Takeout double

A takeout double is a conventional double used in a competitive auction (most often, immediately after an opponent's opening bid) to show a desire to compete, in contrast to a penalty double, which indicates a desire to defend against the opponent's contract. Usually, the call indicates support for the unbid suits and a hand of opening strength or more. The takeout double asks the doubler's partner to bid a suit, and implies shortness in the suit(s) doubled.

Normally, a double is considered takeout whenever one of the following conditions are met:
*Opponent(s) have previously bid only one suit, and the player did not have chance to double that suit before.
*Opponents have previously bid two suits, and the partner has passed
*Opponents have found a fit

only in the first round of bidding, and any subsequent ones are regarded as penalty (but see balancing double below).

In the strict sense, takeout double is a convention, as it does not show desire to penalize the opponents (which is the usual meaning of a double) —quite the opposite. However, it is possibly the oldest bridge convention and treated as an integral part of the game, thus considered natural.

Requirements

Most common requirements to make a takeout double are:
*Shortness (doubleton or less, tripleton at most) in the opponents' suit(s),
*Length (at minimum 3 cards, preferably 4) in the unbid suits,
*High-card point strength of at least a minimal opening bid (11 HCP)

The most common treatment is that the fewer high card points the hand possesses, the distribution must be more strict (i.e. opponent's suit(s) shorter and unbid suits longer). Most players play that cards of 16(17) high card points should double regardless of distribution (unless the hand is suitable for 1NT overcall). Also, more high-card strength is required when opponents have bid on higher levels (e.g. preempted). Most players play that a double up to the level of 4Hearts is takeout, while doubles on higher levels are for penalties or "cooperative" (i.e. the partner is supposed to pass unless his distribution and/or strength indicates that playing a contract of their own on a higher level is a better prospect).

Examples

South, holding BridgeHandInline|Q863|84|A85|K1054 can now double, expecting to find partner with strength and likely length in hearts, allowing him to pass for penalties or make a bid.

A "balancing" double occurs in later rounds of bidding, in situations where opponents have found a fit, but stopped on a low level, placing some points with the partner. It is normally done with a relatively weak hand and the distribution need not be perfect.

South, holding BridgeHandInline|Q863|984|K1085|AJ was not strong enough to double in the first round. However, he can expect the partner to have shortness in hearts and likely 4 cards in spades or diamonds, and thus make a balancing takeout double. Such doubles are more frequent on matchpoint scoring, where even a penalty of −100 for the failure to make 2Spades can be profitable against −110 or −140 that the opponents could score in 2Hearts.

Reopening double

"Reopening" double is a form of takeout double bid by the opener himself, after his left-hand opponent has overcalled and partner has passed. As normal takeout double, it shows support for unbid suits:West's double denotes shortness in spades, and invites partner to bid his best suit. A suitable hand would be e.g. BridgeHandInline|7|AJ85|K63|AQ1052. The partner should bid his longest suit on the lowest level with approximately 0-6 points, 1NT with 5-7 points and stopper in spades, (as he would bid 1NT immediately with 8-10 points), and jump in a suit with 7+ points. Finally, he can pass for penalties with 5 or more cards in spades.

In the past, reopening doubles used to show extra values as well. However, with the inclusion of negative double, responder cannot double for penalties anymore and must pass with length and strength in the overcalled suit. In order to protect against such situations, opener is obliged to double even with thin values, whenever his distribution is suitable. Some pairs even go so far that they require some form of reopening in all cases.

ee also

*Negative double