{"id":1376,"date":"2011-01-15T18:43:17","date_gmt":"2011-01-16T02:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=1376"},"modified":"2013-01-09T15:00:52","modified_gmt":"2013-01-09T23:00:52","slug":"poll-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=1376","title":{"rendered":"Poll #28, Takout Doubles in Contract Bridge &#8211; Part 1, 01\/17\/2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Takeout Double: The perfect Bridge bid with an opening hand and shortness in opponents suit<\/h2>\n<p><noscript>JavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work.<br \/>\n<a href='http:\/\/www.constantcontact.com\/survey\/index.jsp?cc=ViraWidPOL'>Online Surveys<\/a> by Constant Contact.<br \/>\n<\/noscript><a class=\"twitter-share-button\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share\">Tweet<\/a><strong> <\/strong><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sometimes one must use force to go against force, sometimes not.\u00a0 When you stop to think about it, a more elegant way to compete is to turn the opponents\u2019 weakness in your strength.\u00a0 And that\u2019s what the Takeout Double is all about \u2013 instructing partner to \u201ctake out\u201d opponents\u2019 auction in another suit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019d like to see the associated videos with commentary and animate card bidding:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/bridgehands-videos.s3.amazonaws.com\/Polling_You_28_Part_1\/Polling_You_28_Part_1.html\">Click here to view Part 1<br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/bridgehands-videos.s3.amazonaws.com\/Polling_You_28_Part_2\/Polling_You_28_Part_2.html\">Click here to view Part 2<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Barbara Seagram materials Copyrighted by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.masterpointpress.com\/\">MasterPoint Press<\/a><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>BridgeHands<\/em> Premium, ULTRA and Teacher\u00a0members &#8211; after loggin in, scroll down to the Protected Content area for your supplemental advanced video lesson on balancing seat bidding, ranges for &#8220;Type 2&#8221; doubles, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/Download\/Polling_You\/Advanced_Non-Members.html\">For those still haven&#8217;t signed up for one of our subscriptions, we offer a glimpse of this lesson here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>As Barbara Seagram eloquently stated in her award winning book, \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.masterpointpress.com\/bidding\/25more.html\">25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know<\/a>\u201d the idea of using a double for takeout instead of penalties originated around 1912 in the days of auction Bridge. Back in those days, inventor Bryant McCampbell referred to the call as an \u201cinformatory double.\u201d We encourage our <em>BridgeHands<\/em> members to also check out Barbara\u2019s website, especially her upcoming Bridge cruises and trips. Her website address is: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.barbaraseagram.com\/\">http:\/\/www.barbaraseagram.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In our Polling You series this week, we will follow along another of Barbara\u2019s excellent books with more details in \u201c<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.masterpointpress.com\/bidding\/compete.html\"><strong>Bridge \u2013 25 Ways to Compete in the Bidding<\/strong><\/a><strong>.\u201d Barbara and co-author Marc Smith devote three chapters to takeout doubles. Of course, like most Bridge bids it\u2019s not all that hard to make a conventional call \u2013 the hard part is knowing what to do next! So in our 3 lessons this week we will follow the same track:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Making a Takeout Double<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>2. Responding to a Takeout Double<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>3. Later bidding after a Takeout Double\u00a0<!--more--><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Over the next two weeks, our focus will shift from aggregate bidding and play around the table to a more drill-oriented approach with North\/South bidding exercises. Incidentally, next week we will discuss Negative Doubles, a horse of an entirely different color.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s begin by differentiating when a double is for Takeout versus when it\u2019s for penalty. The basic guide for Takeout Doubles is:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Some players are confused about the last guideline \u2013 why not use Takeout Doubles when an opponent (opener or responder) has bid Notrump? The notion is that when an opponent bids Notrump, the player signifies a suit misfit. When the opponents have a misfit, certainly your side will not magically find a fit, either. Thus, in many situations advanced players use a double of opponents\u2019 Notrump bid as a \u201cBusiness Double\u201d for penalty. Still, a fair number of players don\u2019t abide by this guideline in an auction like:<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>1C) \u2013 P \u2013 (1D) \u2013 P;<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>(1N) \u2013 P \u2013 (P) \u2013 X<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>On the next four hand, the bidding begins with opponent East:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Certainly in the passout seat when seeking a 2 level major suit fit, it makes sense to have exceptions to rigid rules. Even in the direct seat, in Mike Lawrence\u2019s \u201cThe Complete Book on Takeout Double,\u201d he advocates the following auction as a takeout double over 1 Notrump<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(1C) \u2013 P \u2013 (1D) \u2013 P;<br \/>\n(1N) \u2013 X<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Okay, with the preludes behind us, let\u2019s begin by looking at the four hands offered in our Polling You survey.