DOUBLES

You need

1. An opening hand (10+ HCPs at 1 level, 12+ HCPs at 2 level). Do not include a Queen or Jack in the openers suit in the point count 
2. shortage in the openers suit
3. 3 or 4 cards in all other suits

NOTE: if opponents opened a major, do not count an unsupported Q or J in openers suit.

This is generally for takeout, even to the 5 level.  A strength double can be used by partnership agreement or over 4S, DBL can be used for penalties and 4NT is takeout (by partnership agreement).

No need to have 3 or 4 cards in all other suits e.g. can be a:

1. Single suited hand too strong for a simple overcall

• 16+ points
• 5+ cards (major is best but can bid with a minor)
• no shortage in opponents suit needed

If partner answers in the wrong suit, change it. It is a very strong overcall.

2. A balanced hand too strong for a 1NT overcall (18 HCPs)

If no 5 card suit, and not 18+ points to bid 2NT, bid 1NT with a stopper

NOTE: do not count an unsupported Queen or Jack in the openers suit

This is the responder double:

If partner has bid 1C/1D, and an opponent overcalls with a suit bid (e.g. 1H) cannot overcall (1S) with 4 cards in the suit, use (X). Promises 6+ points at 1 level and 8+ (or 10+) at 2 level (discuss with partner).

If partner bids 1C and opponent bids 1D, DBL means 4 hearts and 4 spades

If partner bids 1H and opponent bids 1S, a double means no support for partner and 4+/4+ in the minors and points.

This double also means that responder does not have a 5 card suit.

This tells partner that they have a strong hand:

1D -> 1S -> Pass -> 2S -> X

should only be bid with 16+ HCPs and asks the responder to bid their best suit.

Is a takeout double by responder after opponents have bid and raised a suit and partner has overcalled or doubled.

Requires 8-9 HCP at the 2 level or >9 HCP at the 3 level

Use if you do not have a bid.

This is used to check if they are serious about game or is just being competitive:

1H -> 1S -> 2H -> 2S 

3H means you (as opener) are just being competitive whereas X means that the opener is interested in game and asks if partner to bid 4H if they are at the top f their range otherwise bid 3H if a minimum. 

When partner's opening bid is Doubled, redouble with 10+ HCPs and no fit or 5 card major. It denies support if partner has opened a major. 

This means that your pair has the majority of points on that board. Any subsequent double by your team is for penalties.

SEE BELOW FOR MORE ON REDOUBLES

This is used by the person in the balancing seat when the contract is going to the opponents at the 1 or 2 level. Partner may not have had a bid but may have a good hand, so double with:

• shortness in opponents suit
• no length in an overcall suit

This can be done with as little as 6+ HCPs at the 1 level by partnership agreement.

The reopening double is for takeout but partner may pass for penalties if holding the right hand (see rule of 9)

This is a DOUBLE of opponents artificial bid. It means that is my suit and I was going to bid that. e.g slam bidding, 2C stayman and transfers, 2D after a strong 2C opening.

In most cases artificial bids are taken out, so usually partner does not need to bid. However if partner has points and that suit they can then bid it. Or they can bid a suit of their own.

If you end up defending the double is then LEAD DIRECTING

Use a penalty double when you think the declarer will be defeated. If you know that they are sacrificing you should double. It is said that if none of your penalty doubles fail then you are not doubling enough!

Make a partner agreement, about when penalty doubles apply e.g

• over a NT bid. 
• over a 3S bid
• over the 4 level
• IF YOU AND PARTNER HAVE AN AGREED SUIT THEN ANY DOUBLE IS FOR PENALTY

If both sides are bidding a suit and you have the majority of the points, and are going to defend, consider doubling. Be aware that hands with wild distribution may make.

If partner is doubling ie:

1D -> X -> 1H -> Pass -> 2D -> X -> 2H -> Pass -> Pass -> X -> Pass -> Pass

First double is takeout, second double is strength and third is for penalty.

NOTE: If partner has been doubled and RHO opponent has unexpectedly passed, you can REDOUBLE (XX) to allow the bidding to continue and partner to bid again.

DOUBLE at the 4 level can be takeout - do something sensible. 

DOUBLE AT the 5 level is usually penalty, 

DOUBLE at the 6(not NT) level could mean partner has a void and wants you to lead that suit. You may have to guess. Don’t lead suit that you have been bidding, lead your longest suit as this is likely to be the void. 

To leave a takeout double in you should have a string of trumps and a few honors.

To calculate the  RULE OF 9 - add the number of trumps in your hand plus the level of the trump bid plus the number of honors in trumps that you hold, if it equals 9 then PASS a TAKEOUT DOUBLE.

Depending on partnership agreement, partner may have done a X for takeout above 3S, even without the rule of 9 you can count negative tricks and decide whether to leave it in.

In most cases it is best not to bid at the 5 level.

Use SLAM SACRIFICE DOUBLE to determine whether to bid on or double

You must respond (rarely can you leave it - needs the majority of the points and 4 trumps with 1-2 winners or (6+ trumps) or use the RULE OF 9) so bid your best alternate suit. 

