Responding to a take-out Double by Paul Bowyer

A: 1♠. Yes, this is obvious but why not give you an easy answer to start with? Partner has asked for your best suit with a take-out Double and you are telling him what it is. Note that you are not promising him anything with a simple response - you need to remember this when you are the Doubler.

Your result so far:

A: 1♠. You might bid 2♣ (it is your best suit, after all) but you should be thinking of keeping the bidding low and of seeking a major-suit fit.

Partner doesn't actually guarantee four Spades when he Doubles 1♥ but he strongly suggests that's what he has. Anyway, Clubs and Diamonds are for the birds.

Your result so far:

A: 1♠. Ugh. But this falls into the "what else?" category. You can't Pass 1♥ Doubled just because you have five trumps. 1♥ is likely to make overtricks. You have to keep a straight face, bid 1♠ and hope the roof doesn't fall in.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠. You have seen some of the hands we have replied 1♠ with. You can't, in all seriousness, bid 1♠ on this if you are going to have to bid it on the hand from Question 3. How can partner tell which type of hand you have? Nods, smiles, winks and kicks under the table are strictly verboten.

A jump to 2♠ shows this sort of hand: 8-11 points (more or less - shape counts for a lot) and is not forcing. With a minimum take-out Double partner will Pass 2♠.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. A simple 2♦ response promises nothing - you would be forced to bid that on a heap with a few Diamonds. With 10 good points and a lovely five-card Diamond suit you must jump the bidding to 3♦ to tell partner the good news.

Your result so far:

A: 1NT. Yes, you might bid 2♦, that would not be that bad a bid. However, with half your points in Hearts and with ropey Diamonds it looks best to suggest a good Heart stopper and a balanced hand. 1NT usually shows the same strength as a 1NT response to an opening bid - about 6-9 points.

Your result so far:

A: 4♠. 1♠ promises nothing - nothing at all. You can't bid that when you have an opening bid. Both 2♠ and 3♠ are inadequate calls on this hand as partner might Pass them. You can deduce that the North-South hands have a game available - so why not bid it?

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. You have game values facing a take-out Double and a secure Spade stopper. Bidding Diamonds is a waste of time - you should just take a pot at the most likely game.

Are you worried about Hearts? You shouldn't be. Partner has promised something there with his Double of 1♠.

Your result so far:

A: Pass. One of the very few times you Pass a take-out Double. Partner is asking for your best suit - and it happens to be Spades. Hmmm.

To make such a PENALTY PASS you need some values and you need long and strong trumps. These criteria are all present here. A well-bred North should lead a trump if 1♠ Doubled is left in.

Your result so far:

A: 1♠. Yes, thank you, partner! Well, what choice do you have but to bid a three-card suit? You can't Pass - that would risk watching the opponents raking in Doubled overtricks. Very expensive. You can't bid 1NT with 5 points and no Heart stopper. So the fall-back is to bid a three-card Spade suit and hope that the sun shines.

Your result so far: