Tip No. 6

This week I would like to look at converting a Take Out Double into a Penalty.

                                      ♠    Q 9 5 4                              Dealer West

            ♡   Q J 8 4 3                            No-one vulnerable

            ♢   Q 9                                 

♠  A 8 7 6                     ♣   8 2                       ♠    10 3 2

♡  2                                                                ♡   K 10 9 7 6 5

♢  K 4 3 2                                                      ♢   A 6

♣  J 10 5 3                   ♠    K J                       ♣   7 6

            ♡   A

            ♢    J 10 8 7 5

            ♣   A K Q 9 4

West dealt and No Bid, as did I as North.  East opened a pre-emptive 2H showing 6-10 points and six hearts.  My partner, John, wanted to show his clubs and diamonds with an overcall, and over a 2-level pre-emptive opening my chosen method is to double first and if partner does not choose one of the two suits to bid again.  This double is a “take out” which asks me to bid something and hence negate the double or “take it out”.  John thought it was most likely I would bid spades and he intended then, instead of passing which is usual after making a take out double, to bid 3C to show both clubs and diamonds.  West passed and I considered bidding 2S but, because I had such a strong heart holding,  decided instead to No Bid which converts John’s take out double into a ‘penalty’ double.  East had nowhere to run to so No Bid and 2H^x was the final contract.  John led ♣A and the contract went two down giving us a score of 300.  So, in this instance it was correct not to take out my partner’s take out double.

Contact June Booty on 07846 397875 or junetaplin@live.co.uk for information about Bridge classes.