There are many ways to compete when an opponent opens the bidding, and a must for your bidding toolbox is the takeout double.

As described earlier in this chapter, when you double an opponent's opening bid — and that includes bids higher than one — it sends a message to your partner that you are short in opener's suit and have at least three cards in the other suits. Your partner is directed to pick her best suit — sometimes “best” means longest — and bid it an appropriate level. The parameters for responding to a takeout double are covered in the next chapter.

Suppose your right-hand opponent opens 1 ♥. Which of the following hands is appropriate for a takeout double?

♠ Q1098 ♥ 6 ♦ AJ43 ♣ KQ72

This hand has perfect shape, the requisite high-card count, and excellent support for any suit partner might bid. This is a textbook takeout double:

♠ Q109 ♥ 643 ♦ AJ43 ♣ KQ7

Pass is best after your right-hand opponent bids 1 ♥. The shape is the worst possible. You have what is known as the “death holding” in opener's suit and you have only three spades. When you double one major, partner will strain to bid the other major. This is not great support. Again, right-hand opponent has opened 1 ♥.

♠ J1098 ♥ 6 ♦ QJ43 ♣ K872

This one has perfect shape but is short of high cards. Pass.

♠ Q109 ♥ A543 ♦ AQJ4 ♣ 82

One of the most common errors among beginners is making a takeout double with a hand of this kind. Yes, there are 13 HCP, but where are the clubs? What will you do if you make a takeout double with this hand and partner bids clubs? Pass and let him languish in a 4–2 trump fit? He won't enjoy that. Bid 2NT? That shows a hand stronger than a 1NT overcall — roughly 19 HCP. It may be counterintuitive to pass with an opening hand, but you have to do that sometimes.

Occasionally you have the wrong shape initially but get a second chance in the bidding.

Try this one on for size.

♠ QJ109 ♥ 64 ♦ AQ432 ♣ A2

Your right-hand opponent opens 1 ♥, and unless you feel like overcalling 1 ♠ on that four-card suit, you must pass. You can't double with this hand for the same reason you couldn't double with the previous example hand. But wait! What if the auction proceeds as follows:

Now you are well placed to enter the bidding with a double. There are now only two unbid suits, and you have support for both. Now is the time to double. Your partner should understand that this is for takeout, showing spades and diamonds, and she will understand from the auction why you didn't double at your first opportunity.