Takeout Doubles

You may want to read overcalls before reading this page.

In the early stages of the bidding, a DOUBLE means you want your partner to bid something – to “take out” your opponents last bid by bidding something himself.

The term “takeout double” originates from the idea that you “double” your opponents’ bid to indicate that your hand is strong enough for your partner to “take out” their bid by choosing a suit to bid. Your partner’s response is not based solely on the strength or merits of their own hand but is instead prompted by the information communicated through your double. Your double signals that your hand has sufficient strength and distribution to compete in the auction, encouraging partner to bid.

When to Make a Takeout Double:

You typically make a takeout double when you:

1. Have opening strength or better (12+ high card points, though slightly fewer may suffice with ideal distribution).
2. Hold support for unbid suits and sufficient flexibility to accommodate partner’s choice.
3. Do not have a clear preference for one particular suit to bid.

Example of a Takeout Double Hand:

Suppose the auction begins with an opponent’s opening bid of 1♦. A hand suitable for a takeout double might look like this:

• ♠ KJ76
• ♥ AQ84
• ♦ 5
• ♣ KQ94

Why This Hand Qualifies:

1. You have 14 high card points, indicating strength sufficient to enter the auction.
2. You hold support (at least 3 cards) for the three unbid suits (spades, hearts, and clubs).
3. You lack a long suit of your own to bid directly, making a takeout double the best way to keep the auction open and find a fit.

Partner’s Role:

When you make a takeout double, Partner is expected to bid their best suit, knowing that you have support for whatever suit they choose. For instance:

• If Partner has ♠ Q10952, they might bid 1♠, relying on your support.
• If Partner has ♥ J10743, they might bid 2♥, trusting your double indicates heart support.

Flexibility and Strategy:

The takeout double is a versatile tool that allows you to compete even when you lack a clear suit to bid directly. It shifts the focus to your partner’s hand and invites them to select the best fit for the partnership, maximizing the chances of finding a playable contract.

Example 1

Double is a 3-suit “takeout”

A takeout double promises 12+ points and “support” for all three unbid suits. You would like to have 4 card support for each suit, but sometimes you have to make do with only 3 card support. Never only 2.

Example 2

The hand also qualifies for a 2♣ overcall, but the takeout double is preferred because it tells partner much more about your hand – the 3 suits where you have trump support and that you have at least 12 points. The 2♣ overcall is not nearly so informative, only promising the one suit with a 10 point minimum.

After hearing your double, partner can decide which suit to name as trump and how high to bid.

Example 3

Doubles with a doubleton

When you double, you don’t have to hold a singleton or void in your opponent’s bid suit. A doubleton in their suit isn’t as good, but it’s OK. Just remember our simple rule:

A double promises 12 or more points and 3+ card support for ALL the unbid suits.

Let’s look at some example hands…

Example 4

What could you do if the opening bid had been 1♠? Let’s see… no support for hearts, so you can’t double. Not enough points for a 1N overcall (you’d need 15-17). And you have no 5 card suit to bid. Sadly, you would have to pass.

Example 5

Which is better? Make the 1♥ overcall. It gives you the best chance of finding an 8 card major suit fit. If you double, partner won’t know to bid hearts when he has three of them.

Example 6

You might consider sticking your opponent in the leg with a hatpin to punish him for opening the “wrong” suit. On second thought, maybe you should just quietly pass. Keep your hatpin to yourself, and don’t let on that you “almost” have a bid.

Doubles with a tripleton

We’ve looked at takeout doubles with a singleton in their suit, and with a doubleton in their suit. Now let’s look at doubles with three cards in their suit (a tripleton).

Example 7

Three threes are bad. (“Huh? What does that mean?” you ask.) You have three three card suits. Three threes. You can double if you want, but you might do better to pass minimum hands with three threes.

Let’s move one of the cards from example 7, and get rid of the three threes.

Example 7b

Example 7c

Practice hands

Example 8

Example 9

Example 10

Example 11

Example 12

Example 13

Example 14

Doubling after a preempt

Example 15

This last hand, Example 15, highlights a key principle in competitive bridge bidding: the higher the level of the auction, the more cautious you should be about making takeout doubles with balanced minimum hands. A hand that might comfortably qualify for a takeout double at the one level often requires significantly more strength when the opponents’ bidding has escalated to the two level or higher.

Why Passing is Preferable with Balanced Minimum Hands at Higher Levels:

1. Increased Bidding Levels Demand More Strength:
   At higher levels, a takeout double forces your partner to bid at a more advanced level, typically the three level or beyond. This requires a stronger combined partnership holding to ensure a playable contract. A minimum hand that would suffice at the one level is less likely to support such commitments successfully at higher levels.
2. Balanced Hands Are Limited in Flexibility:
   A balanced hand is inherently less adaptable in competitive auctions. Without strong distribution or specific support for unbid suits, a double may lead to complications if Partner selects a suit where you lack adequate support. This makes balanced hands riskier for takeout doubles as the auction level rises.
3. Passing Avoids Overcommitting:
   With a balanced minimum hand, passing can be the more prudent choice, especially when the opponents’ bidding has reached a higher level. Passing avoids the risk of forcing your partner into a challenging bid while allowing you to reevaluate your options as the auction progresses.
4. Adjustment Based on High Card Points (HCP):
   • At the one level, 12+ HCP is generally sufficient for a takeout double with balanced hands.
   • At the two level, 14+ HCP or notable distributional strength is typically needed to justify the risk.
   • At the three level or higher, 16+ HCP or an unbalanced hand with strong suit holdings becomes essential for a takeout double.

