[whereagles]

My plan is to dbl, overbid opps up to 4♠ and dbl them beyond that.

[mcphee]

I prefer to o/c and dble later. Would not quibble of someone dbled and bid S, just a tad weak for that to my style, although as Mikeh says, it is close.

[Free]

1♠, get in a suit, double later to show the others if necessary. If 4♥X is the final contract, well that's just too bad. On average I think it pays off to bid natural and show strength later. For either bid there are problem scenario's, so pick the one you think will work out best...

[helene_t]

inquiry, on Jan 9 2007, 01:24 AM, said:

mike777, on Jan 8 2007, 05:21 PM, said:

I would bid x and then spades as I do not want to bid one spade and then x later with a void. In general just trying to never or almost never make a takeout x with a void.

Interesting, you make a takeout double with a void because you in general don't make takeout doubles with a void.

Lol. But partner is more likely to pass a t/o double at the 2/3/4/.... level than at 1-level. So Mike's argument is fine, IMHO.

[hotShot]

We hold now:
♠AQJ965 ♥-- ♦AT6 ♣AJ98
Would you bid 1♠ with?
♠AQJ965 ♥-- ♦AT6 ♣T982
or
♠AKQJ96 ♥-- ♦T96 ♣T982
or
♠AKQ964 ♥-- ♦T96 ♣T982

Partner who have seen my usual 1♠ bids with 8+ HCP will never expect me to be that strong. So bidding 1♠ will mislead them and they will often pass over a ♥ raise of LHO.
So I double.

[whereagles]

8+ hcp? that much?

[Foxx]

I start with a double, prepared to rebid spades next turn as high as game level. I know there has been a recent trend in overcalling with stronger hands, but this case is just too heavy. ♠10x ♥Jxxxx ♦Kx ♣xxxx makes a laydown game, and you are likely to get dropped at the one level......

How often will we belong in a minor when partner DOESN'T bid one (or 2NT or 4NT, showing places to play in both minors) over LHO's heart raise? Even if partner leaves our double in, it will often be based on a hand with a stiff spade and ♥KQ109x, putting us in position to score up a big number. If LHO is about to raise 1♥ to four, it is so unlikely that both sides are going down that we are virtually obligated to "accept the transfer". In fact, I'm not even sure I want to defend 5♥, but partner will need to show a big fit in one of our suits for me to make a statement about that.

[mike777]

helene_t, on Jan 9 2007, 09:14 AM, said:

inquiry, on Jan 9 2007, 01:24 AM, said:

mike777, on Jan 8 2007, 05:21 PM, said:

I would bid x and then spades as I do not want to bid one spade and then x later with a void. In general just trying to never or almost never make a takeout x with a void.

Interesting, you make a takeout double with a void because you in general don't make takeout doubles with a void.

Lol. But partner is more likely to pass a t/o double at the 2/3/4/.... level than at 1-level. So Mike's argument is fine, IMHO.

thanks for coming to my rescue, I thought that point was obvious and already made by JL among others but thanks.