Responding to a Take-out Double by David Bird

A: 1♠. It is better to respond in a major suit than a minor. If partner has a strong hand, the best chance of game will be in a 4-4 major fit. Since you have only 6 HCP, you should respond at the minimum level.

Your result so far:

A: 2♥. With around 8-10 HCP and a 4-card major, you should give a single jump. This is non-forcing, but it will allow partner to bid game (or make a game-try) when he has something to spare for his double.

Your result so far:

A: 3♣. With a minor suit that has to be bid at the three-level, you need slightly more for a jump response, around 9-11 HCP. Here, you are happy to make such a response because you have a 5-card suit.

Your result so far:

A: 4♠. A 5-card major or, even better, a 6-card major, is a powerful asset. You want to be in 4♠ and it is your responsibility to bid it now.

It would be a serious underbid to respond only 2♠. Your partner would often pass when an excellent spade game was available. If one of your spades was a small club, you would respond 3♠, again non-forcing.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦. You want to play in a game contract. Yes, but which game contract? It would be a poor effort to jump to 4♥, say, and then find that partner holds only three hearts.

Show your strength, usually 11 HCP or more, with a cue-bid in the opponent’s suit. If partner now bids 2♥ or 2♠, you will raise to game.

You must discuss with your partner whether 2♦ should be forcing to game. A popular scheme is to play that it is ‘forcing to suit agreement’. In that case, you could invite a game by raising North’s 2♥ to 3♥. You would do that here if the ♦A was only the ♦Q.

Your result so far: