Negative Doubles
The Negative Double DBL is a form of takeout double in bridge. It is made by the responder after his right-hand opponent overcalls on the first round of bidding, and is used to show shortness in overcall's suit, support for the unbid suits with emphasis on majors, as well as some values.
Here are a few examples:
| Opener | Overcaller | Responder to Opener |
|---|---|---|
| 1 C / D | 1 H | DBL shows 4 spades - 1 S shows 5 spades |
| 1 C | 1 D | DBL shows 4 and 4 in the majors |
| 1 C / D | 1 S | DBL shows 4 hearts |
| 1 C / D | 1 S | 2 H shows 5 hearts with 10+ pts. |
| 1 H | 1 S | DBL shows 4 and 4 in the minors |
| 1 S | 2 H | DBL shows 4 and 4 in the minors with 10+ pts. |
| 1 C / D | DBL | ReDBL redouble shows 4 and 4 in the majors |
If the Overcaller makes a preemptive bid, the response for the Responder of the Opener remains the same.