This is one of the topics I get asked about all the time. There's a reason that I try to avoid covering it, though; it's much safer to assume all doubles are takeout. So if you aren't experienced with takeout doubles, don't read this. Please just skip it. Remember that all doubles are for takeout and go on your way.
Ok. Now that we've gotten rid of those for whom this quiz could do irreparable damage, let's talk about penalty doubles. In the old days before bidding boxes, it was easy to determine whether a double was for penalty or takeout. A takeout doubler would say "double" and a penalty doubler would say "I DOUBLE YOU" while looking around at the other players to let them know that the double was serious. That said, now we have to go by the auction itself. Is a double penalty or takeout? The answer is that there is a spectrum. Some doubles are purely penalty; for instance 2
-2
-DBL is a penalty double, as is 1-1NT-DBL. Other times doubles are intended for takeout like 1-Dbl. When is it in the middle? How about 4-Dbl. This is a "takeout-ish" double where partner could bid with an extreme hand but will pass without anything interesting to say.
Let's see if we can interpret these doubles and decide what to do with the following problems.
You might also consider getting Larry's book on Doubles and Redoubles HERE or try Michael's Doubles Webinar which you can find HERE.
Your hand:
72 AQJ3 
KJ5 
Q1042
You are South. Both vulnerable. The auction starts:
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Dbl | ||
| 2 |
Dbl | Pass | ? |
What's your call?
Pass
2NT
3
3
3
3
You hold:
9 
KQ1054 
93 
AQJ83
You are South. None vulnerable.
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Dbl | Pass | ? |
What's your call?
Pass
4NT
5
5
5
5NT
6
6
You hold:
9 AJ32 KQ53 A764
You are South. None vulnerable.
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pass | Pass | Dbl |
| 2 |
Pass | 2 |
Pass |
| Pass | Dbl | Pass | ? |
What is your call?
Pass
2NT
3
3
3
3NT
You hold:
KQJ43 A1042 98 K7
You are South. Both Vulnerable.
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|||
| Dbl | Rdbl | Pass | Pass |
| 2 |
Dbl | Pass | ? |
What is your call?
Pass
2
2NT
3NT
Other
You hold:
986 AQ104 KQJ532
You are South. Vulnerable against Non-Vulnerable.
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|||
| 4 |
Dbl | Pass | ? |
What is your call?
Pass
4NT
5
5
5NT
You hold:
AQ843 Q10 AJ76 109
You are South. None vulnerable.
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1 |
||
| Pass | 2 |
Pass | Pass |
| 3 |
Dbl | Pass | ? |
What is your call?
Pass
3
3NT
4
4
You hold:
98 KQ1095 AJ3 976
You are South. East-West Vulnerable.
|
West |
North |
East |
(You) South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Pass | ||
| Pass | Dbl | Pass | Pass |
| 2 |
Dbl | Pass | ? |
What is your call?
Pass
2NT
3
3
3NT
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