This concept was devised by and originated with Dr. F. Fielding-Reid of Dania, Florida, United States. Following an opening bid by the opposing side a takeout double by partner and a two- or three-level raise by the partner (responder) of the opener, the partner (advancer) of the takeout doubler can also double, thereby providing and communicating descriptive information about his hand. This action is known as responsive double.

The importance of distinguishing this double from other doubles is the fact that the partner of the opener has supported the suit of his partner via a raise. In the case that the partner of the opener bids another suit after the Takeout Double, then other interpretations of the double in the Fourth Seat may take on new meanings.

Note: Any contributed information as to the bridge personality of Dr. F. Fielding-Reid, especially photographic material, would be greatly appreciated.

Note: The long-time bridge columnist for The New York Times, Mr. Alan Truscott, authored a bridge column illustrating the Distinction Between Types of Doubles Can Prove Vital. The bridge column has only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.

Parameters of the Concept

1.	If the opening is a Major suit, then the responsive double shows, after the takeout double, scattered values and better distribution in the Minor suits. Otherwise it would be more prudent to support the takeout double of the partner when holding support in the unbid Major suit.
2.	If the opening is a Minor suit, then the responsive double shows, after the takeout double, scattered values and better distribution in both Major suits and wishes the partner, who has executed the takeout double, to choose the better Major suit.

This may sound confusing, but the following illustration should clarify this concept:

West		North		East		South		Meaning
1		Double						This is a takeout double.
				2				The partner of the opener supports partner's suit with a raise.
						Double		This is a responsive double since the advancer is responding to the double of partner.
						Q873 Q1097 7 Q852		The advancer holds and promises scattered values and better distribution in both Major suits and wishes the partner, who has executed the Takeout Double, to choose the better Major suit. This Responsive Double communicates this information to partner, who may have doubled on a strong holding in Clubs only. This additional information provided by the Responsive Double is important.

The double of North is a takeout double, but the double of South is a responsive double. South is too weak to cuebid the Diamonds, and South does not want to simply guess which suit North, his partner, would prefer. Therefore, South doubles and informs his partner that he has both Major suits and both are suitable for competing. If South holds a 5-card or longer suit, then South would just bid it.

Argument Against Cuebid

If South were to cuebid the Diamonds, that would force his partner to bid on the three level, and their contract might possibly be only on the two level. This is one reason why Dr. F. Fielding-Reid devised the responsive double. The responsive double cannot equal a penalty double in this situation, and should not be construed as a penalty double.

West		North		East		South		Meaning
1		Double						This is a takeout double and strongly implies a 4-card Spade suit.
				2				The partner of the opener supports partner's suit with a raise.
						Double		This is a responsive double.
						873 72 QJ107 QJ105

South is unable to support the Spades, the suit of North, and must have a means to show the two Minor suits. South executes the Responsive Double to show and communicate to North that he holds both Minor suits. North must now bid a Minor suit if West passes or possibly pass if West raises to three Hearts.

How many High Card Points

The recommended high card points should be between 8 and 11 high card points according to Dr. F. Fielding-Reid. However, the high card point range will differ according to the individual partnership agreement. After the opponents settle on one suit, the shape of the hand also begins to play an important role. Remember also, that South may pass once the partner of the opener (responder) makes a bid. The high card point range also changes with the level of the auction. So the guidelines should be:

1.	Partnership agreement.
2.	Shape of the holding.
3.	Level of the auction.
4.	High card points, values, Losing Trick Count.

These four elements must enter into the decision of South. All four elements must be considered. It is conclusive that most high card points are in the other three hands, and that South will be weak. Therefore, a responsive double of 2 Clubs or 2 Diamonds would require a minimum of 8 points (distributional points added), and a responsive double of 3 Clubs or 3 Diamonds would require a minimum of 11 points (distributional points added).

It is possible that the distribution of the holding of South could be such, that South, instead of executing the responsive double, cuebid the suit of the opponents to indicate a much stronger holding. With such a holding, the high card points do not play any important part of the auction as much as the power of the distribution and shape of the holding. Therefore, the advancer should cuebid.

West		North		East		South		Meaning
1		Double						This is a Takeout Double and strongly implies both Major suits.
				2				The partner of the opener supports partner's suit with a raise.
						3		South, as the advancer, can show distributional strength by cuebidding the suit of the opponents.
						QJ9873 QJ10987 7

In order to show this very distributional holding, South must cuebid the Minor suit of the opponents. By partnership agreement, North must consider game in a Major suit. The reason behind the cuebid is the logic that the lead must come up to the declarer through the stronger hand, which opened. Whether or not this can also be a partnership understanding, if the opening is a Major suit, depends on the partnership agreement.

Illustration of the Responsive Double

The following board is from the 1997 World Team Championship between France and the United States.

Dealer: North
Vulnerable: East-West
United States playing North-South
	North 32 K743 Q5 KQJ103
West Q1087 10 A9872 842		East J4 A985 KJ1043 A5
	South AK965 QJ62 6 976

Auction:
North		East		South		West
Pass		1		1		3 (preemptive)
Double

The responsive double by North shows both unbid Suits, Hearts and Clubs.

The responsive double of North meets all the requirements. North has length in the two unbid suits, and also the strength required to make the responsive double.

If a responsive double is called after a raise of the Major suits, more information has already been exchanged than had a Minor suit been opened and raised. The responsive doubler knows the suit of his partner, the takeout doubler. The responsive doubler has therefore more descriptive information about the hand of his partner. The minimum requirement of high card points is approximately the same, but the shape of the hand becomes more important. How many cards in the Major suit of the opponents does the possible responsive doubler have? Could his partner, the takeout doubler, possibly be void?

In general, most bridge partnerships agree that there is a responsive double through to 4 Diamonds. The partnership should come to a general understanding and include this in the individual partnership agreement. Also, there should be agreement as to whether a responsive double is valid over Weak Two Bids and higher-level preemptive bids.

In the original concept of the responsive double, a double by the advancer is responsive only when the opponents have opened on the one-level and raised that particular suit. However, other bridge partnerships also use the responsive double when the partner has made a simple overcall in a suit. Modern Bridge Conventions, a bridge book authored by Mr. Bill Root with Mr. Richard Pavlicek, published in 1995, offers a list of bidding sequences, in which a double by the partner is not a responsive double.

Bidding Sequence 1:

Opener		2. Seat		3. Seat		4. Seat
1		Double		1		Double		Third Seat has bid a new suit; the double by fourth seat becomes optional.

Bidding Sequence 2:

Opener		2. Seat		3. Seat		4. Seat
1		2		3		Double		Second seat has made a jump overcall. The double in fourth seat is not responsive.

Bidding Sequence 3:

Opener		2. Seat		3. Seat		4. Seat
2		Double		3		Double		The opening is a preemptive bid meaning that the double in fourth seat is not responsive.

Bidding Sequence 4:

Opener		2. Seat		3. Seat		4. Seat
1		1 NT		2		Double		Second seat has overcalled in No Trump meaning that the double in fourth seat is not responsive.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.