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0(1D) \u2013 X\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We have 12 High card points but lacking a 5 card suit, we need help from partner to locate a fit so we make a Takeout Double.\u00a0\u00a0 With one exception (17+ HCP), we promise at least 3 cards in the unbid suits and will be happy to support any new suit bid by partner.\u00a0 And assuming we have a fit with partner, we can add 1 additional distribution point for our doubleton.\u00a0 That\u2019s a new concept since the opener typically counts length points for long suits.\u00a0 But since after the Takeout Double we will be responder, we instead count short suit points.\u00a0 However since we are forcing partner to bid (assuming to intervening bid by LHO West), initially we cannot be assured we have an 8 card fit with partner.\u00a0 By the way, don\u2019t worry about the fact our Hearts are so poor \u2013 even if our partner holds the 8-7-6-5,\u00a0 the opponents will usually only take 3 tricks in the suit and we will take our tricks in other suits.\u00a0 Besides, we might also get in some cross ruffs with partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 K Q J 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> 5 4 3 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> 7 6<br \/>\n\u2663 A Q 10<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>We have 12 High card points but lacking a 5 card suit, we need help from partner to locate a fit so we make a Takeout Double.\u00a0\u00a0 With one exception (17+ HCP), we promise at least 3 cards in the unbid suits and will be happy to support any new suit bid by partner.\u00a0 And assuming we have a fit with partner, we can add 1 additional distribution point for our doubleton.\u00a0 That\u2019s a new concept since the opener typically counts length points for long suits.\u00a0 But since after the Takeout Double we will be responder, we instead count short suit points.\u00a0 However since we are forcing partner to bid (assuming to intervening bid by LHO West), initially we cannot be assured we have an 8 card fit with partner.\u00a0 By the way, don\u2019t worry about the fact our Hearts are so poor \u2013 even if our partner holds the 8-7-6-5,\u00a0 the opponents will usually only take 3 tricks in the suit and we will take our tricks in other suits.\u00a0 Besides, we might also get in some cross ruffs with partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A Q J<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> K J 10 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> 7 6<br \/>\n\u2663 A Q 3 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>This time we have a much stronger hand with 17 HCP, but unfortunately we only have 3 Spades.\u00a0 Like other Bridge bids, sometimes we don\u2019t always hold the perfect hand.\u00a0 Yes, we would like to have two 4 card major suits but if LHO West passed and partner might be tempted to do the same with 8 HCP.\u00a0\u00a0 With our 17+ point hand, we would hate to miss game when partner has a fair responder hand (one they would not pass if we had first opened).\u00a0 Many competitive players would even make a Takeout Double if the Spade Aces was replaced by the Spade 2.\u00a0 And most would double with the Spade Ace and two small Spades.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 K Q 3 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A 4 3 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> 2<br \/>\n\u2663 Q 4 3 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Hmm, we have good news and we have bad news!\u00a0 The good news is we have perfect shape for a Takeout Double, a 4-4-4-1 distribution.\u00a0 And as always, we have shortness in the opponents\u2019 suit (recall our earlier comment about turning the opponents\u2019 weakness into our strength.\u00a0 And while we aren\u2019t fond of the fact we barely have more than one-fourth of the High Card Points in the deck, 11 HCP to be precise, we can easily support any new suit of partner\u2019s choice.\u00a0 So if our hand becomes the dummy, our hand goes up several points with the ruffing value of our singleton in the opponents bid suit.\u00a0 For many players, even exchanging the Heart Ace with a King (10 HCP), they would still go with a Takeout Double with a singleton (but we wouldn\u2019t recommend doing so with a doubleton).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>With 19 HCP and a great Spade suit are you inclined to overcall 1 Spade with this hand? If so, let\u2019s imagine for a moment that after your 1 Spade bid your partner held this hand:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A K Q J 9 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A J 10<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> 7 6<br \/>\n\u2663 A 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>With 19 HCP and a great Spade suit are you inclined to overcall 1 Spade with this hand?