D16A BIDDING AFTER OPPONENTS HAVE MADE A TAKE OUT DOUBLE

Your partner's opening bid has been doubled for take-out. What should you respond?

a) With 4 (or more) card support for partner's suit;

Less than 11 points, support partner and overbid by one trick. (pre-emptive measure)

11 points or more, bid 2NT. (with 11-12 balanced points, redouble, see below)

Partner will correct to 3 of the suit, or bid more if he is better than minimum.

b) Hands with no 4 card support for partner's suit and less than 9 points.
Ignore the double.

c) Hands with no 4 card support for partner's suit and 9 points or more,
Redouble. This bid says, 'You are in big trouble, this is our hand, you are probably going down'.

The redouble may seem illogical without support for partner but with the balance of the high card points you have a great chance of making the contract and opponents never risk passing this out! 1© redoubled, for instance, is a game call and overtricks expensive (200 non vul., 400 vul.). This redouble is a signal to partner that you have the balance of the points between you and that you may be able to penalise your opponents in a part score contract. Both you and your partner should now endeavour to double the opponent's contract if one of you has a suitable trump holding of 4 cards or more in their suit. Your partner will either double their contract himself or give you the chance to do so by passing.

There are three criteria for doubling their part score;

(i) Balance of points,

(ii) Shortage in partner's suit

(iii) A four card trump holding including at least 1 trick.

Your hand must meet all three criteria. The shorter you are in partner's suit the better.

e.g. you are South and the bidding has gone;

In both positions you know you have the balance of the points and partner is inviting you to double 2§ or bid something else. Both auctions are forced either to a doubled contract by opponents or a contract of your own. Don't let them off the hook by passing out their part score in last seat! Doubling part scores can be a very profitable source of points if your hands are suitable.

On the other hand, as opener, you may be unwilling to double their contract because you have an unsuitable highly distributional hand with a singleton or void in their suit and long suit(s) where high card tricks may not stand up. In the bidding below, North shows a minimum hand in Hand1 1. North is stronger in Hand 2 with 15 or more points.