[Flame]

1. 1♣ P 1♦ 1♥
a] 1♠
b] Double

2. 1♣ P 1♦ 1♠
Double

What does a and b show in 1 and what is double in 2 ?

Please reffer to whater the hand can be balanced and how many hcp the bid show.

Thanks

[helene_t]

Usually, support-doubles apply only when responder bid a major. If you play Walsh, it makes some sense to play a support doubles here. On the other hand, by many Walsh-players the 1♣ opening denies a minimum with a 4-card diamonds so you may just play a single raise of diamonds as showing 3-card support.

Conclussion: If you play Walsh, the double shows 18-19 balanced and no stop in opps suit. A cuebid would show a strong, unbalanced raise of diamonds.

If you don't play Walsh, I would play a double of hearts as showing a balanced hand with spades while 1♠ shows an unbalanced hand with spades. A dbl of 1♠ simply shows 4 hearts, balanced and/or minimal. (With extras and unlanced you bid 2♥). Not sure what to do with 18-19 and no stop. Probalby either dbl (with hearts) or cue (without).

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

first of all it is a matter of partnership
agreement.

There are a few partnership, which play
double as suppX, just for memory sake,
other options would be negative or penalty.

Which one is better is unclear, but it depends
a little bit on your response style to 1C,
if you always bid up the line, a neg. X makes
will occur more often, than it would be,
if you always resopond with the mayor, when
holding 4-4.
And if you play Walsh, you dont really need
the neg.X.
If you say suppX make only sense looking for mayor
suit fits, than penalty would probaably be the best
usage playing Walsh.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: I play the dbl as neg, and the difference between a and b
in #1 is suit quality, 1S shows 4 1/2.

[Flame]

Let me simplify things a bit.
We are not playing walsh nor up the line, we play something in the middle which i consider standard.
I'm pretty sure that at auction 1 biddign spade show unbalnced hand like 4-5 while doubling show balance.
I'm also pretty sure that at auction 2 double show 4 hearts.
What im not sure is whater with a balnced 12 hcp you would bid anything but pass.
and if not on balanced 12 then does balance 14 is enough.
What i think is this
1♣ P 1♦ 1♠
Double
cant be 12 balanced, but not sure if it can be nice 13/14 balanced. (seems like 14 balanced is fine)
About the other sequence
1♣ P 1♦ 1♥
Here i think double can be even with balanced 12.
Am i right ?
I post this on beginer's forum because i believe this is basic bridge and also because i want simple answers.

[helene_t]

Flame, on Oct 19 2006, 12:27 PM, said:

What im not sure is whater with a balnced 12 hcp you would bid anything but pass.
and if not on balanced 12 then does balance 14 is enough.

I don't think you should make a distinction between 12 and 14. Partner is unlikely to care, especially for competitive decisions where he needs to be able to estimate the total number of trumps, not your sides HCPs.

It might be different opposite a passed responder, especially if you opened light in 3rd seat.

[P_Marlowe]

Flame, on Oct 19 2006, 05:27 AM, said:

<snip>
What im not sure is whater with a balnced 12 hcp you would bid anything but pass.
and if not on balanced 12 then does balance 14 is enough.
What i think is this
1♣ P 1♦ 1♠
Double
cant be 12 balanced, but not sure if it can be nice 13/14 balanced. (seems like 14 balanced is fine)
About the other sequence
1♣ P 1♦ 1♥
<snip>
I post this on beginer's forum because i believe this is basic bridge and also because i want simple answers.
<snip>

Hi,

if you hold a bal. with 12-14, you have smetimes
the option to bid NT, since you hold a stopper in
their suit.

If we eliminate this option, the option that you cant
raise partner, and also the option, that you hold the
other mayor, what is left?

A 4-4-3-2 or 4-3-3-3 with xxxx or xxx in the overcalled
suit, and since you are weak, the best bid to show
a minimum opening hand without a prober bid is pass.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: We are all looking for simple answers, but depending
on your bidding style certain answers make sense and others
dont make sense. And even in the Beginner forum, I would
always only discuss pro and contra of certain options leaving
the final decision to the reader.