Takeout Doubles: The Most Important Competitive Bid

If you’re going to learn one competitive bid in bridge, make it the takeout double. It’s the Swiss Army knife of defensive bidding - versatile, powerful, and absolutely essential once opponents open the bidding.

What Is a Takeout Double?

Here’s the beautiful simplicity of it: when your opponent opens the bidding and you double, you’re not saying “I think we can beat their contract.” You’re saying “Partner, I have a good hand with support for the unbid suits. Please bid one of them.”

The takeout double transforms a pass-out situation into an auction. Your right-hand opponent opens 1♥️, and suddenly you’re in the game with a double that says “I have spades, diamonds, and clubs. Pick your best suit, partner.”

Unlike a penalty double (where you’re trying to collect +200 or more), a takeout double is cooperative. You’re asking partner to describe their hand, not to pass for penalties. The name tells you everything: you’re “taking partner out” of the double by forcing them to bid.

The Classic Takeout Double Shape

The ideal takeout double has a specific profile: shortness in the opponent’s suit and support for all the unbid suits.

When they open 1♥️, you want something like:

  • ♠️ K J 8 5
  • ♥️ 6
  • ♦️ A Q 9 4
  • ♣️ K J 7 3

That’s the poster child for a takeout double. You have four cards in each unbid suit and a singleton in hearts. Partner can bid any suit and you’ll have support.

The key requirements:

  • Support for all unbid suits (ideally 4+ cards, minimum 3)
  • Shortness in opponent’s suit (singleton or void is perfect, doubleton is acceptable)
  • Opening hand values or better

Can you double with three cards in an unbid suit? Yes, especially if you have four cards in both other suits. The classic 4-4-4-1 distribution is perfect, but 4-4-3-2 or even 5-4-3-1 work fine.

What you don’t want: length in the opponent’s suit. If they open 1♠️ and you hold ♠️ K Q J 9 5, don’t double even with opening values. That’s a penalty double situation (which requires passing first in modern methods) or an overcall.

Point Requirements for Takeout Doubles

The standard range is 12-16 HCP for a takeout double. That’s opening hand strength, which makes sense - you need enough to compete for the contract.

But point count is just the starting point. Shape matters enormously:

Minimum doubles (12-14 HCP): You need perfect shape - support for all unbid suits and shortage in theirs. With ♠️ K J 8 5 ♥️ 6 ♦️ A Q 9 4 ♣️ Q 7 3 2 (11 HCP), you can double 1♥️ because your distribution is golden.

Sound doubles (15-16 HCP): This is the sweet spot. You have enough to compete comfortably even if partner has a weak hand.

Strong doubles (17-19 HCP): You’ll double and bid again to show extras. After doubling 1♥️ and hearing partner bid 1♠️, you’ll raise to 2♠️ or bid a new suit to show 17+.

Monster doubles (20+ HCP): You’ll double and then make a forcing bid (like cuebidding their suit or jumping) to show game-forcing values.

One critical point: the weaker your hand, the more perfect your shape needs to be. With 12-13 HCP, you need the classic 4-4-4-1. With 16 HCP, you can stretch to 4-3-3-3 if the honors are well-placed.

When a Double Is Takeout vs Penalty

This confuses newer players, but there’s a simple rule: low-level doubles of suit bids are takeout unless partner has already bid.

Takeout doubles:

  • RHO opens 1♥️, you double (classic takeout)
  • LHO opens 1♦️, partner passes, RHO passes, you double (reopening takeout)
  • RHO opens 1♣️, you pass, LHO bids 1♥️, you double (still takeout of hearts)

Penalty doubles:

  • Partner opens 1♠️, RHO bids 2♥️, you double (penalty - partner already bid)
  • You open 1♦️, LHO overcalls 1♠️, partner doubles (penalty - you already bid)
  • They’re at the 3-level or higher (usually penalty)

The partnership context matters. If your side has already shown a suit, doubles become penalty. If neither partner has bid yet, low-level doubles are takeout.

Negative doubles are a related beast: when partner opens, RHO overcalls, and you double, that’s a negative double (showing the unbid suits, similar concept to takeout). But that’s a different article.

Responding to a Takeout Double

When partner doubles, you must bid unless RHO bids. “Must” isn’t a suggestion - even with zero points, you have to pick a suit.

Responding With Weak Hands (0-8 HCP)

Bid your longest suit at the cheapest level. That’s it.

