DOUBLES

TAKEOUT DOUBLE

You need

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
shortage in the openers suit
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.

STRENGTH DOUBLE

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 card major
no shortage in opponents suit needed

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

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

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

NEGATIVE DOUBLE

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

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

RESPONSIVE DOUBLE

Is a takeout double by responder after opponents have bid a 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 bid.

Link

SUPPORT DOUBLE

The support double is a double by opener to show 3-card support for responder's suit.

You open !C, 1D, 1H
Partner responds 1H or 1S, promising at least a 4 card suit
If the opponents place an intervening bid you can DBL if you have 3 cards in partners major, asking if they have 5 cards not 4.

NOTE: Do not use DBL if opponents have not bid, as this is not allowed and you can be penalised if the director is called

When to Play Support Doubles:

Opener and responder must have bid two different suits at the 1-level.
Responder must have bid a major.
Support doubles are on through 2S
However, some partnerships limit this to 2H so that responder can always sign off at the 2-level.
There is no point count minimum or maximum to make a support double.
Making a support double is opener's first priority. This is more important than rebidding no-trumps to show an enemy stopper, rebidding a 6-card suit, bidding a new suit, etc. Opener denies 3-card support if she makes any call other than double. (Excluding natural raises of responder's suit, of course.)
If the opponents' interference is in the form of a double, a redouble by opener shows 3-card support. This is called a support redouble.

And now, some more fine print when support doubles might NOT apply:

Support doubles are off when opener or responder has bid no-trumps.
Support doubles are also off when advancer (opener's RHO) bids a strong no-trump.
Opener isn't necessarily required to make a support double. She may be allowed to pass holding 3-card support with a weak balanced hand. This is open for partnership discussion

PINCH BID or LEAD DIRECTIVE DOUBLE

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

PENALTY DOUBLE

This is used above a certain level (e.g 3) by partner agreement, or over a 1NT bid.

Only use this when you know the declarer will be defeated.

NOTE: IF YOU HAVE AN AGREED SUIT THEN ANY DOUBLE IS FOR PENALTY

RULE OF 9 - add the number of trumps in your hand plus the number of the trump bid, if it equals 9 the DOUBLE

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.

RESPONSES TO DOUBLES

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN YOU AND PARTNER PASSES

You must respond (rarely can you leave it - needs 6 cards in the bid suit - 3 sure trump tricks and at last one non-trump trick) 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.

WHAT TO BID:

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.

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN YOU AND PARTNER DOES NOT PASS

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.

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN YOU AND PARTNER REDOUBLES (XX)

Bid as they they have passed

DOUBLERS REBID

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN PASSED and MINIMUM RESPONSE BY PARTNER (e.g. 1H to your DBL) and OPENER PASSED

PASS unless have 16+ HCPs
16-18 TPs - 2H/S invites partner to game if has points
19-21 TPs - 3H/S invites partner to game with anything except a useless hand
22+ TPs - Jump to game

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN PASSED and MINIMUM RESPONSE BY PARTNER (e.g. 1H to your DBL) and OPENER REBIDS:

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 OPPONENT BETWEEN DID NOT PASS and MINIMUM RESPONSE

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

IF PARTNER BIDS 1NT

Shows a stopper and 8-10 HCPs

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

IF PARTNER CUE BIDS OR JUMPS

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.

AND.....

DOUBLING 1NT

Need a balanced strong hand (17+ HCPs) and it is usually for penalty

RESPONDING TO PARTNERS DOUBLE AFTER 1NT

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

RESPONDING TO A DOUBLE

Watch this video on YouTube from Tony Shaw

Responding to a double

REDOUBLES (part 1)

Watch this video on YouTube from Oklahoma Collective

Redoubles by Opener's Partner (1)

REDOUBLES (part 2)

Watch this video on YouTube from Oklahoma Collective

Redoubles by Opener's Partner

BRIDGE BIDDING

DOUBLES

TAKEOUT DOUBLE

STRENGTH DOUBLE

NEGATIVE DOUBLE

RESPONSIVE DOUBLE

SUPPORT DOUBLE

PINCH BID or LEAD DIRECTIVE DOUBLE

PENALTY DOUBLE

RESPONSES TO DOUBLES

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN YOU AND PARTNER PASSES

WHAT TO BID:

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN YOU AND PARTNER DOES NOT PASS

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN YOU AND PARTNER REDOUBLES (XX)

LHS OPPONENT HAS DOUBLED

SHOULD YOU BID?

WHAT TO BID:

DOUBLERS REBID

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN PASSED and MINIMUM RESPONSE BY PARTNER (e.g. 1H to your DBL) and OPENER PASSED

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN PASSED and MINIMUM RESPONSE BY PARTNER (e.g. 1H to your DBL) and OPENER REBIDS:

IF OPPONENT BETWEEN DID NOT PASS and MINIMUM RESPONSE

IF PARTNER BIDS 1NT

IF PARTNER CUE BIDS OR JUMPS

AND.....

DOUBLING 1NT

RESPONDING TO PARTNERS DOUBLE AFTER 1NT

RESPONDING TO A DOUBLE

REDOUBLES (part 1)

REDOUBLES (part 2)