SteveMoe

1♣-(P) - 1♦ - (2♠) PASS - (P) - DOUBLE - (P) 2NT - (P) - 3NT - All Pass Pass shows a min bal/wk NT. Double is takeout, implying short ♠s, ♦ length and 3 cards+ in the other 2 suits. 2N shows ♠ stop and a minimum bal hand. I like DOUBLE more than 2♠ as East might have a penalty pass. 3♣ is invitational - with 12 opposite 12 (and a potential source of tricks) 3N should be in the picture.

Would respond 2♣ and not 1N with East's hand. Would also rebid 3♣ and not 4♠ with West hand. Very close to 2♣ opener. Could open 2♣ to begin with, but not essential. We need specific help from partner, and starting with 2♣ might remove valuable space from the auction.

Sorry to be late to this thread.... Would not redouble with East's hand. Instead I like a 2♦ cue bid advance implying fit and game interest. Partner can show a 4-card major if they have one. Here the 2♦ bid allows West to show ♥ shortness. (1♦) - 2♣ - (X) - 2♦ (P) - 3♥ - (P) - 3♠ (P) - 4♣ - (P) - 4♦ (P) - 4♠ etc...

Unfortunately for me, transferring to ♥ then bidding ♠ is only invitational. Smolen is a poor tool to show 5440 shape. Transferring to ♥ followed by a GF 3♣ rebid might set the stage to show 4=5=0=4. The question is whether partner will believe my 3♠ rebid as a 3rd suit.

Best to treat this hand as weak with ♠ so a transfer is right. The ♦Q is not working. Change to ♠KJ10xxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣xx and I would bit 2♣ Stayman. Then over partner's 2♦ response, I'd risk a 4♥ Delayed Texas transfer to ♠. 6.5 losers opposite 1NT should play for game.

Would start with 3♠ not 4♣. 3♠ is GF, is where the North hand is, and allows for finding a 4-4 ♥ fit if there's one to be found. After 1♦-(3♣)-3♠-(5♣) 5♠*-(P)-6♣-(P) 6♦-(P)-6♠-(P) South is placed to make the 7-level decision. *Since no fit shown, forcing pass is not available. Both North and South could have bid better. 5♠ in lieu of 5♥ would allow South to make the 7-level decision. 5N looks like pick a slam. The one bid I can't understand is 7♥. I suppose North never heard "What do you call a 7-card suit headed by the AKQ? - TRUMPS!!!"

First sequence suggests 4-4 Majors with just under strength or shape to make an initial takeout double. Second sequence is either stopper ask or Michaels - prefer stopper ask.

Perhaps those from other jurisdictions might post their regulations for comparison. Perhaps the OP will look for more information in their region if not North America.

Very tempting to vary meaning by context, but I'm not so sure it gains more than a simple "all are support". I've found playing support doubles over 3-level preempts by RHO works well (adjusting for required playing strength). Even when RHO show 15-18 (1NT) responder is better placed to compete effectively knowing if opener has 0-2, 3, or 4 trumps. Penalty (18-0-6-16) is too small a target; competing to the 2-level accurately gains in frequency in these auctions.

Try this: Opener's Pass denies ♣ stop. Responder continues: 2♦/♥ crawling/garbage 2♠ Inv 2NT Inv (with stopper) Redouble repeats Stayman ask (some play this as penalty oriented, using 2♦ to repeat the ask). 3♣ asks/shows partial stop. 3-bids are game forcing and Natural. 3M shows 5 card suit and implies 4-cards in OM. (Right sides contract for lead by doubler). With club stop opener makes normal Stayman response. With 4 cards in ♣ H10xx or better, opener redoubles. Responder: Passes for penalties (3+ cards), bids 2♦ crawling and 2M to play. 2N invites. With GF and 4 card Major, responder can bid 3♣ to repeat Stayman call. so on this hand I'd bid 2♦ immediately over RHO's double.

No. Vulnerability and Position mitigate any friskiness on my part.

A reference you might find useful: Alert Procedures http://www.acbl.org/play/alertprocedures.html More Rules etc.: http://www.acbl.org/play/charts.html

Perhaps the way the question is posed biases the decision... Partner and I play 1a-3B-x to facilitate a 3N bid but not require it. Partner can always pass for penalties. We've decided that after 1a-3♥ any action by responder forces to 3N or higher (4 card ♠s are implied but not guaranteed). 1a-3♠-x does not guarantee ♥ but does guarantee the strength to play at level. The issue I find with the question is a negative double implies tolerance and no fit - so a GF is not technically established.

