Bridge what is double

Other popular takeout doubles are Negative, Support, and Responsive. Penalty Doubles The opposite of take out doubles, these occur when you believe the opponents have bid too much and you know the trump suit is breaking badly for them, or sometimes over their 1NT openings. Successful doubles increase the penalty score a lot.

How do you tell if a double is for penalty or takeout? P: 02 F: 02 Suppose that South has a hand that would have responded 1 without East's overcall. In some cases he could bid 2 instead, but this bid requires at least 10 points and also a 5 card heart suit.

With fewer points or fewer hearts he would have to pass, or find some alternative and less descriptive bid. The best way to resolve this problem is to dispense with the penalty double. In this particular situation, a double merely shows 4 hearts and at least 6 points or perhaps a longer heart suit in a limited hand.

In some modern bridge literature, all non-penalty doubles are described as takeout doubles. Other books provide different names for various kinds of double.

One important class of double occurs when partner has opened one of a suit and the next hand has overcalled in a new suit up to the level of 3.

This sort of double is generally known as a negative double. One example of a negative double is discussed above. More about negative doubles.

As you become more experienced, you will learn about some other situations where a double is best played as not for penalties. It is very important that both players in a partnership have the same understanding as to which doubles are for takeout. The following is recommended:. Beginners should limited themselves to traditional takeout doubles and regard all other doubles as for penalty. Negative Free Bid. Reverses the meaning of Negative Double, allowing vigorous competition over opponents' overcall.

Penalty Double. Stronger Side. Responsive Alertable. Example: 1H - 1S - 2H - X. Snapdragon Alertable. After 3 suits are bid, double shows 5 in unbid suit and support for partner's bid suit. Striped Tailed Ape. Attempt to have opponents' settle for doubled contract and miss slam, where the opponent will "run like a "Striped Tailed Ape" to their long suit if opponent's redouble!

Reuses the Right Hand Opponent's interference bid Note - partners agree to play "systems on". Unwise Double, based on honors is worthless long suits, likely to be ruffed by opponents. Support Alertable. Determine 3 or 4 card trump support by opener since responder may only have 4 trump.