[paulg]

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Unfavourable vulnerability against good opponents playing 2/1. What is the minimum diamond holding that you would double four spades with?

[Phil]

This is an awkward shape. I need a lot in diamonds to compete - I'm thinking AQ.

[ArtK78]

I don't think I could afford to pass if I held Ax of diamonds. Too much chance of missing a game or a useful penalty.

[gnasher]

I think I'd do it with A10, but not A2. I'm not sure where the exact dividing line is. Anyway, I voted for Ax.

[wyman]

My dividing line is probably AJ. I need to be able to tolerate a 5D bid from partner, which is usually 6, but he's expecting help over here, and 2 honors would make me feel better. As much as I don't want to miss a game or penalty, I don't want to go for 1100 either.

[JLOGIC]

Probably AK for me, guess I'm a wimp.

[xcurt]

JLOGIC, on 2012-March-27, 12:28, said:

Probably AK for me, guess I'm a wimp.

Its likely the defense will start spade, spade tapping the lower diamond off dummy. So AQ isn't much different from AK if we play in diamonds (i voted AJ).

Of course AK is better if we play in a round suit, but if that happens we are happy we took a call anyway.

[MrAce]

I am glad Phil thinks alike me (we are trying to be pd) I also would not consider doubling with less than AQ. Actually my first thought was AK too, I guess Justin is turning all of us into a wimp here in these forums !!

[JLOGIC]

xcurt, on 2012-March-27, 15:14, said:

Its likely the defense will start spade, spade tapping the lower diamond off dummy. So AQ isn't much different from AK if we play in diamonds (i voted AJ).

Of course AK is better if we play in a round suit, but if that happens we are happy we took a call anyway.

I like AK because I expect to defend 4S X a fair amount of the time! AK>AQ for defense obv. But if partner bids 5D there is a non negligible chance he has a stiff spade. Anyways, my real reason was I'd like to have an extra 3/4ths of a trick for my double in case we defend...but as you say AQ is def better for a round suit also.

[JLOGIC]

Ax just seems nuts to me...we are red/white so partner will probably pass pretty often, and if he's bidding a lot it's not like our hand is good. We will often land in the wrong suit even if he bids. And we have seen him pass over 1S with likely a doubleton spade, it's not like I'm scared that we're getting stolen from when my hand is pretty bad.

[benlessard]

AK.

I dont like doubling with AQ here. Partner just need too much for making 5 something (he passed 1S..), fortunatly I expect partner to pass very often so is getting 100 rather than 50 a compensation good enough for telling declarer where the pts are ? are we really expecting a fair share of -300 ?

In short i dont expect to get rich here.

[han]

I voted AK, glad I'm not the only one. I can see myself doubling with AQ.

[mikeh]

I vacillated between never and ♦AK, and opted for the latter and was pleased to see that I had company. Partner will often pass and, when he doesn't, he'll be bidding diamonds way too often for my peace of mind. He won't expect a 2 suiter, since we had 4N for most of those, so he will be disappointed at our diamond length if he pulls.

But I think that with AK, maybe he will survive and, more importantly, we rate to have them booked in our own hand, so the double won't cost a lot if they make, and they rate to go down.