ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Ward Trumbull
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Jan 25, 2010
Page 1 of 7
When the opponents open the bidding, your partner may pass, make an overcall bid, make a takeout double or make a cue bid of the opener’s suit. These bids are explained in:
ACBL10 – Overcalls, Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids
The response options to overcalls are explained in:
ACBL10ROV – Responses to Partner’s Overcalls,
This handout covers the response options you have when partner makes
a takeout double or cue bids the opponents suit (a Michaels Cue Bid).
1. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of a Suit
In a perfect world, partner’s double guarantees 4+ cards in the
unbid majors. For sure it indicates an opening hand of 13+ HCP. You
therefore should bid any 4+ card unbid major suit up-the-line. With no
such major, bid your longer unbid minor. If the opponent opened with a
major and you have both minors, bid the longer minor suit. If they are
the same length, bid the higher-ranking diamonds (even if clubs have
more honors).
If there is no intervening bid (RHO passes), with 0-8 HCP bid without
skipping. That is, you were forced to bid and are guaranteeing no HCP.
However, with 9+ HCP, you should skip to indicate that your pair has at
least 22+ HCP, partner’s 13 plus your 9.
If your RHO does bid, you are off the hook to respond to partner’s
double. Therefore, any bid you make is a FREE BID and definitely
indicates some points. That would be 6+ HCP at the 1 level or 8+ HCP
at the 2 level.
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Jan 25, 2010
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Page 2 of 7
A. RHO Passes Over Takeout Double
When your RHO passes over partner’s double, your options are:
Pass You are loaded in Left Hand Opponent’s
(LHO) suit and expect to set them for more
points than your pair can make with a
partial score.
1 Diamond You have 0-8 HCP, 4+ diamonds and are
denying a 4+ card unbid major
.
1 of Major You have 0-8 HCP with a 4+ card major.
Remember to respond in the majors
up-the-line, hearts before spades.
1 Notrump You have 0-8 HCP and no 4+ card major.
You should have at least one stopper
in LHO’s opening suit.
2 of a Minor You have 0-8 HCP, and deny a 4+ card
Without a Skip unbid major. With two minor suits, bid
the longer suit; if the same length, bid
the diamonds, even if clubs have more
honors.
2 of a Major You have 0-8 HCP and a 4+ card heart
Without a Skip suit. (Opening bid must be 1 spade.).
2/3 of Any Suit You have 9+ HCP and the same
With a Skip requirements as above. Tell your partner
that your pair has 22+ HCP. .
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Jan 25, 2010
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Page 3 of 7
1. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of a Suit
A. RHO Passes Over Takeout Double (continued)
2 of LHO’s Suit This is a cue bid. You have 9+ HCP, with
probably a 4-4-4-1 hand. The 1 being the
LHO’s suit. You are asking partner to
name his/her suit
.
NOTE: This is a great bid that is rarely
used. [Also note that this cue bid can
mean 12HCP. The partnership should
choose one or the other or both. See
lesson ACBL02.]
1. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of a Suit
B. RHO Bids Over Takeout Double
Pass If RHO’s bid is at the 1 level, you have
0-5 HCP. Or 6+ HCP and can’t make any of
the following bids.
1 Level Double This is a negative double. You have 6+ HCP
and 4 cards in one or both unbid majors.
1 of Unbid Major This too is a negative double. You have 6+
HCP and at least 5+ cards in that major.
1 Notrump You have 6+ HCP, no 4+ card unbid major
and a stopper(s) in their bid suit(s).
2 Level Double This is a negative double. You have 8+ HCP
and 4 cards in one or both unbid majors.
Or you have 6-7 HCP and a 5+ card unbid
major.
2 of a Minor You have 8+ HCP, no 4+ card unbid major
and 4+ cards in that minor.
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Jan 25, 2010
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Page 4 of 7
1. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of a Suit
B. RHO Bids Over Takeout Double (continued)
2 of Unbid Major This too is a negative double. You have 8+
HCP and 5+ cards in that major.
2 Notrump You have12+ HCP and no 4+ card unbid
major. You should have stoppers in the
opponent’s bid suit(s). You may have a long
and strong minor suit you hope to run. This
bid is forcing to game.
2. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of 1 Notrump
A. RHO Passes
If partner doubles a 1 notrump bid, he/she has 15+ HCP and may
or may not have a notrump distribution hand. You should try to make
a Stayman or transfer bid. Note however, you need NO points to bid.
Also (if not a notrump hand) partner may ignore such bids and bid
his/her long suit instead. Your options are:
Pass You think you can get the most points by
setting the opponents in 1 notrump.
2 Clubs A Stayman request which guarantees no
points, yet. This bid should be alerted.
2 Diamonds or A Jacoby Transfer to a major. It might be
Hearts ignored. This bid should be alerted.
2 Notrump It denies Stayman or transfers and is 0-7
HCP. Note the 7 maximum, not 8.
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Jan 25, 2010
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Page 5 of 7
2. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of 1 Notrump
A. RHO Passes (continued)
3 of a Minor This is a warning bid. You have a 6+
card minor suit without much top honors.
Unless partner has strong support for this
suit, 3 notrump won’t make.
NOTE: You do not make minor suit transfers
when partner doubles an opening 1
notrump
3 Notrump This bid denies Stayman or transfers and is
8+ HCP. Note the 8 minimum, not 10.
B. RHO Bids
If partner doubles a 1 notrump bid and RHO bids, you’re off the
hook. However, if you choose to bid, a double of RHO’s bid indicates
that was the bid you would have made. This keeps in tact Stayman
and transfer options. If the bid you were going to make was higher,
go ahead and make it. The meanings of these bids (made or
implied) are the same as above.
3. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of Weak 2 Bid
The rules are a little different when partner doubles a weak 2 bid.
Suppose the opponents open with 2 spades, partner doubles, and
you bid 3 hearts. What is your point count? With zero points you have
to bid. So you could be as low as zero or high as 15+ HCP. So one
technique which I use with partners is that any response to the double at
the 3 level will have at least 8+ HCP. A 2 notrump response denies 8+
HCP. This is known as the Lebensohl 2 Notrump Response.
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Jan 25, 2010
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Page 6 of 7
3. Responses to Partner’s Takeout Double of Weak 2 Bid (cont.)
Example 1: LHO Partner RHO You
2H Double Pass 2 spades
Your bid says you have 4+ spades, but your HCP
are still unknown.
Example 2: LHO Partner RHO You
2H Double Pass 3 diamonds
Your bid says you have 8+ HCP and don’t have
4+ spades, which you could have bid at the 2
level.
This response should be alerted.
Example 3: LHO Partner RHO You
2S Double Pass 2NT
Your bid says you do not have 8 HCP, and it
doesn’t guarantee a spade stopper. It’s a point
count bid only.
This response too should be alerted.
4. Responses to Partner’s Direct Cue Bid
This a Michael’s Cue bid. See ABCL15M1 and ACBL15M2.
Minor Suit Cue – Partner has at least 5/5 in majors.
Heart Suit Cue – Partner has 5+ spades and a 5+ minor.
Spade Suit Cue – Partner has 5+ hearts and a 5+ minor
.
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Jan 25, 2010
Partner’s Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids Page 7 of 7
4. Responses to Partner’s Direct Cue Bid (continued)
A. Minor Suit Cue – Partner has at least 5/5 in majors.
Partner has just bid 2 of opener’s minor.
Bid 2 of your stronger 3+ card major. If none but an A x or K x
major, bid 2 of that suit. No need to skip bid. If none, bid a minor or
notrump.
If there is an intervening bid (you have a free bid), bid a 3+ card
major or pass.
B. Heart Suit Cue – Partner has 5+ spades and a 5+ minor.
Partner has just bid 2 hearts.
With 3+ spades, bid 2 spades. If not but 3+ clubs, bid 3 clubs.
Don’t bid 3 diamonds. If you do, you can bet partner has spades
and clubs. Instead bid 2 notrump.
If there is an intervening bid (you have a free bid), bid 2 spades
with a 3+ spades. Otherwise, pass
C. Spade Suit Cue – Partner has 5+ hearts and a 5+ minor.
Partner has just bid 2 spades.
With 3+ hearts, bid 3 hearts. If not but 3+ clubs, bid 3 clubs.
Don’t bid 3 diamonds. If you do, you can bet partner has hearts
and clubs. Instead bid 2 notrump.
If there is an intervening bid (you have a free bid), bid a 3 hearts
with a 3+ hearts and some points. Otherwise, pass