Takeout Double

Rev: May 2, 1998

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After opponents have opened the bidding and your partner has not made a bid other than pass. The regular takeout double announces that you have support for the unbid suits, especially the unbid major(s). The purpose is to compete for the hand and to describe your hand to partner.

Note: Most players take a double of opponent’s bid as a takeout through the 4 Diamond level. Higher bids by the opponents are for penalty.

There are two kinds of hands suitable for takeout doubles. If these criteria are not met, overcall instead of doubling.

1. The regular takeout double:

	You have from a good 10 HCP (sometimes less) to 16 HCP and the proper shape.
	You are usually short in the opponent’s suit.
	You have support for the unbid major(s) and maybe for the other unbid suits.
	Never make a takeout double with shortness in a unbid major. If possible, overcall instead.
	Never make a takeout double with a void in an unbid suit. If possible, overcall instead.

2. The “big” takeout double:

	You have at least 17 HCP and a hand too good to overcall.
	“Proper shape” is not required as in the regular takeout double.
	You announce this type of hand on your next turn by bidding your own suit or NT instead of normally supporting your partner’s answering bid.

Responses:

	Partner assumes you have a regular takeout double and bids his longest unbid suit, or NT if a good hand (has opponent’s suit well stopped and some outside strength, but no 4-card major). If partner has a 4-card unbid major and a 5-card unbid minor, he bids the major suit first.
	A non-jump = 0 - 8 distributional points.
	A jump bid = 9 - 11 distributional points
	A cuebid = 12+ distributional points