Support Doubles and Redoubles
You open ♦, partner responds 1♥, and your right-hand opponent sticks in 1♠. You’ve got three hearts. What do you bid?
Without support doubles, you’re stuck. A 2♥ raise shows four-card support, and passing suggests you don’t like hearts at all. You need a way to show exactly three cards, and that’s where support doubles come in.
What Are Support Doubles?
A support double is a double of an opponent’s overcall that shows exactly three-card support for partner’s suit. That’s it. Not a penalty double, not a negative double. Just “Partner, I’ve got three cards for you.”
The basic situation: You open one of a minor, partner responds one of a major, and an opponent overcalls. Your double now shows precisely three-card support for partner’s major. Everything else you might do shows something different.
This simple agreement clears up a ton of confusion in competitive auctions. Partner knows exactly what you have, and can make much better decisions about whether to compete further.
When Support Doubles Apply
Support doubles kick in after this specific auction pattern:
1♣/1♦ - 1♥/1♠ - (overcall) - ?
The overcall can be a suit bid or 1NT. Your double shows three-card support for partner’s major.
Key requirements:
- You opened a minor (not a major)
- Partner responded in a major at the one level
- Opponent overcalled (usually at the one or two level)
- You’re showing support, not values
Most partnerships play support doubles through 2♠. If they bid 3♣, you’re usually just raising with three or passing without support. The convention works best at low levels where you have room to maneuver.
Standard sequences:
- 1♦ - 1♥ - (1♠) - Dbl = 3 hearts
- 1♣ - 1♠ - (2♥) - Dbl = 3 spades
- 1♦ - 1♠ - (2♣) - Dbl = 3 spades
- 1♣ - 1♥ - (1NT) - Dbl = 3 hearts
The agreement is off if you opened a major. If you open 1♠ and partner responds 2♥, you’re in a different world entirely.
Support Redoubles: The Same Idea
Support redoubles work exactly like support doubles, but after the opponent doubles instead of overcalling.
1♣/1♦ - 1♥/1♠ - (Dbl) - Rdbl = 3-card support
When partner responds 1♠ and your RHO doubles for takeout, redouble shows exactly three spades. Same principle, different action.
This clarifies your hand immediately. Partner knows you have three-card support, and can compete or defend accordingly. Without support redoubles, redouble typically shows 10+ HCP and no fit. With the convention, you’ve narrowed things down perfectly.
Some partnerships use different strength ranges for support redoubles versus support doubles. You might agree that a support redouble shows a better hand (15+ HCP) while a direct raise shows 12-14 with four-card support. Discuss this with your partner.
What Opener’s Other Bids Show
Once you add support doubles to your system, your other actions gain precision. Every bid now means something specific.
Double = Exactly 3-card support
You’ve got three of partner’s suit. Could be a minimum opening, could be a powerhouse. The double just shows the fit, not your strength.
Raise to 2♥/2♠ = Four or more cards
When you raise directly, you promise four-card support. No more wondering if opener has three or four. This helps responder judge whether to compete to the three level with a five-card suit.
Pass = Two or fewer cards
You don’t have support. Maybe you have a balanced minimum, maybe you have a strong hand that will bid again later. But you definitely don’t have three cards in partner’s suit.
Bidding a new suit = Normal, no support for partner
If you bid 1NT or a new suit, you’re showing your hand naturally. No support for partner’s major.
Cue bid = Big hand with support
Some pairs use a cue bid of opponent’s suit to show a strong hand with four-card support. This is a matter of partnership agreement. Discuss whether you want cue bids to show extras or whether you’ll just double with three and raise with four regardless of strength.
The beauty of support doubles is this clarity. Partner knows immediately whether you have three, four, or fewer cards in their suit.
Responder’s Rebids After a Support Double
You’ve responded 1♠, LHO overcalled 2♥, and partner doubled showing three spades. Now what?
You have several options:
Pass for penalties
If you have length and strength in their suit, pass. You’ve just converted partner’s support double into a penalty double. This works great when you have five strong hearts behind the 2♥ bidder.
Bid 2♠ competitively
With a minimum response and a five-card suit, just bid 2♠. You’ve got eight trumps, they’ve got at least eight in their suit. Compete.
Jump to 3♠ invitational
With 10-11 points and a good five or six-card suit, invite game. Partner has shown three-card support and an opening bid. You might have game.
Bid 4♠ to make
With enough values and a good suit, just bid the game. Partner rates to have at least 12-13 HCP for the opening, you have 13-14, and you’ve got an eight-card fit. Go for it.
