(Takeout Doubles, Continued from page 202)

3) ª - 752   ©  - 652   ¨ - T632   § - 942
4) ª - 75   ©  - K532   ¨ - T6   § - T7642
5) ª -  K752  ©  - 762   ¨ - A6   §- Q762
6) ª - AQ7653   ©  - K75   ¨ - 732   § - 4
7) ª-  K75  ©  - Q72   ¨ - KJ42   § - T52
8) ª- AQ3   ©  - K742   ¨ - J432   § - A5
9) ª- A6   ©  - 72   ¨ - KJT974   § - 632

Again, LHO opens 1¨ and partner doubles. This time RHO bids 1ª. What do you bid with:

10) ª - 65   ©  - Q654  ¨ - 863   § - J872
11) ª - 65  ©  - AQ64   ¨ - 863   § - J872
12) ª - 65  ©  - Q64   ¨ - KJ86   § - A872

The auction proceeds as follows:
RHO  You  LHO  Partner
1©   double  pass     1ª
pass     ?
What do you bid with the following hands?

13) ª -  A764  ©  - 63   ¨ - KQ74   § - A73
14) ª - AK64   ©  - 63   ¨ - KQ74   § - AJ3
15) ª-  A6  ©  -  KJ74  ¨ - KQ74  § - AQ3
16) ª -  A6  ©  - 64   ¨ - AKJ765   § - AK3
17) ª - A64  ©  - Q3   ¨ - AQ32   § - AK75

Answers to Takeout Doubles, hands 1-17:

This hand is worth one bid. Bid 1©.

With 7 points, try to bid twice. Bid 1ª, intending to bid Hearts next.

You cannot pass. Bid 1© .

Prefer a major to a minor. Bid 1© .

This hand is too good for a simple 1ª response. A jump to 2ª is better than 1NT.

You know where this hand belongs. Bid 4ª.

With 9 points, no major and good stoppers in the opponent's suit, bid 1NT.

You have enough to insist on game, but which game. 4©  is probable, but 3NT and even 4ª cannot yet be ruled out. Start with a cue-bid of 2¨.

This is the one situation where you are allowed to pass. With 4 trump tricks and an Ace, can probably set 1¨ more than the value of whatever contract you can make.

RHO's bid has taken you off the hook. Pass.

With 7 points, get in and compete. Bid 2© .

Bid 1NT. Don't worry about Spades; partner's double of 1¨ implies Spades.

Pass. Don't bid the same values twice; Partner has at most 8 points. With 17 points, this hand is worth a raise to 2 Spades.

Bid 1NT, showing a hand that was too strong to overcall 1NT initially.

Bid 2D, showing a hand that was too strong to overcall 2¨ initially.

Cue-bid 2© , showing a good hand, but with no good bid available. Further bidding should allow the right contract to be reached.

"Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong."

-Oscar Wilde