Doubles at or below 3ª

Take-out Doubles

NAME	SEQUENCE	STRENGTH	MEANING
Simple Take-out	1ª-X	10+	3 way: 10-15HCP, tolerance for 3 unbid suits & short in bid suit; balanced 19+; one suiter.
Responsive	1ª-X-2ª-X	Competitive Values	Able to compete but no 5 card suit. Over a minor both majors; over a major denies a 4 card major.
Negative/Sputnik	1§-1©-X	6/8+ at 1 level; 8+at 2 level; 9+ at 3 level	3way: both unbid suits; one unbid plus support for partner’s suit; one long suit but unable to bid it freely at the 2 level i.e. fewer than 10 points.
Show a 4 card major	1§-1©-X	6/8.	When playing 5 card majors this bid shows exactly 4 spades. Note it is generally incompatible with the negative/sputnik double at the one level.
Reopening	1§-1ª-P-P X	Opening Values	Partner may have passed because of good spade values, he has refused a sputnik double. Without 5/4 in clubs and another suit a double is the cheapest way to keep the bidding open.
After Passed 1NT Response	1ª-P-1NT-P P-X	10+	This bid is made in 6^th or 10^th position where the 1NT response is known to be weak.
Delayed Penalty	1ª-P-1NT-P 2©-X	8+	Take-out of hearts showing values for a penalty double of spades.
Strength Showing	1§-1ª-2§-P P-X	Opening Values	Double after an overcall shows a strong hand, with at least opening values.
Support	1¨-P-1©-1ª X	Opening Values	Shows three card support for responder’s major. Does NOT show any extra values.
Game Try	1ª-2©-2ª-3© X	16+ including distribution	Invitation to partner to bid game if near maximum for his first bid. 3ª is a shut out.
Lead Directing over conventional bids	1NT-P-2§/¨/©-X	8+	Indicates strength in conventionally bid suit. Use over one of a minor where five card majors played, Acol 2§, Benji 2§/2¨& over 4^th suit forcing; not over splinters.
Lebensohl Take-out	1NT-2ª-X	11-12 Balanced	Indicates values for a 2NT raise
Defence against strong one club	1§-X	10+	Shows length in both majors.

Penalty Doubles

NAME	SEQUENCE	STRENGTH	MEANING
After our Pre-empt	3©-3ª-X or 3©-P-P-3ª P-P-X	10+	The double is still for penalties even when partner has passed the pre-empt as is shown in the second example.
NT has been bid	1©-P-1ª-P 1NT-X	Competitive Values	It does not matter who has bid the NT, we or the opposition, a double is for penalties. The exceptions are identified above.
We have found a fit	1§-P-2§-2© X	Competitive Values	As our fit is agreed a double is not needed to find a suit so it must be for penalties if it is not a game try.
No fit possible	1¨-P-1ª-P 2¨-P-P-2© X	Competitive Values	Responder has accepted that the play will be in diamonds even though he may have little support for that suit. There is no possibility of a fit so the double is for penalties.
After a penalty pass of take-out double	1ª-2¨-X-P P-2©-X	Competitive Values	The first double was for take-out but was converted to a penalty double by partner’s pass. The second double is for penalties.
No unbid suits including implied	1§-1¨-1©-1ª X	Competitive Values	Applies equally where 2NT was used to show both minors.
After a previous penalty double	1§-P-2§-2© X-2ª-X	Competitive Values	As the first double was for penalties so is the second and every subsequent one.
After a previous lead directing double	1NT-P-2§-X 2©-X	Competitive Values	The first double was to indicate a lead against the conventionally bid suit, but the second is for penalties.
After a redouble	1ª-X-XX-2© X	Competitive Values	Partner’s redouble shows values similar to that of the doubling hand. Opener’s double of the opposition rescue attempt is for business.