Mr. Goren Is Doubling You

If you look to the right you are seeing more than double, and if you play bridge these days you must sometimes feel that you are hearing more than double, for the double has become a very popular offensive bid. Because the double now serves two purposes—as a takeout to show the strength of your hand and as a way to punish overenthusiastic opponents—it is doubly complex. See how you fare with the following hands. If you score 120 or more you can double for me; between 80 and 120 means nobody will give your bidding a double take. Less than 80? Oh my. Double up on your homework.

In the first 15 hands both sides are vulnerable, dealer's bid is shown first and your position in the auction is indicated by the question mark. What do you bid?

1

[Ace of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[4 of Spades]
[7 of Hearts]
[3 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[Jack of Clubs]
[9 of Clubs]
[2 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[4 of Diamonds]

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

2

[Ace of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[6 of Spades]
[3 of Spades]
[King of Hearts]
[6 of Hearts]
[King of Clubs]
[Queen of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[4 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[9 of Diamonds]

3

[Ace of Spades]
[King of Spades]
[Jack of Spades]
[10 of Spades]
[9 of Spades]
[6 of Hearts]
[Ace of Clubs]
[King of Clubs]
[10 of Clubs]
[King of Diamonds]
[Queen of Diamonds]
[Jack of Diamonds]
[3 of Diamonds]

4