Bridge

WHEN you double a weak no-trump there is no rule that opponents have to sit for it – often they will run to what they hope is a better spot. So it is important to discuss with your partner what later doubles mean.

Here, for example, South sensibly removed 1NT to his five-card suit. With this hand West would be delighted to double for penalties. The defenders appear to have about nine tricks in defence for 1100, though it can be difficult to take the maximum from a low-level doubled contract, but they should surely take 800. But suppose South had bid 2C rather than 2D: what should West bid now? A small doubleton trump is not the best holding for a low-level penalty double, but if he passes East cannot tell whether he has any values at all. For this reason, many partnerships have the agreement that after a penalty double of 1NT the next double, by either partner, is takeout. That would mean that if South bid 2C West could double to show some values, and East could pass happily, converting the takeout double into a penalty one. When South bids 2D West cannot double, since partner is bound to bid something, so he passes. When 2D comes round to East he makes a takeout double, and West passes for penalty.

Such an agreement is particularly useful when opponents make artificial rescue bids. The partner of the double can show some values without insisting on trying to take a penalty.