The double is used when opener starts with one of a suit, responder makes a new suit reply, and the next player interferes. The goal is to help you distinguish 3- and 4-card trump support, which can be invaluable. Here's the type of bidding accident that the support double can prevent:
West | East | ||||
KT | 65 | ||||
AJ8 | KQ952 | ||||
K97 | A852 | ||||
QT963 | KJ | ||||
West 1 1NT |
North Pass 3 |
East 1 3NT |
South 1 All Pass |
East's 1 only promises a 4-card suit. So when South overcalls
Now East is stuck over
This is where support doubles come into play. Imagine that West could have doubled
West 1 Dbl |
North Pass 3 |
East 1 4 |
South 1 All Pass |
What a difference in the auction. West's double shows exactly 3 hearts. East, now aware of the 8-card fit, simply bids
What do East-West lose by using a support double? A natural penalty double of
Some fine print when support doubles apply:
And now, some more fine print when support doubles might NOT apply:
This is a lot to digest, so hopefully the ensuing examples will help.
West 1 Dbl |
North 1 |
East 1 |
South 2 |
Double shows exactly 3 spades. It does not matter 1) whether North has bid or not, or 2) whether North-South bid the same suit.
West 1 2 |
North 1 |
East 1 |
South 2 |
2 guarantees 4 hearts. West would have doubled holding only 3-card support.
West 1 2 |
North Pass |
East 1 |
South 1 |
2 shows 6+ clubs and denies as many as 3 hearts. Making a support double is opener's first priority.
West 1 Redbl |
North Pass |
East 1 |
South Dbl |
Support doubles can also be used if the opponents double responder's bid. In this case, West makes a support redouble.
West 1 Dbl |
North Pass |
East 1 |
South 1NT |
If South's 1NT is natural and strong, then West's double is for penalty. A support double would risk landing in a 4-3 heart fit after South has advertised strength with a heart stopper.
West 1 Dbl |
North 1 |
East 1 |
South 1NT |
...If you really want to get nuanced, however, you can play support doubles when responder guarantees a 5-card major and the next player bids a strong 1NT. Here East has promised 5 spades because he could have made a negative double with only four. Depending on your faith in the Law of Total Tricks, it might make sense to bid up to the 2-level with 8 trumps.
In each of the following auctions, responder has roughly 6-10 points. Opener is allowed to keep bidding with extras.
West AK7 9543 9 AK876 |
East QJ532 A92 Q65 T9 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North 1 Pass |
East 1 22 |
South 2 |
West QT8 753 A9 AQJ76 |
East A87 A942 T875 T9 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 1NT2 |
South 1 |
West JT85 Q53 A92 AQJ |
East 9 A942 K8753 T95 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 22 |
South 1 |
West KQJ KQJT AQ42 84 |
East A8763 A942 5 T95 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 22 |
South 2 |
West JT85 Q53 A9 AQJ7 |
East 9 A942 K753 T954 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 22 |
South 1 |
West AQ K53 KJ754 976 |
East T983 QT76 Q62 AJ |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 22 |
South 2 |
If responder jump-rebids her suit at the 3-level, then she has 10-12 points with a 5+ card suit. Opener is invited to bid game.
West AQ K53 KJ754 976 |
East T98 AQJ84 A62 J5 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 32 |
South 2 |
If responder rebids or jump-rebids 2NT, then she has 10-12 balanced points and only a 4-card suit.
West AQ K53 KJT54 976 |
East 432 QT84 A62 AQ4 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 2NT2 |
South 2 |
If responder jump-raises opener's suit, then she shows 4+ card support with only a 4-card major. This tends to imply the lack of an enemy stopper; otherwise responder would have bid 2NT.
West AQ K53 KJT54 976 |
East J32 AQJ4 A962 T2 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 32 |
South 2 |
If responder makes an artificial cue-bid, then she has a good 12+ points. This is forcing to game.
West K53 AQ KJT54 976 |
East AQJ42 K32 A62 T2 |
|||
West 1 Dbl1 |
North Pass Pass |
East 1 32 |
South 2 |
Rodwell, Eric. Bidding Topics. Louisville, Baron Barclay Bridge Supply, 2017.
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