A disturbed double is:
- Penalty if we have forced to game, or we have pre-empted, or if the scramble window has been open, or if we have already 'trained the guns' (see below); otherwise …
- Takeout if the doubled bid is a natural suit bid; the takeout may be either two-suited or three-suited; otherwise …
- Values, and where partner has already shown some values, it is train-the-guns i.e. subsequent doubles by either of you are for penalty.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | 2 | 3 | |
| dbl | | | | |
Penalty: we pre-empted by opening
2.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | 1 | 2 | |
| dbl | | | | |
Takeout, suggesting heart shortage.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | | 2 | |
| dbl | | | | |
If
2 is a Multi, this shows defensive values, typically a weak no-trump.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | 1 | 2NT | |
| dbl | | | | |
Whatever
2NT means, this is train-the-guns, asking partner to cooperate in expressing an opinion.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | 3 | dbl | 3 | |
| dbl | | | | |
You shouldn't take bids like
3 too seriously – it is often a lead director or just plain mischief-making on a hand that will scuttle back to clubs if the going gets tough. So treat double as train-the-guns, and
4 to play.
A values double with as little as 12 points. A weak hand opposite may have to scramble with less than about 7 points, so minimum doubler should have at least two plausible places to play.
If a takeout doubler pulls partner's initial response to one of the other options, he is revealing his double to be two-suited. If he makes the cheapest such bid, it is not forcing; otherwise it is.
| West | North | East | South | |
|---|
| | | | 3 | |
| dbl | pass | 3 | pass | |
| 3 | | | | |
Forcing, showing a strong major two-suiter.
3 instead would have been non-forcing, offering a choice of
3 and
3 as the final contract.
When it is no longer rational for a double to be takeout or values, then it is usually penalty or lead-directing. But a late double of a freely bid 3NT or slam is for a club lead.
NEXT: disturbed pass