The Takeout Double
March, 2017
Suppose your opponent opens the bidding with 1♦ and you hold this hand:
♠ KJ98
♥ A954
♦ 6
♣ KQ42
You have 13 HCP and a shortage in diamonds. You can support any of the three
unbid suits and you want you partner to choose the suit. Your correct bid is
“double”. By agreement this is not intended as a penalty double. Your partner
must take it out by naming her best suit. Hence the name “takeout double”.
There are two requirements:
1. You must have at least three cards in each of the other suits
2. You must have close to an opening hand
Note that you count points for distribution. The above hand has 13 HCP and three
distributional points for a total of 16. As a general rule, you need 11 HCP if
partner can respond at the one level. A rule of thumb is to add two points for each
level that you go up. Over an opening bid of 1♠ you would require 13 HCP to
make a takeout double. Over a bid of 2♠, you would require 15 HCP.
Your right-hand opponent opens 1♦. What do you bid with each of the following
hands?
(a) ♠ K Q 9 8
♥ K 10 7 3
♦ 52
Double. You have 13 HCP plus one point for distribution.
♣ KQ4
(b) ♠ K 8 7 3
♥ QJ83
♦ 3
♣ KJ62
Double. This is an absolute minimum for a takeout double. You have only 10
HCP points and your spot cards are very poor. However you distribution is
excellent. You can count 3 points for distribution.
(c) ♠ A Q J 9 4
♥ A73
♦ 3
♣ Q862
Overcall one spade. Why ask partner to name a suit when you have a very strong
suit of your own?
(d) ♠ Q 2
♥ A73
♦ KQ97
♣ Q862
Pass. With length in the opponents’ suit, you have the wrong shape for a double.
You have only two spades.
1
The Takeout Double
March, 2017
(e) ♠ A Q 9
♥ A732
♦ KQ7
♣ Q 10 2
Overcall 1 NT. You have 17 HCP with a double stopper in diamonds. If partner
has the appropriate hand, she can still use Stayman to seek a major suit fit.
Responding to a Takeout Double with a Minimum Hand
You must not pass your partner’s double just because you have a weak hand. The
opponents will surely make their contract with overtricks. With a weak hand you
must respond at the cheapest level. Anything up to 8 HCP is regarded as a
minimum hand.
Suppose that the bidding proceeds as follows:
South
1♥
West
Double
North
Pass
East
?
What should east bid with each of the following hands?
(f) ♠ J 6 5 2
♥ 743
♦ 982
♣ 842
Bid 1♠. We call this the “little monster”. Don’t even think about passing. The
opponents will make 1 heart doubled with overtricks.
(g) ♠ K J 5 2
♥ 743
♦ K982
♣ 62
Bid 1♠. You are still in the minimum range. If partner bids again, it will show a
very strong hand.
(h) ♠ Q 8
♥ K J 10 3
♦ 976
♣ Q 10 5 2
Bid 1NT. This shows 7-10 HCP. Remember that partner is counting distribution
points for a shortage in hearts. You should have a double stopper to make this bid.
(i) ♠ Q 8 7
♥ 10 7 6 5
♦ Q9 6
♣ 10 8 6
Bid 1♠. You lack the strength and the heart stoppers for a bid of 1NT. The
opponents would likely start with five heart tricks. Fortunately, this doesn’t
happen very often.
2
The Takeout Double
March, 2017
Responding to a Takeout Double with a Good Hand




With 9-11 HCP, you must make a jump bid, even with a 4-card suit
With stoppers in the enemy suit, you can bid 2NT with 11 or 12 HCP
With 12 or more HCP, you can make a cue bid in the enemy suit
With opening points you can sometimes bid game directly
Suppose that the bidding proceeds as follows:
South
1♦
West
Double
North
Pass
East
?
What should east bid with each of the following hands?
