Support Doubles

The support double is used to distinguish between 3 card and 4 card support for partner's suit in the situation where his suit bid has been either overcalled or doubled by the opposition. It is a competitive bidding situation which allows the bidding to stay at the lowest possible level.

Definition

When the opposition have bid, doubled or overcalled after a bid from your side has opened, a support double ("X") shows partner that you have three cards in their suit. With four card support bid the suit itself.

Uses

Distinguishing between 4-4 fits which play very well as opposed to 4-3 fits which do not play well. Partnerships usually agree in advance to play support doubles and they are only support doubles up to the level of 2 Hearts or 2 Spades.

Opener (N)
♠ K 8 3
♥ 2
♦ A K T 8 5
♣ A J 9 7

	Bidding
North	East	South	West
1♦	1♥	1♠	2♥
X	P	3NT	P
P	P

Responder (S)
♠ A J T 6
♥ Q T 6
♦ Q J 6 3
♣ 6 3

Comment: When North bids 'X' (a support double) after Wests 2♥ it is showing three card support for South's spades. South signing off in 3NT indicates that they do not have a 5 card spade suit.

Example

In this auction bidding double ("X") after the opposition overcall promises 3 card spade support for your partners bid suit. A bid of 2 in partner's suit promises 4 card support in spades. If the opposition doubled instead of overcalled redoubling ("XX") a support re-double, serves the same function as a support double.

Answer

North has three spade cards and after his partner responds and bids 1S he wants to find out whether they have a 5-3 spade fit or only a 4-3 spade fit.
When partner bids 2NT South now knows that North only has a 4 card spade suit.
With a 5 card suit South's bid would be 2S.

Practice This Lesson

Practice Answering a Support Double

PLAY