- 5 -

INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE

LESSON 5

DOUBLES

 

THE PENALTY OR BUSINESS DOUBLE

Defining Circumstances:   (Any of the following conditions may apply)

a.      The bidding is at or above a pre-emptive 4S level.    Example: 1S    P    4S   Dbl.  (or)  5C   Dbl.        

b.      The double is subsequent to a 1NT overcall by the opponents.     Example:     1D   1NT   Dbl.

             c.   The doubler's partner has already bid.     Example:      1H     1S     3H    3S

                                                                                                     Dbl.

 

THE TAKE-OUT OR INFORMATIVE DOUBLE

Defining Circumstances:   (Any of the following conditions may apply)                                                                  

a.      The double of a suit bid below the 4S level under conditions where partner has not bid.

               Example:   1H     P     4H    Dbl.          (or)        P     P      1C     Dbl.

b.    The immediate double of an opening 1 NT.     Example:    1NT    Dbl.         

 

Note:  The following conditions, circumstances and limitations exist with a Take-out double:

(1)   Over a suit bid by the opponents, the take‑out double indicates a hand of opening count strength or better, plus at least a 4-card holding in all unbid Major suits.

(2)   Over a 1NT opening by the opponents, the take-out double indicates an opening 1NT evenly balanced hand; equivalent to that of the opener.

(3)   The doubler’s partner must bid, even with as few as 0 HCP’s, unless he/she wishes to convert the bid, by virtue of his/her Pass, to a penalty condition.

(4)   The doubler's partner must Jump the bidding with 10 HCP's or better in order to show the partnership has the predominate number of HCP’s and the partnership is close to that necessary for game.

(5)   If the doubler takes further action in yet another suit then has been bid by the responder to the take‑out double, then the doubler guarantees at least 16 HCP's.

(6)   If a Take-out double of a 4S bid by the opponents is desired, 4NT is the take-out call.

 

ADDITIONAL DOUBLES

 

1.      Responsive Double ‑ A Double (showing two other un-bid suits or points but lacking presumed 4-card fit for partner’s

presumed suit) in response to partner’s take-out double or partner’s overcall after an intervening  bid by the opponents.

(Ex. 1D   Dbl.  2D   Dbl.)  or   (Ex. 1D  1H  2D  Dbl.)

2.      Negative Double  - The double by a responder to an opening suit bid, following an intervening overcall by the

opponents, where the responder does not meet BOTH requirements as to the necessary points or the suit length for a response to opener's bid (free-bid), but yet responder would like to show his/her 6 HCP’s or more.  (Ex.  1C  1S   Dbl. )

3.      Balancing Double - An re-opening double made in the close-out seat by a player whose opposition has dropped the

bidding at a low level.  (Ex.  1H  P  1NT  P,  P  P  Dbl.)

4.      Support Double - A double by opener (Thru 1S) (showing 3-card support) for responders 1-level response following a

1-Level over-call by RHO. (Ex. 1C  P  1H  2S,  Dbl.)

5    Lightner Double  ‑ A lead directing double asking for an unusual lead against a slam bid; i.e., the lead of the first suit bid by Dummy. (Ex.  1H  P  3S  P,  6S  Dbl.  P  P,  P)

6.      Rosenkrantz Double -  A double showing at least 3-card support (with an A or K) for partner’s overcall following an

intermediate overcall by opponents. (As opposed to a raise which shows support  without an A or K)  

(Ex.  1C 1D 1S  Dbl.)  or   (1H  1S  Dbl.  ReDbl.)                                               

7.      Negative/Negative Double - A double by opener (showing a better than minimum opening bid) following a negative

double by partner and a competitive raise by opener’s RHO.  The negative doubler then has choice whether to convert to a penalty situation.  (Ex.  1H     1S     Dbl.    2S      Dbl.)

8.      Lead-Directing Double – A double by would-be defenders demanding a lead of that suit, subsequent to an artificial bid

by the opposition on their way to their final contract (Ex.  1NT    P    “2D”    Dbl.)  or  (Ex.  4NT  P  “5H”   Dbl.)

9.   Maximal Overcall Double – A competitive double used to invite game when the auction is too crowded for any other approach; i.e., when the opposition’s suit is higher-ranking.  (Ex.  1S  2H  2S  Dbl.)

 

 

                                                     Doubles                                               - 5a -      

 

                                                                   You          Opponent  #1          Partner          Opponent  #2

 

1.   Negative                               1C           1S,2S, or 3S                  X (Hearts and Diamonds)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

2.   Take-Out                               P                   1H                         X (Opening Count without suit or 16+ with own)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  

3.   Penalty                                1H                      P                       2C                     3S

                                                    X

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

4.   Re-Opening                         1H                   1S                          P                        P

                                                    X (Take-out)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

5.  Balancing                               P                    1D                         P                        P

                                                    X (Take-out)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

6.  Optional                                                        3H                        X                        P          

                                                  ??? (Any Take-out Double May Be Optionally Converted to Penalty)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

7.  Support                               1H                        P                       1S                      2C

                                                   X (3-Pieces S)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

8.  Responsive                                                     1H                        X                      2H

                                                   X (Points but NO Suit)                             

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

9.  Rosenkrantz                         P                       1C                       1H                     1S

                                                 X (A,K,or Q +2 or More Pieces H) (2H would mean 3 or More Without Honor)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

10. Lead-Directing                    P                     1NT                          P                 “2H” (Transfer) 

                                                  X (For Heart Lead)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

11. Lightner                             1H                       P                          1S                     2C  

                                                 2S                        P                         4NT                     P

                                               “5D”                     P                           6S                      X (For H Lead)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

12. “DONT”                              P                   1NT                              X (One-Suited - Unspecified)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. ACE-Showing (DOPI)      1H                      P                         “ 4NT “               5D

                                                  X (No Aces)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

14. Balance of Power (BOP)     P                    1C                           1NT                  2S

                                                  X

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

15. Maximal                             1D                   1S                                X                  2S

                                                   X (One K Better than a Minimum Opening Bid)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

16. Capeletti                              P                  1NT                              X (Equivalent or Better)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------