...to add only slightly to what mikeh has already offered, the higher the level the less likely the shape requirements for the double are met, while the strength requirements of the double are always met (aka "cards"). Relaxing shape happens strongly as interference from 3♠ goes higher, and slightly over 3♣-3♥. In 1A-3B auctions, double might be the only bid available to allow our side to reach 3N when OPENER stops the overcall suit (Marty Bergen popularized the Thrump Double). Modern approach simply acknowledges this double of 3-level interference might or might not have a 4-card Major. Likewise when the auction goes 1M-5m-Double, no one expects the other 3 players to have a trump stack, and 4 cards in the other major is not definite, but possible.

Perhaps 1♥-2♠-X-P 3♠-P-3N-P 4[di} gets us started in the right direction.....

Perhaps we can't overlook the capacity/ability of the home organizations to recruit and retain members.....

Would expect 2♠ shows 4 or 5 cards. Double shows 2-3 ♥ and 3 ♠, warning against 2N. When partner can be weak, the double by opener is usually takeout or optional takeout. OT would show 3♥ at the 2-level and 3♠. Pass would deny above hands, and include 4 and 5-card ♥ holdings. Responder should reopen with a double if very short in [he} and inv+ values. 3♣/♦ would likely be 5-6 cards and 5 cards in the majors.

Hand 1 is a simple raise (at top of strength, deducting for poor shape). Limit raises have 8 losers. This hand has 10 - much worse than a limit raise. Hand 2 would depend on how weak/aggressive your opening bid style is. If you open 11 HCP often, 1N forcing intending to rebid 2N is enough. IF partner rebids 2♠ you rebid 4♠. If you open good 12's (never fewer than 7 losers) then 2♣ getting to 3N (or 4♠ if pard has a 6-card suit) is right. Keep in mind that two 12 HCP balanced hands opposite each other make 9 tricks at least 50% of the time. Here you have two different 5-card suits. One should yield 4 tricks. This urges moving to game, not inviting. While HCP help guide first bids, ultimately all strength and length valuations have to get to tricks.

Opening 2♣ with strong 1=4=4=4 hands requires a bit more than this one, though it is close. Rather than opening 2N the "Slam Killer" I'd bid as follows: 1♦-1♠ 3♣-4♣ Minorwood 4♥(3)-4♠ ♣Q ask 5♦yes & ♦K - 5♥ Any extras? 5N(♥K)- 7♣ East knows red Queens are pulling full weight, and that West is unbalanced. ♠ likely short. I would not open 1♣ and reverse as this promises longer ♣ than ♦.

Agreeing MrAce. North has a 1♥ overcall. South has a pass when partner doubles and RHO bids 1N. A double requires 9 HCP and shows either neither or both 4-card majors. With one 4-card major and 8+ HCP it's time to bid it. With less pass. Opposite the putative 1♥ overcall, South does have a single raise. This road lead to 2♥ and no doubt.

Extra values usually means a King above minimum opening, or 6 or fewer losers, or a hand whose top controls are disproportionate for point count. This hand is a 4.5-5 loser (6 losers - (#Aces-#Queens)/2). 6 Top controls are parity with 18-20 HCP - We hold 12 HCP. 40 HCP/12 Controls = 3.33 HCP/Control. 37 HCP (Max single hand)/12 Controls = 3.08 HCP/Control Since 10 controls are enough for slam with a fit, this hand clearly has extras...

Agreeing MikeH. Adding partner doesn't need ♥HHxx or HJxx for this double. ♥Hxx could be enough.

BOSTON Bottom Of Something, Top Of Nothing

Popularity would mean knowing how many people play bridge in any form. There's little hard data on that. What we can do is look at the bridge organization membership numbers by country. See http://www.worldbridge.org/geographic-zones.aspx as a source. Then think in terms of current population. Netherlands and Francs stand out - I understand they have well developed school instruction programs. Sweden's Players/1000 population should be high too. I seem to recall historical information that suggested 10% of HHs in North America the USA play bridge. There are 114.7 MM HHs in the USA, so we might expect anywhere from 23-36 MM people play the game in the USA. Of these nearly 160000 are members of the ACBL. That's 0.7-1.0% of the playing population. Hmmmmm.......

I find Boston very effective. We use top (sequence) or 2nd best from length and nothing, but 3rd/low from Hxxx(x...) vs suits (4th vs NT). Mitigates need for Smith Echo. Any lead approach gives information to both sides. 4th best (adding in Smith Echo) is also revealing to declarer. Defenders can grab the initiative with a good lead. It's more important to communicate clearly with partner - wouldn't worry about what declarer might or might not understand. Better to choose the right strategy (active or passive) and the right suit. Then the right card depends on what you want to communicate.