[Orla]

Playing with two different people, these hands came up. How should you bid them?
1.
♠ 8
♥ A 8 4 2
♦ A K J T 3
♣ A Q 9
(18 HCP)

2.
♠ A K 3
♥ Void
♦ A Q 5 4
♣ A Q 9 7 5 3
(19HCP)

Normally, after a 1 - suit opening, opps would double intending to show strength by bidding own suit after any response by Partner.

However, what happens when it is a weak 2 opening? Do the same rules apply?

Soooo, on the above doubles what do you bid (be objective and forget you have seen the doubler's hand) holding:
1.
(We vulnerable against non: dealer opens a weak 2♥), double, pass ... )
♠ Q T 6 5 3
♥ K
♦ 6 5
♣ K 8 7 6 3 2

2
(All vulnerable, IMPs: This hand, dealer, passed, N bid a weak 2♥, double, S bids 5♥!!!! ... )
♠ J 8 7 4
♥ Q 5
♦ K T 8 6
♣ K J T


rla

[rogerclee]

So if I am understanding this post correctly, I would do the following:

1) 4♠ is clear. I have great shape and working cards. Partner should've bid 3♦ instead of double. 3♦ promises a good hand, and he is not too far from a minimum.

2) 5♥ is purely preemptive, though apparently, some players think it's slammish. Anyway, partner probably has a void in hearts but hasn't promised anything dramatic in values. We could have a slam, but with no aces and all vul, I am not willing to do anything except double. I agree with partner's double. I see we missed a very good 6♣; preempts work, congratulate RHO on the good bid.

[awm]

In general, it is not common expert practice to double preempts simply to show "power." This is different from doubles of one-level bids, because the auction is higher and you're more likely to get a preemptive raise. Typically double followed by correcting to your own suit will show a flexible hand in these auctions (as well as good values).

So what do we do with the hands that are "too strong" to overcall but "wrong shape" for a double? There are several options. First, it's worth mentioning that a two or three-level overcall shows a pretty good hand (much better than a one-level overcall) and that it's okay to include some 17 counts and the like that might "power double" over a one-level opening. There are also some other options including: jumps in new suits are played as strong over preempts (some play a minor suit jump as showing a strong two-suiter with that minor and an unbid major -- leaping michaels), cuebid at the three-level is normally strength-showing and primarily a stopper ask (NOT michaels), and bidding 3NT can be based on an unbalanced hand with a stopper and a long suit.

On the hands in question:

(1) I would overcall 3♦. Second choice is to bid an off-shape 2NT or 3NT. It is possible that we miss a game if partner has a maximum pass, but if I double I will always hear partner bid some large number of spades and I have no idea what to do over that call. After hearing a double I think 4♠ is normal on the advancer hand.

(2) I like double. This is a classic "flexible hand" -- you could easily play in any of the three suits, but you plan to rebid clubs at second turn if possible to show "long clubs but willing to play elsewhere." Partner should probably double 5♥ to show general values, but the hand making the original double should not pass this double of 5♥. Double there says "hey partner I have a good hand" it does not show a stack of hearts (you never have a stack of hearts when opponents bid 2♥-X-5♥). The hand for the original double has more distribution than is normal for the bid, extra values, lots of controls, and a really long suit. I think doubler should remove 5♥X to 6♣.