Is this a matter of agreement?

[Hanoi5]

You hold:

 

♠8xxxxx

♥J

♦8xx

♣Q76

 

Partner deals and opens 2♦ which shows either a weak hand in any Major or a 22-23 (or 26-27) balanced hand. Next player passes, you dutifully bid 2♥, and LHO bids 3♥ over that (it should be natural as you are not alerted) which partner doubles and it's passed to you, what's that supposed to mean? What do you do?

 

2♦*-Pa-2♥*-3♥

X-Pa-???

[gwnn]

should be the balanced hand. I will bid 4♠.

 

with some partners I would bet he has hearts and I'd pass.

[Free]

For me it's penalty, so I'll pass

[hotShot]

I don't trust 3♥ to be natural, so it would like to know more about the kind of event and if opps are a bunch of BBO pickup experts or an etablished f2f partnership.

 

Without further agreement I would expect partners dbl to be penalty either holding the ♥ or the strong hand.

[gwnn]

I dislike acting like this unless I have a good reason. having hearts is not a good reason in this auction. My partner will know my suit 95% of the time anyway. I think this is exactly the same situation as

 

2♣*-(3♦)-p-p

x

 

where 2♣ was weak with diamonds or strong any, of course opener's double does not show the weak hand with diamonds. he has a strong hand with no good bid! 22-23 balanced does not automatically want to bid 3N you know, especially like Axx in hearts and 4 spades.

 

Anyway yes sometimes it will happen that opps play a 5-0 fit undoubled on the 3 level when we'd have been in a 6-2 fit on the 2 level! Not the worst position in the universe wouldn't you say?

 

But not having a simple takeout double with 22-23 bal is pretty bad.

[Fluffy]

double is the balanced hand, bid 4♠

 

I though this was standard, but seems its a matter of agreement

[mcphee]

Hard to believe double isn't strong balanced, 4S for me.

[NickRW]

X showing ♥ = noob, ergo 4♠

[keylime]

Strong and balanced, 4♠. (or if you want to be exotic, 4♥ to get pard to play spades, with discussion).

[the hog]

Surely you have discussed this with your partner. 4S.

[Viren169]

Most partnerships will have discussed similar sequences like this... and the same general principles should apply.

 

I play it as follows:

 

2♣* (3♦) p p

?

 

Pass = Weak option(s)

Dble = Strong option(s)

 

So the question to ask is what would you have done w/out interference over the probable 2/3N. Some sort of route to 4S I guess.

 

Hence 4S is automatic here.

 

BR

Viren