Takeout Double

In the card game contract bridge, a takeout double is a low-level conventional call of "Double" over an opponent's bid as a request for partner to bid his best of the unbid suits. The most common takeout double is after an opponent's opening bid of one of a suit where the double shows a hand of nearly opening strength with support for all three unbid suits, at least three cards in each, and shortness in the suit doubled. Rarely at the one-level but potentially at higher levels, partner can instead "Pass" with an appropriate hand, thereby converting the takeout double to a penalty double.