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Using Standard American my left hand opponent bid one heart. Partner passed. Right hand opponent raised to two hearts. I was in the "balancing" (fourth) seat and held:

(s) Axxx (h) x (d) KJxx (c) Axxx, doubling for takeout.

Partner passed me for "penalty" with Axxx in the suit, and the opponents made 2H, which (doubled) amounted to game.

I said that I expected a (competing) bid. Partner claimed that her original pass was a "bid" and therefore would not have "taken out" the double in any event. She was pleased to pass for penalty, but expected me to have something like Qxx, in which case we WOULD have set the opponents.

I always thought a double was for takeout until partner bid. And that partner couldn't pass except in very limited circumstances. Does Axxx in the opponent's suit represent enough "defense" to pass? Or does the previous pass justify the later one?

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3 Answers 3

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If you and your partner are playing standard takeout doubles, this double would certainly be for takeout. The opponent's have not necessarily finished their bidding yet (the 1H bidder could still bid on), and you have not had a chance to bid before this. Partner has passed, but you knew that and took that into consideration before you doubled. Partner needs to trust you, and bid a suit that he has length in, or bid 2NT with the necessary stoppers and strength. If he wants to pass, he does so at his own peril and should have a hand that can set 2H on his own nearly from the outset.

Given your options, the double is a good bid, and gives you the best chance of finding your best fit as cheaply as as possible.

One minor point: you really weren't balancing here. "Balancing" refers to the person who, if they passed, would end the bidding. Since LHO could have bid over the 2H if they had more strength, you were competing, not balancing.

(Edit: Expanded upon partner's responses)

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  • @dpmattingly: OK, I wasn't "balancing" even though I was in the fourth seat because third seat had bid, right?
    – Tom Au
    Jun 14, 2011 at 14:05
  • Correct, balancing is a bid made when a pass would end the auction. You do sometimes hear about balancing refered to as a fourth-seat bid, but that refers to auctions which go 1X-Pass-Pass.
    – dpmattingly
    Jun 14, 2011 at 14:10
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    "... and bid a suit he has length in, regardless of his strength or his heart holding". This is not right. 2NT is always an option. With AKQJT of hearts, partner can choose to pass 2H doubled.
    – Aryabhata
    Jun 14, 2011 at 15:06
  • @Aryabhata 2NT is an option, yes. Pass is an option as well, but it's going to have to be a hand that can nearly beat 2H by itself (and if he has AKQJT of hearts, one of the opponents has lied).
    – dpmattingly
    Jun 14, 2011 at 15:15
  • @Tom: Axxx of hearts is not a good enough defensive holding opposite a takeout doubler of hearts, to be passing the double. In fact, it is a very good offensive holding and partner should strive to bid instead of passing 2H doubled.
    – Aryabhata
    Jun 14, 2011 at 15:18
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I would definitely understand your double to be for takeout; and I would indeed expect partner's pass to be for penalties, based on confidence of taking down 2H.

That said, if you're that confident of taking down 2H, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be confident enough to compete in the auction. And since, as it turned out, your partner didn't have enough defensive strength to justify his pass, I think you were right to be a little aggrieved on this occasion!

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The double is for takeout, because it was made at the doubler's first opportunity to confront the opposing heart bids.

A rough rule of thumb isthat in order to double (or convert a takeout double for penalties), the "doubler" (partner was this in effect) should have at least 13-n of the suit in which the bidder contracted for n tricks. That is, you need at least six to double a one bid, five to double a two bid, etc. The "passer" should have had at least five hearts and only had four. The (hypothetical) fifth heart should have been the K, and, giving the passer a holding of AKxxx, and in the event of six hearts, the second highest should be at least the 9, giving a potential second trump trick. With her actual holding, she should have taken out the double to avoid the "doubling into game," a disaster.

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  • I would add that: (1) the trump length you describe is a minimum requirement rather than a sufficient one; and (2) In this circumstance where partner is making the opening lead, Partner must also have a trump holding such that leading it at trick 1 is unlikely to cost a defensive trick.
    – Forget I was ever here
    Aug 8 at 23:38
  • @ForgetIwaseverhere: I added "at leasts" and minimum rank holdings to make it clear that these are minimum holdings. "
    – Tom Au
    Aug 9 at 6:39

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