Responding to a Takeout Double: Keep It Practical
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This is a must know topic that is simple to learn. I'm always surprised how many experienced players get it wrong.
The opponents bid 1♣ and your partner doubles. If you now bid 2 ♥ is it forcing? What would 3♥ mean? Lets clear up those issues now.
What do you bid here?
With so few points, a simple 1♠ is a good idea. Partner is welcome to pass this if they want to. Partner should know that you have not promised any points, you were forced to bid something! Lets change the hand slightly
Your hand is better than the previous hand. It has better shape (5422) and a better quality suit. This hand is starting to have some potential. You have a respectable hand, but certainly nothing you want to get too carried away with. What should you bid? Simply 2 ♠ conveys the simple message "I'm better than bidding 1 ♠". This bid is not forcing.
Lets improve the hand further, what should you bid?
You have a pretty nice hand, that will make a low high card point game a lot of the time. It might be a bit excessive to just bid game, is there any other option? Bid 3♠ once again it conveys the very simple message "I am even better than bidding 2♠", so you should be a good invitational hand, hoping partner can raise you to game. But importantly, this bid is still not forcing.
In summary, if you jump in response to your partners double, you are showing extra strength. Jumping one level shows a decent hand, jumping two levels shows a good invite. However, all those jumps are not forcing. Try understand this concept, because its different to a lot of situations where people play jumps as showing weak hands, but opposite a takeout double, every level you jump shows a better hand, but is still not forcing.
This article is the starting point for this important topic. More articles to come on some other considerations related to responding to takeout doubles.
Where to next
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