Requirements for a low level takeout double,
#1
Posted 2017-March-25, 05:35
To make a takeout double, you need support for all of the unbid suits, ideally four-card support,
especially in the unbid major suit(s). You also need at least the strength for an opening bid (13 or
more total points). However, when valuing your hand, you use dummy points.
So would you double 1♥ holding:
1. ♠AK76 ♥87 ♦AQ3 ♣832?
2. ♠AK76 ♥872 ♦AQJ ♣832?
And would vulnerability affect your decision?
We have been using a rule of thumb (can't remember where we got it from) that you need 15 points in total, counting dummy points, so you would not double with either of the above, but would with ♠K876 ♥- ♦AQ34 ♣J9532? Some good players at our 'intermediates' club say they would double 1 and 2. Is our rule of thumb too conservative.
#2
Posted 2017-March-25, 07:19
#3
Posted 2017-March-25, 08:56
My flexible rule of thumb is if you double a major suit bid, you should have 4 card support for the other major, and if you double a minor suit bid, you should have at least 4-3 support for the majors. But that's just my personal rule. And rules are there to be broken.
Vulnerability and position also come into the equation, and whether partner's passed or not. The alternative to not doubling usually involves bidding a 4 card suit at the one level to get into the auction, and that has it's own agenda.
There's an Andrew Robson book on doubles I know of, and I am sure there are a few more to get you acquainted.
#5
Posted 2017-March-25, 09:08
George Carlin
#6
Posted 2017-March-25, 09:11
FelicityR, on 2017-March-25, 08:56, said:
My flexible rule of thumb is if you double a major suit bid, you should have 4 card support for the other major, and if you double a minor suit bid, you should have at least 4-3 support for the majors. But that's just my personal rule. And rules are there to be broken.
Vulnerability and position also come into the equation, and whether partner's passed or not. The alternative to not doubling usually involves bidding a 4 card suit at the one level to get into the auction, and that has it's own agenda.
There's an Andrew Robson book on doubles I know of, and I am sure there are a few more to get you acquainted.
If you are going to read a book, Mike Lawrence's is the one you should get.
I don't know what "dummy points" are, but the given hands are acceptable takeout doubles. The three-card heart suit is a flaw of course, especially because partner might get excited thinking that you are short in hearts. However, as mentioned above you will get stolen from if you don't double.
#7
Posted 2017-March-25, 10:11
As for tv, screw it. You aren't missing anything. -- Ken Berg
I have come to realise it is futile to expect or hope a regular club game will be run in accordance with the laws. -- Jillybean
#8
Posted 2017-March-26, 00:36
gwnn, on 2017-March-25, 09:08, said:
Somehow my partners bid my doubleton much more than my opponents' partners do!
#9
Posted 2017-March-26, 07:56
#10
Posted 2017-March-26, 14:15
gwnn, on 2017-March-25, 09:08, said:
Isn't this a throwback to a time when a takeout double just showed about opening values and didn't promise support for all suits? At least in the US, if you routinely make such off-shape doubles so as to have an understanding about them, then they must be alerted.
The idea of making shapely take out doubles promising 3+ card support in the unbid suits grew out of dissatisfaction with the bad results off-shape doubles often yielded. Shapely take out doubles also facilitated the development of balancing as a necessary tool to permit competing when an "off-shape" hand passed after the opening bid.
#11
Posted 2017-March-27, 11:39
Where you would want to be careful about doubling with a 4-3-3-3 hand is with marginal opening values (or less) and slow winners. Compare the OP hands with something like QJxx Kxx QJx KJx. You still have 13 HCP, but opposite a bust or even a decent 6-7 in partner's hand, tricks may be difficult to come by. So doubling on this hand is much more dangerous. (Also, note that the hand has only 1 QT.) Make the hand a little a little stronger Axxx Kxx QJx Kxx and you've got a hand that would be a solid opening hand (2 QT, 12+HCP), if RHO had passed. This hand is about the minimum that I'd double with on 4-3-3-3 distribution.
#12
Posted 2017-March-27, 13:39
Cheers,
Mike
#13
Posted 2017-March-27, 15:38
George Carlin
#15
Posted 2017-April-10, 17:49
https://www.youtube....hungPlaysBridge
#16
Posted 2017-April-11, 03:18
kuhchung, on 2017-April-10, 17:49, said:
Same here. But this style works a lot better if the 1N response to the double does not promise, nor even suggest, a stopper in Opener's suit, because then Advancer can usually bid 1N instead of 2m on a 4-card suit. (The exception is when he is too weak for 1N.)
#17
Posted 2017-April-11, 03:59