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Re-Opening or Balancing Doubles
You are likely to have a hand with at least 3 cards in each of the unbid suits and is short in
the opponent’s suit, you can balance with a takeout double with fewer HCP than you need to make a takeout double
in the direct seat. You can do this with as little as 9 HCP, so that when you add three points to your hand you will
have a full opening hand
Purpose
Re-opening or balancing doubles serve useful and different functions in an auction where partnerships are competing against each other. They are not the same as takeout doubles in that they ofter have fewer values. The purpose of the double is to encourage your partner to re-enter the biddingDefinition
Re-opening or balancing doubles serve useful and different functions in an auction where partnerships are competing against each other. They are called balancing or re-opening when you are in the balancing (or passout) seat, meaning if you were to 'Pass' the opponents would end up playing at a low level contract.Hand Strength for a Balancing Double
Your double covers hands with varying strengths and shapes, meaning the double could have less HCP than if you had made the double from the 'direct' seat, straight after opponents bidding. The aim of this reopening tactic is to find a makeable or nearly makeable contract for your own side and/or to push opponents a level higher.How to make a Balancing Double
When your left-hand opponent (LHO) has bid and both your partner and your right handed opponent (RHO) pass, this is the final line of defense for competing in the auction. The position is called the balancing seat and is a time when we stretch to compete in the bidding. We revalue our hands and bid as if we have three more HCP than we actually do. It is particularly important for us to compete in the bidding when have a shortage in the opponent’s suit - in this situation we may choose to make a balancing double into the auction with a balancing takeout double. These situations arise in a variety of difficult situations.Balancing Double Opportunities
You can make a balancing takeout double after an opponent opens the bidding or even if you have opened the bidding. If you open the bidding, or LHO overcalls, and the auction is passed back around to you then make a reopening double when you are short in opponent’s suit. Your hand should not be so weak that you cannot defeat the opposition if they did compete and jump to game. You should also be careful to have enough defense so that if your partner passes your balancing takeout double, having made a trapping pass, you will feel confident in beating their contract. 2. You can also use a double in the balancing seat to show hands that, after you've added three points are too strong to for regular bids. With these hands you double and bid your suit or double and then bid Notrump.Balancing Double
You are 4th to bid and the bidding has gone: 1H - P - P its your turn to bid with the cards below what is
your bid?
- ♠ A T 6 3
- ♥ 8
- ♦ A 9 8 4 3
- ♣ Q 7 5
You have 10 HCP, shortness in the opponent’s suit, and at least 3-card support for all the unbid
suits. You have a perfect re-opening double in the balancing seat.
Balancing Double
You opened the bidding 1S. the full bidding has been: 1♠ - 2♦ - P - P -
With the cards below what is your best bid?
- ♠ A 9 8 4 3
- ♥ A T 6 3
- ♦ K
- ♣ Q 7 5
Opener should strive to compete in the bidding. With shortness in the opponent’s suit and not many
distributional values Opener should re-open the bidding with a balancing double.