October 2022 - 51

Newer Players
Bidding Basics
BY LARRY COHEN
larryco.com
U
sually, if you make a takeout
double, you won't bid again.
Partner will assume the
12-17 HCP range (see earlier articles).
If partner takes out your double
to a suit (without jumping), it shows
0-8 HCP. Combined, your side won't
have enough for game.
There are two situations where the
doubler can take a second action:
* With the " big " double - 18 or more
HCP and a five-card or longer suit
(if you rebid a suit)
* Partner has shown values
The big double
Doubling and voluntarily bidding
again shows 18 or more points, counting
distribution. Let's say you double
their 1' opening with:
A Q 10 8 7 kA K 2 lA Q J '3 2.
Partner takes out your double to
1k (0-8 HCP). You should bid 1. Because
partner might have 8, and you
have 20, you shouldn't pass. Maybe
partner has:
K 5 2 kQ J 8 5 l10 2 '9 7 6 5.
You belong in 4. When you double
and bid again (showing a big hand),
three club tricks, regardless of who
holds the queen. This elimination
endplay is a very difficult play to find,
but the key idea is that when you have
a guess, you want to see if you can
make your opponents lead a suit for
you.
You might even have found this
without trying diamonds first (that's
pretty good!). It would work to make
your contract.
However far you got in your plan,
enjoy it. Then try and get more of it
next time!
Takeout doubler's next action
partner will realize that 6 HCP (the
hand above) is good. As to what partner
should do, we'll get to that down
the road.
For this month we are focusing on
what the doubler shows by doubling
and bidding again. Doubling and bidding
a suit shows 18+ and a five-card
(or longer) suit, however that " + " is a
bit misleading. Technically doubling
and bidding again has an upper limit.
Doubling then bidding notrump is
about 18-20. Doubling then bidding
a suit can be a little more. But neither
action is forcing. So, these are possible
auctions:
West Partner East You
1' Dbl
Pass
Pass
1 Pass
1NT
Pass
Pass
1l
Pass
West Partner East You
1' Dbl
Pass
1k
Pass
If the doubler has a really big hand,
he can double and then jump (or double
and then cuebid the opponent's
suit). These hands are quite rare, so
let's leave things for now with our
slightly inexact/incomplete point
range.
What should the partner of the
doubler (the " advancer " ) do after the
double? Tune in next month.
Advancer has shown values
When the advancer chooses a suit
without jumping, it is 0-8 HCP. But
sometimes the advancer will show
more. Consider these auctions:
A
West North East Advancer
1l Dbl Pass 1NT (6-10 HCP)
B
West North East Advancer
1k Dbl Pass 2 (9-12 HCP)
C
West North East Advancer
1 Dbl Pass 2NT (11-12 HCP)
In each case, the advancer has
shown the values in the parentheses.
Accordingly, the doubler need not
have 18 (the big double) to bid again.
In A, suppose the doubler has:
A J 7 6 kK 10 9 8 l3 2 'A K Q.
That's 17 opposite 6-10, which
means the partnership has 23-27.
There could easily be a game, so the
doubler shouldn't pass. Should he
raise to 3NT? That wouldn't be good
opposite a 6-count. What should
doubler do? 2NT would be invitational.
It says, " Partner, if you are near
the bottom, like 6 or 7 or a bad 8, then
pass; but if you are at the top, like 10,
9 or a good 8, then go to 3NT. "
Advanced (confusing?) note: Double
followed by bidding a suit after
partner's takeout to notrump, is natural
and strong (we don't use Stayman
and transfers on this auction). For
example, 1l-Dbl-Pass-1NT; Pass-
2k shows a big hand by logic. (It is
a five-card suit, so why didn't the
doubler just overcall 1k? Because he
was too strong for an overcall.)
In B maybe doubler has:
A 10 7 6 k2 lA Q 7 6 'A 10 8 6.
This isn't the big double, but after
the 2 jump, the doubler wants to get
higher. He can bid 3 to invite, but
I'd recommend 4 with this beautiful
control-rich hand.
October 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
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51
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October 2022

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