So with all that information in mind what do you respond with each of these hands when your LHO opens the bidding 1♣, Partner says "Double" and your RHO Passes?
Sometimes when Partner makes a take out double your best suit is the opponents suit!
For instance my Partner makes a take out double of my LHO opening 1♣ bid and I have:
♠A2
♥2
♦K93
♣KQT9874
Partner is asking me to bid ANYHING but ♣ but ♣ is the ONLY suit I have!!! What do I do?!?
Pass of course. By Passing I am converting the original take out double to a penalty double. I are saying "I have the ♣ covered Partner! They won't make this contract!"
Take another hand:
♠K2
♥KJ8
♦9732
♣KQT9
Here my best suit is also the opponents suit. But I don't have a lot of trump. I can't really Pass in this situation. Hmmmmm. What to do?
If you have strength but not length in that suit you can bid NT. The level of NT you bid depends on the number of HCP you have. You MUST have a guaranteed trick in the Opponents suit to bid NT. Preferably two tricks in their suit!
HCP
Bid
8-10
1NT
11-12
2NT
13 or more
3NT
Some books say to bid 1NT with 6-10 HCP. I recommend 8 HCP. Remember, when your Partner makes a take out double bid they might only have 10 HCP. The 13 points they are counting INCLUDES Dummy points. You don't get to count Dummy points for shortness when you are playing in NT. So Partner is down to 10 HCP. If you only have 6 HCP the opponents might have 24 HCP between them. NT is probably not the best place to play then. So be safe and have at least 8 HCP to bid NT.
So with that in mind what do you respond with each of these hands when your LHO opens the bidding 1♣, Partner says "Double" and your RHO Passes?
Bid your LONGEST suit at the lowest level as long as it is not the 3 level
9-11 or Bad 12
Jump and bid your LONGEST suit as long as that means you are not bidding at the 4 level. If by jumping you would have to bid at the 4 level then bid but do not jump. In other words just compete at the 3 level.
Good 6 card major
Bid game in the major.
Good 12 or 13 or more
Bid game in your major.
Good hand with the suit RHO bid
Double
So with that in mind what do you respond with each of these hands when your LHO opens the bidding 1♣, Partner says "Double" and your RHO bids 1♥?
Sometimes the opponents can be sneaky. Sometimes they can bid the suit that YOU were going to bid. Don't let them get away with that!
Take this hand:
♠Q3
♥KJT8
♦AKJT5
♣84
My LHO opens the bidding 1♦ and my Partner Doubles. Just as I am wondering whether I should play in 3NT or 4♥ my RHO bids 1♥. Now at this point I don't know if they are trying to stop us from bidding our 4♥ game or if they genuinely have their bid. But I don't care either. I am going to DOUBLE them. This is a PENALTY DOUBLE. I am saying "I do NOT think you are making this contract" and also let's Partner know that I have ♥. Remember Partner should have at least three ♥ for their Take Out Double. Now at this point I expect the opponents to start to scurry around trying to find their best contract.
Guess what? They don't have one.
My Partner has all the suits but ♦. I have the ♦ well covered. My Partner has an opening hand. So do I. They opponents have NO FIT and NO POINTS. Last time they mess with our auction!
Now keep in mind that you have to have a pretty good hand to start to double the opponents at the 1 level. You also have to defend pretty well so if you are not a very good defender you'd better have more high cards.
Some people might tell you that Double in that auction shows the other major. This is incorrect (unless you and your Partner agree to that of course.) After all if you have the other major you can always just bid it. Nothing stopping you.
So with that in mind what will you do on the following hands if LHO opens 1♦, Partner Doubles and RHO bids 1♥. What is your bid?
What happens when Partner makes a Take Out Double and you have a long (six cards) major suit but not game going values? What should you do?
For instance this hand:
♠AQ9852
♥2
♦K963
♣84
LHO opens 1♣ and Partner Doubles. Regardless of what RHO does I would recommend bidding 4♠ on this auction. You only have 9 HCP and if you give yourself 2 extra points for length you come up with 11 points. Not quite enough to bid game BUT you do have the LAW on your side and a second fit in ♦. Take a chance.
I will do it on hands with not very many high cards.
I once held:
♠J98652
♥82
♦3
♣KQ42
My LHO opened 1♥ and my Partner Doubled. My RHO bid 2♦ and I jumped to 4♠. I knew we had a ♠ fit and probably also had a good ♣ fit. What's the worst that can happen here?
Well RHO Doubled for penalty. Partner is a little feisty and Redoubled which ended the auction. Her Redouble means she either thinks we are going to make it or is hoping the opponents chicken out and bid again. Why not? It's all about the story afterwards anyhow. Partner tracked with:
♠KQ74
♥6
♦J642
♣A863
Which I think we can all agree is a minimum hand.
