Responsive Doubles & 4th Suit Doubles

Consider an auction that begins 1♥ - X - 2♥. What should you bid holding ♠K8 ♥943 ♦Q962 ♣K743? Allowing your opponents to play in their fit at the 2-level is losing bridge. You would like to play in a 4-4 or better fit in a minor. Guessing which minor to bid could leave you in a 4-3 fit when a 4-4 or 5-4 fit is available. Don't guess. Use a Responsive Double to consult your partner.

Responsive Double Definition

A double by Advancer after their partner has overcalled or doubled
and responder has raised or bid 1NT
Shows values and a desire to compete
Shows more than 1 place to play
Denies a 1-suiter

Responsive Doubles apply at any level.

South	West	North	East
2♠	3♥	4♠	X

On the above auction, Responsive Doubles apply because the opponents bid and raised, and your partner (West) overcalled. East's Responsive doubles shows values and more than one place to play. Here, East is showing the minors and the values to compete.

High level Responsive Doubles may be more card showing and are often converted for penalty.

Responsive Doubles are flexible because they consult partner on choosing the right strain and they can be converted for penalty. Responsive Doubles are a great to show values & consult your partner when you aren’t sure what to bid

4^th Suit Doubles

4^th Suit Doubles and Redoubles are used after your partner overcalls and 3 suits have been bid without a jump. A 4^th Suit Double shows length in the unbid suit and tolerance (at least Ten-doubleton) for your partner's suit. Bidding the 4^th suit rather than making a 4^th Suit Double (or Redouble) shows length in the 4^th suit, but denies tolerance for the suit your partner overcalled.

For example, if you hold ♠A54 ♥AJT85 ♦3 ♣JT72 and your left hand opponent opens 1♣, you overcall 1♥., and the auction proceeds as follows:

South	West	North	East
1♣	1♥	1♠	2♦
Pass	?

You have just one diamond. Should you rebid your hearts to try to improve the contract? Playing 4^th Suit Doubles, your partner would have doubled to show long diamonds and heart tolerance. Since your partner bid 2♦ rather than doubling, you know your partner doesn't have heart tolerance. This knowledge helps you decide to pass, ending this misfit auction as quickly as possible.

4^th Suit Redoubles apply when responder shows a 3^rd suit with a Negative Double.

South	West	North	East
1♣	1♥	X	XX

North's Negative Double shows exactly 4 spades. East's redouble is a 4^th Suit Redouble. It shows length in the 4^th Suit, diamonds, and tolerance for their partner's heart suit. East might have a hand like ♠84 ♥Q3 ♦AQJ962 ♣73.

Exception to 4^th Suit Doubles

The auction below is an exception for 4^th Suit Doubles.

South	West	North	East
1♣	1♦	1♥	?

Bridge scoring, especially matchpoints, rewards major suit contracts. When advancer (East) can bid 1♠, the priority is to determine whether your partnership has a spade fit. It is important to differentiate a 4-card spade suit from a 5+ card spade suit. Our recommendation is to double with a 4-card spade suit and bid 1♠ with 5+ spades. This is more important than confirming or denying tolerance for partner's diamond suit.

Examples for East's bid on the above auction: