Double, Double, Toil and Trouble by Marti Ronemus

So, your RHO (right hand opponent) opened the bidding. You have three choices: Pass (not if we can help it!), Overcall (name our own five-card suit) or make a Take-Out Double. Today we tackle the Take-Out Double, one of the most useful and abused bids of all.

Back in the Dark Ages, if your RHO opened and you Doubled, all it meant was that you had opening points of your own. Nowadays (21st century!) the TOD shows a very specific hand:

1.) Shortness (no more than two) in the opponent's suit.
2.) If RHO opened a major, it guarantees FOUR in the other major.
3.) If RHO opened a minor, it hopefully shows FOUR in either major, but you can be holding four in one and three in the other.
4.) Opening-ish points INCLUDING DISTRIBUTION! You are going to be dummy (since Pard picks the suit) so you get 5-3-1 distribution points.
5.) Tolerance for any unbid suit.

We're going to keep it simple today. We're going to look at five hands and decide if we can make a TOD. Ready?

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 5 4
♥ A 9 8 7
♦ K Q 5
♣ Q J 4 3

Q: 1 - Should we make a TOD?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠

A: Yes: This is a classic opportunity to make a TOD. We're short in Spades, have four in the other major, can live with any suit Pard bids, and have 13 pts., including the singleton.
Now, here's an important point. Without the TOD, we would not be able to bid at all. We couldn't overcall (no five card suit). Now, Pard will know we only have four Hearts. So important.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 5
♥ A K 9 8 7
♦ Q 9 5
♣ Q J 4 3

Q: 2 - Should we make a TOD?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠

A: No: We can overcall 1♥. See the difference? Pard will know we've got a FIVE CARD Heart suit. Last hand, the TOD said, "I've got a FOUR card Heart suit." By differentiating between a four-card suit and a five-card suit, Pard will know exactly what he needs to respond.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ A 9 8 4
♥ A K 2
♦ 8 4
♣ J 5 4 3

Q: 3 - What should you do sitting South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♦
?

A: Yes: We're only four-three in the majors. We'd like to be four-four, but life isn't perfect. You've got support for all suits, opening points. You cannot ask for too much more.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A 9 8
♥ A K 2
♦ 9 8 4 3
♣ J 5 4

Q: 4 - What should you do sitting South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♦
?

A: No: So many reasons why not. First, you're not short in the opponent's suit. Secondly, you only hold three-three in the majors. You're just going to have to (gulp) Pass. Now listen carefully. Sometimes the best hand at the table has to pass the first time around. A "Pass" in the overcall seat (the person to your right has opened) doesn't mean "I have nothing." It means, "I have no bid." Maybe you don't have the points, but maybe you don't have the right shape to enter the auction. This is a VERY IMPORTANT POINT. Read it again.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ Q 7 5 3
♥
♦ A K 8 6
♣ 10 9 4 3 2

Q: 5 - One last chance. South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
?

A: Debatable: Give yourself full credit no matter what you bid, yes, no or debatable. Here's the thing. That void in the opponent's suit makes this hand so much more valuable than just the 9 HCP. There are those who would pass up the chance to bid with this hand because there aren't opening HCP, but honestly. You paid to play, right?

You're going to be the dummy, so you get five points for the void. This hand will be a joy, in anything except Hearts. We're going to prove this, too, as you are now going to play this hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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