Support Double/Redouble

Rev: July 7, 1998

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You open the bidding, LHO may or may not overcall, partner responds in his major suit, RHO overcalls partner’s bid. You make a Support Double to show exactly three-card support for partner’s major suit. If you have four-card support you would support his suit by bidding it. If, instead RHO doubles (negative) over your partner’s response, you do a Support Redouble to show exactly three-card support.

Purpose is to tell partner how many cards you have in support of his suit.

	Only when partner’s response is a major suit.
	You can have any type of hand.
	Doubles are “support” up to a bid of 2H (some play through 3S) by RHO. Otherwise the double is for penalties.
	Off if RHO’s bid is greater than 2H (unless you play on through 3S).
	Off if you know partner’s major suit response shows five or more cards.

Exception:

[ 1C 1H 1S 2H ] [ ??

This is unique sequence indicates partner has five or more spades. If he had four he would have made a Negative Double. In this case you do not make a Support Double with three-card support. Simply bid 2S.

Note: If partnership agrees to bid 4-card majors at the one-level in lieu of a Negative Double then a Support Double is proper in the above example.