First Lessons

General Advice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson Five

 Takeout doubles

A double of the opponents’ opening bid of a suit suggests you have a good opening hand and a shortage of the doubled suit.  It asks partner to choose the suit.  If the next hand passes partner must bid even if very weak and the doubler should take this into account.  If partner is not very weak she should jump a level in her best suit. 

What do you do if you are not short in the opponents’ suit?  With less than 15 points and a balanced hand it’s best to pass.  With 15 – 18 points bid 1NT. 

And if I hold more than that?  Double initially and bid notrumps after partner’s bid – this tells partner you were too strong to overcall 1NT so you must have 19+ .

With a one-suited hand and opening points I prefer to overcall in the suit rather than double.  You don’t need partner to choose the suit in this case. 

Double of 1NT

All doubles of notrumps are for penalties.  You need 16+ points or a running suit which gives you enough tricks to beat it.  If the notrumper’s partner takes it out into a suit, a double of that suit is for penalties.  Generally, the partner of the doubler should pass the double unless very weak with a 5 card suit in which case she can bid it.   

What do I do if my partner overcalls in a suit in which I have a singleton or void?

If you are not very strong – Pass!  If you decide to bid your suit, usually partner won’t like it and will rebid her own suit in which case you end up a level higher needing to make an extra trick.  If you stay low one of several things might happen.  You may play in it undoubled and even if you go one or two off it won’t be bad.  You might even make it.  The more likely outcome is that the opponents will bid again and you are off the hook. 

 A good general rule is that unless you’ve found a fit – stay low!   If you find a good fit bid your head off! 

K. J Sharp 2007