Presented by Mike Savage
In general, Responsive
Doubles occur when your partner has made a take-out double or has
overcalled a suit and the next hand has raised opener’s suit. It’s a take-out
double by the defense after your partner has bid. It shows the unbid
suits and values to compete, sometimes with strong game interest. Here’s when you use them:
1.
When the opponents open the bidding and your partner makes a take-out
double and the next hand raises opener’s suit, a double by you is Responsive and should show at least 4-4 in two of
the three unbid suits - except that over 1H-Dbl-2H, a
double should deny four spades since a double of 1H (almost) guarantees
spade support. Your partner should now bid his lowest ranking 4-card suit and
if you have a fit, you can pass or raise, according to your strength. If you
have less that four in the suit your partner bid, you should now bid your lowest suit and your partner will choose between that suit and
the other unbid suit – as you should have at least four cards in two
suits to make a Responsive Double.
2.
When the opponents open the bidding and your partner makes a simple
overcall and the next hand raises opener’s suit, if you also play Responsive Doubles over partner’s overcalls, a
double by you now is for takeout. If your partner overcalled in a major suit,
you typically would be 5-5 or 5-4 in the unbid suits and perhaps a doubleton in
your partner’s suit. If the suit partner overcalled is a minor, you
could have support for his minor but still make a Responsive
Double - looking for a major fit also.
So after your partner
doubles or makes an overcall and the next hand raises, a double by you now is Responsive – for take-out. If your partner has
overcalled a minor, and you have a fit for partner and also have a poor
five-card major, you can make a Responsive Double
fairly lightly HCP-wise at the two-level as you can always show the fit on your
next bid. If you have a good 5-card or longer major and values to bid,
bid your suit at the two-level even if you have a fit. In general, when
you make a Responsive Double you should have
8/9 or more HCP at the two-level and usually be quite shapely at the
three-level (or higher).
How high you choose to play Responsive Doubles is up to your partnership. Some
play Responsive Doubles only thru 2S. Most partnerships play them
thru at least 3S (usually after a preemptive jump raise).
Responsive Double Basic Guidelines and some other
options after partner’s take-out double:
1C/1D-Dbl-Simple
Raise-Dbl = Responsive, shows any two
suits, 6-9 or more HCP (in a few partnerships
this shows the major suits, never
a major and a minor).
1C/1D-Dbl-Simple
Raise-3-level cue bid = Shows game going values but is not sure what
game to bid.
1C/1D-Dbl-Simple/Jump
Raise-4-level cue bid = Shows at least 4-4 in the majors and values for
game.
1H-Dbl-2H-Dbl = Responsive, shows the
minors (a minority show any two suiter) 8-10 or more HCP.
1H-Dbl-2H-3H
= Shows opening values, asks primarily for a heart stopper, or further hand
description.
1S-Dbl-2S-Dbl = Responsive, shows both
minors, denies four hearts and has 8-10 or more HCP.
1S-Dbl-2S-3S
= Shows opening values, asks primarily for a spade stopper or further hand
description.
1 of anything-Dbl-1
of a suit-Dbl = Penalty. In some partnerships the auction
of: 1C-Dbl-1D-Dbl is
an exception to this and is used as a Responsive Double.
Responsive Doubles after partner’s simple overcall:
1C/1D-1H/1S-Simple
Raise-Dbl = Responsive, shows 5-5 or 5-4 (five in the major -
four in the minor)
in the unbid
suits, usually with a two-card fit in partner’s suit.
1H-1S-2H-Dbl= Responsive, showing 5-5,
5-4 in the minors with good suits and/or at least 10 HCP
and also denies
a primary fit in partner’s suit.
1S-2C/2D-2S-Dbl = Responsive, shows 5-5 or 5 hearts & 4 in the unbid minor, usually with a two-card fit.
1S-2H-2S-Dbl = Responsive, showing 5-5,
5-4 in the minors with good suits and/or at least 10 HCP
and also denies
a primary fit in partner’s suit.