Bridge Bidding and Carding Strategies by John Loney Advancer’s Two-Suited Hands Opposite a Double A takeout double implies honor-3rd or 4 cards in the unbid majors, with some shape to the hand. Balanced hands in either position should pass and defend, no matter what the point count. Opposite a double of a 1♠ opening, with RHO passing, jump to 3♥ with ♠AQ ♥J763 ♦K762 ♣T94, showing 9-11 HCP and a 4-card major – or 7-9 HCP with a 5-card suit: ♠54 ♥QJ763 ♦AT742 ♣5. After a 1♣ or 1♦ opening and double, cue bid with 4-4 majors and 10+ or with one 4-card major and 12+ HCP; doubler will bid majors up the line. When advancer has 4-4 majors with fewer values, he starts with 1♠ and, if there is continuing competition, bids 2♥, giving doubler a same-level choice. With as few as 4 HCP, advancer may freely bid a 4-card major if able to do so at the one-level. He can also bid at the 2-level with a 5-card major: ♠108753 ♥762 ♦A763 ♣9; this is in keeping with the law of total trumps, certain to have an 8-card spade fit opposite a takeout double. When partner doubles LHO’s 1♣, 1♦, or 1♥ opening and RHO bids 1NT, a double shows 4-4 length in the two lower unbid suits, while a cue bid shows 4-4 length in the two higher suits. After a 1♦-Dbl-1NT sequence, double to show hearts and clubs, 4-4: ♠J93 ♥QT87 ♦43 ♣K842 – and cue bid 2♦ to show both majors, 4-4: ♠Q983 ♥QT87 ♦43 ♣Q42. With 4-4 in the top and bottom suits, just pick one. After a (1♦)-P-(1NT)-P, P sequence, holding ♠JT5 ♥Q964 ♦86 ♣QT85 in balancing position, you should double to show the 4-4 lower unbid suits, as there is a reasonable chance for a 4-4 fit, with partner likely to have near-opening-hand values. When partner doubles LHO’s 1♠ opening, with RHO bidding 1NT, advancer’s double shows 4 hearts and one of the minors; doubler, with just 3 hearts, bids 4-card minors up the line. If opener competes to 2♠ after advancer’s double, doubler can bid 2NT to show 4-4 minors with spade shortness, and advancer will bid his minor. When advancer has values in his 4-4 minors after the 1NT response, he cue bids 2♠, or, with a 5-card minor, just bids it, keeping the bidding at the 2-level. When an opening minor is raised, following a double, advancer’s double shows 4-4 majors and 7+ HCP. Advancer’s responsive double extends through the 4♦ level: (2♦)-Dbl-(4♦)-Dbl. When a major-suit opening is raised after a double, advancer’s double shows values and length in the two minors: ♠87 ♥83 ♦AJ863 ♣QJT8. When a new suit is bid after partner’s takeout double, the responsive double shows 4 poor cards in the unbid major and 4+ better cards in the unbid minor; after a (1♣)-Dbl-(1♥) sequence, double with ♠9762 ♥653 ♦AQ82 ♣J10; advancer would bid spades if he had honors in the suit.

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