Takeout Doubles
By Ralph Welton
You may want to read overcalls before reading this page.
In the early stages of the bidding, a DOUBLE means you want your partner to bid something – to "take out" your opponents last bid by bidding something himself.
That's where the term "takeout double" comes from – you "double" and partner "takes out" your opponents' last bid. Partner then bids, not because of the merits of his own hand, but because your double tells him that YOUR hand is good enough for him to bid.
You make a takeout double when you have support for whatever suit partner picks, but no real preference yourself. You might have a hand like...
example 1
|
♠ A J 9 8 ♥ K Q 5 2 ♦ 7 ♣ K J T 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♦ | ? |
The opponents have opened the bidding with 1♦. You have a fine hand, but you can't tell which suit to suggest as trump. You'd rather have partner make the choice, so you DOUBLE.
A takeout double promises 12+ points and "support" for all three unbid suits. You would like to have 4 card support for each suit, but sometimes you have to make do with only 3 card support. Never only 2.
example 2
|
♠ A J 8 ♥ K Q 5 2 ♦ 7 ♣ K J T 6 5 |
This example hand is the same as the first, except I've moved a small spade into the club suit.
It's still a takeout double of their 1♦ opening bid, even though you have only three spades.
The hand also qualifies for a 2♣ overcall, but the takeout double is preferred because it tells partner much more about your hand – the 3 suits where you have trump support and that you have at least 12 points. The 2♣ overcall is not nearly so informative, only promising the one suit with a 10 point minimum.
After hearing your double, partner can decide which suit to name as trump and how high to bid.
example 3
|
♠ 8 ♥ A Q T 2 ♦ J T 8 3 ♣ K J 9 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♠ | ? |
Your 4-4-4-1 shape is ideal for a takeout double. But you don't have 12 hcp. So just PASS and see how the auction develops.
When you double, you don't have to hold a singleton or void in your opponent's bid suit. A doubleton in their suit isn't as good, but it's OK. Just remember our simple rule:
A double promises 12 or more points and 3+ card support for ALL the unbid suits.
Let's look at some example hands...
example 4
|
♠ K Q 8 ♥ Q 2 ♦ A J 8 3 ♣ J T 9 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♥ | ? |
This hand has 13 hcp. When they open 1♥, check to see if you have support for clubs, diamonds, and spades. You do, so you can make a takeout double.
What could you do if the opening bid had been 1♠? Let's see... no support for hearts, so you can't double. Not enough points for a 1N overcall (you'd need 15-17). And you have no 5 card suit to bid. Sadly, you would have to pass.
example 5
|
♠ A J 5 ♥ A Q T 4 3 ♦ Q T 3 ♣ 8 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♣ | ? |
You have the requirements for a takeout double (enough points and support for 3 suits), but you also have the requirements for a 1♥ overcall (13 points with 1 plus value is even more than you need).
Which is better? Make the 1♥ overcall. It gives you the best chance of finding an 8 card major suit fit. If you double, partner won't know to bid hearts when he has three of them.
example 6
|
♠ K 7 ♥ A J 5 3 ♦ T 9 3 ♣ K Q T 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♦ | ? |
Here, your 13 points is enough to double, but you don't have support for all three unbid suits. So you can't double. If your opponent had opened spades you could double, but not when he's opened diamonds.
You might consider sticking your opponent in the leg with a hatpin to punish him for opening the "wrong" suit. On second thought, maybe you should just quietly pass. Keep your hatpin to yourself, and don't let on that you "almost" have a bid.
We've looked at takeout doubles with a singleton in their suit, and with a doubleton in their suit. Now let's look at doubles with three cards in their suit (a tripleton).
example 7
|
♠ A T 4 ♥ K Q 7 ♦ Q T 9 6 ♣ J T 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♣ | ? |
After their 1♣ opening, you can double because you have 12 points and support for all three unbid suits. However...
Three threes are bad. ("Huh? What does that mean?" you ask.) You have three three card suits. Three threes. You can double if you want, but you might do better to pass minimum hands with three threes.
Let's move one of the cards from example 7, and get rid of the three threes.
example 7b
|
♠ A J T 4 ♥ K Q 7 ♦ Q T 9 6 ♣ T 2 |
Now you have no reason to avoid the takeout double.
One three is considerably better than three threes.
example 7c
|
♠ A Q 4 ♥ K Q 7 ♦ Q T 9 6 ♣ J T 2 |
I've made a different adjustment to example 7. We're back to three threes, but with 14 points the hand isn't minimum.