\u00a0 If so, let\u2019s imagine for a moment that after your 1 Spade bid your partner held this hand:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> K 3 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> 5 4 3 2<br \/>\n\u2663 Q 6 5 4 3<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A K Q J 9 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A J 10<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> 7 6<br \/>\n\u2663 A 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>With a spread 5 HCP and a singleton Spade, partner North is sure to pass.\u00a0 But if either finesse in Hearts or Clubs wins, South can make 4 Spades (try Clubs first to ensure transportation to the Club Queen should East hold the King).\u00a0 So when you have an excellent hand and great 5+ card suit (near self-sustaining by itself), we first double and then bid our excellent suit after partner bids another suit (Clubs here).\u00a0 This \u201cwakes up\u201d partner we have about 8 playing tricks and are begging partner to bid on with one or more tricks in hand.\u00a0 Some using around 17+ points as a guideline, but a lot depends in the working honors, shape, and primary honor count.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>So on our Polling You survey question, we recommend making a Takeout Double on all of the above hands.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A note to our more advanced players not seeking a review of Takeout Doubles: please login to your Premium or ULTRA Membership and skip to the end of this lesson for some supplemental commentary on partnership variances in\u00a0&#8220;Type 2&#8221; double requirements and associated balancing seat bids.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Now let&#8217;s check out some of the material in Barbara&#8217;s book, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.masterpointpress.com\/bidding\/compete.html\">Bridge \u2013 25 Ways to Compete in the Bidding<\/a>.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This time RHO East begins:\u00a0 (1C) &#8211; ?<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A K 7 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> 8 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> A 9 2<br \/>\n\u2663 Q 9 6 3<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>You should not say \u201cdouble\u201d; partner is too likely to bid Hearts.\u00a0 You are not strong enough to bid twice, and your partner will not approve if you put this hand down in dummy having promised support for all of the unbid suits\u2026. You should not be afraid to double with few high cards, if your shape makes up for it.\u00a0 Look at this collection:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 K J 10 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A 10 9 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 Q 9 8 7 5<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Although you have only 10 HCP, the fantastic shape more than compensates for that.\u00a0 This is a clear takeout double of a 1 Diamond opening.\u00a0 The better your shape, the fewer high cards you need for a double, and vise versa.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We recommended earlier that there are two other hand types on which you can also start with a double.\u00a0 Basically, these are the two types of hands that are too strong for any other action:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><strong>A very strong one-suited hand \u2013 double and then bid your suit next round (16+ points and a six-card suit, or 18+ points and a five-card suit).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><strong>A hand too strong to overcall 1 notrump \u2013 double then bid notrump next round (19+ points and a balanced hand)\u00a0 <em>BridgeHands<\/em> note: Implied with this bidding sequence is that the doubler has a few stoppers in RHO\u2019s suit.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong><strong>Exercises from Barbara Seagram: On each hand, RHO opens:\u00a0 (1H) &#8211; ?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A Q 4 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> 6<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> Q J 5 2<br \/>\n\u2663 K J 3 2<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>This is a classic takeout double of 1 Heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 K Q 8 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> K 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> A 10 6 3<br \/>\n\u2663 Q 8 5<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Double. Your shape is not as good this time, but the extra high cards compensate for that.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 K 9 8 5<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A 8 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> K 10 9 8<br \/>\n\u2663 K 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Pass. Although you hold a solid opening bid, you have both too many Hearts and not enough Clubs for a takeout double.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A K J 4 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> 3<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> J 7 6 5<br \/>\n\u2663 A 9 5<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Bid 1 Spade. Although your hand is suitable for a takeout double, the chances are that you belong in a Spade contract. Partner will not bid Spades on Q-x-x and if he responds to your double by bidding 2 Clubs, you are not strong enough to bid Spades later. If you are to reach your 5-3 Spade fit, you must overcall now.