Posted 2012-July-18, 19:58
I tend to double with a hand that only merits one bid, and bid my suit then make a takeout double with a hand that merits two. This way you show the most number of cards you can.
With the weaker hand, overcalling shows only five of your cards, while doubling shows at least nine (three in each unbid suit), but really more since pard with two suits will be expecting at least one four card support.
With the stronger hand, doubling then doubling again shows only nine cards the first time and still nine on the second. However, bidding then doubling shows about eleven or twelve of them - and pard is well placed to choose a contract (with two three-card suits, he can support your five card rather than end up in a 3-3 or 4-3 fit, which could happen if you just doubled then doubled).
Hands for doubling then doubling again are the good 4441's or the very good 4432's.
With both of those hands, I think they only warrant one bid each so I will double. However, add a nice king or ace and I will bid my suit planning to double later if it goes, say, (1♦) 1♠ (3♦) pass (pass) ?
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