(j) ♠ K J 5 2
♥ 743
♦ AQ98
Bid 2♠. You have 10 HCP plus 1 point for distribution
♣ 84
♥ QJ83
♦ A8
♣ Q 10 8 6 5
(k) ♠ 9 6
Bid 2♥. You have 9 HCP plus two points for distribution. It is important to show
the major suit. It is the best chance for game.
♥ Q43
♦ AK74
♣ 65
(l) ♠ K J 8 3
Bid 2♦. You are too strong to bid 2♠ which shows 9 – 11 points. The cue bid is
forcing to game. The final contract could be in spades or no-trump.
♥ AJ95
♦ 53
♣ Q86
(m) K Q J 8
Bid 2♦. This is forcing to game. Whichever major suit partner bids, you will raise
to game.
♥ J43
♦ AQ7
♣ K Q 10 8 6
(n) ♠ 10 2
Bid 2NT. You have a double stopper in the enemy suit and 12 HCP. Partner’s
double has promised support in the major suits.
3
The Takeout Double
March, 2017
Responding to a Double after Opener’s Partner Raises
Suppose that the bidding proceeds as follows:
South
1♥
West
Double
North
2♥
East
?
What should east bid with each of the following hands? North’s bid has removed
the obligation for you to bid. Therefore, if you bid, it must mean something.
(o) ♠ K J 5 2
♥ 743
♦ K 10 9 8
♣ 84
Bid 2♠. With 6 or more HCP, you have enough to compete. This is called a free
bid because you are not obliged to bid. You are showing 6-8 points.
♦ AK98
(p) ♠ K 10 5 2
♥ 743
Bid 3♠. You must still make a jump bid to show 9-11 points.
♣ 96
Rebids by the Doubler
If your partner makes a minimum bid in response to your double, it shows 0 – 8
points. It could be zero or very close to it. You must ask yourself a question.
What would partner need to make game possible?
Suppose that partner has 7 or 8 points. You would need 18 points to raise partner’s
bid. With 18 points and spade support you could bid 2♠. The message to partner
is this: Bid game with 7 or 8 points, otherwise pass
If you had 20 points, you would bid 3♠. The message to partner is this: Bid game
with 5 or 6 points, otherwise pass.
Suppose that the bidding proceeds as follows:
South
1♣
Pass
West
Double
?
North
Pass
4
East
1♥
The Takeout Double
March, 2017
What would you bid with the following hands?
(q) ♠ A J 9
♥ AKJ9
♦ AK84
♣ 84
Bid 3♥. Your first instinct is to bid game. Hold off. Your partner might hold the
little monster. If partner has five or more points, she will carry on to game.
♦ AK9
♣ 96
(r) ♠ K 10 5 2
♥ QJ86
Pass. Your partner holds less than 9 points. Game is impossible. If you were to
bid 2♠, you would be showing a hand with 18 points.
Bidding with Strong Hands
Sometimes you hold a hand that is too strong for an overcall. The solution is to
make a takeout double and then bid your suit on the next round. The usual
requirements for shape do not apply when this happens.
Suppose that the bidding proceeds as follows:
South
West
North
East
1♦
Double
Pass
1NT
Pass
2♥
Pass
?
West is showing 17+ HCP with a good heart suit, at least five cards.
What would you bid with this hand?
♦ A963
♣ J876
(s) ♠ K 7
♥ Q 10 6
Bid 4♥. The partnership has at least an 8-card fit and 27 points.
You expect west to hold something like this.
♠ A75
♦ 82
♥ AK875
5
♣ AQJ
The Takeout Double
March, 2017
Suppose that the bidding proceeds as follows:
South
West
North
East
1♦
Double
Pass
1♠
Pass
1NT
Pass
?
West is showing 18+ HCP with diamond stoppers, a hand that is too strong to
overcall 1NT.
What would you bid with this hand?
♦ 873
(t) ♠ K 10 8 5
♥ J93
Bid 3NT. The partnership has at least 26 points
♣ A 10 4
You expect west to hold something like this.
♠ A75
♦AQ
♥ K Q 10 8
6
♣ KJ86