Touching Escapes

Touching Escapes comprise an escape system after the opponents double your 1NT opening bid for penalty.

Partner	Opp 1	You	Opp 2
1NT	Dbl	?

Over the opposing double, the conventional bids are as follows.

Bid	Meaning
Pass	At least 4-4 in two "non-touching" suits (clubs and hearts, clubs and spades, diamonds and spades), or a hand worth a penalty redouble. Requires partner to redouble.
Redouble	A one-suited hand. Requires partner to bid 2.
2	At least 4-4 in clubs and diamonds. Partner can pass or correct to diamonds.
2	At least 4-4 in diamonds and hearts. Partner can pass or correct to hearts.
2	At least 4-4 in hearts and spades. Partner can pass or correct to spades.
2	5+ spades. To play.

After the following sequence:

Partner	Opp 1	You	Opp 2
1NT	Dbl	Pass!	Pass
Redbl!	Pass	?

Bid	Meaning
Pass	A good hand that wants to play 1NT redoubled.
2	Clubs and hearts or clubs and spades. If opener does not want to play in clubs, he can correct to 2, asking responder to pass with hearts or correct to 2.
2	Diamonds and spades. Partner can correct to spades if he wants.

After the following sequence:

Partner	Opp 1	You	Opp 2
1NT	Dbl	Redbl!	Pass
2!	Pass	?

Bid	Meaning
Pass	5+ clubs.
2	5+ diamonds. To play.
2	5+ hearts. To play.
2	5+ spades. To play. Note that responder has two ways of showing spades; by this route or by responding 2 immediately.

With 4-3-3-3 shape, responder can either treat his four-card suit as a five-card suit, or he can treat his four-card suit and his best 3-card suit as a two-suiter.