Make your takeout double even with three threes when you have a little extra in high card points.
example 8
|
♠ Q T 7 4 ♥ 7 ♦ Q T 9 6 ♣ A K J 8 |
| West | North | East | South |
| P | P | 1♥ | ? |
This is a perfect double.You have 12 points and four card support for each unbid suit.
example 9
|
♠ A K 9 ♥ Q T 6 ♦ K T 9 ♣ A J 8 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | P | 1♦ | ? |
example 10
|
♠ Q J T 7 2 ♥ Q T 6 ♦ K J T 9 ♣ 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♣ | ? |
9+++ Overcall 1♠
When you have a five card major, bid it in preference to making a takeout double. And besides, you don't have enough points for a double.
example 11
|
♠ J 2 ♥ A Q 9 5 ♦ Q J T 9 ♣ K 6 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♠ | P | P | ? |
example 12
|
♠ K T 6 ♥ A 5 ♦ K J 8 7 ♣ K 9 7 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | P | 1♥ | ? |
14 points is not enough for a 1N overcall.But you do have support for all three unbid suits. Double.
example 13
|
♠ 6 ♥ A T 9 5 ♦ T 8 7 ♣ A K Q 6 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♠ | ? |
13 points and support for all three unbid suits. So you can double. You also have a fine club suit you might overcall. Which is better?Major suits are more important than minor suits. Keep open the option of finding a heart fit.
Double.
example 14
|
♠ K Q T 7 ♥ 5 ♦ K J 3 2 ♣ A Q T 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | P | 2♥ | ? |
15 points.Both of your opponents are bidding, but you still have a three-suit takeout with fine support for whichever suit partner names. Double.
example 15
|
♠ A T 7 ♥ K 5 ♦ Q 8 6 2 ♣ K 8 7 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 3♥ | ? |
Your pesky opponent has started the bidding with a preemptive 3♥ call. You have 12 points and support for the unbid suits. If the opening bid had been 1♥, you could double.But at the three level you should pass this bare minimum with only 3 card support for the unbid major.
This last hand, Example 15, illustrates a general truth. The higher the level, the more you should favor passing with balanced minimum hands that would have been worth a take out double at the one level. You need extra hcp to make such doubles.
example 16
|
♠ A K T 7 ♥ 5 ♦ Q 8 6 2 ♣ K 8 7 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 3♥ | ? |
Double.You have only 12 hcp, but with perfect takeout double shape the warning about not doubling with balanced minimum hands doesn't apply. This hand isn't balanced.
example 17
|
♠ A T 7 ♥ K 5 ♦ Q J 6 2 ♣ K J 7 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 2♥ | ? |
I've added a couple of jacks to example 15, and reduced the preempt to the two level. The hand is now a marginal takeout double.
If the three card suit were a minor instead of the unbid major, the hand would be improved. And it would be improved even more if none of your points were in their suit.
To illustrate, after their 2♥ preempt...
12 hcp – Pass
|
♠ A T 7 ♥ K 5 ♦ Q 8 6 2 ♣ K 8 7 3 |
Reasons to pass this marginal hand:
– balanced hand
– minimum count
– only 3 spades
– 3 points in their suit
14 hcp – Double
|
♠ A T 7 ♥ K 5 ♦ Q J 8 6 ♣ K J 8 7 |
Reasons to bid on this marginal hand:
+ two extra points
12 hcp – Double
|
♠ A T 7 3 ♥ T 5 ♦ K Q 8 6 ♣ K 8 7 |
Reasons for bidding with only a 12 count:
+ no points in their suit
+ 4 card support for the unbid major
13 hcp – Pass
|
♠ A T 7 ♥ K T 5 ♦ Q J 6 2 ♣ K 8 7 |
Reasons not to bid:
3 points in their suit
3 suits with 3 cards each, especially only 3 cards in the unbid major.
That makes 4 threes! And 13 points has another 3 in it. (silly smile)
example 18
|
♠ K Q T 5 ♥ K T 5 ♦ K J T 6 2 ♣ 7 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣ | P | 1♥ | ? |
With 12+++ you could overcall 2♦. But then partner wouldn't know you also had four spades.
A far better bid is double, promising 12 or more points and at least 4 card support for the two unbid suits. You'll never make this two-suit double with only three card support for one of the suits.
example 19
|
♠ K J T 6 2 ♥ K T 5 ♦ K Q T 5 ♣ 7 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣ | P | 1♥ | ? |
I've reversed your two suits.
Now it's better to overcall in your five card major, even though your hand qualifies for a double. Majors are more important than minors, and you might miss a 5-3 spade fit if you double.
example 20
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | P | 2♣ | ? |
On this auction, the opponents have promised more than half of the high card points in the deck, and they are unlimited. If you have 12 points and the distribution for a two-suit double, how many points can partner have?
12+ for opener.10+ for responder
12 for you.
With 40 total hcp in the whole deck, partner's MAXIMUM is 6, and she is likely to have less.
Now suppose you have 16 hcp, and you are considering making this same two-suit double. How many points does partner have this time?
12+ for opener.10+ for responder
16 for you.
Partner's MAXIMUM is now 2. So don't double hoping for help from partner.
It's OK to quietly pass on auctions like this.
