Define the Doubles

[bd71]

Playing 2/1 with an infrequent partner. No specific agreements on defense against their NT interference, but you specifically would NOT assume any Lebensohl or related methods with this partner.

 

What is/should be the standard meaning of the doubles in this sequence?

 

1N* - (2♥)** - X - (2♠)

P - P - X

 

*15-17

**55 majors

[cloa513]

Penalty- The first double said penalty of one or both majors and second said I can penalise this major.

[paulg]

To be honest I never know and am always guessing. Generally if my partner is not a strong player then it is more likely to be penalties. If it is a Scottish woman then it is most likely takeout than penalty (not a sexist or racist comment, they were all taught the same mantra for these situations). My guess for stronger players is that they tend to play for penalties when over the bid and more takeout when under.

 

In summary, I try not to double in this situation in pick-up games! I realise that this is not very helpful http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

The first X could be penalty of T/O, standard was for a long time penalty, but T/O

get more popular.

 

If the first was penalty, the second one is penalty as well.

If the first was for T/O, the second one is for T/O as well.

 

NT can look at his major suit holding and can make an eduucated guess, which will be

quite ok most of the time.

 

For whats it worth - I prefer the double to be for T/O.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Lurpoa]

Fully agree with cloa

 

Penalty- The first double said penalty of one or both majors and second said I can penalise this major.

[Free]

The first can be pretty much everything, the second is clearly penalty imo.

[peachy]

The first one is whatever you have agreed for it to be, penalty, takeout, or cards. There are only the minors to take out into, surely we don't plan on playing in a major opposite known 5-5 majors. As to Lebensohl, nearly everybody advanced and up plays it and will so assume without agreement. Regardless of what the first double was, the second is penalty.

[peachy]

The first one is whatever you have agreed for it to be, penalty, takeout, or cards. There are only the minors to take out into, surely we don't plan on playing in a major opposite known 5-5 majors. As to Lebensohl, nearly everybody advanced and up plays it and will so assume without agreement. Regardless of what the first double was, the second is penalty.