Double over 4 Spades?

Hi Heidi,

For the hand below, is bidding a Double a Takeout Double? if so, how to double opponent for penalty? How should North bid the following hand? Should North double for takeout or penalty??

All vulnerable, East is dealer:

	North ♠K7 ♥A85 ♦AK932 ♣K32
West ♠98 ♥Q9 ♦Q754 ♣AQJ87		East ♠AQJT6432 ♥7 ♦T6 ♣T5
	South ♠5 ♥KJT6432 ♦J8 ♣964

N	E	S	W
	4♠	Pass	Pass
???

Heidi's Answer:

Double by North in this auction IS penalty.

You would do this with a balanced 1NT opening bid or perhaps what you feel is four tricks. Four Aces would be an example. Careful not to count an AKQ of another suit for three tricks -- they won't all be cashing in 4♠ if Declarer has a singleton!

So on this hand North has a perfect Double of 4♠!

Hopefully South will "Pass" and 4♠ should go down -- but only by 1 trick.

With such a long ♥ suit South might think of bidding 5♥ (in which case North will "Pass") and 5♥ does make but that might take a bit of fancy footwork -- especially if West leads a ♣! So probably playing in 4♠ Doubled would probably be the best realistic place to play.

If Double is Penalty then how does one make a Take Out Double of 4♠?

After an opening bid of 4♠ one plays 4NT as a Take Out Double of 4♠. You can have all three remaining suits or even just a two suited hand.

Examples:
Hand A
♠
♥AQJ5
♦AK82
♣KQJ86

or perhaps:

Hand B
♠
♥AQJT5
♦AKJ862
♣86

With Hand B if you start with 4NT and Partner bids 5♣ you intend to bid 5♦ to show you had ♦ and ♥.

Would Double of 4♥ also be Penalty?

Most tend to play that as take out but this is up to partnership agreements as to what level you play Take Out Doubles.

So after an opening bid of 4♠ or higher, Doubles are PENALTY.

But if the opening bid is lower than 4♠ the Double is TAKE OUT.

Again discuss with Partner to make sure you have the same agreement!