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Responsive Doubles
When the opponents are bidding and raising a suit, and Partner has taken action by doubling or overcalling, a Double may be used for take-out, the so-called Responsive Double. Typically, this one is played up to 4♦.
5th November, 2008 E-W Vul
Considering the vulnerability, wouldn’t you like to penalize the opponents in 2♠? Sure you would, but most play that Double here is Responsive, in this case showing the minors (with Hearts South would bid them). So, a smooth Pass is called for here, hoping that Partner can reopen with a Double. It’s likely that she will, she’s short in Spades and that’s usually enough to compete further. Of course, you’ll pass that Double, and, on the actual deal you will collect a juicy 800!
1st October, 2008 Both Vul
This is an easy one if you are playing Responsive Doubles. If that is the case, a Double here shows the unbid suits. As West is forcing the partnership to the 3-level, this is not a bid that should be made on junk, we’d say that the actual West hand is close to being minimum. Remember Responsive Doubles, they can quite often provide a useful option when Partner has made a Takeout Double or has overcalled.
6th August, 2008 E-W Vul
When the opponents are bidding and raising and when Partner has made a Takeout Double, a Double by us is played as “responsive”. That basic idea has been extended to apply to when Partner has overcalled rather than doubled. How high do you play these Responsive Doubles? Up to 4♦ or 4♥ is common. What strength does the Responsive Double show? The values to be able to compete at the level being doubled, so here at least game-invitational strength. What sort of distribution is required? Here, with two unbid suits, the Double ideally shows both of the unbid suits, but, as in the case of the Negative Double, North should at least have the unbid major.
18th June, 2008 Board 2
Partner may have both majors for his Takeout Double, but he might well be 4-3 in those suits. Obviously, East would like to find the better major fit, are there any methods available to East in this situation? Here are two possibilities: - 3♣: This says “Pick a major”. It also shows at least game-invitational values and we would say that East is not quite good enough for that. - Dbl: This Responsive Double conveys the same message, but shows a weaker hand. So, Double it is.
13th June, 2007 Board 28 N-S Vul
Do you play Responsive Doubles? And, if so, when are they on and how high do you use them. The answer to “How high?” is commonly 4♦. And the answer to “When?” is that it applies whenever they open and raise, and when Partner has overcalled or doubled.
Here, they have indeed bid and raised, and, in this case, Partner has overcalled. So the Double is Responsive and is our choice with the West hand. Oh, yes, one small detail, what exactly does that Responsive Double show? Some values, of course, but, at this low level, no more than 6 or 7 points are required. And the unbid suits, it’s very much a Takeout Double.
14th February, 2007 Board 7 Both Vul
Yes, when Partner overcalls, and the opponents have bid and raised, our Double is for takeout, the so-called Responsive Double. What does it show? Exactly the same as a Negative Double would show if Partner had opened 1♦ and they had jumped in with a 2♥ bid. So, in this case, the Double guarantees 4 Spades. And in terms of values? Let’s say a minimum of 7 or 8 HCP’s, or thereabouts. Or less with really good distribution.
4th April, 2007 Board 8 None Vul
Do you play Responsive Doubles? If you do, then the basic rule is that if your LHO opened with a suit bid, and Partner then overcalled or doubled, and your RHO raised Opener’s suit, then Double is Responsive, a bid that is trying to find a fit, not extract a penalty. Even if you and your Partner are playing Responsive Doubles, it’s worth touching base to make sure that you both play it on when the opening bid was a preempt. We suspect that nowadays the more popular treatment is that Responsive Doubles are indeed on in this situation, is your Partner on the same wavelength as you?
Anyway, if the Responsive Double
is an option here then it’s a fine choice, showing something in the
minors and denying 4 Hearts. And suppose that the Responsive Double is
not an option in your partnership? Then you have a difficult
choice, you’ll probably be forced to Double
anyway and hope that Partner does the right
thing. 25th April, 2007 Board 4 Both Vul
This one is really a two-part question: - Do you bid at all? - If you do decide to bid, then what?
If we pass (smoothly, one hopes) the auction is not over, Partner can always back in with another Double. But perhaps that is putting too much strain on Partner. We have a singleton in the opponents’ suit and a smattering of values, and we think that the West hand is worth a bid. But it’s not 100%, we would not argue with a smooth Pass.
OK, we’ve decided to take the plunge and do something. What? Nobody would argue too much with 4♥, but our own choice, if we are playing Responsive Doubles this high, would be to double, showing both majors. There’s no guarantee that Partner has 4 Hearts, and we would prefer to play in the 4-4 Spade fit rather than the 5-3 Heart fit. True, if Partner is 4-4 with better Spades, we might end up in the 4-4 Spades rather than the 5-4 Hearts, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, and may even work out better.
14th February, 2007 Board 7 Both Vul
Yes, when Partner overcalls, and the opponents have bid and raised, our Double is for takeout, the so-called Responsive Double. What does it show? Exactly the same as a Negative Double would show if Partner had opened 1♦ and they had jumped in with a 2♥ bid. So, in this case, the Double guarantees 4 Spades. And in terms of values? Let’s say a minimum of 7 or 8 HCP’s, or thereabouts. Or less with really good distribution.
28th March, 2007 Board 22 E-W Vul
Do you Double here, and neglect to mention your magnificent Diamonds? Or do you bid 2♦ and risk losing the Spade fit? We’d bid 2♦ ourselves, that suit is so good and the Spades so poor. Also, if we are playing Responsive Doubles, there is a good chance that the auction might proceed as follows: North East South West Pass Pass 1♥ 2♦ 2♥/3♥ Dbl etc. In this auction, we were able to bid our good Diamond suit and still not lose the Spade fit … Partner’s Responsive Double of 2♥ (or 3♥) shows 4 Spades and some values.
On the actual hand, this is exactly what happens … if North bids 2♦, East bids 2♥, and the Responsive Double allows N-S to compete in Spades.
20th June, 2007 Board 19 E-W Vul
Partner’s Double was Responsive, showing both the unbid suits and enough in values to compete to the 4-level. Something very close to opening values, in other words. Now, the opponents have bid game in Hearts. What next?
We don’t have much in the way of HCP’s, but we do have that luscious void in their suit. This looks like a hand for declaring not defending, so we’d bid again. Which minor should we pick? Well, our minors are the same length, but the Diamonds are better, so should we bid 5♦? That would probably work fine, but our own choice would be 4NT. This can hardly be natural, nor can it be Blackwood, a more obvious interpretation would be “pick-a-minor”. The rationale for offering Partner the choice is in case he is 5-4 in the minors, we’d rather play in the 9-card fit.
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