[UdcaDenny]

Playing 2 over 1 without forcing to game after opponents intrude I have a dispute with my partner. I opened 1♥ and LHO bid 2♦ and my P made a negative double. With 13p and AJ in ♦ I bid 2NT. He then bid 3♠ which I raised to 4 with 3 small. He had 5 cards and 9p and argued I shud pass. I think he shud bid 2♠ over 2♦ and that doubling first and then bid 3♠ on the 3 level shows a stronger hand. What is normal in this situation ?

[gordontd]

Both ways are played but I think your partner's way is more usual (not that I necessarily agree with him continuing over 2NT).

[steve2005]

If partner were to bid 2♠ on 9 pts then for this method to work it would have to be non-forcing.
This method is certainly playable.
However, this method involves a lot of changes to what most people consider standard, so you can't just spring this change on partner.
Some discussion is required.

[DGoldfarb]

In the US at least, standard is that double and then bid shows a weaker hand than bidding directly at the 2-level. It's possible to play it the other way (look up "negative free bids") but that isn't standard and requires prior discussion.