[straube]

Had this auction with a new partner...

1H (2C) P P
dbl P 2H ?

I held something like Axxx xx Axxxx Jx

and passed. After they played their 9-cd heart fit at the 2-level, we agreed that I could have made a delayed responsive double here.

Is this standard? I think it must be but haven't run into it before.

[MrAce]

straube, on 2014-March-22, 15:24, said:

Had this auction with a new partner...

1H (2C) P P
dbl P 2H ?

I held something like Axxx xx Axxxx Jx

and passed. After they played their 9-cd heart fit at the 2-level, we agreed that I could have made a delayed responsive double here.

Is this standard? I think it must be but haven't run into it before.

You did not have a chance to make responsive double previous round, so double now should be something like this. Though i don't know if this is std or not.

[kenrexford]

It's just a takeout double. You don't have to have a sexy name for every double.

[ggwhiz]

I know it's a fairly common style but what gives with passing 2♣?

Give partner ♥KJx ♣AQxxxx and something that makes up a 2♣ overcall and we just missed an odds on game.

I too play this double as take out but it's never this strong and an immediate 2♦ doesn't force us too high, just shows a pulse.

[ahydra]

ggwhiz, on 2014-March-22, 17:17, said:

I know it's a fairly common style but what gives with passing 2♣?

Give partner ♥KJx ♣AQxxxx and something that makes up a 2♣ overcall and we just missed an odds on game.

I too play this double as take out but it's never this strong and an immediate 2♦ doesn't force us too high, just shows a pulse.

Agree - these days most people play their simple overcalls up to 17pts or equivalent playing strength at least, so when you have a 9-count and two aces + some support you definitely have to make a noise. Having not done that I double now for sure. Over 2D-(X)-p-(2H) I guess you have to pass and partner should reopen if he has something to add; if not, you don't want to be playing a 20-20 hand on a misfit at the 3-level anyway.

ahydra

[gszes]

The x here is tox but that is not the most crucial issue of this hand.
Aces are slightly undervalued using normal goren point count but they are
severly undervalued when your side has a long suit. To illustrate this point
imagine partner holding as little as xx Axx xx AQTxxx.

We can see 9 tricks are there for the taking via the club finesse which has
to be a heavy favorite given the bidding. IMO your two aces and honor x in clubs
are more than sufficient to bid 2h (limit raise + for clubs) which not only
keeps the bidding alive but also makes it really easy for p to bid 2s so a 44
spade fit is still plausible.

Even if you are too faint of heart to make a limit raise at least find a 3c bid
(constructive) which gives your side a chance to bid game. There are many situations
where having 2 aces is more valuable than holding KQJ in both suits even though
HCP would dictate otherwise:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Zelandakh]

I think advancing 2♦ is a good idea with this hand, willing to stop in 2NT or 3 of a suit if partner does not then force to game. The double of 2♥ is competitive showing similar shape but weaker.

As a side not, is bridge not a special game? Here we have 3 ways of describing a double (responsive, takeout, competitive) and all of them mean the same thing in context.