Dubious Logic

Taking out take-out doubles

Take out doubles are for taking out - stop me if I'm going too fast. As the penalty double receives an increasingly retiring role in the modern game, "double" is the answer to many a bidding problem. Many use the call simply as a substitute for indecision but most 'take out' doubles allow the opportunity that partner might leave it in for penalty.

As the level increases that becomes more likely. So while a double of an opening one-bid is seldom passed, when opponents play weak twos and threes, it becomes more likely. You'll need a few trumps of course but many tournament pairs play take-out doubles over four-level openings too. Here the only requirement to leave in the double is a balanced hand, not necessarily a great trump holding. A similar gradient applies to other situations. When you balance you must be aware that some of the time your partner will pass - a deal from a recent match:

Perhaps South's enthusiasm to open strong no-trump obstructed the path to 3NT but East couldn't resist re-opening. Not a bad sentiment but double caught West with the possibilities of passing. Ideally he would have liked better spade spots but you can't have everything and many would have passed. South had little trouble in garnering eight tricks and in fact took nine. Who's to blame? East I think – re-open if you must, but 2NT better shows your distributional rather than defensive hand.

If you play negative doubles when the opponents overcall – almost a synonym for take-out – then opposite a pass you must be prepared to sit for a double. However, even if you have a copper-bottomed example it won't always work out well:

There was no way to defeat two hearts either. Whilst South may have a perfect pass of 1♠ he must be less sanguine about defending. The great spade suit – but noticeably lacking the ace – and the length in partner's opener ought to persuade him of the wisdom of declaring spades rather than defending hearts.

Published Saturday 30.Jul.2005