Responses to Passed Hand Doubles

Excitement. Responses to passed hand doubles are often exciting, as we sometime have to bid a three card major, holding our breath that the opponents 'take the push'. (This is all "balancing", so be sure to understand that technique well.)

Responses are not conventional, as the passed hand doubler has taken a bold move which sometimes backfires. Therefore, responses are all to play. We simply bid the best of the suits shown by the doubler, keeping the level as low as possible. Don't penalize your partner by bidding as though this were a Takeout Double -- it isn't.

Think Tricks -- Not Points. One thing to remember is that high cards will take tricks regardless of what suit is trump, but several low cards, if named trump, will become trick takers. So don't bid the suit with the most high cards -- bid the longest suit you can at the lowest level you can.

N              E              S              W

1¨        P         1©        P

1NT      Dbl       P             ???

West's Hand

ª xxxx

© xxx

¨ Axx

§ KQJx

West should bid 2ª , not 2§ . The § KQJ will take a couple of tricks no matter what, and the little Spades will too. Also, 2ª stops them from bidding 2¨. Make them go to 2NT or 3¨ to declare the contract.

                    N            E         S            W

1©         P          2©          P

P         Dbl          P          ???

West's Hand

ªKxx

©Qxx

¨Axxx

§ xxx

West should bid 2 Spades. East might have 5 Spades, although he should have bid them, if only to take the pressure off West. Even a 4-3 fit is OK at low levels. East could have ª AJTx and 4 or more Diamonds.

                    N            E         S            W

1©       P      1NT     P

P        Dbl     2©         . . .      South suddenly decides N/S can make 8 tricks at Hearts (rather than 7 tricks at Notrump?, Interesting.

             1¨       P       1©      P

             1NT     Dbl     2©      2ª This hand may well belong to E/W.

Each has 4 Spades and some points. Or, N/S may take the push to 3© or 2NT.