Answers to

Quiz on Take out Double

 

A reminder …

 

The take out double shows an opening hand with at least 3 card support for all unbid suits. If you do not have support for all unbid suits, you need 17+ HCP and a five card suit to make a take out double. You will double and then bid your suit. With less than 17 HCP and a five card major, bid your suit even with four cards in the other major. If given the chance, you will bid your four card major next if convenient.

 

You hold the following hands and your right hand opponent opens 1♥.

What action, if any, do you take?

 

    ♠       ♥        ♦         ♣

KJxx – xx – AQJx – Qxx……………double, sound minimum, good ♠ support

KQx – xx – AQxx – Kxxx…………..double, sound opening, adequate ♠ support.

Qxx – xx – AJxx – KJxx…………….pass, sub minimum hand, mediocre ♠ support.

AQx – xxx – AJ10 – KJxx..................double, very sound opening.

KJ10xx – xx –AQx – KJx…………...1♠, not good enough to double and bid

AK10xx – xx – AKxx – Ax………….double, then bid ♠. Shows good hand, 17+HCP

x – KJxx – QJxx – AQxx…………….pass, no ♠ support, not good enough to bid NT

xx – AQ10 – KJxx – AQJx…………..1NT. Don’t worry about your ♠.

AQx – KJ10 – QJxx – KJx………… 1NT. Classic, text book.

 

 

Your right hand opponent opens 2♥.

 

AQxx – void – Axxx – Jxxxx…………double, minimum but good shape.

AQ10xx – void – Axxx – Jxxx………..2♠, again minimum with good shape.

AQ – xx – KJx – AJ10xxx…………….3♣, sound hand but not enough to double and bid.

AQx – AJ10 – Kxx – QJxx……………2NT, shows 15-18, not for the minors.

Ax – KJxx – Qxx – KJxx……………...pass, no ♠ support, too weak for 2NT

 

Responding to a take out double

Responses in a suit.

With 0-8 points, make a minimum response.

With 9-11 points, make a jump response.

With 12+ HCP, cue bid opener’s suit.

To value your hand, add your HCP and then add one point for each card in your long suit starting with the fifth card.

To respond in NT, you need HCP, not only stoppers.

One NT shows 6-9 HCP. With less HCP, if you don’t have a

four card suit to bid, bid your cheapest three card suit, not NT.

Two NT shows 10-12 HCP.

Three NT shows 13 HCP or more.

One would think that this scheme of responses is by now known

by every bridge players. Right? Wrong! Recently in a club game, more than one Silver Life Masters (1000 + master points) responded 1♥ to a take out double with 10 HCP and a five card heart suit???

 

Your left hand opponent opens 1♠, your partner doubles and next hand passes. Your bid.

xx – Kxxxx – xxx – AQ10................3♥, 9HCP +1 point for the 5th ♥.

xxx – QJ10xxx – x – KJ10................3♥, 7 HCP + 2 points for length.

Q10xx – Qxx – KJx – xxx.................1NT, suggest itself.

Q10xx – KJx – J10x – A10x..............2NT

KJx – AQx – Qxx – Qxxx..................3NT

xxxx – xxx – xxx – xxx......................2♣. Don’t panic and don’t pass.

J10xx – xxx – xxx – xxx.....................2♣. Too weak for 1NT.

xx – KQxx – QJxx – KQx..................2♠. Shows 12 + HCP.

Each partner will now bid his four card suit up the line. If you do not have any spade stoppers and no heart fit is found, the bidding may stop at four of a minor.

 

 

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