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BLUE POWER 6. Truscott 2NT after a Take-out Double Suit raises after a Take-out Double NT reponses Opener's replies after 2NT Bidding after a RDBL When to Double for Penalties Bidding Guide - Practice

When an opponent makes a Take-out Double he shows at least near opening points and a desire to compete seriously for the contract.   When Opener's Partner has a trump fit in Opener's major suit he can disrupt the Opponent's comunication by using the Truscott 2NT Convention.

Without a trump fit Responder bids as normal, but with trump support he responds as follow.

1. 1♥ - (DBL) - 2♥ : showing trump support, 4-9 HCPs and 9 losers
   
   
2. 1♥ - (DBL) - 3♥ : showing trump support, 6-9 HCPs and 8 losers
   
   
3. 1♥ - (DBL) - 4♥ : showing trump support, 6-9 HCPs and 7 losers
   
   
4. 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT : showing trump support, 10 HCPs or more (The Truscott 2NT Convention)

A Truscott 2NT response to Partner's minor suit shows trump support for the minor and denies holding a 4-card major.

Above responses not only give accurate descriptions of Responder's hand, but they also make it difficult for the Partner of the Take-out doubler to respond.

Here follow some examples. (Bids by the Opponents are in brackets.)

Ex. 1	Opener (W) ♠ - K 8 4 ♥ - A Q 9 8 5 ♦ - A 8 ♣ - J 7 4		Responder (E) ♠ - 7 2 ♥ - K 7 4 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - 10 8 6 5		Comment Responder's single raise shows 4-9 HCPs and 9 losers.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2♥ - (Pass) - Pass

Ex. 2	Opener (W) ♠ - K 8 4 ♥ - A Q 9 8 5 ♦ - A 8 ♣ - J 7 4		Responder (E) ♠ - 7 2 ♥ - K 7 4 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - A 10 8 6		Comment Responder's jump raise shows 6-9 HCPs and 8 losers. Opener, holding 7 losers himself, passes.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 3♥ - (Pass) - Pass

Ex. 3	Opener (W) ♠ - K 8 4 ♥ - A Q 9 8 5 ♦ - A 8 ♣ - J 7 4		Responder (E) ♠ - 7 ♥ - K 10 7 4 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - A 10 8 6		Comment Responder's raise to Game shows 6-9 HCPs and 7 losers.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 4♥ - (Pass) - Pass

Ex. 4	Opener (W) ♠ - K J 4 ♥ - K Q 9 8 5 ♦ - A J 8 ♣ - 7 4		Responder (E) ♠ - 9 7 2 ♥ - A 7 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - A K 8 6		Comment After Responder showing 10 HCPs or more Opener is confident enough to bid Game in NT.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2♣ - (Pass) - 3NT

The Truscott 2NT bid is an articial response. Therefore, with a balanced hand and no trump support for Opener's suit, NT responses after Opponent's Take-Out Double are :

1. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   1NT : showing 6-9 points, balanced hand
   
   
2. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   2NT (Truscott) : showing trump support, 10+ HCPs *
   
   
3. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   RDBL first, bid 2NT next time : showing 10-12 points, balanced hand
   
   
4. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   RDBL first, bid 3NT next time : showing 13+ points, balanced hand

Over a minor suit opening bid the 2NT Truscott response denies holding a major suit.

Note : Combined with the Power 2♣ and 2♦ responses the RDBL need not apply !

Here follow some examples.

Ex. 5

Opener opens 1♠

Responder (E) ♠ - 7 5 ♥ - K 10 7 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - K 10 8 6

Comment Responder replies 1NT

Ex. 6

Opener opens 1♠

Responder (E) ♠ - 7 5 ♥ - K 10 7 ♦ - K Q 3 2 ♣ - A 10 8 6

Comment Responder replies RDBL, planning to bid 2NT next time.

Ex. 7

Opener opens 1♠

Responder (E) ♠ - J 7 5 ♥ - K 10 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - A 10 8 6

Comment Responder replies 2NT Truscott, showing 10+ points and trumps support.

Ex. 8

Opener opens 1♦

Responder (E) ♠ - J 7 5 ♥ - K 10 9 5 ♦ - Q 10 3 2 ♣ - A 10

Comment Responder replies 1♥. Responder should not bid 2NT Truscott ove Opener's minor when holding a major suit.

A Truscott 2NT response shows trump support for Partner, 10+ HCPs and no singleton or void.
With trump support, 10+ HCPs and a singleton or void make a splinter raise instead.

After a Truscott 2NT reponse Opener has the following reply options :

1. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3♥   :   showing a minimum Opening hand, 11-13 points
   1♥   -   2NT   -   3♥   :   (But Responder must cotinue with 12+ points.)
   
   
2. 1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :   showing a minimum Opening hand, with 14-15 points
   1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :   (But Responder may push on to Slam.)
   
