Advancing the takeout double - Answers

Answers Part I

a) 1♠. Partner asked you to pick one of the unbid suits. You have to bid something, even with no points. At least you can bid spades at the one level.

b) 2♦. You still do not have much but your best suit is diamonds so bid it at the cheapest level.

c) 2♠. With 9 high-card points plus a five-card suit, you have enough to make an invitational bid by jumping a level. This is not forcing. Partner can pass with a minimum takeout double.

d) 4♠. Do not be concerned with the quality of the spade suit. Partner has promised support so spades will be adequate even if partner only has three-card support. With 13 high-card points and a five-card suit, you have enough to want to be in game opposite partner’s promised opening bid.

e) 1NT. You do not usually bid notrump in response to partner’s takeout double but with this hand your strong holding in the opponent’s suit suggests that notrump will be a better contract than your alternative choice, 2♣.

f) 1♠. Although you have some strength in diamonds, you do not have enough to suggest playing in notrump. Besides, bidding notrump would tend to deny a four-card major suit.

g) 3♣. With 10 high-card points and a five-card suit, you have enough to make an invitational bid. Jumping in your suit gets you to the three level, but that should be fine opposite partner’s opening bid and support for the unbid suits.

h) Pass. This is the exception to the rule about taking out partner’s takeout double. Diamonds is probably the best trump suit for your side since you likely have better diamonds than West.

Answers Part II

a) Pass. East’s bid has relieved you from the obligation of bidding. Although you have 6 high-card points, this doesn’t look to be the appropriate hand to be competing at the two-level.

b) 2♦. Again you only have six high-card points but, with a decent five-card suit and a useful-looking card in spades, you want to compete for the contract. The hand could belong to your side rather than the opponents…or you might push them higher than they would like to be.

c) 4♠. With 10 high-card points and a six-card spade suit, you want to be in game opposite partner’s takeout double. Do not let East’s notrump response throw you off. This is the same bid you would make if East had passed.

d) 2♠. With 8 high-card points you should compete for the contract opposite partner’s opening bid strength. With a choice of four-card suits, prefer the major to the minor. Don’t be concerned about the location of the high cards.

e) 2♥. Partner is making a takeout double showing support for the unbid suits, hearts and clubs. Bid the one you prefer.

f) 3♣. You will have to go to the three-level to bid clubs. Partner presumably has enough strength to be willing to compete to at least that level.

g) 3♥. With 10 high-card points and a good fit with the suits shown by partner’s takeout double, make an invitational bid by jumping a level. Partner can still pass with a minimum, but you want to suggest a game contract if partner has anything extra.

h) 2♥. This is a situation in which you will have to bid a three-card suit. Partner asked you to choose between hearts and clubs and this is the best you can do. You cannot afford to pass and leave the opponents in 2♦ doubled, and you do not have enough strength to suggest a notrump contract.