After partner doubles 1♥️:

  • With ♠️ 9 7 4 2 ♥️ 8 6 ♦️ Q 5 3 2 ♣️ 7 4 3, bid 1♠️
  • With ♠️ 7 4 ♥️ 6 5 3 ♦️ J 8 7 4 2 ♣️ 9 6 3, bid 2♦️
  • With ♠️ K 6 2 ♥️ 7 4 ♦️ 9 8 6 5 3 ♣️ 10 4 2, bid 1♠️ (even three is enough)

You’re not excited about it, but partner’s double promises support. They’ve got you covered.

Responding With Invitational Hands (9-11 HCP)

Jump one level to invite game:

  • After partner doubles 1♥️, jump to 2♠️ with ♠️ K J 8 6 ♥️ 7 4 ♦️ Q 9 5 3 ♣️ 10 8 3

This shows about 9-11 HCP and says “Partner, if you’re maximum for your takeout double, let’s bid game.”

Responding With Game-Forcing Hands (12+ HCP)

You have several options:

Jump to game: With ♠️ K Q 9 6 5 ♥️ 7 4 ♦️ A 8 3 ♣️ 10 6 3, jump to 4♠️ after partner doubles 1♥️.

Cuebid their suit: With ♠️ K Q 8 6 ♥️ A 5 ♦️ K 9 7 3 ♣️ Q 6 2, bid 2♥️ (their suit) to show game-forcing values without a clear strain yet.

Bid notrump: 1NT shows 8-10 HCP with a stopper, 2NT shows 11-12, 3NT shows 13+. These are your balanced hands with their suit stopped.

What If RHO Bids?

Now you’re off the hook! You only bid with some values (6+ HCP usually). With trash, pass and let partner handle it. This is a huge relief when you’re staring at 3 HCP.

The Doubler’s Rebid After Partner Responds

Partner was forced to bid - they might have nothing. Don’t get carried away.

With Minimum Doubles (12-14 HCP)

Pass partner’s response. They’ve done their job.

If partner jumps (showing 9-11 HCP), you can bid game with a maximum minimum (14 HCP with great shape).

With Strong Doubles (17-19 HCP)

Bid again to show extras:

  • Raise partner’s suit one level
  • Bid a new suit
  • Jump in partner’s suit with 4-card support

After doubling 1♥️ and hearing 1♠️, with ♠️ K Q 8 5 ♥️ 6 ♦️ A Q 9 4 ♣️ K J 7 3 (16 HCP), you can raise to 2♠️.

With Monster Doubles (20+ HCP)

Make a forcing bid:

  • Jump raise partner’s suit
  • Cuebid opponent’s suit
  • Jump in a new suit

These sequences force to game and ask partner to describe their hand further.

Example Auctions With Full Hands

Example 1: Classic Minimum Takeout Double

Auction: LHO opens 1♥️, you double, RHO passes, partner bids 1♠️

Your hand: ♠️ K J 7 4 ♥️ 8 ♦️ A Q 9 5 ♣️ Q 10 6 3

Partner’s hand: ♠️ 9 6 5 2 ♥️ 7 5 4 ♦️ 7 3 2 ♣️ K 8 4

You pass 1♠️. Partner has done their duty with 4 HCP. You make 1♠️ with good defense (seven tricks).

Example 2: Strong Double With Rebid

Auction: LHO opens 1♦️, you double, RHO passes, partner bids 1♠️, you bid 3♠️

Your hand: ♠️ A Q 8 5 ♥️ K J 9 4 ♦️ 6 ♣️ A K 7 3

Partner’s hand: ♠️ K 10 7 4 ♥️ 8 3 ♦️ 9 5 4 2 ♣️ Q 6 5

Partner has 6 HCP. Your jump to 3♠️ shows 17-19 HCP with 4-card spade support. Partner accepts with the ♠️K and ♣️Q, and you make 4♠️ (ten tricks).

Example 3: Invitational Response

Auction: LHO opens 1♥️, partner doubles, RHO passes, you bid 2♠️

Partner’s hand: ♠️ K Q 7 4 ♥️ 6 ♦️ A Q 9 5 ♣️ K 10 6 3

Your hand: ♠️ A J 8 5 ♥️ 9 4 ♦️ K 7 3 2 ♣️ 8 5 4

Your 2♠️ jump shows 9-11 HCP with 4+ spades. Partner has 14 HCP with perfect shape and raises to 4♠️. You make it with careful play (ten tricks).

