World Champion & Master Teacher Donna Compton

One of the biggest challenges to newbie players is getting into the auction once the opponent has opened the bidding.  There are two gadgets the Intervenor (opponent of the opening bidder) can use to get their side into the auction: Overcall and Takeout Double.   

To make a takeout double of the opening bid, the intervenor wants the following type of hand:

• Less than three cards in the opening bid suit
• 13+ total points (including dummy/short* points)
• Four cards in the unbid majors and at least three cards in each unbid minor.

If one of these points are missing, the Intervenor has to choose a different option.

*  Void = 5 points, singleton = 3 points, doubleton = 1 point. 

As the Advancer (partner of the takeout double), bid four+ card majors up the line, otherwise respond in a minor suit or notrump.  The Advancer's ranges are divided into two ranges depending on whether the response is in a suit or in notrump:

• Suit Ranges
• 0-8 total points
• 9-11 total points
• 12+ total points
• Notrump Ranges
• 8-10 total points
• 11-12 total points
• 13+ total points.

A theoretical explanation for the difference in ranges may help the memory ~ The Intervenor counted dummy (short) points to make the takeout double.  When the advancer responders in notrump, the Intervenor must subtract out any dummy (short) points because they are useless in a notrump contract. For this reason, the Advancer's ranges must be increased to make up for the decrease in the Intervenor's hand evaluation.