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Take-out Double
When neither player in a partnership has opened and it is the first opportunity to make a bid, the doubling of a suit bid is for take-out.
To make a take-out double a player should hold one of the following:
12 - 15 points, a weakness in the suits that have been bid, support for any unbid suits
16 - 18 points, no control in the bid suits, support for any unbid suits
19+ points.
The partner must give the doubler another chance to bid, i.e. they must bid unless the opposition have made a bid.
0 - 8 points, bid the best suit held at the lowest possible level
9 - 12 points, jump bid the best suit held
13+ points, bid game in the best suit held.
The doubler's next bid should be:
12 - 15 points, PASS
16 -18 points, support the bid suit if not in game
19+ points
Bid game in partner's suit
Investigate a slam if partner made a jump bid
Bid the slam if void in opponents suits or investigate the possibility by using cue bids