1. One spade. You might not like the looks of your spade suit, but you are not responsible for the quality of the suit you bid when you respond to your partner’s takeout double. The doubler is expected to tread gingerly after a forced response unless responder makes a strength-showing bid.

It is better to bid one spade than one notrump, which would show a hand of about seven to nine points in addition to at least one stopper in the opponent’s suit.

2. Two spades. This hand is obviously much stronger than the preceding one, so you must inform partner of that fact by making a jump-response. If you were to bid only one spade, partner would have no way of knowing that you have 10 high-card points and a decent suit. He might pass one spade, which could cost you a game. In general, the responder to a takeout double makes a single jump-response in his best suit with nine to 11 points, inviting but not forcing the doubler to bid again. (With 12 or more points, responder must make some stronger bid.)

3. Three notrump. Here, it’s highly likely that there’s a game in the combined hands. With 12 high-card points facing at least an opening bid, you must make a jump response to identify your values.

The best game contract is probably in notrump, which is why it’s better not to respond with three diamonds, an invitational bid that partner might pass. With hearts double-stopped, it seems to make more sense to aim for the nine-trick game rather than an 11-trick one. The hand is a bit too strong for an invitational jump to two notrump, which partner might pass.

4. Two hearts. You ought to feel very bullish about game prospects with this layout opposite a takeout double. However, at this point it is uncertain where the best game lies. Instead of trying to guess which suit should be trump, you can force partner to make the choice by cuebidding West’s suit.

You intend to go to game in whichever suit partner chooses. It is also possible that the combination of your cuebid and subsequent jump-raise to game will cause partner to consider slam possibilities.

Tomorrow: Swapping horses in mid-stream.

(c)2026 King Features Syndicate Inc.