"Some Like it Hot" Takeout Doubles by Marti Ronemus

More good news! (We need it, right?) In a study of 500,000 people in China, those who ate spicy foods three times a week had a 14% lower risk of dying from cancer. Why is complicated, but suffice it to say the stuff that makes food hot is not only anti-cancer, but antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

And as if that's not good enough news. We don't need to eat whole peppers. They work better chopped and mixed with other foods. But wait! There's more! How about THIS! The spicy stuff is best eaten with FAT!! Yes! Bring on those chicken wings!

But not until we tackle our quiz, which today is all about Takeout Doubles, our favorite BOGT (Buy One, Get Three) bid.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 8 7 5 4
♥ 3
♦ Q 7 4
♣ K J 7 6 2

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
?

A: Pass: We've got the perfect shape for a Takeout Double, but this chicken wing has no meat on the bone. Even adding three dummy points for the singleton, we can't scare up a close-to-opening bid.
A Takeout Double promises shortness (no more than two) of Their suit, four in the unbid major (4-3 if you're doubling a minor), and a close to opening hand. Too bad.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

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

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
?

A: Double: Not everyone would agree, but we're chock-full of hot stuff, and look for reasons to enter the auction. We have 10 HCP and add that to our three for the dummy singleton, we're IN! We've got the shape, the shortness, and almost enough cash to get away with it. Close enough.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 8 7
♥ A 4 3
♦ Q 7 4
♣ K J 7 6

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
?

A: Pass: RATS!! This hand is a great example of why (and write this down!!) a pass in the direct seat doesn't say "I don't have anything." Rather it says "I don't have a bid." Semantics? No. Think it through. We can't overcall, as we don't have a five-card suit. We can't double since we're not short in Their suit and don't have four in the unbid major. Fear not. We have a Pard who can reason that we've got something and can't bid it.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

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

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
?

A: 1 No-trump: Perfect bid. We've got the shape, the points, the stoppers. Nothing else will do.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

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

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
?

A: 2♣: We certainly have the points and shape for an overcall. Pard will know we've got at least 10 pts and hopefully we can wend our way toward a contract.

Ready for our quiz?

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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