After the opponents' 2/1 bidding sequence, pass with a balanced hand, no matter how many points you have. Your opponents have invitational values or better. Making a takeout double on a balanced hand will only force partner to bid something he can't make.
example 21
|
♠ 9 8 6 ♥ J 5 ♦ A Q J 5 ♣ A Q J 9 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | P | 1♠ | ? |
Double.You have a good hand (14 points, with only 1 point wasted in their suits) with 4 card support for whichever minor suit partner chooses.
example 22
|
♠ 8 6 ♥ J 5 ♦ A J 5 2 ♣ A K J 9 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | P | 1♠ | ? |
Double.You would prefer to overcall your five card suit if it were a major. But when both of your suits are minors, show them both at once with a takeout double.
You make a power double when your hand is exceptionally strong. Partner will assume that you have an ordinary takeout double, and respond accordingly. Then you will bid again to clarify what you actually hold.
For example, the hcp range for a 1N overcall is 15-17 points. But what do you bid with the same kind of hand and more than 17 points?
You double. Partner thinks you have an ordinary takeout double, so she picks one of the unbid suits. THEN you bid notrump. This sequence – double followed by bidding NT or a new suit – shows a power double.
(In the bidding boxes that follow, X means double.)
example 23
|
♠ K 8 6 ♥ A Q 7 ♦ A J 5 2 ♣ K Q T |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♣ | X |
| P | 1♠ | P | 1N |
A power double followed by a minimum NT bid shows 18-20. With even more points than 20, make a power double and then jump in NT.
example 24
|
♠ K 8 6 ♥ A Q J T 7 6 ♦ 2 ♣ A K 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♣ | X |
Your hand is too strong for a simple 1♥ overcall. A normal range for 1♥ is 8-15 points. You have 17 and a fine six card suit (17+++). How do you show partner that you have such a good hand? Make a power double and then bid hearts.
When you double, partner will think you have an ordinary takeout double. Maybe she'll bid diamonds. But when you follow up with a heart rebid, she will know you have a power double with a real heart suit. You don't promise diamond support as you would with a takeout double.
Power doubles require partner to change her thinking. She starts out assuming you have a three-suit takeout. But when you continue by bidding a new suit, the takeout meaning is cancelled. Partner replaces her first assumption with the new one – "power, with hearts."
A mistake to avoid
example 13 revisited
|
♠ 6 ♥ A T 9 5 ♦ T 8 7 ♣ A K Q 6 5 |
Let's take another look at example 13. When we first saw this hand, we decided that it was better to double than to overcall 2♣ because the double gave a better chance of finding a major suit fit.
Your takeout double requested that partner pick one of the three unbid suits.
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♠ | X |
| P | 2♦ | 2♠ | ? |
Now look at the bidding box. Wouldn't you know it, partner picked your worst suit!
What about bidding 3♣ now? Can you show partner where your best suit is, and if he doesn't like it he can go back to diamonds?
Absolutely NOT!That would be a power double, showing a big hand which you don't have.
So your only choices now are to pass or to raise diamonds. Your original double does not have extra strength, so I recommend passing.
example 25
|
♠ A J T 7 ♥ K 5 ♦ T 7 6 2 ♣ K Q 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♥ | ? |
example 26
|
♠ A J T 7 ♥ K Q 5 ♦ J 7 2 ♣ K Q 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♥ | ? |
Overcall 1N.You have 16 points with a balanced hand and a heart stopper.
example 27
|
♠ Q J T 7 3 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ 2 ♣ K T 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♦ | ? |
Overcall 1♠You have enough points to double. But if you don't bid your five card major, partner will pick a different suit and you might miss a 5-3 spade fit.
example 28
|
♠ A Q J T 7 3 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ 2 ♣ K T 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♦ | ? |
Double.This is not a takeout double. It's a power double. After partner names a suit, you will rebid spades.
Your sequence shows a spade overcall (5+ suit) with more than the normal 8-15 points.
example 29
|
♠ K Q 9 6 ♥ A Q 5 ♦ 2 ♣ K J 8 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | P | 1♥ | ? |
Double.You have enough points for a 1N overcall, but you don't have a balanced hand.
What you have is a fine two-suit takeout double.
example 30
|
♠ Q T 5 2 ♥ K J 7 2 ♦ – ♣ A Q 8 5 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| P | P | 1♦ | ? |
Double.With your double, you've "bid" all three of your suits at once.
example 31
|
♠ A J T ♥ A K J 3 ♦ Q 7 ♣ K J T 8 |
| West | North | East | South |
| – | – | 1♣ | ? |
Your hand is too strong for a 1N overcall. So you make a Power Double, planning to rebid NT.You expect partner to pick diamonds, and you will follow up with a 1N call. You've shown 18-20 points.
Summary
We've looked at two kinds of doubles.
- Takeout doubles promise support for all the unbid suits. You need at least 12 points for a takeout double.
- Power doubles are too strong for a simple overcall. Double first, then bid again to show a power double.
Go to the next topic:
Responding to a Takeout Double
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