[Free]

Consider the auction (All V, MP, LHO dealer):
1♦ - Dbl* - 1NT - pass
2♦ - 2♠ - 4♦ - ?
(* = 15+HCP any distribution)

You hold:

Scoring: MP

---

Dbl would be considered takeout with some values, which partner may convert to penalty. What's your bid?

[david_c]

4♠ looks obvious to me, am I missing something? Why would you want to double for takeout when you hold four-card support for spades?

[FrancesHinden]

what david_c said

[Blofeld]

4♠ looks obvious enough that I suspect I've misunderstood what partner's 2♠ bid meant after the double.

[hrothgar]

Couple comments here:

1. From my perspective, the main issue with this hand is not whether there is sufficient playing strength for 4♠, rather whether you want to be exploring six. Partner is showing a hand with Spades. You have 4 card support, a first round control, and a second round control. Furthermore, you have a stiff in a suit where the opponents are bidding a LOT. Give partner a nice juicy hand like

♠ AKJxxxx
♥ KQT
♦ xxx
♣ A

And 6♠ is looking like a reasonable contract

2. Playing Power doubles, partner is going to be doubling with a lot of NT oriented hands with ~ 16 - 18 HCP. This has some impacts on the response structure

If advancer is sititng on moderate values (say 6 HCP) and balanced shape, he should double 1NT (particularly at the vulnerability). This in turn, means that doubling 4♦ shouldn't show a balanced hand. I can see a strong argument suggesting that the double is either a cue bid or takeout oriented.

[the hog]

I don't understand this post either. Firstly I could not hold responder's hand, as 2D for the Majors is so obvious on the first round of the bidding. Now that I found the incredibly wimpy pass, I clearly bid 4S and worry about missing a slam. Am I missing something?

[HeartA]

david_c, on Nov 3 2006, 07:00 AM, said:

4♠ looks obvious to me, am I missing something? Why would you want to double for takeout when you hold four-card support for spades?

I second What David_C said.

[akhare]

Last train for 4♠ -- better fess up to having ♠ support -- we know what will happen if we bid 4♥ or other cute bids .

Seriously, as Ron noted, I would just bid 4♠ and not worry too much about missing slam...

[rbforster]

hrothgar, on Nov 3 2006, 09:08 AM, said:

Playing Power doubles, partner is going to be doubling with a lot of NT oriented hands with ~ 16 - 18 HCP. 

True. In fact, playing overcall structure (and power doubles), I usually alert the double as "15+ pts, usually balanced". There are other ways to show strong two-suiters (cue bid or 2NT overcalls) so for me double is either balanced or a very strong single suited hand.

[keylime]

I'm real tempted to bid 5♠, due to Richard's lucid explaination, and I play power doubles in my p'ship. Pard is showing a hand lacking 4 hearts (a 2nd double shows both majors in my p'ship that is unbalanced).