[jim420]

Scoring: IMP

W N E S
- - - P
1♥ 1♠ 4♥ P
P X P ?

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Scoring: IMP

W N E S
- - - P
1♥ 1♠ 4♥ P
P X P ?

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What should be the meaning for these doubles and your actions now?

[helene_t]

The first one is t/o, typically a 6133 and 16 points or such. I would pass. Partner leads the ace of spades and gives suit preference with the second spade.

The second one is whatever dbl you play against a natural overcall of your 1NT, I think.

[jtfanclub]

jim420, on Aug 2 2007, 09:21 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

W N E S
- - - 1NT
2♣ P 2♦ P
P X P ?

2♣: capp (one suited)
2♦: ask

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What should be the meaning for these doubles and your actions now?

X of 2 clubs should be takeout, IMHO, so this X should be a balanced 6+ count. Leave it in unless you have good reason to pull. You don't, so pass.

[Quantumcat]

Why is it a takeout of clubs when the 2♣ bidder has just said he has diamonds by passing the 2♦?

Also, don't you think we need a little application to write bidding sequences in like we have for hands, it can be quite hard to read when the columns don't match up.

[helene_t]

Quantumcat, on Aug 3 2007, 10:54 AM, said:

Why is it a takeout of clubs when the 2♣ bidder has just said he has diamonds by passing the 2♦?

A double on the original 2♣ could be t/o on clubs based on the theory that a hand that wants to dbl any other suit for t/o could wait an still be able to double at the 2-level. I would rather play a dbl of 2♣ as t/o of spades, though. If the capp-overcaller has a red suit, it's still safe to double in next round, but if he has spades it's nice to show your hand immediately before p gets forced to bid at the 3-level. If he has clubs (which he's less likely to have because he might not want to play at the 3-level and if he does he can just overcall 3♣), doubling in next round is more attractive than doubling spades because it's easier for p to leave in a dbl at the 3-level.

Anyway, I would assume a double of 2♣ to be either "stolen bid" (Stayman) or showing clubs. Here in the Netherlands I think the default agreement among intermediate players is that it shows clubs (since nobody plays capp here you would have to assume the default agreement).