Responding to an opening bid after a takeout double
North-South have reached a very poor contract. As so often, each of the two players considers that his partner is responsible for the accident. And you, what do you think?
This month, we will be looking at:
Responding to an opening bid after a takeout double.
Introduction
We follow the adventures and misadventures of two young players as they put their newly acquired skills into practice in regular Club tournaments. Sandy, sitting South, has a solid grasp of bidding techniques after a takeout double. Louis, sitting North, finds it more challenging and he faces much trickier decisions.
Problem 1
E/W Vul.
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠ | Dble | Rdbl | |
| 2♦ | 2♥ | Pass | 3NT |
The facts
Not a great result. 3 No-Trump goes down, and North–South miss the chance to collect a hefty penalty against 2 Diamonds doubled.
Arguments
North: “I was worried we might miss a Heart fit if I passed, or that you weren’t strong enough to protect over 2♦. I have two Diamonds and didn’t consider the possibility of a penalty double.”
South: “We’ve learned that the redouble is autoforcing, expecting partner to pass. I understand your 2♥ bid, and I was probably wrong to push to 3NT ‒ we can easily make 4 Spades. In reality, I intended to double 2♦ for penalties. I think you should pass over 2♦ to find out more.”
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