Support Doubles — BidMaestro

The problem it solves

When partner responds one of a suit and the next hand overcalls, opener often wants to show support, but a plain raise is ambiguous between three-card and four-card support. Support doubles remove the doubt.

The rule

Over the overcall, opener’s double shows exactly three-card support for responder’s suit. A raise instead shows four.

If the intervening call was a double rather than an overcall, opener redoubles to show the same three-card support.

Why it matters

Because the double pins opener to exactly three, responder can count the trumps. With five the fit is a full eight cards; with only four it is a seven-card 4-3 fit, and responder bids accordingly. Distinguishing three from four is exactly the information a plain raise hides.

How responder replies

Knowing opener holds exactly three, responder places the contract:

Game values and a fifth trump: About 12 or more support points with five trumps, a real eight-card fit: bid the major game.
Game values but only four trumps: About 12 or more high-card points with four trumps, a 4-3 fit. With the overcalled suit stopped, prefer 3NT to a shaky 4-3 game; without a stopper (or without room after the interference), take the 4-3 major game anyway.
Invitational values: About 10–11 (support points with five trumps, high-card points with four): jump-raise the major to invite game.
A minimum: Fewer than 10: compete in the major at the cheapest safe level, no more.

Scope

Support doubles apply after a one-level response when the overcall is at the two level or lower, the range where the extra precision is most useful.

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