[whereagles]

Dbl in direct seat? Probably not, though I'd definitely double both in the direct and 4th seat with the same high cards on a 1444.

[Blofeld]

Yes, I'd double with a 4441.

I produced 20 hands where we hold this and West has 7+ spades, 10- points:

------------------------------
S: 4
H: J95
D: AKJ6
C: K9874
S: AQJ8765 S: KT9
H: 6 H: Q8743
D: Q7 D: T854
C: J65 C: T
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32

Partner might double, but it's borderline. If partner passes initially then doubling turns +50 into +600 -- if partner doesn't bid slam. I think if we posted this as a problem then a significant proportion of people would either double initially or bid slam with the north cards. Though possibly not the same people as those doubling with South.
--------------------------
S: A
H: QJ8743
D: KJ7
C: KT6
S: QJT9864 S: K75
H: 65 H: 9
D: AQ5 D: T864
C: 8 C: J9754
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
Partner would have acted (double/5H according to preference), so this one is out.
--------------------------
S: K
H: 8753
D: KJ7
C: KJT64
S: AQT9876 S: J54
H: 9 H: QJ64
D: AT D: Q8654
C: 975 C: 8
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
If partner passes 4Sx then we turn +50/-420 (according to whether they guess trumps right ... probably they won't) into +100/-590. If partner bids we land in 5C or 5H, both going down. I'd tend to bid with the north hand - I expect to make a vulnerable game opposite a normal takeout double, and if we're going down then 4S may well be making.
--------------------------
S: AQ
H: QJ985
D: T74
C: K54
S: KT98764 S: J5
H: 74 H: 63
D: KJ D: AQ865
C: 98 C: JT76
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
turns +150 into +500 if partner passes, but again it's not clear that they will when we probably have a game and possibly a slam; 5H is -100.
--------------------------
S: KJ
H: 753
D: QJ8
C: KT987
S: T987654 S: AQ
H: QJ4 H: 986
D: K7 D: AT654
C: 4 C: J65
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
This is at the stupidly aggressive end of 4S, but doubling leads to -590. (and 5C is 4 off on the right defence!)
--------------------------
S: K
H: J963
D: AK4
C: KJT85
S: AQ98754 S: JT6
H: 87 H: Q54
D: J87 D: QT65
C: 9 C: 764
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
Partner would have doubled, so not relevant.
--------------------------
S: 8
H: QJ976
D: AKQJ4
C: T4
S: AKJT976 S: Q54
H: 53 H: 84
D: 6 D: T875
C: J86 C: K975
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
I think partner would have doubled/bid 4NT ... but pass is possible. In which case double turns +100 into +680/+1430.
--------------------------
S: 6
H: 86543
D: K864
C: KT8
S: KT98754 S: AQJ
H: 97 H: QJ
D: 5 D: AQJT7
C: 974 C: J65
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
Double turns +100 into +300 (everyone passes as north, right?)
--------------------------
S: Q6
H: J9765
D: KT4
C: K96
S: AJT9874 S: K5
H: 4 H: Q83
D: Q5 D: AJ876
C: 875 C: JT4
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+50 into +100.
--------------------------
S: A
H: 5
D: KQT865
C: K9864
S: KQJ8764 S: T95
H: J974 H: Q863
D: --- D: AJ74
C: T7 C: J5
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
Partner wouldn't have passed.
--------------------------

S: KT8
H: 8653
D: KQ75
C: J5
S: AQJ9764 S: 5
H: 4 H: QJ97
D: T6 D: AJ84
C: K97 C: T864
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+50 into +100, I think? possibly 2 down.
--------------------------
S: A98
H: 9754
D: A86
C: KT8
S: KQJ7654 S: T
H: J H: Q863
D: Q54 D: KJT7
C: 97 C: J654
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+100 into +300.
--------------------------
S: J
H: 853
D: AKQ854
C: T87
S: AKQT985 S: 764
H: 94 H: QJ76
D: T6 D: J7
C: J6 C: K954
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+150 into a probable -100 in 5D.
--------------------------
S: T9
H: J64
D: AQ7654
C: 74
S: KQJ87654 S: A
H: 3 H: Q9875
D: J D: KT8
C: KT8 C: J965
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
-420 into -590 (-300 or -800 if p bids 5D ... do you double as east?)
--------------------------
S: 8
H: Q74
D: KJ4
C: KT9764
S: AJT9654 S: KQ7
H: --- H: J98653
D: AT865 D: Q7
C: 8 C: J5
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
-450 into -690 or -100 depending on what partner does (actually east may well compete to 5S ... so -450 into -450 unless partner now doubles).
--------------------------
S: K96
H: ---
D: AKT65
C: JT874
S: AQJ8754 S: T
H: Q65 H: J98743
D: J D: Q874
C: 65 C: K9
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+200 into +800 (or +600 if partner bids)
--------------------------
S: J
H: J973
D: AQT76
C: T87
S: AKT8765 S: Q94
H: 65 H: Q84
D: J85 D: K4
C: 4 C: KJ965
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+50 into +100/-100 depending on what p does
--------------------------
S: T
H: Q863
D: AKQ84
C: JT6
S: AJ98764 S: KQ5
H: 94 H: J75
D: 5 D: JT76
C: K95 C: 874
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
Partner might double 4S; if not double turns +100 into +650/-100 (if partner drives to slam).
--------------------------
S: AJ
H: QJ94
D: A854
C: JT6
S: KQT9864 S: 75
H: --- H: 87653
D: KQT6 D: J7
C: 85 C: K974
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+50 into +100.
--------------------------
S: Q87
H: J83
D: KQ765
C: T4
S: AKJT654 S: 9
H: 97 H: Q654
D: T D: AJ84
C: J95 C: K876
S: 32
H: AKT2
D: 932
C: AQ32
+100 into +300.
--------------------------

Which leaves me less sure than before which is going to be better!

[Rebound]

Blofeld, on Dec 13 2006, 12:02 PM, said:

<snip>

Rebound, if you're taking the aggressive call whenever it's a close call, doesn't that just mean that you move the boundary of what counts as close slightly?

<snip>

Frankly, what I mean is, at the table, I found myself thinking, "What would an expert do here? Pass or double?" I concluded it was 50/50 depending on style so I decided on double, it being the self-described "more agreessive call."

Hence, this post to see if my intuition about expert opinion was correct.