Partner opens in a Major and they double

[EricK]

This is a very non-standard view, but when you have a decent hand with spade support, I'm not sure it is always right to bid immediately over a double. Opponents are in a forcing situation with probably fewer, and possibly much fewer, than half the points. LHO might be sitting there dreading having to dredge up a bid on his hand (eg a 4333 yarborough!) and by bidding we just let him off the hook.

 

It is almost certain that we are going to play this hand in some number of spades whatever we do now. If we play that pass followed by showing spade support when the bidding comes back to us shows this sort of hand (reasonable hand, spade support, some desire to defend if opponents bid on) we gain a few advantages over standard methods:

1. We will have more distributional information when we play the hand because of LHO's enforced bid

2. We sometimes get to double them when RHO overcompetes by supporting LHO's enforced bid

3. We sometimes get to defend 1NTx by LHO

4. We sometimes even get to declare 1♠x

The big negative to this is that partner may have to make a decision based upon zero information. I would always bid 2♥ in this situation giving full clarity at the earliest opportunity, so partner can make any decision informed.

The trouble is that standard methods don't differentiate between offensive hands and defensive hands.

 

If you are going to support in exactly the same way on

♠xxx

♥QJx

♦Kx

♣QJxxx and

 

♠KJx

♥xxx

♦xx

♣AJxxx

 

partner is hardly in a great position to make a correct decision if LHO bids

 

Whereas passing on the first, intending to support later, and supporting immediately on the second, allows us to differentiate; which in turn allow us to make the correct final decision more often.

[barryallen]

This is a very non-standard view, but when you have a decent hand with spade support, I'm not sure it is always right to bid immediately over a double. Opponents are in a forcing situation with probably fewer, and possibly much fewer, than half the points. LHO might be sitting there dreading having to dredge up a bid on his hand (eg a 4333 yarborough!) and by bidding we just let him off the hook.

 

It is almost certain that we are going to play this hand in some number of spades whatever we do now. If we play that pass followed by showing spade support when the bidding comes back to us shows this sort of hand (reasonable hand, spade support, some desire to defend if opponents bid on) we gain a few advantages over standard methods:

1. We will have more distributional information when we play the hand because of LHO's enforced bid

2. We sometimes get to double them when RHO overcompetes by supporting LHO's enforced bid

3. We sometimes get to defend 1NTx by LHO

4. We sometimes even get to declare 1♠x

The big negative to this is that partner may have to make a decision based upon zero information. I would always bid 2♥ in this situation giving full clarity at the earliest opportunity, so partner can make any decision informed.

The trouble is that standard methods don't differentiate between offensive hands and defensive hands.

 

If you are going to support in exactly the same way on

♠xxx

♥QJx

♦Kx

♣QJxxx and

 

♠KJx

♥xxx

♦xx

♣AJxxx

 

partner is hardly in a great position to make a correct decision if LHO bids

 

Whereas passing on the first, intending to support later, and supporting immediately on the second, allows us to differentiate; which in turn allow us to make the correct final decision more often.

I fully agree that the concept of being able to describe a variety of shapes and points in support of partner is available. What I am questioning is whether it is wise to hide a strong raise to 2 of his suit and the ensuing problems it can subsequently cause? I just cannot see the logic standing up!

 

If pass showed that bid alone then there is no issue, but that is not what you are saying is it? You have no idea of partners strength and shape beyond a certain point, but you can give partner a very good idea of your hand for him to make any subsequent decisions with a degree of accuracy?

[the hog]

Missed this. As this is a "What do you play" question, I bid 2H which shows a better hand than a normal 2S raise.