[gnasher]

---

EW play 2/1. 1NT includes balanced invitations, but not one-suited invitations.

[helene_t]

I wouldn't. No particular reason to expect 1NT to go down, and besides it would give LHO a second bit of the cherry.

[aguahombre]

There must be more to this story, considering the OP is who he is....and I can't imagine he would double.

[JLOGIC]

wow, no, I would not even consider it

[lycier]

Now I think if south seat double show penalty , lead directing bid. pass is a good option in this situation.

[MrAce]

aguahombre, on 2012-October-11, 04:39, said:

There must be more to this story, considering the OP is who he is....and I can't imagine he would double.

I think you have a point.

Andy ?? Skip the introduction part and tell us the whole story (I am kidding bro, i maybe missing something and with the work hours i put veryday, i wouldn't be surprised if i did, but with strong players who replied before me says it is unlikely )

[lalldonn]

I would not have considered doubling. After having it brought up and now thinking about it a bit, I would really really not want to do it.

[mikeh]

Tempting tho it sometimes is to be the one who goes against the consensus, I have to say that I truly do not understand this question, unless partner tanked over the 1N, suggesting values...and now this hand doubled and here we are in front of a committee.

[gnasher]

I doubled. I felt a bit nervous until I saw the opening lead, but it was ♦Q, and the contract went two down.

I think it's a waste to reserve these doubles for hands where you have ♠AKJ10x. It's far more common to have something this, where the cards seem to be sitting badly for them, and a double is likely to get 500 more often than it costs 380.

[lalldonn]

Gnasher, there is a ton of space between AKJTx and J9432. You have a holding where a spade lead could easily cost your side a trick, as well as helping declarer tremendously in the play.

I would say it's not a good policy to double if you will feel nervous until partner leads the Q of your Kxx suit. I mean, 1NT even includes balanced invitations here? I think you are way out in left field on this one. Have you noticed that not only did no one else double, but most thought there must be other motives for posting this question?

[jallerton]

I was given this as a bidding problem over dinner and I had to ask for the hand again, assuming that I must have misheard the hand, when I was told that double had been selected at the table!

Yes, double might work well if our side has the balance of the points, but that is a rather less likely scenario than might be concluded from considering the possible distribution of the high cards alone. Often partner will have a singleton spade and with (say) a 12-count he would have the right shape to double 1NT or overcall. At this vulnerability, his minimum for a double or overcall of 1NT might be somewhat lighter than this and some hands with reasonable values and doubleton spade would act also.

Hence I'd expect the opponents to have the balance of the points here more often than not. Add in Helene's point about the 1NT bidder being able to bid again on an unbalanced hand, double looks to be a losing action in the long term.

[JLOGIC]

gnasher, on 2012-October-11, 10:50, said:

I doubled. I felt a bit nervous until I saw the opening lead, but it was ♦Q, and the contract went two down.

I think it's a waste to reserve these doubles for hands where you have ♠AKJ10x. It's far more common to have something this, where the cards seem to be sitting badly for them, and a double is likely to get 500 more often than it costs 380.

My problem is not with the spades being too weak, it's just that I think the hand is generally too weak.

Also, I don't think 380 is the biggest downside, LHO is going to redouble with 10-11. I guess partner might find a run and it might be ok if that happens, but it's not exactly a thought I relish.

[the hog]

I would not dream of doubling with this hand.

[dake50]

I have dreams like this double works for two off also.
I passionately want every 300 penalty I can get.
I push way too hard as it is, but this one is way into nightmare.

[Vampyr]

I am surprised that this double is so widely considered to be for penalties. I should have thought it was takeout of spades, with a hand not suitable enough for a double on the first round. What am I missing?

[Poky]

Obv not. UI case?

[MickyB]

+1 to gwnn. We rate to be outgunned.

[FrancesHinden]

Vampyr, on 2012-October-12, 11:00, said:

I am surprised that this double is so widely considered to be for penalties. I should have thought it was takeout of spades, with a hand not suitable enough for a double on the first round. What am I missing?

You can agree to play it that way if you want, but the standard meaning is a penalty double of spades.

[FrancesHinden]

gnasher, on 2012-October-11, 10:50, said:

I doubled. I felt a bit nervous until I saw the opening lead, but it was ♦Q, and the contract went two down.

I think it's a waste to reserve these doubles for hands where you have ♠AKJ10x. It's far more common to have something this, where the cards seem to be sitting badly for them, and a double is likely to get 500 more often than it costs 380.

I really don't know what this hand proves, because pass nets +200 while after the double responder had the world's most obvious 2C bid which somehow she forgot to make*, which was going to be only 1 off and you probably weren't going to double it. So double reduced your points expectation, except that we gained 7 imps on the board.

*
xx
xxx
xxx
KQJ98

[lamford]

helene_t, on 2012-October-11, 04:18, said:

I wouldn't. No particular reason to expect 1NT to go down, and besides it would give LHO a second bit of the cherry.

Which are the bits of which LHO has the second one? And how many bits are there in total? And shouldn't it be the second bit, as I can't see how there can be more than one "second bit"?