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 . . . . . . . ., . . . . HCPs and . . . losers
   
   
2. 1♥ - (DBL) - 3♥ : showing . . . . . . , . . . . HCPs and . . . losers
   
   
3. 1♥ - (DBL) - 4♥ : showing . . . . . . . . . , . . . HCPs and . . . losers
   
   
4. 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT : showing . . . . . . . , . . . HCPs or more (The . . . . . . 2NT Convention)

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

Above responses not only give accurate descriptions of Responder's hand, but they also . . . . . . . . . . . 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 . . . HCPs and . . . losers.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . HCPs and . . losers. Opener, holding . . . losers himself, . . . . .
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . HCPs and . . losers.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . HCPs or more Opener is confident enough to bid . . . . . in NT.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . points, . . . . . . hand
   
   
2. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   2NT (Truscott) : showing . . . . . . . , . . . HCPs and . . . . . . singleton or void
   
   
3. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   RDBL first, bid . . . . . . . next time : showing 10-12 points, balanced hand
   
   
4. 1♥   -   (DBL)   -   RDBL first, bid . . . . . . . . next time : showing 13+ points, balanced hand

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 . . . .

Ex. 6

Opener opens 1♠

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

Comment Responder replies . . . . . , planning to bid . . . . 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 . . . . . . . , showing . . . . 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 . . . . . . . ove Opener's minor when holding a . . . . . 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 bid instead.

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

1. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3♥   :   showing a . . . . . . . Opening hand, . . . . . points
   1♥   -   2NT   -   3♥   :   (But Responder must cotinue with 12+ points.)
   
   
2. 1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :   showing a . . . . . . . . . . Opening hand, with . . . . . . points
   1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :   (But Responder may push on to Slam.)
   
   
3. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3♣   :  . . .. . . . . . . . . . . - new suit below . . . . . . in the major trump suit.
   
   
4. 1♥   -   2NT   -   4♣   :   . . . . . . . . . . . . - new suit above . . . . . in the major trump suit.
   1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :   (or use it for a Slam Trial bid)
   
   
5. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3NT :   . . . . . . . . . . . .

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 . . . . point hand Opener bids . . . . . .
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . , but Responder is strong enough to bid . . . . . . .
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT -

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Responder, with only . . . . . . . . in Diamonds bids . . . . .
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT -

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 (. . . . . . . . . ) Responder shows . . . or . . . . . . . . From his previous bid it must be . . . . . and Opener bids . . . . . . .
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) - 2NT - (Pass) - 3NT -

When Responder does . . . . . . have a trump fit with Opener's suit he in most cases will bid a new suit as normal. However Responder . . . . . . . . . Opponent's Take-out Double with 10+ points in one of the following two situations :

1. Responder has no . . . . . . . . . . Since his side has the majority of point he may be looking for a . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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 . . . . immediately. He must . . . . first and on his second turn bid NT. Opener, with . . . . points bids . . . . . . .
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . . than entering a . . . . . . contract.
	Bidding : (W) 1♥ - (DBL) -

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 . . . . . In such case the Opener . . . . . . . . . . The purpose of the Redouble is to tell Partner their side has the . . . . . . of points.

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

1. Your side holds the . . . . . . . . of HCPs.

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

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

The Rule of . . . . and . . .
You may double Opponents' contract provided

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

b. the number of winners you hold in their suit plus the level of their bid adds up to . . . . 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 . . . . . . . . . (for your Heart suit is too weak), but you can double an Overcall of . . . . . . . . . , because your 4 . . . . + 2 = 6 and your likely 2 winners in the suit + 2 = 4.