What does this auction mean?

[cherdano]

I don't understand all the cooperative doubles. So some suggest a double with 5 spades and 3 diamonds and a balanced hand, but with that shape, isn't it always better to defend rather than bid on? So your cooperative double only turns out well when partner passes?

I really think that at IMPs, you should pick either penalty or takeout as agreement for this double. I admit it is not clear which is better, but this doesn't mean we shouldn't pick and let it be a vague "well i don't quite have an invite and don't really want to compete nor can I really double I hope you have a clear opinion partner"-double.

[gnasher]

It does seem unwise to use a double to say that the opponents' trumps are breaking with an honour onside. For a "cooperative" double, if that's how I played it, I'd rather have cards outside diamonds.

[Guest Jlall]

Anyways I saw a hand where someone didn't X and I was like wow I'd crack that off then I was like hmm maybe it's not penalty and shows like 5314, then I had no clue so I posted it heh.

[Winstonm]

Anyways I saw a hand where someone didn't X and I was like wow I'd crack that off then I was like hmm maybe it's not penalty and shows like 5314, then I had no clue so I posted it heh.

I believe it was a good idea to post this question as it forces us to examine more fully our understandings - it's easy to say cooperative but what does that really mean?

 

Better to have a bad understanding than no understanding.

[han]

Agree with Arend, either TO or penalty. For us it would be TO.

[benlessard]

We play a lot of optionnal double and we are tired of explaining what they mean. We now say "semi-penality" and curiously people accept that and dont ask questions.