Bridge for Beginners

1. Bridge for Beginners Lesson 15 The Use of Doubles

2. Homework  KT87  QJ3  AT5  Q87  KQ87  QJ3  AT5  Q87  KQ87  QJ3  AT5  Q87 • What are your bids in the sequences shown? 1NT P 2 P 1NT P 2 P 1NT P 2 P P 2NT P 2 ? P 2NT P 2 ? P 3 P 2 ? ? P 3NT ? ? 4  KQ  QT9  AT5  QJT87  KQ  QT97  AT5  QJ87  KQ  J763  AT54  QJ7 1NT P 2 P 1NT P 2 P 1NT P 2 P P 2 P ? 2 P 3 P ? 2 P 3P 2 ? ? 4 ? 4 3NT ?

3. The Use of Doubles • With Pre-emptive bids it is easy to disrupt opponents bidding • You could do the same by making outrageous bids • You could always overcall when opponents bid game • But doubles keep you honest • Because the penalties become severe

4. The Use of Doubles • Penalty scores • Not Vul Vul • -1 • -2 • -3 • -4 • -5 • Plus 300 for each extra trick under • Look on back of * card • 100 • 300 • 500 • 800 • 1100 • 200 • 500 • 800 • 1100 • 1400

5. The Use of Doubles • If you double a contract and it makes • It can be expensive: • Each trick score is doubled • So 2NT or 2 of a major is game • Or 3 of a minor • 50 (for the insult) and overtrick penalties • Doubling opponents in 1 or 2 of a suit is therefore risky • There is a much better use for this *

6. The Take Out Double (TOX) • Any double of 1 or 2 of a suit is not for penalties • It asks partner to bid a different suit • To overcall we must have 5 of the suit • But we have seen many hands where we have opening points but no 5 card suit • And we had to PASS! • TOX allows us to compete

7. TOX Opponents open 1  A  T  7  5 • 12 HCP • No 5 card suit • Bid * (TOX) • Asking Partner to bid a different suit  3  8  7  K  Q  8  6  Q  J

8. The Take Out Double (TOX) • TOX promises a number of things: • About 10+ HCP • 4 cards in any unbid major • Possibly support for unbid minors • If not a re-bid available • The first example was a classic example • With all the other suits covered • Not always that clear

9. TOX Opponents open 1  A  T  7  5 • 12 HCP • We could bid 2 • We might miss a  fit • Bid * (TOX) • If partner bids ’s we can re-bid ’s showing 5 of the suit  3  8  J  7  K  Q  Q  8  6

10. TOX Opponents open 1  A  T  7  5 • 13 HCP and balanced • We would have opened 1NT • 1NT overcall would be 17 HCP • We have 4 of both majors • Bid * (TOX) • Re-bid 2NT if necessary  K  Q  8  4  A  3  T  8  6

11. TOX Opponents open 1  A  T  7  5 • 13 HCP • We have 4 of both majors • 4 of opponents suit • Bid * (TOX) • * does not show shortage in their suit • Re-bid 2NT if partner bids 2  K  Q  8  4  8  7  A  T  3

12. The Take Out Double (TOX) • KEY ISSUE • When you make a TOX partner will expect 4 in any un-bid major • And may bid game with a good fit and not many HCP • Only bid TOX with the majors covered!!

13. TOX Opponents open 1  A  T  7  5 • 11 HCP • We have 4 ’s and 5 ’s • We could bid 1 • May miss a fit in ’s • Bid * (TOX) • Re-bid 2if partner bids 2 • Showing the 5/4 shape  Q  8  5  4  2  A  5  J  T

14. TOX LHO opens 1, partner Passes, RHO bids 2  A  T  7  5 • 10 HCP • We have 4 ’s and 5 ’s • Bid * (TOX) • Opponents have more HCP • Your only chance to bid • Show the other suits  4  T  7  5  K  J  Q  9  7

15. TOX • A very useful bidding tool • You MUST have 4 of un-bid majors • Consider what you will re-bid if partner bids your short suit • Compete more at favourable vulnerability • Only bid TOX with the majors covered!!

16. Doubles • All *’s of suit bids up to 2 are for take out • All *’s of pre-empts are for take out and show some strength • Penalty *’s of suit bids must be alerted • *’s of NT bids are for penalties • Showing 16+ HCP • *’s of subsequent suit bids are for penalties • And should be alerted

17. Responding to TOX • When partner bids a TOX and RHO passes • You MUST bid • Even with a very weak hand • Unless you wish to convert it to a penalty * having lots of opponents suit • With 0-7 HCP bid at the cheapest level • With 8+ HCP and a major fit jump a level

18. Responding to TOX LHO opens 1, partner *’s, RHO passes  K • 10 HCP • We have 4 of each un-bid suit • Agree the major • Partner has promised 4 ’s • Bid 3 • Agree the suit and compete  T  4  3  2  4  3  Q  J  A  6  5  4

19. Responding to TOX LHO opens 1, partner *’s, RHO passes  9  8  5 • 5 HCP • We have 4 ’s • Agree the major • Partner has promised 4 ’s • Bid 1 • Agree ’sand show weakness  9  8  7  5  6  5  8  7  K  Q

20. Responding to TOX LHO opens 1, partner *’s, RHO passes  5 • 0 HCP • We have 5 ’s • Agree the major • Partner has promised 4 ’s • You MUST bid - Bid 1 • Agree ’sand show weakness  9  8  7  6  5  6  5  8  7  9  8  7

21. Responding to TOX LHO opens 1, partner *’s, RHO passes  Q  T  7 • 14 HCP • We have 5 ’s and 4 ’s • Bid 2 • Show strength, deny 4 card majors • If partner bids again bid 3NT  T  5  4  3  K  Q  A  K  7  6

22. Responding to TOX Partner passes, RHO opens 1, you pass, LHO bids 2, partner doubles, RHO passes  A  T  7  4 • 8 HCP • They are weakish with ’s • Partner passed first time • Bid 2  • Don’t punish partner by jumping • Try to force opponents to 3 level  5  4  5  4  K  J  8  7  6

23. Responding to TOX Partner passes, RHO opens 1, you pass, LHO bids 2, partner doubles, RHO passes  A  4  3 • 8 HCP • Partner has both minors • You do not have a fit • Convert to penalties – Pass! • The will probably bid on • But you have good defence  Q  J  5  4  3  5  4  J  8  7

24. Negative Doubles When partner has also bid LHO 1 Partner 2 RHO 2 Can you bid?  A  J  6  3 • 10 HCP • Bid * • Shows 4+ cards in 2 un-bid suits • Called negative double • Or sputnik double  4  3  K  5  J  4  J  8  7

25. Summary • Doubles are a very powerful tool • Allows us to show 4 card suits • Enables us to compete more • Tells partner about our hand • Doubles of suits up to 2 or pre-empts are for take out • Even when partner has bid • Doubles of NT are for penalties • Showing 16+ HCP