Advancing a Takeout Double

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Advancing a takeout double is quite different than responding to an opening bid.  On the auction shown below, West doesn't have the luxury of passing with a weak hand like ♠7652 ♥ 843 ♦954 ♣852.  West doesn't expect to beat 1♠X.  Overtricks can be very expensive.  West should bid 2♣, their cheapest 3-card suit.  Since the partner of the takeout double may need to bid with weak hands, a minimum bid of a new suit in response to a takeout double shows 0 to 8 points, including Support Points. 

With a better hand, the advancer (the partner of the takeout doubler), can jump in a new suit to show 9-11 Support Points.  With a stronger hand, advancer cue bids, bids the opponent's suit, to show 12+ Support Points.  Because a takeout double includes Support Points, not just HCP, advancing in notrump shows a better hand than the same natural notrump response to an opening bid.  The Table below summarizes the meaning of advances to a takeout double.

If responder bids, the advancer is no longer obligated to bid with a weak hand.  So a minimum response shows some values.  Other bids adjust accordingly. 

The table below summarizes advancer's bids after a new suit or a raise by responder.  

When responder redoubles, showing 10+ points and interest in penalty double, jumps are preemptive.  

If responder has a 2-suited hand, generally bid your higher suit first to make it convenient to show your 2nd suit. 

When partner makes a takeout double of a Weak 2 bid as shown in the auction below, what range should a 3♥ bid by advancer show?

Is West showing a hand like hand 1 or is hand 2 a better example?

1. ♠7652 ♥A643 ♦J5 ♣A52
2. ♠7652 ♥J643 ♦QJ5 ♣52

If the takeout doubler has ♠4 ♥KQ82 ♦KT6 ♣KQJ84, they should bid 4♥ opposite hand 1, and they should pass opposite hand 2.  A 0-10 point range for a new suit at the 3-level is a poor foundation for accurate bidding.  When there isn't enough room for natural bidding to reasonably allow you to place the contract, you need to give up a natural bid an use it as an artificial switch to clarify the meaning of other bids.  We recommend playing Lebensohl over the double of a Weak 2 bid.  See Karen Walker's article for more on this topic.  

High level takeout doubles are typically converted for penalty.  Your partner needs a good reason to bid.  On the auction shown below, West would pass, converting the double for penalty, with a hand like ♠J765 ♥83 ♦Q854 ♣K73.  West would bid 4♠ with a shapely hand like ♠A9753 ♥743 ♦KQ4 ♣7.

When partner makes a takeout double in the balancing seat, as shown in the auction below, your partner already has a good idea of your strength.  Don't punish your partner by bidding aggressively.  See our Balancing article for a discussion.