Articles for newer players

SHOWING A STRONG HAND

When the opposition open the bidding with a suit bid at the one level, we double to show an opening hand reasonably balanced between the other three suits apart from opener’s. There is, though, another type of hand for which we use a take-out double. Take the following hand:

 A6

 AKJT54

 K82

 J3

We have a strong hand with a long and strong suit. If we simply overcall 1, our partner might pass with a few scattered points but without heart support. We might have enough to make game but no-one would bid over 1.

So, a second hand type for the take-out double is single suited with at least 16hcp. Whatever happens after the double (well, almost whatever!), you can bid hearts at the lowest possible level to show this hand type.

This was the bidding when the above hand occurred:

West          North         East            South

                                                          1

X                 1              Pass            1NT (12-14)

2              2               3              All Pass

As you will see, East did not have a very strong hand but was able to bid just once knowing that their partner had a strong hand with hearts. Had West held an even stronger hand (say a 20 count), they would have raised to game. West knew East was very weak and being on the minimum end for the hand type they had shown, passed the 3 bid. These were the 4 hands:

 

 

 

Go Back View All News Items