______ A word about nomenclature: Opener's partner is called "Responder", and must not be confused with Overcaller/Takeout Doubler's partner, "Advancer".

______ Defensive Bidding can occur whenever the opponents have opened the bidding. Our side can begin with either a Double or an overcall. The advantages of entering the auction in this manner (in no particular order of importance) are as follows:

1. Competing for and perhaps winning the Declarership
2. Making it harder for THEM to find the right contract
3. Discovering the best opening lead for our side
4. Pushing the opponents up to a level they can't make
5. Finding a good sacrifice

TakeOut Doubles
______ Most Doubles of an suit bid below the 3NT level opposite a partner who has not, as yet, made a call other than a pass, is a takeout double. These are some examples of takeout Doubles:

• 1-Dble
  
• 1S-P-2S-Dble
  
• 1D-P-1H-Dble
  
• 1H-P-1NT-Dble
  

______ A takeout Double shows one of 3 types of hands:

1. 10+ points, support for the unbid suits
   

   Doubler

   Q10xx

   AJ10x

   xx

   A10x

   Double a 1 opening bid. Pass anything but a cuebid response by Partner (Advancer).

   
   
2. 17+ points, ANY unbalanced distribution
   

   Doubler

   AKJ10xx

   Ax

   Kxx

   Ax

   Too strong to overcall 1 (which would show at most 16 points), double a 1, 1 or 1 opening bid with the idea of rebidding in Spades.

   
   
3. 19+ points, flat hand, too strong for a 1NT overcall
   

   Doubler

   K10x

   AJx

   KJxx

   AKJ

   Double ANY opening bid with the idea of rebidding in No Trump to show a hand too strong to overcall 1NT immediately (hence, 19-21 points) but too weak to Gouble and then JUMP in No Trump (22-24 points).

   
   

______ It follows, then, that a Double followed by a free new suit rebid by the Doubler (e.g. 1D-Dble-P-1-P-1) shows 17+ point hand. Similarly, a Double followed by a simple No Trump rebid (e.g. 1-Dble-P-1-P-1NT) shows 19-21 points.

______ A strong Doubler can always force the bidding with a cuebid of the enemy suit (e.g. 1-Dble-P-any-P-2).

______ To accomodate the possibility that Responder may have trap passed, Opener will often strain to make a takeout Double if the overcall is passed back around to Opener. This is especially true at MatchPoints, and when Opener's side is not vulnerable.

Opener

AQ10x

xx

xx

AKJxx

After 1-1-P-P Non-Vul Opener may re-enter this auction with a Double, even with a rather mediocre hand and terrible Heart support. If Responder bids 1, Opener can correct to 1.

Questions
Question #1: With 3=5=1=4 shape, 14 points, I hear RHO opens 1. Can I Double with a 5-card major suit or should I overcall with 1?

Double.

One Heart.

Bid 1 with strong Hearts. Else Double.

Question #2: Can I overcall and make a takeout Double later?

Yes.

No, never.

Question #3: What is an "anchor" or "haven" suit?

Spades, aka the 'master' suit.

A good suit that you bid before Doubling.

Responding to a Takeout Double
______ A takeout Double asks Advancer to bid hir longest suit, with particular attention to any major suit. The most important point here is that unless Responder makes a call other than a Pass or a Redouble, Advancer must "take out" the Double by bidding hir longest suit--even with zero HCPs! Only with 8+ points and 5 of their trumps should you "convert the Double to penalty" by making a "penalty Pass".

Advancer

xxx

xxxx

xxx

xxx

LHO opens 1 and Partner Doubles. Gulp! RHO passes. You must bid here! I suggest 1, the cheapest of your (3 card) "suits". Do not pass 1! And do not bid 1NT!

Advancer

Kx

Qxx

KQ10xx

Jxx

Now you would Pass the takeout Double of 1.

______ No Trump responses to the takeout double show flattish hands and positive values, with a stopper in the enemy suit. 1NT promises 8-10 points, 2NT shows 11-13 points, 3NT reveals 14-17 points. Any new suit rebid by Doubler is forcing.

______ The weakest response to a takeout Double is a simple call in an unbid suit (e.g. 1-Dble-P-1, 1 or 1). This shows a maximum of 8 points. A new suit rebid by Doubler (e.g. 1-Dble-P-1-P-2) is strong (17-22 points) but not forcing; Doubler must jump in that new suit (e.g. 1-Dble-P-1-P-3) to force the bidding.

______ Holding 9-12 points, Advancer should make a single jump response in hir longest suit (e.g. 1-Dble-P-2, 3 or 3). Now a new suit by Doubler (on 17+ points) *is* game-forcing, because this Advancer has shown positive values.

______ Advancer's strongest recourse is a cuebid of the opponent's suit (e.g. 1-Dble-P-2), with 13+ points. SAYC notes state that such a cuebid is game forcing.
Questions
Question #4: If I double with 12 points and a 5-card major, should I bid the major if Advancer bids 1NT? For example, can it go: 1-Dble-P-1NT-P, after which can I rebid 2 or 2 with 12 points?

Yes.

No.