Do you or don't you?

[Free]

Playing a teammatch, you hold:

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=sqj9xhdqxxxckt9xx]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

The bidding starts on your left:

2♥ - pass - 4♥ - ???

(2♥ is a standard weak two)

 

Do you try for a sacrifice or penalty by doubling or do you just pass?

[Finch]

This is the sort of hand where you'd like to double to show this, but it doesn't, so you have to pass.

 

if you can double meaning "partner you can only pass if you have this contract off in your own hand otherwise you must bid at the minimum level in your longest suit" then it's a good call, but unfortunately partners have a habit of passing this double on random balanced hands when you then concede 690, or worse bidding a slam and going off.

 

It's quite cute to play 2H P 4H P P x as either this hand or a trump stack double and hope partner can work it out. But that doesn't help here.

[Fluffy]

Even if you could defend it doesn't pay to, -800 when you had +50 is the kind of result that makes team-mates angry. At IMPS do not defend for -300.

[bearmum]

I would PASS :P

[Blofeld]

I'd double reasonably aggressively on this shape, but not this light. And an ace or two would help, as it reduces the chances that they make 3 overtricks ...

 

I suppose AAK with this shape would be about minimum for me to double.

[Guest Jlall]

I would pass but Joe Grue informs me that Xs like these are automatic...

[mike777]

I would pass but Joe Grue informs me that Xs like these are automatic...

Sure would like to hear more why this is automatic?

[Finch]

I have a friend who thinks this is automatic NV against V.

 

To some extent it's one of these style issues: almost any range is playable as long as partner knows what to play you for.

[Guest Jlall]

I would pass but Joe Grue informs me that Xs like these are automatic...

Sure would like to hear more why this is automatic?

hehehe, I think he had a 4036 8 count in Thailand and it went 4H p p and he hammered it and went -590... I asked him about the bid and he told me you HAVE to double in those situations lol. *shrug* I think partner will pass about 90 % of the time given my heart holding and I dont have enough defense to think I'll beat it very often.

[Apollo81]

I'd double if I could whisper "we're not beating this" to partner.

Pass in the real world.

[Codo]

Maybe a "Partner, do we play take out doubles till 4 ♠, shape not strength showing?" would help. But maybe this is forbidden.... so pass for now.

[pclayton]

A double is very safe if you are a passed hand, otherwise its too likely to concede something-90.

[neilkaz]

If I doubled this quacky 8 HCP opposite a passed PD, I'd expect him to come across the table at me. I compete quite agressively vs weak 2's and I hope my PD's do as well. Thus, PD isn't likely to have anything more than a minimal opening if he has 4♠'s. If PD has 4♠ we may be OK, but what if he doesn't and/or 4♥ is set due to a bad split.

 

Clear pass for me playing IMPs. .. neilkaz ..