"Joan Butts, in her inimitable style of enthusiasm, engagement and bridge wisdom, delivered an excellent two hour workshop on "Doubles" at Peninsula Bridge Club on Tuesday afternoon, 17 October 2017 to an audience of 67.
Once Joan gauged the standard of her audience - which were mainly novices and intermediate players - she pitched her presentation solely to takeout doubles.
In my observation of playing bridge over the last eighteen months, the takeout double is underutilized. Joan confirmed this and explained that a takeout double is a very valuable bid to have in your armory, especially when your pesky opposition open the bidding and you have an opening hand with shortage in their suit.
As today's bridge is more focused on competitive bidding - that is, both sides bidding for their contract - a takeout double can be a great entry point for your side.
Some key points I took away were:
- When you bid a takeout double, you have two opening hands competing - a true competitive auction.
- If considering a takeout double - where you need 12+ opening points, you can pre-emptively add your shortage points to your HCPs (even though you haven't found a fit with partner yet) as this may get you over the line of 12+ opening points.
- A takeout double is opposite to an overcall in the sense that an overcall signals a good five card suit, whereas a takeout double leaves the suit selection to partner.
- A takeout double works well, when the alternatives are not practical. E.g. an overcall requires a good five card suit.
- An overcall has an upper limit of 16 opening points. If you have 17+, then bid a takeout double, because this forces partner to bid, whereas an overcall is not forcing on partner.
- The more points you have in a takeout double, the less emphasis on shape.
Joan also explained "The Law of Total Tricks", as it is particularly helpful in a competitive auction when your opponents are pushing you up. The Law basically says, the more combined trumps you have, the more you bid, whereas the lesser your combined trumps, back off as you will do better in defense.
So in summary, a most worthwhile session, and excellent value for the $12 outlay.
I look forward to Joan's next workshop.
