[bd71]

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How do you play X here? Is takeout the only option, or could/would you ever agree it is simply showing extra strength?

[FrancesHinden]

we play

- in a support double auction, double is support (e.g. 1D 1H dbl (4+ spades) 2D dbl)
- after we open a potentially short club, double of a club cue bid shows good clubs
- on any other auction, double is take-out of their agreed suit

[Thiros]

My preferred meaning for double here is to say, "My diamonds are for real. Partner, please lead one."

[lowerline]

bd71, on 2012-October-29, 13:38, said:

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How do you play X here? Is takeout the only option, or could/would you ever agree it is simply showing extra strength?

Opening a suit is not the same as overcalling a suit. This just asks partner to lead diamonds. If 2♥ is passed to me I can still double for takeout...

Steven

[gnasher]

I prefer to play it as for takeout. That's much safer than passing and then doubling 2♥, because it doesn't commit you to anything. And there's no guarantee that you'll get a chance to double 2♥ - LHO may be about to bid 3♥ or 4♥.

[nigel_k]

Definitely for takeout. Their combined strength may not be great when they do this. Bid like it's your hand until proven otherwise.

[Zelandakh]

Those playing double for takeout - how are you playing a rebid of 2♥ by Opener?

[gnasher]

Zelandakh, on 2012-October-31, 03:30, said:

Those playing double for takeout - how are you playing a rebid of 2♥ by Opener?

I'd assume 5-6 in the majors pointed suits, with 2♠ being only four spades in a hand that doesn't look like a takeout double.

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2012-November-01, 11:25

[Zelandakh]

gnasher, on 2012-October-31, 05:08, said:

I'd assume 5-6 in the majors, with 2♠ being only four spades in a hand that doesn't look like a takeout double.

You mean 5 spades and 6+ diamonds I assume? We opened 1♦, they overcalled hearts.

[twoshy]

Zelandakh, on 2012-October-31, 03:30, said:

Those playing double for takeout - how are you playing a rebid of 2♥ by Opener?

A strong 6+♦ suit and interest in 3NT opposite a ♥ stopper seems pretty normal tbh, kind of like the auction (1♥)-2♦-(P)-P-(X)-2♥. (Edit: note the latter is obviously a bit more limited by the simple overcall but it could still be quite strong.)

[aguahombre]

Double of 2D=o.k. to lead something other than Diamonds, here. 2H=desire to compete with probably 4-6 in pointed suits. 2N=delay unusual 6-4 minors.

With just long diamonds I bid diamonds. Partners tend to know whether they have the opponents' suit stopped if I show a strong playing hand --without my asking.

[655321]

aguahombre, on 2012-October-31, 20:18, said:

Double of 2D=o.k. to lead something other than Diamonds, here.

There are lots of auctions where anti-lead directing doubles are great, but doubling 2m to say "I opened 1m on three small, please lead something else" takes you a fair way down a road that ends in defending 2m redoubled.

[aguahombre]

655321, on 2012-October-31, 21:43, said:

There are lots of auctions where anti-lead directing doubles are great, but doubling 2m to say "I opened 1m on three small, please lead something else" takes you a fair way down a road that ends in defending 2m redoubled.

Yes. Failure to double doesn't strongly suggest we want a diamond lead. We have the prudence to have some length in the suit we don't particularly want led. It occurs reasonably often, since we are unlikely to have 4=4=3=2 when hearts are overcalled and supported ---the only time we would have only 3 diamonds; we aren't likely to try it with only 4 crappy diamonds, so it carries two messages ---length and desire for a different lead.

[mycroft]

I like NLD doubles, but I play them only when we have promised 5+ in one hand or 7+ in both. So, not this auction. Possibly 1♥-1♠-p-2♥. I like "takeout of their suit", too, but I bet none of my partners would take it that way.

[aguahombre]

mycroft, on 2012-November-01, 17:35, said:

I like "takeout of their suit", too, but I bet none of my partners would take it that way.

Or they might not like being brought back into the auction at all when the opponents rate to have most of the deck and they haven't previously shown the other suits or much support for the diamonds. The hands where opener still wants to be active would be the long suiters, the two-suiters and the 4-6 (one and a half suits) hands with playing strength. And, IMO, those can be handled without the double.

[the_clown]

gnasher, on 2012-October-30, 09:12, said:

I prefer to play it as for takeout. That's much safer than passing and then doubling 2♥, because it doesn't commit you to anything. And there's no guarantee that you'll get a chance to double 2♥ - LHO may be about to bid 3♥ or 4♥.

Surely if you bid 2♥ now it would be t/o no?

[PhilKing]

the_clown, on 2012-November-07, 09:07, said:

Surely if you bid 2♥ now it would be t/o no?

Did you actually read the section you quoted?

[JLOGIC]

I play x is to and 2h is a very strong diamond hand