When partner responds to my takeout double, what do I need to raise?
Does it make a difference if opener bids again?
When you make a takeout double and partner makes a minimum bid, opener frequently bids again. You may bid again also, but things are not quite the same. Last week, you doubled, partner bid and opener passed. This week we consider what happens when opener makes a second bid.
To get started, here is a typical auction:
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♥ | Dbl | ||
| Pass | 1♠ | 2♥ | ? |
It is generally known that if you double and raise your partner, you need additional strength. Here is a two-part question for you.
Case one. You double 1♥, partner bids 1♠, opener passes. What do you need to raise to 2♠ ?
Case two. You double 1♥, partner bids 1♠, opener bids 2♥. What do you need to raise to 2♠?
Curiously, you need more for a 2♠ bid when opener passes than when opener bids 2♥. Why?
When opener passes, you can also pass with your normal-strength doubles because you know you are not going anywhere. If you can play 1♠, that is fine with you. When you raise, therefore, you need extra values. When opener rebids something, often his original suit, the takeout doubler bids more aggressively because he needs to confirm that he has good spade support as opposed to lesser spade support. Here are a few hands to make that point (the auction is the same as above). What is your call with each hand?
1. ♠ Q 8 7 3 ♥ K 3 ♦ K J 7 3 ♣ K 10 6
2. ♠ A Q 8 3 ♥ 8 3 ♦ A 8 7 ♣ K J 8 3
3. ♠ K 10 7 ♥ J 7 ♦ A K J 3 ♣ Q J 6 3
4. ♠ K 8 2 ♥ A J 2 ♦ Q 7 3 ♣ A K Q 85. ♠ Q J 8 4 ♥ 4 ♦ A J 8 7 ♣ A K 9 8