Example 4: Game-Force Cuebid

Auction: LHO opens 1♣️, partner doubles, RHO passes, you bid 2♣️, partner bids 2♠️, you bid 4♠️

Partner’s hand: ♠️ A K 8 5 ♥️ K Q 9 4 ♦️ Q J 7 ♣️ 6 2

Your hand: ♠️ Q J 7 3 ♥️ A 8 6 ♦️ K 9 5 ♣️ A 7 4

You have 13 HCP and no obvious strain, so you cuebid 2♣️. Partner shows spades, you raise to game. You make 4♠️ easily (eleven tricks). The cuebid let you find the 4-4 spade fit rather than stumbling into 3NT with club weakness.

Minimum Response Requirements

Here’s the bottom line: you must bid with any hand if RHO passes.

There’s no minimum. Zero points, terrible shape, doesn’t matter - pick your longest suit and bid it at the cheapest level.

Why? Because partner has promised support for your suit. They have 12+ HCP and tolerance for whatever you bid. If you pass, you’re defending 1♥️ doubled with potentially zero trumps and a bad misfit.

The only time you pass partner’s takeout double: when you have 10+ HCP and 4+ cards in opponent’s suit with good honors (like ♥️ K Q J 9). Then you’re converting the takeout double to penalty. But this is rare.

If RHO bids after partner’s double, you’re free to pass with 0-5 HCP. The pressure’s off.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Doubling With Length in Their Suit

LHO opens 1♠️, you hold ♠️ K Q J 9 4 ♥️ 6 ♦️ A Q 8 ♣️ 10 7 5 3. Don’t double! You don’t have support for hearts. Either overcall 2♠️ or pass.

Mistake #2: Doubling With Weak Hands

You need opening values (12+ HCP). With ♠️ K Q 8 5 ♥️ 6 ♦️ 9 7 4 2 ♣️ A J 7 3, that’s only 10 HCP - pass, even though the shape is perfect.

Mistake #3: Passing Partner’s Double With Weak Hands

When partner doubles and RHO passes, you must bid. “I don’t have anything” isn’t an excuse. Partner’s already counted on you having nothing - that’s why they promised support for all suits.

Mistake #4: Over-Responding With Trash

When RHO bids after partner’s double, don’t bid with 3 HCP. Pass and let partner reopen if appropriate.

Mistake #5: Forgetting to Show Extras

You double with 17 HCP, partner responds, and you pass? That’s criminal. Partner’s assuming you have a minimum. Raise or bid again to show your extras.

Mistake #6: Doubling Too Wide a Range

Some players double with 12 HCP and then with 19 HCP without planning their rebid. Use the 12-16 range for simple doubles, and plan your follow-up bid with 17+.

Mistake #7: Ignoring Vulnerability

Vulnerable vs not matters. Be more conservative when vulnerable (opponents get bigger penalties) and more aggressive when favorable (your penalties against them are larger).

Partnership Agreements

Every partnership should discuss these takeout double situations:

1. Minimum HCP for Takeout Doubles

Most play 12+ HCP, but some partnerships use 13+ or accept light 11 HCP with perfect shape. Agree on the minimum.

2. Reopening Doubles

When the auction goes 1♥️ - Pass - Pass to you, should you double with less than usual? Many partnerships reopen with as few as 10-11 HCP in the pass-out seat.

3. Responsive Doubles

When partner overcalls, RHO raises, and you want to compete but don’t know which suit, you can double (responsive double). Discuss whether you play these.

4. Maximum Passed-Hand Doubles

If you passed initially, can you double the next round? Usually yes, but showing 10-11 HCP maximum (since you didn’t open).

5. Three-Suited Hands With 5-Card Majors

With ♠️ K Q 9 7 5 ♥️ 6 ♦️ A Q 8 4 ♣️ K 7 3, do you double 1♥️ or overcall 1♠️? Some prefer the overcall to show the 5-card suit, others prefer the double to show both minors as well.

6. Notrump Ranges After Doubling

Agree on the HCP ranges for 1NT (8-10 HCP?), 2NT (11-12 HCP?), and 3NT (13-15 HCP?) responses to partner’s double.

7. Cuebid Meaning

When you cuebid opponent’s suit after partner’s double, does it promise game or just show 10+ HCP? Standard is game-forcing, but discuss it.

The takeout double is your entry ticket to competitive bidding. Master the shape requirements, understand the point ranges, and don’t be afraid to double when you have the right hand. Your partner will thank you for getting them into the auction - even when they have a terrible hand and are forced to bid. That’s what partnership is all about.

Back to Encyclopedia