Sitting South, what would you respond to North's double?
Discover my comments and my rating for all possible bids in this article from November 2023.
Doubling in bridge
The double, a call with multiple meanings
When it comes to the bidding in bridge, the double is a unique bid: depending on the context, it can have very different meanings. Sometimes penalties, sometimes take-out, sometimes purely conventional, it constitutes one of the essential weapons of the modern system. Misused, it can be very costly; used well, it allows you to disrupt your opponents and communicate better with your partner.
Take-out double
This is the most common meaning: when a player playing after the opponents' opening bid has points and few cards in the opponents' suit, but no satisfactory natural bid. The take-out double promises strength and the ability to play in the unbid suits. Similarly, if two suits have been bid by the opponents, the double is take-out for the other two.
Doubler's partner will usually bid their best suit, possibly with a jump if they have a positive hand, either from their points or their distribution.
💡 The double can also be used with hands too strong for a direct natural overcall: this is called an all-distribution double, which is made from 18 points.
Reopening double: when the opponents stop at a low level and two passes follow, the partner in the pass-out seat can double to reopen the bidding. This double is take-out: its primary aim is to prevent the opponents from playing in a contract where they are comfortable. Partner, short in the opponents' suit, will then bid their best suit.
Practice deal: Take-out double over a pre-empt
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The use of the double
Penalty double
This is the primary meaning of a double: you think that the opponents' contract will go down and you want to increase the penalty.
- Doubling a natural NT overcall is always penalties.
- Doubling an overcall after partner's pre-empt is a classic case of penalty double.
- After partner redoubles, all subsequent doubles are penalties.
These are just examples. At a high level, most doubles are penalties when they aren't the first overcall made by the side in the opponents' dialogue.
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Optional double
In certain competitive sequences, the double simply indicates extra points. This is actually a take-out double that partner is openly allowed to turn into penalties. The typical case is the double of a major suit opening at the 4-level: with a flat hand, partner passes to let the penalty double apply; with distribution, they bid their main suit (or 4NT with several suits to bid).
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Negative double
Negative double
The classic case is: 1m (1 ) Double. Responder then shows 4 hearts and at least 8 points. With 5 hearts and 7-10 points, they also use the double. With a nice 5-card suit and 11+ points, they bid their suit directly at the 2-level (the bid is forcing).
This type of double also exists after a 1 overcall (to show four spades), or over certain overcalls at the 2-level to find a major fit.
Support double
This is a particular take-out double made by opener after a 1 or 1 response from their partner and an opponents' overcall. It shows a non-minimum hand and a 3-card fit in responder's major. This double allows you to quickly find the 5-3 major fit despite the overcall. Over an opponents' double, the redouble has the same meaning.
Double as trial bid
When a natural trial bid is no longer possible due to an overcall, the double takes over and fulfils this function. This is often the case when there is no longer any room between the opponents' bid and the level at which the trial bid would have been made, or when the opponents have raised each other.
Exercises: Penalties or trial bid?
From opener's side
There is no space between the competitive bid (3) and the overcall. The double acts as a trial bid.
The opener could bid 3 or 3 to try to declare a game. This is therefore a penalty double.
From responder's side
To try to play in game in spades. Opener will choose between 3 and 4. Pass and 3NT will be rare but possible bids if North's hand is suitable.
And when overcalling
Although there is space between the competitive bid (3) and the overcall, the double is a trial bid because of the opponent's raise.
Lightner double
This is a double made against a trump slam contract to ask partner for an abnormal lead.
The opening leader must exclude:
- the trump suit,
- a suit in which the defence has a fit,
- often the unbid suit, which would make sense to lead.
Most of the time, they must find a lead in a void or a key suit. This double is somewhat penalties, but its main purpose is to help the opening leader beat the contract. If you think you can defeat the contract on the logical lead, it is sometimes wise to pass instead of making a penalty double to avoid deviating from the expected plan of play.
Lead-directing doubles
The double can also be used to guide partner's lead in other situations:
- Doubling an artificial bid (Stayman, Jacoby transfer, artificial 2 or 2 openings) indicates a solid suit of at least 5 cards and asks for a lead in that suit. *Doubling a NT contract may ask for an aggressive lead in dummy's suit to "skewer" them.
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Conventional doubles
Some doubles have a purely conventional meaning. For example, a double over a 1NT opening can be used to show a 4-card major and a 5-card minor (minor/major double), or other conventions depending on agreements.
Conclusion
The double is a multi-purpose bid, which only makes sense depending on the context in which it appears. Take-out, penalties, negative, trial, Lightner or conventional: each of these uses follows a specific logic.
Mastering these different types of doubles not only allows you to communicate better with your partner, but also to put your opponents under pressure and take advantage of many competitive situations. Conversely, ignoring these distinctions often leads to costly misunderstandings.
Q&A
No. Although its primary function is to punish, it is often used to express oneself when no natural bid is available.
A take-out double asks partner to bid a suit. A penalty double aims to penalise an opponents' contract that is doomed to go down.
The take-out double follows an opponents' opening. The negative double is made by responder after an overcall to compensate for a natural bid that has become impossible.
No. A convention is to double with a long minor and four cards in a major.
Generally not, it is optional. Partner passes with a flat hand or bids their long suit with distribution.
Yes, in a competitive situation, when a natural trial is impossible, the double takes on this function.
A double against a trump slam contract requiring an abnormal lead, often to exploit a void.
Sometimes you can "hold" the double as you pass, turning it into an indirect penalty double. This is a rare situation.
Yes, it is used to reopen the bidding when the opponents have stopped at a low level.
Enough for an opening (12-17 points) and a shortage in the opponents' suit. Beyond 18 points, it becomes mandatory.
No, apart from a few exceptions. In principle, overcall naturally with a 5-card major.
Bid their best suit at the lowest level, giving priority to 4-card majors.
Jump or cuebid to show a constructive hand with hope for game.
Game-forcing. Depending on the hand: direct game or cuebid to ask for details.
A particular take-out double made by opener after responder's 1♥/1♠ bids and the opponents' overcall. It shows a good opening and three cards in responder's major.
When an overcall prevents a natural bid, for example to show four hearts after 1m (1♠), or a major after an overcall at the 2-level.
Yes. Several options exist (punitive, minor/major, other conventions). Agreement is mandatory within the partnership.
Yes, especially in competitive bidding, when you have points but no suitable natural bid.
No. It indicates a suit, often to guide the lead.
Yes. With 18 points, if no other bid is suitable, doubling is compulsory.
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