A Support Double (or Redouble) is used by opener to show exactly 3-card support for responder's suit,. Responder immediately knows whether they have an 8+ card fit or not.
Opener’s raise of responder’s suit shows 4+ card support, confirming an 8+ card fit.
|
Convention |
Context |
Problem Solved |
Description |
|
Support Doubles & Redoubles |
Used by opener after responder bids a suit and RHO doubles or overcalls or below 2 of responder’s suit |
In a competitive auction, responder often needs to distinguish between 3-card or 4+ card support. |
Opener’s double (or redouble) of their LHO’s bid shows exactly 3-card support for responder’s suit. |
| South | West | North | East |
| 1♦ | Pass | 1♠ | 2♥ |
| 2♠ |
Playing Support Doubles, opener's raise of responder's suit shows 4+ card support. On the auction to the right, opener's raise to 2♠ shows a minimum opening hand with 4+ spades.
| South | West | North | East |
| 1♦ | Pass | 1♠ | 2♥ |
| X |
If opener to show 3-card spade support, opener would use a Support Double as shown in the auction to the right.
| South | West | North | East |
| 1♦ | Pass | 1♠ | X |
| XX |
Support Redoubles are used to show exactly 3-card support for responder's suit when opener's right-hand-opponent doubles as shown in the auction to the right.
Support Doubles are typically played when the auction is below 2 of responder's suit. We don't recommend making a Support Double mandatory. Sometimes opener wants to emphasize another feature of their hand, like a good long minor suit. Making a Support Double (or Redouble) shows a preference for competing rather than defending. When opener's hand is more oriented towards defending, passing may be preferable to showing 3-card support. A minimum opener, especially an opener that has gotten worse during the auction, will want to slow down the auction by passing rather than showing their 3-card support for responder's suit. Andrew Gumperz addresses this topic well in his "Support Doubles 2" article.
So opener's failure to Double or Redouble doesn't deny 3-card support. Opener may have other priorities. For example on the above auction, we would rebid 2♦ as opener with a hand like ♠964 ♥A5 ♦AQJ973 ♣Q5 to emphasize the length and strength of opener's diamonds and to limit opener's hand.
