Competing at favourable

[paulg]

[hv=d=s&v=e&s=sxxh9xxxxdktck98x]133|100|Scoring: IMP

You are South and open the bidding.

 

Pass (1♠) 1NT (2♠)

?

 

Do you compete and, if so, how?[/hv]

[gwnn]

takeout x.

[bluecalm]

I pass. I am not sure if that's right at all but I think we will end up in some silly contract too often while prospect for game are remote.

Partner can still reopen if he is dealt 2-4 in majors with decent hand.

[Apollo81]

I was faced with a similar auction last night and I competed on a significantly worse hand, and vulnerable to boot.

 

I would negative X and correct 3♦ to 3♥.

[RMB1]

When commentated on this hand today, I suggest a TOX, so I guess I should be consistent.

[jdonn]

Of course takeout X, I don't even think this is a problem.

[andy_h]

X. Happy if partner passes and happy if partner takes it out. Hopefully we are playing 2NT as two places to play.

[Phil]

I was faced with a similar auction last night and I competed on a significantly worse hand, and vulnerable to boot.

 

I would negative X and correct 3♦ to 3♥.

Agree with Apollo Creed here.

[whereagles]

joining the double bandwagon. hope pard doesn't take a heart lead too seriously lol

[paulg]

When I saw this I thought double was completely clear. The international holding this hand passed.

 

Then I wondered what would be said if partner's 1NT was actually a ten count with long diamonds, would pass be fielding a psyche?

 

Hence the poll, where a significant minority do pass, that shows that the double is not quite as clear as I felt at the time.

[rogerclee]

Negative double and pulling 3D to 3H is NF, so that seems normal We will get into some trouble if partner has 4 hearts and 4 clubs (since we will play 3C instead of 4H), but unfortunately we can't cater to this without giving up on clubs.

[bluecalm]

Negative double and pulling 3D to 3H is NF

 

I think it should show strength of game invite while weak hand with 6+♥ is in lebensohl (or w/e you play there).

[dake50]

As 1NT denied interest in the other Major, I won't push for this 5-3H.

X as xfer to clubs.

[hanp]

I think many would play double followed by 3H as invitational.

[OleBerg]

I think many would play double followed by 3H as invitational.

I do, but there are many "outs"

 

- Partner bids clubs.

- Partner scrambles, we bid 3♣. Now 3♥ (on 3♦) is not invitational.

- 4♥ makes.

[Finch]

I would double and pass 3D. partner usually has 5 of them not to have bid 2NT scramble. (And anyway I play 3H as forcing after making the take-out double)

[gnasher]

(And anyway I play 3H as forcing after making the take-out double)

What's the difference between that and your other way(s) of bidding 3♥?

[Finch]

2NT then 3H is not forcing but raisable

An immediate 3H is also forcing, but doesn't give me the opportunity to defend 2Sx.

 

There's one hand-type where you can't start with a double; I prefer to use it on the balanced(ish) game forcing type, rather than an invitational hand.

 

Not all 3H bids are forcing, of course:

1S 1NT 2S x

P 2NT* P 3C

P 3D P 3H

 

*two places to play

 

is not forcing, it's selecting hearts from the choice of diamonds and hearts

 

p.s. I think it's reasonable to play 3H here as invitational with 5 hearts, not as forcing, but I think it's wrong to play it as, effectively, a contract correction.

[Cascade]

X. Happy if partner passes and happy if partner takes it out. Hopefully we are playing 2NT as two places to play.

What does partner do when he has some sort of stopper but not enough to want to play for penalties and no decent suit to bid?

[gnasher]

What does partner do when he has some sort of stopper but not enough to want to play for penalties and no decent suit to bid?

He bids 2NT, showing an even number of places to play.