Here are the hands together:
♠KQ74
♥6
♦J642
♣A863
♠J98652
♥82
♦3
♣KQ42
So it was pretty much a laydown. The opponents took their three Aces but that's all. Dummy can trump my ♥ loser and I could trump Dummy's ♦ losers.
Anyhow there quite a bit of power holding 10 trump between you. Point count is entirely based on your comfort zone. If you hold a six card suit and Partner is supposed to have a four card suit take a chance with limited values. It'll be an adventure.
Bidding after the Opponents bid now shows a different point count. You are no longer forced to bid but with a good 9 to 11 points you still want to bid your suit. If the opponents allow you to bid your suit at either the 1 or the 2 level then do so, but you should probably then jump to bid your suit. That way Partner knows you are pretty serious and not just competing. If the opponents force you to bid your suit at the 3 level then you probably want to compete and bid it but you no longer need to jump.
Use your judgement. You are not required to jump. Only bid and/or jump if you feel it is necessary to show how nice your hand is.
Let's look at a few examples. What would you do with the following hands if your LHO opened the bidding 1♣, Partner Doubles and your RHO bids 1♥?
Question: Partner made a take out double but then my RHO bid. Do I still have to bid? Is the double still "on"?
Answer: No. Once someone has made a bid the "Double" no longer exists. However the sentiment behind the Double still exists. Partner still wants to play in one of the other suits. If you have a little bit of something you still want to bid. It's only if you have nothing you want to Pass.
Bidding after the Opponents bid now shows a different point count. With a good 6 to 8 points (maybe 9 points with only a four card suit) you want to bid your suit anyhow. If the opponents allow you to bid your suit at either the 1 or the 2 level then do so. However don't jump to bid your suit. If the opponents force you to bid your suit at the 3 level then you probably just want to give up. Maybe the contract is just not yours. Sometimes that happens.
Use your judgement. You are not required to bid. Only bid if you feel it is necessary.
Let's look at a few examples. What would you do with the following hands if your LHO opened the bidding 1♦, Partner Doubles and your RHO bids 1♥?
What happens if 1NT has NOT been bid in the auction? How does Responder force Partner to bid now?
A NEW suit by Responder is forcing for at least one round.
However there is a caveat. If Responder is a PASSED hand they cannot force. So that means if Responder started off the bidding by Passing and their Partner opens the bidding Responder can no longer force by bidding a new suit.
Seems unfair?
Remember Responder started off by Passing. They do NOT have an opening hand. So now Opener with a minimum hand knows they cannot make game so will just Pass once they have found a fit. Why get higher if you cannot make game?
Say I am Dealer. I have this hand:
♠QJ32 ♥AQ42 ♦Q3
♣Q73
I have 13 HCP and open the bidding 1♣. Partner bids 1♠. This is a FORCING bid. My Partner could have 6 HCP it is true. But they could also have 13 HCP and if I Pass we have missed a game. Even worse -- they could have 20 HCP and we have missed a small slam! I have to keep the auction going so Partner can bid game or slam if they have the values. I would just respond 2♠. This shows a minimum opening hand. I don't want to get Partner any more excited than they already are.
Same hand. This time PARTNER is Dealer and they start off with a Pass. My RHO also Passes. I hold:
♠QJ32 ♥AQ42 ♦Q3
♣Q73
I have 13 HCP and open the bidding 1♣. Partner bids 1♠. We have a fit. But do we have enough for game?
No. Partner started off with a Pass. They do not have an opening hand. I have a bare minimum. I can Pass this bid. We should not have missed a game. Partner has limited their hand by Passing in first seat.
Let's practice some auctions. Tell me if these bids are forcing or not:
Auction 1
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♥
Is 1♥ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 2
Opener
Responder
Pass
1♣
1♥
Is 1♥ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 3
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♠
2♣
2♥
Is 2♥ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 4
Opener
Responder
Pass
1♣
1♠
2♣
2♥
Is 2♥ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 5
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♥
1♠
3♥
Is 3♥ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 6
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♦
1♥
1♠
Is 1♠ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 7
Opener
Responder
1♥
1♠
1NT
2♣
Is 2♣ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Auction 8
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♥
1♠
Is 1♠ a forcing bid? Does Responder have to bid again?
Auction 9
Opener
Responder
Pass
1♥
1♠
3♦
3♠
Is 3♠ a forcing bid? Does Opener have to bid again?
Most of the time when Partner opens the bidding and you respond, Partner will limit their hand on their rebid. Once they do that, most of the time you, as Responder, should know where to place the contract.