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A Q 5<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> 7 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> K J 6<br \/>\n\u2663 K 8 7 5 4<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Double. Your suit is not strong enough for a 2 Club overcall. You have adequate support for the other two suits and short Hearts, so make a takeout double.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A K Q 6 4 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A 7 4<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> A J 3<br \/>\n\u2663 9<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Double. You are too strong to overcall. If you overcall 1 Spade, you will miss game when partner has a few scattered values but short Spades. If you overcall 4 Spades, you will miss slam when partner has just the right cards (a 4 Spade overcall would be preemptive and show more Spades but fewer Aces \u2013 usually less than 10 HCP). There is no rush with hands this strong. Start slowly with a double, conserving bidding space, so that you can investigate fully. As we have seen, when you double and later bid your own suit, you are showing a very good hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 A 7 4 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> A 6<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> J 9 7 5 2<br \/>\n\u2663 K 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Pass. You have the wrong shape for a double, and a 2 Diamond overcall on that suit would be asking for trouble. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and hope the opponents bid to a contract that you might beat.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table class=\"bchd\" style=\"margin: 0px; width: auto; border-style: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-right: 1em; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-right: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; padding: 1px;\">\n<table class=\"bcct\" style=\"background-color: #008000; margin: 0px; width: 4em; border-collapse: collapse; font: 11pt Arial, sans-serif; height: 4px; color: #ffffff; border-color: #aaaaaa;\" border=\"1\" frame=\"box\" rules=\"none\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>N<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>W<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"right\"><strong>E<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"3\" align=\"center\"><strong>S<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" align=\"left\">\n<div style=\"margin-left: 1em;\"><strong>\u2660 \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n\u2663 \u2014<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: none; padding: 1px;\" colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"><strong>\u2660 K 10 9 2<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2665<\/span> \u2014<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: red;\">\u2666<\/span> J 9 7 5 2<br \/>\n\u2663 A Q 9 8<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Double. Despite having only 10 HCP, you should make a takeout double and not be ashamed of it. Compare this to hand #2, which as 4 HCP more. This is a much better takeout double than that was. A void is a powerful feature as it provides ruffing power in the dummy and reduces the value of the enemy high cards.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><strong>If you\u2019d like to see the associated videos with commentary and animate card bidding:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/bridgehands-videos.s3.amazonaws.com\/Polling_You_28_Part_1\/Polling_You_28_Part_1.html\">Click here to view Part 1<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/bridgehands-videos.s3.amazonaws.com\/Polling_You_28_Part_2\/Polling_You_28_Part_2.html\">Click here to view Part 2<\/a><br \/>\nCopyrighted by <em>BridgeHands<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Premium and ULTRA Members &#8211; please login for lesson details<br \/>\n<\/strong>Please login or register to view this content.<\/p>\nPlease login or register to view this content.\n<p><strong>Thank you for attending our online Bridge virtual training class.\u00a0 We appreciate your support and look forward to supporting your Bridge instructional needs.<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<strong>Warm Regards,<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Michael<br \/>\n<em>BridgeHands<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Takeout Double: The perfect Bridge bid with an opening hand and shortness in opponents suit JavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work. Online Surveys by Constant Contact. Tweet Sometimes one must use force to go against force, sometimes not.\u00a0 When you stop to think about it, a more elegant way to compete is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1376"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1376"}],"version-history":[{"count":96,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3308,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1376\/revisions\/3308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}