What’s your call?
| 1♠ | 1NT | |||
| 2♣ | 2♦ | 2♥ | 2♠ | 2NT |
| 3♣ | 3♦ | 3♥ | 3♠ | 3NT |
| 4♣ | 4♦ | 4♥ | 4♠ | 4NT |
| 5♣ | 5♦ | 5♥ | 5♠ | 5NT |
| 6♣ | 6♦ | 6♥ | 6♠ | 6NT |
| 7♣ | 7♦ | 7♥ | 7♠ | 7NT |
| Pass | Dbl |
There are basically two schools of thought as to how to show hearts in response to partner’s takeout double when righty has the temerity to bid your suit first: You can double the opponent’s 1♥ call or simply bid 2♥ yourself.
Before doubling, Sanborn surveys the options. “I see there being a few choices. I could bid 2♥, which I play as natural, but I would do that with fewer values. I could cuebid 2♦ , but that doesn’t emphasize the heart suit. I could bid 3♥, but that could be construed as a splinter or, if not a splinter, a more preemptive hand. So starting with double gets to the point that I hold hearts, and I hope to bid again on the next round.”
Double by Robinson, showing hearts. “Later I can bid spades. In early days, East’s 1♥ was suspect.”
Double by Hampson, for penalty. “I have a nice hand, mostly in right-hand opponent’s suit. I want to show where I live and not get in partner’s way if he wants to bid notrump or has a strong hand with clubs.”
Weinstein doubles. “My lead, right?”
Cohen doubles, but explains, “personally, I prefer 2♥ here to show hearts. This is another auction to make sure to discuss with your partner. Many Easts are out to steal, and you need to have a way to show your own hearts in this situation. Because 2♥ could conceivably be misinterpreted, I suppose it is safer to double first.”
Colchamiro says he doesn’t quite get the problem, but he doubles to indicate hearts. “2♥ is too likely to lead to confusion.”
Boehm explains that double “classically shows hearts to expose a possible psych or to begin a description of my hand.”
Falk agrees. “Doubling 1♥ is how we prevent getting psyched out of our fit. East could have four hearts, of course. But whatever happens next, we intend to bid hearts to play.”
Abdou says a “natural” 2♥ is the best story to tell. “The spades are too weak to bother with and double is ambiguous here. I would double if we had a clear agreement that it would be for penalties.”
Lawrence: “2♥. Natural, showing five and not forcing.”
Ditto Korbel, Meyers and the Sutherlins.
Rigal: “2♥ – what I would (might) have bid without the intervention. Who knows? The 5–3 heart fit facing J–x–x could play better than spades: no defensive ruffs! 2♦ is artificial, typically a good invite in spades, with a direct 2♠ being more shape than high cards.”
Lee looks at both his spades and hearts, and prefers 2♥. “It just shows more of my hand than 1♠ while also having some preemptive value.”