   
3. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3♣   :  Long Suit Trial bid - new suit below 3 in the major trump suit.
   
   
4. 1♥   -   2NT   -   4♣   :   Multi Cue bid - new suit above 3 in the major trump suit.
   1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :  
   
   
5. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3NT :   RKC Blackwood

Ex. 9	Opener (W) ♠ - K 8 4 ♥ - A Q 9 8 5 ♦ - A 8 5 ♣ - J 10		Responder (E) ♠ - A 2 ♥ - K 7 4 ♦ - Q J 3 2 ♣ - Q 8 6 5		Comment With a good 15 point hand Opener bids Game.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT - (Pass) - 4♥

Ex. 10	Opener (W) ♠ - K 8 4 ♥ - A Q 9 8 5 ♦ - Q 8 5 ♣ - J 10		Responder (E) ♠ - A 2 ♥ - K 7 4 ♦ - A J 3 2 ♣ - Q 8 6 5		Comment Opener should only raise to 3H, but Responder is strong enough to bid Game.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT - (Pass) - 3♥ - (Pass) - 4♥

Ex. 11	Opener (W) ♠ - K 8 4 ♥ - A Q J 9 5 ♦ - 9 8 5 ♣ - A 9		Responder (E) ♠ - A 2 ♥ - K 7 4 ♦ - A Q 3 2 ♣ - J 10 8 6		Comment Opener's 3D is a Long Suit trial bid. Responder, with only one loser in Diamonds bids Game.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT - (Pass) - 3♦ - (Pass) - 4♥

Ex. 12	Opener (W) ♠ - K Q 4 ♥ - A Q J 9 5 ♦ - K 7 5 ♣ - A 9		Responder (E) ♠ - A 2 ♥ - K 7 4 ♦ - A Q 3 2 ♣ - J 10 8 6		Comment After Opener's 3NT (RKC Blackwood) Responder shows 0 or 3 keycards. From his previous bid it must be 3 and Opener bids Slam.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT - (Pass) - 3NT - (Pass) - 4♣ - 6♥

Note : Combined with the Power 2♣ and 2♦ responses the RDBL need not apply !

When Responder does not have a trump fit with Opener's suit he in most cases will bid a new suit as normal. However Responder Redoubles Opponent's Take-out Double with 10+ points in one of the following two situations :

1. Responder has no suitable bid available. Since his side has the majority of point he may be looking for a Penalty double.

2. Responder has a balanced hand and will bid NT at his next run to bid.

The 4th player (Take-out Doubler's Partner) is forced to bid. Opener will either Pass or Double if he holds 4 cards in Opponent's suit.
If the 4th player's bid is passed around, the Redoubler must take action, usually by either a Penalty double or a NT bid.

Here follow two examples.

Ex. 13	Opener (W) ♠ - K Q 4 ♥ - A Q 9 8 5 ♦ - J 7 5 ♣ - Q 9		Responder (E) ♠ - J 10 2 ♥ - K 7 ♦ - A Q 3 2 ♣ - J 10 8 6		Comment Responder can not bid NT immediately. He must RDBL first and on his second turn bid NT. Opener, with 15 points raises to Game
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - RDBL - (2♣) - Pass - (Pass) - 2NT - (Pass) - 3NT

Ex. 14	Opener (W) ♠ - 8 5 ♥ - A Q J 8 5 ♦ - A Q 5 2 ♣ - 9 4		Responder (E) ♠ - K 7 2 ♥ - 7 2 ♦ - K 9 8 6 3 ♣ - K Q 10 8		Comment East judges it better to double than entering an iffy NT contract.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - RDBL - (2♣) - Pass - (Pass) - DBL - (Pass) - Pass - (Pass)

When the 4th player makes a Take-out Double
When the 4th player makes a Take-out Double bidding takes its normal course, except when Opener is strong (16+ pts). In such case the Opener Redoubles. The purpose of the Redouble is to tell Partner their side has the majority of points.

A penalty double of an Overcall, usually at the 2 level, can be profitable when the following conditions are met.

1. Your side holds the balance of HCPs.

2. You have a misfit with Partner's suit (preferrably a void or singleton).

3. Your card holding of the Opponents' trumpsuit complies with the Rule of 6 and 4.

The Rule of 6 and 4
You may double Opponents' contract provided

a. the number of Opponents' trump cards you hold plus the level of their bid adds up to 6 or more, and

b. the number of winners you hold in their suit plus the level of their bid adds up to 4 or more

For example you hold :   ♠ Q   ♥ J 8 3 2   ♣ Q J 9 7   ♦ A K 8 6

Your partner opens with 1♠ and your right hand Opponent makes an Overcall.
You can not double an Overcall of 2♥ (for your Heart suit has only 1 winner : 1 + 2 = 3), but you can double an Overcall of 2♣, because your 4 clubs + 2 = 6 and your likely 2 winners in the suit + 2 = 4.