Bid notrump
With a stopper in their suit and no interest in your major, bid 2NT or 3NT. Shows values and stops.
Try a new suit
You can introduce a second suit if appropriate. This shows values and suggests you’re not thrilled about playing in your first suit with only eight trumps.
The support double gives you the information you need to judge. Eight trumps is often enough to compete, but nine or ten trumps would be better. Knowing partner has exactly three helps you make that call.
Limitations and When Support Doubles Don’t Apply
Support doubles aren’t universal. They have boundaries.
Only after minor suit openings
If you open 1♥ or 1♠, support doubles are off. Your rebid structure is totally different when you’ve opened a major.
Only after 1-level major responses
If partner responds 2♥ (a 2/1 bid), support doubles don’t apply. The conventional meaning only applies to 1♥ and 1♠ responses.
Usually through 2♠ only
Most partnerships turn off support doubles when the overcall gets to 3♣ or higher. You don’t have the room, and you need doubles for other purposes (like showing general values or asking partner to bid).
Not in balancing seat
If the auction goes 1♦ - 1♠ - 2♥ - Pass - Pass back to you, your double in the passout seat isn’t a support double. It’s a balancing double asking partner to bid.
Partnership must discuss strength ranges
Some pairs play support doubles showing extras (15+), others play them at any strength. You need to agree. Otherwise you’ll misjudge the combined assets.
Know when the convention is on and when it’s off. That prevents disasters.
Example Auctions
Let’s see support doubles in action.
Example 1: Basic Support Double
West opens 1♦, North passes, East responds 1♠, South overcalls 2♥.
West holds: ♠ K74 ♥ A5 ♦ AKJ84 ♣ 963
West doubles. This shows exactly three spades. East knows there’s an eight-card fit and can compete to 2♠ with appropriate values. Without the support double, West would be stuck between passing (looks like no support) and raising to 2♠ (promises four).
Example 2: Support Redouble
West opens 1♣, North passes, East responds 1♥, South doubles.
West holds: ♠ AQ4 ♥ K85 ♦ 94 ♣ AKJ72
West redoubles showing three hearts. East can pass for penalties with length in spades (RHO will likely bid spades), compete in hearts, or try notrump. The redouble clarifies West’s support immediately.
Example 3: Responder Bids On
West opens 1♦, North passes, East responds 1♠, South bids 2♣, West doubles (support), North passes.
East holds: ♠ AQJ75 ♥ K4 ♦ 863 ♣ Q52
East jumps to 3♠, invitational. West has shown three spades and opening values. With 11 HCP and a five-card suit, East invites. West will pass with a minimum or bid 4♠ with extras.
Example 4: Converting to Penalty
West opens 1♣, North passes, East responds 1♠, South bids 2♦, West doubles (support), North passes.
East holds: ♠ K9652 ♥ 74 ♦ AQJ6 ♣ 83
East passes, converting the support double to penalty. With four good diamonds sitting over the 2♦ bidder, defending should produce a nice set. South is in trouble.
Partnership Agreements and Variations
Like most conventions, support doubles have variations you should discuss.
Through what level?
Standard is through 2♠. Some aggressive pairs play them through 3♣. Decide what works for you.
Strength requirements?
Do you promise extras with a support double, or can you double with any opening bid? Most pairs play “any strength” but you should confirm this.
What about 3-card raises?
Can you raise directly with three cards and a strong hand? Or is the double mandatory with three? Discuss whether a direct raise absolutely promises four cards or if it can be three with extras.
Support doubles after 1NT response?
If partner responds 1NT, are support doubles on? Most pairs say no, but some play them. Agree on this edge case.
Cue bid meanings
Does a cue bid show a strong hand with four-card support, or do you use it for something else? This affects how you show powerhouses.
Maximum overcall level for support redoubles
If they double and partner bids 2♥, is redouble still support? Usually yes, but confirm.
Write these agreements on your convention card. Support doubles are common enough that opponents expect them, but the details matter.
The Bottom Line
Support doubles solve a real problem: how to show exactly three-card support in competitive auctions. They’re simple, effective, and nearly universal among tournament players.
Master this convention and you’ll handle interference much better. You’ll know when to compete, when to defend, and when you’ve got enough trumps to push them around.
The key is precision. Double shows three. Raise shows four. Pass shows fewer. That clarity makes your competitive bidding sharper.
Get comfortable with support doubles and your partnership will find the right contracts more often, especially when opponents are making life difficult.