Competitive difficulties

[MickyB]

1♣-1♥-P-P

1NT-X-P-2♣

 

Is the double of 1NT "takeout of clubs", or does it just show a good hand?

Is 2♣ natural or a scramble?

 

Do your answers vary depending upon how many clubs opener has promised?

[Fluffy]

2♣ is to play, and double is for penalties, normally balanced.

 

on the rare event that 1♣ promised 4 cards I'd take 2♣ as scrambling

[whereagles]

Dbl = extras, i.e. 16-17, usually flattish hand

2♣ = to play, whatever 1♣ meant

[hatchett]

If 1NT shows 18-19 I'm not sure why I want to double with a flat 16. I think could be either played as a penalties but based on a source of tricks ie a good ♥ suit I guess you could also play as a take-out hand with short clubs.

2♣ is definitely natural by partner

[Finch]

Double = good hand, expecting 1NT to go off.

2C = natural, weak.

[brianshark]

Double = points, 2♣ = to play.

[benlessard]

If 1NT shows 18-19 I'm not sure why I want to double with a flat 16. I think could be either played as a penalties but based on a source of tricks ie a good ♥ suit I guess you could also play as a take-out hand with short clubs.

2♣ is definitely natural by partner

 

Agree that doubling with flat 16 is rare.

 

X should show a borderline hand to X and bid 2H.

 

1 you have maximum pts with a suit not long/strong enough to stand rebidding 2H after partner respond 1S over the take-out X

(1C)---X---(P)-----1S

(P)----???

suit not good enough for 2H but maximum pts

 

2--Rare but good long suit but lacking prime values to make 4H a good bet vs a random 4 count.

 

KJx

KQJTxx

Kx

Kx

 

close to X and 2H but its an 1H overcall.

 

2C is 100% natural

[Cascade]

on the rare event that 1♣ promised 4 cards

doesn't everyone play this?

[Cascade]

Double is values.

 

It would be possible to play some other sort of run out for example something similar to your 1NT X runnout. You would need to have agreed this in advance and then you wouldn't need to post the question to forums.

 

Edited; I misread the auction

[MickyB]

Thanks for answers so far...I can't imagine it's right to play 2♣ as NAT when 1♣ will be 5+cards 95% of the time, as many people in the UK play. On the other hand, working out whether oppo open the major or the minor with 4=4 can be laborious, often oppo don't know which suit their partner will open.

[Halo]

Odd problem since we apparently hold neither hand.

 

I would expect the FrancesHinden interpretation of the two hands.

[Finch]

Thanks for answers so far...I can't imagine it's right to play 2♣ as NAT when 1♣ will be 5+cards 95% of the time, as many people in the UK play.

Possibly you are right. But bear in mind that

- this is an extremely rare auction (I've never seen it), and thus you don't want to have agreements specific to this particular auction

- general principles say that if a bid can be natural, it is (or at least mine do, I don't think KenRexford's do)

 

if it isn't natural, what is it? It can't be a good hand, because you would pass the double with a good hand. So the only alternative is a weak hand with both pointy suits asking partner to pick one. Certainly this is possible, but I'm not convinced it's a more likely or useful meaning that the more simple natural one of showing long clubs.