Matchpoints question about doubilng

[bluecalm]

You are vul, opponents are not.

It goes:

 

Pass - 1♥ - 2♣ - 2♥

3♣ - 3♥ - Pass - Pass

????

 

Suppose double is for penalty here (feel free to comment if you disagree).

What is the sample minimum hand you need to have to double here ?

How it would change in other vuls ?

 

My thinking is that I would need a pretty good hand, basically "trap" like : xx AQJx Qxxx xxx because it's not clear if they pushed too much and turning 50 into 100 won't get many MP's while there is a chance -140 will be common result.

 

Thoughts ?

[aguahombre]

Add to the thought process, with XX AQJX QXXX XXX, the possibility that nobody should have been at the 3-level, and any plus is good. But I think you already were leaning toward pass.

[ggwhiz]

I like to play all the non-alertable doubles on the ACBL convention card where the double here would show "cards" (duh, I never understood that one) or in this case, Maximal.

 

Maximal would typically be a flatish 9 or 10 count with 3 card club support and values that may be good for offence or defence, ie. AQx, Jxx, xxxx, Kxx.

 

You won't have a good enough heart holding for a trap double often enough in front of the 1 heart bidder.

 

I don't trust the opps on these colours at imps but do trust my pard to do the right thing based on how shapely (or not) their overcall was. Reverse the colours and when pard runs to 4 clubs, at least we sounded tough.