[Mbodell]

If you haven't specifically discussed these sequences with a partner, but play normalish 2/1, what do these doubles mean:

1♠-P-1NT(forcing)-3♣
X?

1♠-P-1NT(forcing)-2♣
X?

If it matters, it is unfavorable at matchpoints. By either/or I mean that you X with both penalty and takeout and partner looks at their cards to guess and figure it out. By no uniform standard I mean a significant percentage of pairs play one way and a significant number play another and you are flipping a coin if you haven't discussed it.

Sorry in advance if this turns out to be a WTP obvious answer, I think I know the answer but am not sure (and the 3♣ sequence came up today, and I think I had a X, but I avoided it due to being unsure).

[Free]

Both are takeout, after 3♣ it shows some extras ofcourse.

Mbodell, on 2013-August-02, 22:16, said:

Sorry in advance if this turns out to be a WTP obvious answer, I think I know the answer but am not sure (and the 3♣ sequence came up today, and I think I had a X, but I avoided it due to being unsure).

Don't worry, 'WTP' is only an issue when you're posting in expert-class bridge

[jallerton]

A few decades ago it was common to play Opener's doubles as penalties, but nowadays most experts agree that a take-out double is far more useful and common.

[Thiros]

The double of 3♣ should be CARDS. Having a good defensive hand is OK.

The double of 2♣ is also cards, but more takeout-oriented (meaning that with a club stack you have to pass and wait for partner to X).

[fromageGB]

I think the X of 2♣ should be a "displaced bid", meaning "I would have bid that" if you normally play some sort of strong artificial 2♣ rebid. Otherwise takeout.

As this is not the expert forum, I am permitted to make a penalty X of the 3♣.