Competitive auctions enable the use of the “double” bid. Each type of double has a name to help you remember the associated meaning. These names include:
- Lead Direction
- Penalty
- Takeout
- Negative
- Maximal
- Support
- Balancing
- Reopening
- Responsive.
Three factors determine the meaning of a double bid, specifically:
- Partnership Agreement
- Bidder’s role
- Previous bids.
Partnership Agreement
The partnership agrees on what constitutes a takeout double versus a penalty double. For example, partnerships commonly interpret the double of an opponent’s bid of:
- 3-Hearts or lower as a takeout double
- 3-Spades or higher as a penalty double.
Based on the convention a partnership plays to defend against NT bids, a partnership might interpret the double of an opponent’s 1NT bid as a penalty double.
Most partnerships also agree that the double of an artificial bid provides a lead direction.
If the double is not for takeout, penalty, or lead direction, use the bidder’s role to exclude some double types from further consideration.
Bidder’s Role
No role can make every type of double. For example, the Opener cannot make a negative double. Thus, you can exclude some double types from further consideration when the Opener doubles. Having used the partnership agreement to exclude takeout, penalty, and lead direction doubles, the following chart identifies the remaining role-specific double types.
Role-specific Doubles
| Double Type | Bidder's Role | |||
| Opener | Overcaller | Responder | Advancer | |
| Maximal | X | |||
| Support | X | |||
| Balancing | X | |||
| Reopening | X | |||
| Negative | X | |||
| Responsive | X | |||
Responder can only make negative doubles and Advancer can only make responsive doubles.
A negative double asks the Opener to bid one of the two remaining unbid suits.
An Advancer’s double only constitutes a responsive double when the Overcaller doubled the Opener and the Responder has raised in the Opener’s suit. In short, the Advancer’s double is in response to the Overcaller’s double. If the Opener bid a major suit, a responsive double asks the Overcaller for support in a minor suit. If the Opener bid a minor suit, a responsive double asks the Overcaller for support in a major suit.
Interpreting Opener and Overcaller doubles requires examination of previous bidding.
Opener Doubles
The Responder’s bid differentiates between the Opener’s remaining two types of double, maximal and support.
Maximal Double: If the Responder raises in the Opener’s suit, the Opener’s double represents a maximal double. A maximal double asks Responder to bid 3 of the agreed suit for a part-score.
Maximal Double Example
| Bid # | Opener | Responder | Overcaller | |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1 | 1-Heart | Pass | 2-Hearts | 2-Spades |
| 2 | Double |
Support Double: If the Responder bids a new suit, the Opener’s double represents a support double. Opener uses a support double to promise exactly 3 cards in Responder’s suit.
Support Double Example
| Bid # | Opener | Responder | Overcaller | |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1 | 1-Heart | Pass | 2-Spades | 2-Clubs |
| 2 | Double |
Overcaller Doubles
Balancing Double: Overcalling the Opener’s bid from the 4th seat (pass-out seat) with a double constitutes a balancing double. A balancing double is a takeout double, but promises 3 fewer HCPs than a standard takeout double.
Balancing Double Example
| Bid # | Opener | Responder | Overcaller | |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1 | 1-Heart | Pass | Pass | Double |
Reopening Double: As a passed hand, a double from an Overcaller constitutes a reopening double. A reopening double is a takeout double, but promises 3 fewer HCPs than a standard takeout double.
Reopening Double Example
| Bid # | Opener | Overcaller | Responder | |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1 | 1-Club | Pass | 1-Diamond | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | Double |
