Direct Takeout Doubles at the 1 Level
The Doubler
| Strength | HCP | Shape | What you do if partner makes a cheap response | Example |
| Minimum | 11-16 | Short in opponents suit, at least 3 cards in unbid suits. | Pass | x AKxx Kxxx QJxx
They open 1S, you double, your partner answers 2H. You should pass. Partner may have 0 points. |
| Big One Suiter | 17-21 | 5+ card suit too strong to overcall | With 17-18, bid your suit. With 19-21, jump in your suit. Neither is forcing | AKxxx Ax KQx Qxx
They open 1H, you double, your partner answers 2C. You should bid 2S. |
| Ginormous One Suiter | 22+ (i.e. a 2C opener) | 5+ card suit | Cuebid opponents suit | AKQxxxx AK x AKJx
They open 1D, you double, partner answers 1H. Bid 2D (forcing). |
| Big NT hand | 18+ (too strong to overcall 1NT) | NT shape, at least one stopper in opening suit. | With 18-20, rebid cheapest NT. With 21-23, jump in NT. With 24+, double jump in NT. | AQJx KQx AKx Jxx
The open 1D, you double, partner answers 1H. Bid 1NT. |
Suit Response to Takeout Double
| HCP | Call | Example |
| 0-8 | Non-jump response | QJxx xx xxx xxxx.
Your LHO opens 1H, your partner doubles, bid 1S. |
| 9 – 11 | Jump response | QJxxx Ax Jxx Kxx
Your LHO opens 1D, your partner doubles, bid 2S. |
| 12 + | Cuebid opponents opening suit or jump to game | QJxxx Ax Jxx KQx
Your LHO opens 1D, your partner doubles, bid 2D, game forcing. |
NT Response to Takeout Double
| HCP | Call | Example |
| 7-9 (some might say 8-10, or 8-11. Can depend on if the opponent opens a major or a minor). | 1NT, stopper in their suit. | QJxx Ax xxx Qxxx
Your LHO opens 1S, your partner doubles, bid 1NT. |
| 10 – 12 | 2NT, stopper in their suit. | QJxx Ax Jxxx Kxx
Your LHO opens 1S, your partner doubles, bid 2NT. |
| 13 + | 3NT, stopper in their suit. | KJxx Ax Jxx KQx
Your LHO opens 1S, your partner doubles, bid 3NT. |
Converting to Penalty
This should be a deliberate action. You should have a very good holding in their suit, something like AQJ97. Don’t do it with something like Axxx xxx xxx xxx after LHO opens 1S and partner doubles. Suck it up and bid 2C in tempo.