Double : Bridge Online
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It is important to enter the auction if you can. There are 2 main ways of doing this.
1. overcall
2. double
This hand is a perfect overcall. It promises a good 5-card suit.
But what about this hand? The hand has opening high card points, but no 5-card suit. This type of hand is perfect for a double. The message is quite different from a suit overcall.
takeout double at your first turn to bid shows:
• 12+ HCP
• at least 3 cards in the unbid suits
• shortage in the opener's suit
• asks partner to choose the trump suit.
Here's a way to help you work out whether to double or simply overcall.
• Double to show a good hand
• Overcall to show a good suit
This time you can't double because you don't have 3 spades. You can bet that partner will bid spades if you double. If you have lots of cards in your opponent's suit, you have to pass and hope to defeat the contract.
This is a great hand to double with. You have support for the unbid suits and 12 points.
Do not double here. Spades is the only suit you really want as trumps. This is a good hand to overcall 1♠.
Responding to a Double
If partner doubles then you MUST bid, even with a weak hand. Bid your longest suit.
| | West | North | East | South |
| | 1♦ | X | P | 1♥ |
On this hand you should bid 1♥. Partner is forcing you to bid so you don't promise any points at all. Remember, partner has shown some hearts.
| | West | North | East | South |
| | 1♦ | X | P | 1♠ |
You should bid 1♠ on this hand. Bid your longest suit as usual. Be thankful that you have five of them given the suit is so bad.
| | West | North | East | South |
| | 1♦ | X | 1♠ | P |
As soon as any player makes a bid, the double is cancelled. You don't have to bid this time because East bid. East's bid cancelled the double.
| | West | North | East | South |
| | 1♦ | X | 2♦ | 2♠ |
You don't have to bid here either. However, you have a few points. Bid 2♠. After all, if partner had opened 1♠, you would have bid 2♠ wouldn't you? Remember, a takeout double promises an opening hand. It is though partner had opened 1♠, 1♥ and 1♣ at the same time.
This time you have points in the opponent's suit. Double shows at least 12 points, so you should be safe in 1NT. You have the opponent's suit covered, so you don't mind if they lead a club.
Remember...
• Double to show a good hand
• Overcall to show a good suit
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