Definitions of Doubles

[rogerclee]

I agree with Adam, it may not be perfect but playing all such doubles as TO makes it much easier to remember.

I play doubling 1♣ = 16+ as takeout of clubs for the same reason.

[jdonn]

Hey, relax!

...

Hey, chill dude!

You look like the hyper one here, I didn't use any exclamation points. Why didn't you just say "It was Helene and MikeH I was not agreeing with"? After all, all I did was ask. ;)

 

If I make a petition to change the name to the Josh Bidding Forums, will you sign?

[cherdano]

"Hey relax" with an exclamation mark is not hyper.

(Note I used no exclamation mark up there!)

[benlessard]

All penalty here. With a hand short in clubs you would have made a garbage stayman anyway. The only remaining hands are 5D and 4M but with those you can bid 2D anyway.

 

Imo it make sense that

 

1Nt----(2D)------X is TO

but with

 

1Nt----(2M)----- X is much better played a penalty/optionnal even many expert play neg X here.

[han]

I agree with Adam, it may not be perfect but playing all such doubles as TO makes it much easier to remember.

I play doubling 1♣ = 16+ as takeout of clubs for the same reason.

Usually you are funnier than this.

[pclayton]

A few interesting doubles came up today in the NAOP Unit qualifying. I'd be curious what you think what they mean? :

 

1. 1N - pass - pass - double (DONT);

pass - 2♣ (forced, sort of) - double?

This was the 1st one. He had clubs. We agreed later it should be takeout. I disagree (if anyone is asserting otherwise - I'm not really sure) that garbage stayman hands rule out a TOx here. I could easily be 4432 or something.

 

The alternative to double being takeout is that in order to compete you have to bid a four card diamond suit or major.

 

It didn't matter much; the opponents stepped in it. RHO bid 2♦ on Axxxxx of diamonds and some scattered cards and I doubled on a prime 16 and ♦KJT9; his partner ran back to 3♣ with ♣JT8xxx. +500

 

2. 1N - pass - pass - double (penalty);

pass - 2♣ (running) - double?

 

We talked this over afterward. They make a penalty double, and when the weak hand runs, doubles are penalty. The puller had a bust with JTxx of clubs. +150 was still pretty good.

 

3. 1N - 2♥ - double. What is the worst hand you will have for a x here?

 

We've specifically agreed that a max double is an NT invite with 4 spades. A min double IMO should advertise roughly a 20-20 deck with four spades. I doubled on ♠KJxx and a dub heart. He doubled 3♥ on little more than ♥AJx and ♣AKQxx (after he bid 2N over my double - is that scrambling or to play for you?)-730.

 

Our motivation for competing isn't to punish our opponents. Its to get to a playable partial, although I tend to think that when we have spades and they have hearts, that double is OK on a hand this weak.

[655321]

If I make a petition to change the name to the Josh Bidding Forums, will you sign?

Sounds great!

Where do I sign? ;)

[benlessard]

I could easily be 4432

If you play the full garbage stayman

 

1Nt-----2C-----2D------2H (weak with both M) its still ok to make GS here. If you dont 4432 is the only hand where GS isnt available. An insignificant lost compared to all the hands with 5-6♣.

 

On top of that i hope you realized opps going to have clubs about 30-33% of the times.

[cherdano]

I could easily be 4432

If you play the full garbage stayman

 

1Nt-----2C-----2D------2H (weak with both M) its still ok to make GS here. If you dont 4432 is the only hand where GS isnt available. An insignificant lost compared to all the hands with 5-6♣.

 

On top of that i hope you realized opps going to have clubs about 30-33% of the times.

You bid garbage stayman with 4342?

The only time I ever used it with 4432 was at matchpoints.

[benlessard]

You bid garbage stayman with 4342?

 

As long as i hold 2 small club im pretty sure its the correct % (play assuming 1Nt may easily have a 5cM and that im not heavy enough to be sure 1Nt makes).