going to look at how this changes things for the partner of the opening bidder.

Try some hands

Hand 1

After the opponents double, how can you best show your hand? You should plan the play carefully, paying attention to the order you play on diamonds and clubs to maximise your chances.

Hand 2

After the double, you need to decide the best bid for a weak hand with good support. Again, you should make a careful plan for the play.

Hand 3

Now that you have points, does this change how you’re going to show your support for partner? Just as important, how might you find the extra two tricks you need to make your contract?

Hand 4

Once again, you need to pick the correct bid after the overcall. You’ll need to take a minor suit finesse during the play, but does it matter which one?

Back

Responding to Suit Openings after Opponents Double

Question 1/6

Penelope has opened 1♠ and Boris has made a takeout double. How should Walter respond?

With a weak hand (under 10 points) the responses remain just the same as without the double. Here, Walter has spade fit and a bad, balanced hand so he responds 2♠.

What about this time, with the same start to the auction?

When the opponents have doubled your partner's opening bid, all hands with 10+ points start with redouble. This lets partner know that your side has the majority of the points and offers the option to catch out your opponents in a contract they can't make, or to bid to your own contract. Here, Walter has 11 points, so he should start with redouble. Ophelia and Boris will try to escape by bidding something, then Walter and Penelope can decide what to do next.

Same start again. What should Walter do here?

The same principle applies here: After a double of partner's opening bid, hands that are invitational or better start with redouble. In this case, it's likely that Walter will go on to bid 4♠, as this will probably score better for his side, but Penelope now knows that he has a good hand, so if she has a great hand herself she might even want to think about bidding a slam.

Penelope has opened 1♥ and Doubling Boris strikes again. How should Walter respond?

Walter doesn't have heart fit but he does have his own suit that he can show at the one level so he does that by bidding 1♠, showing at least four cards in spades.

What about here, with this fine club suit?

Walter doesn't have heart fit, but he does have a long club suit. He can bid this suit at the two level without his partner thinking that he has a good hand, because he has not started with redouble.

This time, Penelope has started with a 1♣ opening and Boris has doubled for takeout. What is Walter’s best bid?

As before, all good hands start with redouble when opponents have doubled partner's opening bid. Walter may well go on to bid 3NT on his next bid, as he has good cards in all the suits and knows that he and Penelope have enough strength to be in game, but for now, he should just let his partner know that they have the majority of the points between them.

The links will take you to the Bridge Training website, where you can have a go at bidding after the opponents double.You will then be able to play the hands and see if you can make your contract. Have as many goes as you like if you don’t succeed the first time.