Always give preference to a 4 card major suit even if have a 5 card suit in a minor. Can add TP as you know that you have a fit.

• 0-8 HCP -  Bid LONGEST suit - preference to a major
• 9-11 HCP, 4+ card major -  Bid at one level up than necessary in LONGEST suit  
• 9-11 HCP, no 4 card major, stopper in opponents suit - Bid NT (1NT if at 8-10 HCP) but 2NT if at higher end (11-12 HCPs) 13+ HCP 3NT
• 12+ HCP -  Force to game. Could bid opponents suit as this is a ‘cue bid’. If 2 suits usually bid first one (can assign meaning to second one). Game forcing.
• PASS - last resort, see rule of 9

• 0-7 HCP -  Pass (only bid if >8HCPs) but consider using TPs if a fit!
• 8+TPs  - Show a fit if you have one or bid NT with a stopper
• 9-11 HCP -  Jump to show strength, invite to game
• 12+ HCP -  Force to game. Could bid opponents suit as this is a ‘cue bid’. Game forcing.

• Bid as they they have passed

When your partner has doubled a suit that you have values in, should you pass for penalties or bid? To figure this out:

If their contract level + your trump length + number of your trump honors => 9 then PASS otherwise (<9) you bid your best suit

NOTE: You can count the 10 of trumps but only with partnership agreement. Also you may want to adjust for vulnerability so if you are vulnerable you could use =>10.

 Yes if at all possible, bend the rules slightly - stretch to bid

• 0-4 TPs -  PASS
• 5+ TPs, 3 card suit -  support if opener has opened in a major
• 5+ HCPs if partner has bid a minor - bid major if you can or support  the minor
• 10+ HCPs, no fit - Bid XX - Redouble

• PASS unless have 16+ HCPs
• 16-18 TPs -  a rebid of a suit invites partner to game if they have the points
• 19-21 TPs -  the doubler should double jump, which may be to game or an invitational level which invite partner to rebid with anything except a useless hand
• 22+ TPs - Jump to game

• Less than 14+ TPs - PASS, your partner will rebid if has more than minimum hand (>7TPs).
• 14-15 TPs - if have a good 4 card fit, stretch to raise

If bids a suit but has not jumped - still has only 8 HCPs, so 

• 10-16 TPs - stretch to raise only if opener rebids otherwise PASS
• 16+ TPs and fit -  Bid game
• 16+ HCPs and no fit and stopper - 3NT

Shows a stopper and 8-10 HCPs

• Less than 14 HCPs - PASS
• 15-16 HCPs - Invite with 2NT
• 17+ HCP - 3NT

• 0-7 TPs -  Pass 
• 8+ TPs and 4 hearts/spades (if cue bid) or fit- Invite with 3H/S 
• 14-15 HCP  and 3 hearts/spades and a stopper -  invite with 2NT
• 12+ HCP -  Force to game. Could bid opponents suit as this is a ‘cue bid’. Game forcing.

• Usually need a balanced strong hand (17+ HCPs) and it is usually for penalty but in direct seat straight after 1NT this can be done with 16+ HCPs as you sit over the hand
• If partner opens the bidding and opponents overcall 1NT, double with 10+ HCPs
• If partner opens a weak 2 and opponents overcall 2NT then double with 14+ HCPs
• If LHO opponent opens, partner passes and RHO bids 1NT, a double by you is takeout of openers suit not penalties 

If you have a weak single suited hand (5+ cards in one suit) consider bidding, otherwise PASS

• If your partner opens 1NT and opponent doubles, if you have 5+ HCPs, you should pass as you and partner have at least half the points
• If you have 0-4 points bid your 5 card suit, if no 5 card suit then REDOUBLE which is a signal to opener to bid a suit. Opener bids a 5 card suit. If no 5 card suit opener bids lowest 4 card suits and the aim is to get a 7 card fit 

NOTE: Only pass a takeout double of a suit with your side having majority of the points, 3-4 trumps and 1-2 winners (or 6+ trumps), or use the RULE OF 9 above.

If partner doubles the opponents 1NT and responder redoubles so that opponents are running (you can check with the opener what the redouble means) you should often pass and see where the opponents run to. You can bid or double on the next round. 

However if the responder passes (to play in 1NT doubled as the opponents think they have enough points) then you could bid a 5 card suit with 0-4 HCPs.

We open a suit, opposition over-calls 1NT. 

If you have 

• 10+ HCPs (even with a fit) double for penalties. You have the majority of points. If you have a suit fit, lead it as this will guarantee that you take them down.

The partner of the 1NT over-caller should bid according to "Responding to a Double of Partners 1NT" (above). 

• 5-9 HCPs and 6+ cards bid your suit. It is not forcing
• 6-9 TPs and a fit then raise partner BUT you are not looking for game

Otherwise pass.

• After partner opens and RHO Doubles, a redouble can mean 10+ HCP and a fit however by partnership agreement it can mean no fit and this means that a fit can be shown by the agreed partnership method. 

• Watch this video on YouTube from Red Dirt Bridge

• Watch this video on YouTube from Red Dirt Bridge