What does Double mean?

[ArcLight]

You hold:

 

♠ A K 8 x x x

♥ Q J T 9 8 x

♦x

 

Playing 2/1, IMPS White on Red

RHO deals and passes

 

you open 1S

 

p - 1S - p - 1NT* (forcing)

2H - ??

 

What do you bid?

 

DBL in this case is for penalty, is it not?

Other wise you could pass and wait for pards bid (or pass).

In other words, you don't have to bid unless you have something to say.

[Stephen Tu]

Most players play double as takeout in this position these days. You want to have a way to show a good 5-1-(43), 5-0-4-4 hand, to get partner to compete in a minor. Otherwise you'd have no good call with these hands, which will come up a lot more often than having a good 6 bagger in RHO's suit. With this hand, you just have to pass. Even if partner can't reopen with double, at least at these colors it won't necessarily be disastrous.