If you would bid 2♥, what is the minimum change to the hand to make you Pass?
Free bid Advance of Takeout Double
#1
Posted 2025-September-21, 14:21
If you would bid 2♥, what is the minimum change to the hand to make you Pass?
#2
Posted 2025-September-21, 14:38
A long explanation:
When partner doubles 1♦ they have one of three hand types:
- A hand with short diamonds, at least 4-3 in the majors either way, no own suit to bid, and around 10+ hcp.
- A hand so strong (typically 18+ unbal or 19+ bal for me, to give approximate ranges) that partner will bid again.
- A strong NT (15-18 here) without a diamond stopper.
Opposite the second hand type we aren't taking away any space by bidding 2♥, and getting our suit in is good. Furthermore, partner is capable of counting to 40. Let's assume partner has the double-then-bid-again hand, say, 18+ hcp. Furthermore, West has a simple raise (say, 5+ hcp) and the opening in third seat can be a little light - let's say 10+. That doesn't leave a whole lot for us (in fact, it leaves at most 7, and on average closer to 3-4). Furthermore, East likely can't re-raise, since we actually hold four diamonds. So what's the likely continuation? (P)-P-(1♦)-X; (2♦)-2♥-(P)-? and South sees a strong hand with short diamonds, but the opponents didn't brave the 3-level. Therefore they will play us, North, for... approximately 5-7 hcp, 5♥ and 4♦. Seems pretty good.
The third hand type is not possible thanks to the diamond raise - we have four, if partner is balanced they have at least two, so the opponents can't raise the suit. However, change our hand a little so this option is possible, and now we might still bid 2♥. With this hand partner will know to pass(!) with a doubleton in hearts, identifying the misfit and stopping low on shape. The point counting argument still applies, even if the ranges are a little different. It's only when we hit partner's long suit - and for me, that means 4 cards here - that partner may raise again.
There is a risk of getting too high if South has the first type of takeout double but with extra's - say, a 4=3=1=5 15-count that doubled rather than bid 2♣ (which I do not prefer, but both styles have plenty of followers). Here you might have gained by passing, waiting for a second double, and then bidding 2♥. Notice the constraints this places on the hcp distribution around the table. If, instead, opener is a little stronger and partner a little weaker, passing instead of bidding 2♥ may well be the end of the auction. For that reason I prefer to bid relatively light here, and on shape - it is rare that partner is faced with a tough decision.
Summarising: I play 2♥ here as wide-ranging, possibly a four card suit, and a desire to play rather than defend. Since partner has already clarified their hand to a solid degree, and the opponents' auction gives us valuable information, the lack of length or strength information rarely causes a problem for the doubler. This gives advancer the freedom to act on a wider range of hands.
I will say that on Cuebids, where the 2♦ raise shows 0+ hcp with no upper limit and is not forcing (but in practice seems to be in the 0-3 range most of the time), this auction can be more troublesome. Here both North and South often have undisclosed values, and sorting this out is difficult. That being said I prefer to take my losses on Cuebids and score at the table, rather than the other way around.
#3
Posted 2025-September-21, 14:45
#4
Posted 2025-September-21, 17:22
Declaring on a 4-1 break is rarely worse than defending against 4-1 in a suit where you have the honors.
As long as we're not red at MPs, I'm bidding 2H, and I would do so on 32 65432 5432 32. Partner does get to object, but that's the style I prefer.
#5
Posted 2025-September-21, 21:03
No minimum, less than zero
Clear 2H,
#6
Posted 2025-September-22, 00:00
Good question, btw. It comes up very often and I always wonder if partner expects more from a freebid.
#7
Posted 2025-September-22, 02:41
#8
Posted 2025-September-22, 06:04
WasWinM, on 2025-September-21, 14:45, said:
You may have missed that the 1D opening promised 4+ cards. In that case I think it's automatic to respond 2D with 4 cards, if anything the question is whether one bids a competitive 3D with 5 cards (assume not here).
#9
Posted 2025-September-22, 06:27
It is also worth pointing out that the takeout double drastically reduces the chances that opener has a 4=4=3=2, if that hand type were included in 1♦. Even if you might worry about this in a vacuum, it is a poor idea to fail to raise because of a rare slight exception where it might be wrong. Support with support!
1Some regulators make a lot of fuss about a "can be 2" 1♣ opening, which is one argument for putting the hand type in 1♦. However, if 4=4=3=2 is the only hand type that opens 1♣ on a doubleton, it really does not matter, and it is wise both as opponents and as responder to ignore the possibility.
#10
Posted 2025-September-22, 06:45
pescetom, on 2025-September-22, 06:04, said:
You may have missed that the 1D opening promised 4+ cards. In that case I think it's automatic to respond 2D with 4 cards, if anything the question is whether one bids a competitive 3D with 5 cards (assume not here).
Thanks. I did not realize the diamonds were at worst 4-4.In that case openes shape is not so clear and 2H is admirable.
#11
Posted 2025-September-24, 15:04
As Helene_t said it is always difficult to evaluate what is necessary to make a free bid, it doesn't help that the contexts are so varied and so little discussed in text books mainly focussed on constructive auctions. I have seen articles about takeout double suggesting 5+ HCP or similar in this case, but clearly that is a rough guide at best. I can see now that in the context of this auction much less is needed to bid 2♥.