This Week in Bridge
(649) Follow-up Bidding After Making a Takeout Double
©AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 6 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When our right-hand opponent (RHO) opens the bidding and we make a Takeout Double we force partner to bid, even if our partner does not have any values. After this bid, we get another chance to make a bid. Here we look at how we follow up the bidding when we decide that we need to make another bid.
Making Another Bid if Opener Passes
Let’s consider an auction where our RHO opens the bidding, we make a takeout double, and partner makes a bid. Now we need to consider what to do on the next round of the bidding.
Let’s say the auction goes something like this:
Example 1
Opener You Responder Partner
1♦ X P 1♠
P __?
Partner has 0 to a bad 8 HCP for biddign 1♠. They also show at least a 4-card ♠ suit. If we have about 12-15 points then we do not have enough points for game (maximum values of 15 + 8 = 23, not enough for game) and we just Pass – remember we have 3-5 cards in the ♠ suit when we make a Takeout Double.
If we have a good 16 or more points, then it is possible that we still have a game. If we have a 4-card ♠ fit for partner, then we have a fit and we can raise partner’s ♠ suit.
2♠ 16 to a bad 18 points (game is still possible if partner has 6-8 points)
3♠ Good 18 to 19 points (asks partner to big game with 4-6 points)
4♠ 20+ points (we should be able to make game even if partner has very little)
Example 2
Opener You Responder Partner
1♦ X P 1♠
P __?
Your Hand
♠ KQ94
♥ A93
♦ 6
♣ AQJ72
This hand has 16 HCP and a good 5-card suit – about 17 total points. Now, when we have a ♣fit, we get to add support points to our hand, another couple points. That makes about 19 points of playing strength. You should bid 3♣ with this hand.
Let’s say that we have a similar hand, but this time only 3-card support for partner’s suit.
Example 3
Opener You Responder Partner
1♦ X P 1♠
P __?
Your Hand
♠ KQJ
♥ A932
♦ 6
♣ AQ872
We have enough values to continue exploring game. But we do not have a known fit. The way we let partner know we have extra values, but not 4-card support is by next making a cuebid of the opponent’s suit. Here we bid 2♦ to describe our hand.
Making Another Bid if Opener Further Competes
If the Opener further competes in the bidding, then we may need to further compete in the bidding if we have additional values:
Let’s say the auction goes something like this:
Example 4
Opener You Responder Partner
1♦ X P 1♠
2♦ __?
In this auction we further compete in the bidding a bit more aggressively than if our RHO had passed. Against we raise with 4-card ♠ support and some extra values (and jump when we have even more).
But if we have 3-card support for partner’s suit and extra values, then we want to compete in the bidding, but are not sure where we belong. We let partner know this by making another Takeout Double.
Your Hand (same hand as Ex 3)
♠ KQJ
♥ A932
♦ 6
♣ AQ872
We make another Takeout Double with this hand, letting partner know we have extra values and only 3-card support for their suit. This invites partner to bid another suit, if they only have a 4-card ♠ suit and they have another 4-card suit somewhere.
Conclusion
After we force partner to bid with a Takeout Double, then we need to know what to do next. We remember that partner has not promised any values but could still have some. It is important that we know how to continue the bidding in these auction – letting partner know about our extra values and if we actually have a fit. We do this in auctions where our opponent’s subsequently leave us alone, as well as in ones where they continue to compete. Make sure you know who to continue to describe your hand after making one of the most common competitive bidding actions – the Takeout Double!