removing 4hx to 4s

[gwnn]

How often do you remove a takeout double of 4♥ to 4♠ on a 4 card suit? This has been always an area that I wasn't sure about.

 

There are several auctions here, does it make a difference which one we're talking about?

 

4♥-p-p-x; p-?

4♥-x-p-?

1♥-p-4♥-x; p-?

2/3♥-p-4♥-x; p-?

[mich-b]

I tend to bid 4♠, except some specific cases like:

1. I have slow tricks in ♥s.

2. I am very weak and we are VUL against NV.

[han]

1H - p - 4H - Double you should pull most often.

 

For the doubles of 4H openings:

 

With 4 hearts to an honor I would pass. With a defensive 3-card heart holding I would also pass. With 3 hearts and enough tricks that I know 4HX goes for a number, I would also often pass. With most other hands I would pull.

[MrAce]

What Han said sounds like what i usually do.

[gszes]

pass this x only under rare circumstances. If the opps wrap 4h on you p will become ultra conservative. The only time I consider passing the x is when I have a heart holding simlar to Kxxx QJx KJx or better and little to nothing outside hearts. P can be incredibly strong for any of these x and passing and missing slam with outside tricks and 3 small hearts is a recipe for disaster.

 

a word of caution, with a holding similar to Ax of hearts and out you will probably still be better off bidding 4s due to that one ace massively improving the odds of a slam for your side.