jullman

You hold [hv=d=e&v=n&s=skhjxdakt98765cqj]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv] The auction starts with a pass to you. Question 1: What do you open? I opened 1♦, and the auction was P-1♦-(X)-1♠ P-? Question 2: What do you rebid?

I agree with the lead. Also agree with Fluffy that I would bid 2S to show the one I have.

I would value this hand as a 1S-2S raise if there were no double. After the X of 1M I like to play transfer advances, with 2M-1 showing about 7-9 (a good 1S-2S raise) and 2M directly showing about 3-6. So, in my preferred methods, I bid 2H. Playing standard methods I don't think the double makes my hand especially better or worse so I'd bid 2S and hope partner doesn't give me too much room.

Alan, your suggestion basically makes sense, and if our opening standard for unbalanced hands were at all reasonable, I would agree with you. The issue is that since our unbalanced hands can be as crappy as Kxxx xxx KQJxx x, and the like, we would rather eschew having the auction 1D - 2N (bid game if you're balanced) - P (sorry pard). On my example opening hand, maybe the solution is to always scramble over 2N when unbalanced and minimum. I think Rob's proposal to frequently bid 1H (or potentially 2C, as someone else suggested) on 3 is an OK approach, although it would be nice to know if there is a more "natural" solution.