For example, you hold this hand and Partner opens the bidding 1♥:
♠AQJ932
♥9
♦AT7
♣QJ9
You respond 1♠ and Partner then bids 1NT. What is your bid?
Partner is showing a minimum, balanced opening hand. You also have an opening hand. You have enough for a game but not a slam. You know you have a ♠ fit because Partner should have two of them and you have six. So your bid is 4♠.
Let's take another hand. This time Partner opens 1♦:
♠QJ93
♥Q962
♦A7
♣KJ9
You respond 1♥ (with two four card majors bid them up the line) and Partner then bids 1NT.
Partner is showing a minimum, balanced hand. You also have an opening hand. You want to be in game. You tried to find a 4-4 ♥ fit but Partner didn't show support. You'd like a 4-4 ♠ fit but Partner could have bid 1♠ over your 1♥ bid and didn't. Partner does not have four ♠ so you do not have a fit there either. But your hand is balanced and since you want to be in game you bid 3NT. Pretty easy.
Now let's take a look at some more difficult hands to bid.
Partner again opens 1♦:
♠KJ932
♥9
♦T7
♣QJ963
You respond 1♠ and Partner bids 1NT. Balanced hand with 13 or 14 HCP. (After all with 15 HCP they would have opened 1NT.)
Not quite as easy. You know you DON'T want to play in NT -- your hand is too unbalanced. You know you have a fit in one of the black suits but not sure which one. You also don't have very many points so you don't want to get too high. On this hand you can bid 2♣. This is a NON-FORCING bid. Partner is allowed to Pass. In fact, Partner is either supposed to Pass or bid 2♠. That's it. Those are their only choices.
So far, so good. But now what about this hand?
Partner opens 1♦:
♠AQJ92
♥9
♦A7
♣QJ963
You respond 1♠ and Partner bids 1NT. Balanced hand with 13 or 14 HCP. (After all with 15 HCP they would have opened 1NT.)
You know you'd prefer not to play in NT -- your hand is too unbalanced. You'd like to find a 5-3 ♠ fit. But you do have the values for a game so if you can't find a 5-3 ♠ fit you don't mind playing in 3NT. At least you will have bid a game. But how do you show only 5 ♠ on this auction?
2♠ shows a weak hand with six ♠
3♠ shows an intermediate hand with six ♠
4♠ shows a game forcing hand with six ♠
All these bids show a six card suit. How do you show a five card suit?
Bid another suit.
Once you take Partner out of their NT contract they will know you are unbalanced. If you were unbalanced because you had six ♠ you would have rebid your ♠ suit. If you were to bid another suit you would show at least another four card suit. But if you only had two four card suits your hand would be balanced and want to play in NT. So you must also have a five card suit along with your other four (or more) card suit. You would bid your longest suit first so your first suit bid must have five cards and your second suit bid would have at least four cards.
Therefore, in the auction, you need to bid your ♣ suit. But you can't just bid 2♣. That is a non-forcing bid remember. Partner can Pass. In order to force Partner to bid you need to jump to 3♣.
This does several things:
It puts a game force on the auction. No one is allowed to Pass below game.
It shows an unbalanced hand that does not want to play in NT -- probably five ♠ and four ♣ since with a single suited unbalanced hand you would just rebid your suit.
So back to that hand:
♠AQJ92
♥9
♦A7
♣QJ963
Partner opens 1♦. You respond 1♠ and Partner bids 1NT. You rebid 3♣. Now at this point Partner probably does one of two things:
Partner bids 3♠. This tells you that Partner has three ♠ for you. If they had four ♠ they would have supported you right away. But when they bid NT they already showed they had two ♠. They need at least two cards in every suit to be balanced. So after Partner bids 3♠ you can bid 4♠.
If Partner instead responds 3NT you do not have a ♠ fit. Just Pass.
RULE:
In an auction where Opener has limited their hand by bidding 1NT Responder must JUMP in a NEW, lower ranking SUIT in order to force Opener to bid again. This creates a GAME FORCE on the auction. No one is allowed to Pass a bid below game.
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♥
1NT
3♦
This is GAME forcing -- Responder JUMPED in a NEW, lower ranking suit over Openers 1NT rebid. Opener MUST respond.
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♥
1NT
3♣
This is invitational -- Responder JUMPED in a suit that was already bid. Opener can Pass.
Opener
Responder
1♣
1♥
1NT
3♥
This is invitational -- Responder JUMPED in a suit that was already bid. Opener can Pass.
So with that in mind what do you respond with each of these hands when your Partner opens the bidding 1♦, you respond 1♠ and Partner rebids 1NT? What does that tell Partner?
