Trust Your Partner -- Not the Opponents. With values, fourth hand must bid, trusting the doubling partner to have any unbid majors and points. This is the reason that good discipline for takeout doubles is so important.If the third hand bids, the fourth hand can't have many points.
If there is something left for you to bid, it is usually distributional in nature, not strength.
However, third hand bids at duplicate will often be preemptive: [1§ - Dbl - 3§ - ] or [1ª - Dbl - 3ª ]
Guidelines for Responses to a Takeout Double When Third Hand Bids?N E S W
1§ Dbl [Bid]
West should:
Preempt with a long minor -- e.g., 3¨
Bid 1 NT with 8+ HCP and stoppers in opponents' suits.
Responsive Double with 8+ (over a raise to 2 Clubs by South).
Bid an unbid major with 4+ cards and 7+ HCP.
Over a Redouble, bid any 5+ card suit as a possible rescue.
Pass with nothing -- he's off the hook to bid.
Example Responses to a Takeout Double When Third Hand Bids:© ???N E S W
1§ Dbl 1
West's Hands
|
ª xx | ª xx |
ª Jxxx |
| © Qxx | © KQx |
© xx |
|
|
¨ KJTxxx | ¨ QJxx |
¨ KQxx |
|
§ xx | § QJxx |
§ xxx |
Bid: |
3 ¨ | 2 Notrump |
1 ª |