BIDDING AFTER A TAKE-OUT DOUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 71, 24 March 1934, Page 9

BIDDING AFTER A TAKE-OUT DOUBLE

The position of a player "after a takeout double of his partner's opening bid of one (either no-trump or suit) is an important, and often a difficult one: to handle. He knows that most of the honour tricks are already-accounted for by the two calls in front" of him, and that a great deal depends on. whether his hand, or that of the double's partner, contains the remaining honour strength. A favourable response to the opening bid at one& places the doubler a.t .a disadvantage' while it gives the opening bidder valuable '■'. information. He is then able to'gauge the game possibilities of the partnership. If his partner does not respond after a takeout double, the opening bidder can only conclude that his partner has a weak hand, and he may possibly have to refrain from further bidding in consequence, so that, whenever possible, the opening bidder's partner should bid, in spite of the double. This is a point missed by many players, with the result that an opportunity for scoring is often lost, the take-out double having frightened the player into passing. . "■

The procedure of the opening bidder's partner after a ..take-out double is as follows:—r

; When the doubled bid is one notrump, he should respond with: 1. A redouble if holding 2J honourtrieks or even 2 honour-tricks with, fair intermediates.

2. A suit take-out if holding a five card biddable suit with between 1 + and 2 -{- honour-tricks in the hand,- or if holding a 6-card suit headed by the King, or even the Queen-ten. ■■■; - '~ 3" A Pass, if holding a hand containing one or less honour-trick and no biddable suit. ■ -•'-■.

4. A penalty pass. Sometimes the opening bidder's partner, if holding a very strong hand, may prefer to pass, knowing that the doubler's ■ partner must hold a blan?: hand and yet be compelled to respond to the take-out double. This course is taken by the opening bidder's partner with the idea of scoring a heavy penalty double, especially if the opponents are vulnerable.

_ If. the.doubled bid is a suit, the opening bidder's partner should respond with:—

1. A redouble, if holding 2$ honour-1 tricks, or 2 honour-tricks with good distribution. (A redouble of a suit bid of one does not promise trump support, but may be made on honour-trick values alone.) This redouble •is not used enough. It is a most valuable bid, giving definite informati6n to theopening bidder. After a redouble, a game score is-almost a certainty for the partnership; or they may prefer, if the opposition bids over the redouble, to collect a 'good penalty score, against the take-out doubter himself. It should | be realised that' information withheld' from a partner is a gift to the opponents. ■ I, ■ ■ • . ;'—.-. ■ ■■■

2. A raise in iis partner's suit, it holding 4 or more playing tricks. After a take-out' double the partner of the opening bidders may raise "to the full playing-trick > value of his hand (with

adequate.• trump ; . support):' He is not required to • haye any honour.' trick strength. (This is' the only instance in contract when the', responding hand may raise to the full value of playingtrieks. without also having, a certain, minimum of honour-tricks;) ' * Thus,' if the Coubled bid was one club, the- responding ' hand holding:; Spades x.x.x; Hearts x.x.x.; Diamonds x.; Clubs Q.J.10.x.x.x., must raise tto ; 3 clubs, having 5 playing-tricks in the hand (a shut-but raise)." .--''' • .'■■■

3. A suit bid if holding" from 1 -f to 2 .-{- honour^trieksowith a biddable five-card-suit. ■ When a one-bid -is sufficient to overcall partner ?s:. .opening bid, it can be", made -with: only -1 honourtrick in: the: hand andr a' .five-card biddable suit, v ... : ■•

4. A jump'takeront: if i hoiaing less than 2J honour-trick 3 bnt a nearly solid suit of 6 cards orimore (a shut-out bid). All jump take-outs or jump raises byresponding hand, after a take-out double by the opponents, are shut-out and not strength-showing bids.- ---_ The following hand taken from playis a good example of a redouble of-, a take-out double of 1 no-trump,.and its results. ■ . . . ■ .. -. . V 4 Q.j.i 0.2. •'■:■•■.-.. . V A.Q.6.2. ' . 4 J. 3. • ■ •'". -. *^: 7- 3- • : ■■■■■■•;.■ ♦ A- S- 6- 5'- North. 1 * X.9.7.3. ' ■»:KJ.IO.T. *. £ J 9.3. ♦ A.9. g■. . $, + K.Q.IOX «J» Q-8.4.: I Sona. I Jf, K.J.9. .■ ■ ■♦ 4." ' '■ V. ■ ■ • q> 5.5.4. 5.T.6.5.4. ! Jt, 10.6.5.2. . .' ;■;; "West, dealer. North and South vut nerable. The bidding:— , South. West. North. .! East. — I N.T. Double Ke-doubU: 2 (1) No bid (2) 2 £ (3) Double (4> No bid No bid No bid ; . 1. South is forced to respond to his partner's take-out double, 'notwithstanding the redouble. :

2; West passes.up the bid to his partner, as he knows that between-them, they have the doubler trapped whatever move he makes.

3. North bids 2 spades, his diamonds being very weak. v . . : : ..

4. East has a good penalty double, scoring 900 points, and preferring it to a game score. ■' . •

North's double was perfectly sound, with good support in both the' major suits. His partner's hand being trickless meant that his own hand was:hopelessly trapped between two 'strong hands. - ■ ' ': : :