What you need to make a Two Suited Double

This post combines the knowledge learned in some previous posts. Please read these first to learn about how to respond to a take out double.
Introducing the Take Out Double
Two Suited Doubles

So now that I have discussed what suits I have for the double I should probably say a few words about the hands I could have.

My LHO	Partner	My RHO	ME!
1♣	Pass	1♥	???

In that auction I have ♠ and ♦. But what is my shape? What are my values?

I need at least four cards in both the suits that I am showing. In a normal Take Out Double you are allowed to have a three card suit. That is because you are giving Partner the choice of THREE suits. This time you are giving Partner the choice of only TWO suits. You need BOTH of them.

Ideally you would have five cards in one suit and four cards in another suit. With this shape you only need 10 HCP. The rest you make up for in shape.

If you have four cards in both suits your shape isn't nearly as good. With this shape you probably need at least a good 12 HCP.

Ideally you would have four cards in any major and five cards in any minor you are showing. The reason for this is that you can always make an Overcall with a five card suit and you always want to tell Partner about any major you would have. But this isn't always the best thing to do.

The best thing to do is to use your judgement.

If your values are all in the suits the opponents are bidding maybe you just want to Pass. For instance:

♠8642
♥AK
♦J9632
♣A3

I would not recommend Doubling to show ♠ and ♦ with this hand. Yes, you have the shape. Yes, you have the values. But ALL your values are in the OPPONENTS suits. That won't help you.

Take another hand:

♠AKQ94
♥93
♦9632
♣A9

I would not recommend Doubling to show ♠ and ♦ with this hand. ALL your values are in the ♠ suit. Make a 1♠ overcall. This helps Partner out with the lead also.

Should you always make an Overcall with a five card major?

Take another hand:

♠J9642
♥93
♦AKJT
♣A9

I would not recommend making a 1♠ overcall on this hand. Double to show ♠ and ♦ with this hand. The ♠ suit is pretty ratty for an overcall.

It's tough. You have to have some hand judgement. You can't just say with x amount of points and y in each of the suits do this. You could get into trouble. But sometimes you do have to risk bidding when you might not want to. Just a judgement call. I would recommend at least a good 9 or 10 HCP to be in your two suits to be safe. But safety is not guaranteed at all.

Up for some examples? On all the following hands your LHO opens 1♣, Partner Passes and your RHO bids 1♥. What will you do?

Hand 1

♠KQT8
♥KT
♦AJT75
♣72



Hand 2

♠AKJ76
♥T9
♦Q972
♣92



Hand 3

♠KJ93
♥86
♦AK974
♣86



Hand 4

♠A852
♥QT5
♦A875
♣84



Hand 5

♠AQ54
♥K32
♦KQ642
♣2



Hand 6

♠AKQ82
♥732
♦Q875
♣J



Hand 7

♠AT75
♥K63
♦AKQ8
♣83



Hand 8

♠8642
♥AK
♦KQJT75
♣8



Hand 9

♠AQ73
♥83
♦QJT62
♣K2



Hand 10

♠A854
♥84
♦KJ65
♣QT4



Hand 11

♠K742
♥8
♦KQJ86
♣J85



Hand 12

♠AQJ64
♥A4
♦J932
♣83



Hand 13

♠KQ86
♥8
♦AK532
♣Q73



Hand 14

♠AJ62
♥Q3
♦AKT94
♣84



Hand 15

♠9632
♥AT5
♦Q986
♣AT