ACBL00

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