This principle underscores the importance of recalibrating your bidding decisions based on the level of the auction and the strength of your hand, particularly when it comes to balanced hands that lack strong distributional features.

Example 16

Example 17

By adding a couple of jacks to Example 15 and reducing the opponents’ preempt to the two level, the hand becomes a marginal candidate for a takeout double. While the additional high card points improve the overall strength, the hand remains on the borderline for such a bid due to its structure and distribution.

The hand would be significantly stronger if the three-card holding were in a minor suit rather than the unbid major. A takeout double ideally indicates support for all unbid suits, and having a minor instead of a major in this position would increase flexibility and give Partner more options for a safe response.

Additionally, the hand’s effectiveness would improve if none of the high card points were in the opponents’ suit. Points in their suit are less likely to generate tricks, reducing their value. Redistributing those points to unbid suits, particularly to those where Partner is likely to bid, would enhance the hand’s utility and make it a more solid choice for a takeout double.

Overall, while the adjustments have made the hand marginally suitable for a takeout double, it remains sensitive to the placement of high card points and the distribution of suits, both of which are critical factors in determining the hand’s strength and flexibility in competitive auctions.

To illustrate, after their 2♥ preempt…

12 hcp – Pass

14 hcp – Double

12 hcp – Double

13 hcp – Pass

The two-suit double

Example 18

With 12+++ you could overcall 2♦. But then partner wouldn’t know you also had four spades.

A far better bid is double, promising 12 or more points and at least 4 card support for the two unbid suits. You’ll never make this two-suit double with only three card support for one of the suits.

Example 19

Now it’s better to overcall in your five card major, even though your hand qualifies for a double. Majors are more important than minors, and you might miss a 5-3 spade fit if you double.

Example 20

Now suppose you have 16 hcp, and you are considering making this same two-suit double. How many points does partner have this time?

After the opponents’ 2/1 bidding sequence, pass with a balanced hand, no matter how many points you have. Your opponents have invitational values or better. Making a takeout double on a balanced hand will only force partner to bid something he can’t make.

Example 21

Example 22

The power double

A power double is made when your hand is exceptionally strong, exceeding the usual expectations for a standard takeout double. Initially, Partner will assume your double is an ordinary takeout double and will respond accordingly. On your next turn, you clarify the true strength of your hand by bidding again, which distinguishes it from a standard double.

For instance, consider a hand with the characteristics of a no-trump overcall (e.g., balanced distribution and stoppers in the opponents’ suit) but with more than 17 high card points (HCP). The standard range for a 1NT overcall is 15-17 HCP, so with greater strength, you cannot bid 1NT directly. Instead, you start with a double.

When Partner responds to what they believe is a typical takeout double by bidding one of the unbid suits, you then rebid in no-trump or make another bid to clarify your hand’s strength and distribution. For example, after Partner selects a suit, you can bid 2NT, showing a hand too strong for a direct 1NT overcall.

This sequence of doubling and then bidding again communicates your strength and ensures Partner understands the full potential of your hand. The term “power double” applies to this approach of using the initial double to create space for a second bid that reveals your exceptional holding.

(In the bidding boxes that follow, X means double.)

Example 23

Example 24

Your hand is too strong for a standard 1♥ overcall, which typically ranges from 8 to 15 high card points (HCP). With 17 HCP and an excellent six-card heart suit, your hand is significantly stronger (17+++). To communicate this strength effectively to your partner, you can make a power double, followed by a bid in hearts.

When you start with a double, your partner will initially assume you hold an ordinary takeout double, which typically suggests three-suit support and a hand suitable for assisting their bid in any unbid suit. Partner might respond in diamonds, expecting your support. However, when you follow up with a rebid in hearts, it becomes clear that your double was not a takeout double in the usual sense but rather a power double paired with a strong heart suit. This sequence cancels the initial interpretation of your bid and redefines your hand as strong, with hearts as your primary focus.

This bidding method requires your partner to adjust their initial assumption. While they may start by thinking your double shows a typical takeout hand, your subsequent rebid clarifies the true nature of your holding: a powerful hand with a long, solid heart suit. This approach effectively communicates your hand’s strength and distribution, allowing your partner to recalibrate their response and guide the auction toward the best contract.

A mistake to avoid

Example 13 revisited

More practice hands

Example 25

Example 26

Example 27

Example 28

Example 29

Example 30

Example 31