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Bidding Conventions
 LESSON 28
Truscott 2NT after an Enemy Take-Out Double

  1. Suit raises after a Take-out Double
  2. NT reponses
  3. Opener's replies after 2NT
  4. Bidding after a RDBL
  5. When to Double for Penalties
  6. Deals 125 to 128
    Review


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BR 28.1 - Suit raises after a Take-Out Double

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


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BR 28.2 - NT reponses after Opponent's Take-Out Double

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
            (* = When using Splinter bids Truscott 2NT also promises no singleton or void.)

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

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.

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BR 28.3 - Bidding after the Truscott 2NT response

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 minimum Opening hand, 12-13 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♣   :   Cue bid - new suit above 3 in the major trump suit.
    1♥   -   2NT   -   4♥   :   (or use it for a Slam Trial bid)

  5. 1♥   -   2NT   -   3NT :   RKC Blackwood
Here follow some examples. (Bids by the Opponents are in brackets.)

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♥


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BR 28.4 - Bidding after a RDBL

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.

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BR 28.5 - When to Double for Penalties

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.

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BR 28.5 - Deal 125 - 128

Deals 125 - 128 are examples of bidding as outlined in this lesson.


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Copyright © 2011 Michael Furstner (Jazclass). All rights reserved.