Bridge for Beginners

1
Bridge for Beginners

• Lesson 15
• The Use of Doubles

2
Homework

• What are your bids in the sequences shown?

? KT87 ? QJ3 ? AT5 ? Q87
? KQ87 ? QJ3 ? AT5 ? Q87
? KQ87 ? QJ3 ? AT5 ? Q87
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 (or even 3) of a
  suit is therefore risky
• There is a much better use for this

6
The Take Out Double (TOX)

• Any double of 1, 2 or 3 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
? K
? Q
? 7
? 8
? Q
? J
? 6
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
? K
? Q
? 7
? J
? 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
? A
? T
? 7
? 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
? K
? J
? 7
? 5
? 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 3? 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

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
? Q
? J
? 3
? 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 ?s and show weakness

? 9
? 8
? 7
? 5
? 6
? 8
? 7
? 5
? 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 ?s and show weakness

? 9
? 8
? 7
? 6
? 5
? 6
? 8
? 7
? 5
? 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
? K
? Q
? 4
? 3
? 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 ?
• Dont punish partner by jumping
• Try to force opponents to 3 level

? 5
? 4
? 5
? K
? 4
? 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 3? or pre-empts are for
  take out
• Even when partner has bid
• Doubles of NT are for penalties
• Showing 16 HCP