Question: What major-suit length does a takeout double by intervenor promise over a 1♣ or 1♦ Opener?
Answer: It depends. If your partnership does not have a cuebid response to a takeout double available, then the takeout double promises 4-4 in the majors. The exception would be when the intervenor is doubling and originating or showing a 2♣ opener with a double, cuebid and originate.
If your partnership plays a cuebid in response to a takeout double showing 11+ points and 4-4 in the majors, then the intervenor’s takeout double may be made holding 4-3 in the majors.
North East South West
(Opener) (Intervenor) (Responder) (Advancer)
1♣ X Pass 2♣
The theory is that if the advancer has a weak hand, then in response to a takeout double, he bids four-card majors up the line. If the partnership ends up in a partscore with 4-3 fit, then it will survive. However, with 12+ points, the intervenor has hopes of bidding game on the hand and in this case finding the 4-4 fit is far more important. Enter the cuebid (bidding the suit of the opening bidder). By bidding 2♣ in this auction, the advancer is asking the intervenor to bid his four-card suits up-the-line until a 4-4 fit is found. Then all that is left to do is figure out whether to play partscore or game. The cuebid allows the partnership to find the 4-4 fit rather than playing game in a 4-3 fit.
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