[Walddk]

North's double is for take-out, so South should have taken it out. Perhaps he thought that opener had a stack of spades when he looked at his own void. No excuse though.

North might have tried 3NT or 4♥ instead, but he can't be blamed for doubling. So South gets all of it for committing one of the biggest sins in the game: passing a take-out double.

Roland

[brianshark]

It seems that the nature of the problem suggests that North/South had an agreement that the double was not take-out but penalties. So South's not as bad as having passed a take-out double. Perhaps I will refine my original blame ratio...

[Fluffy]

helene_t, on Mar 7 2007, 04:29 PM, said:

Fluffy, on Mar 7 2007, 06:12 PM, said:

double is take/out, passing a take out double with void can only be good at the 1 level (or 2♣/♦)

At the one-level? Would you like to defend 1♠ doubled with the NS cards?

not on this deal helene, sometimes it is better -680 than -1400, althou with void it is quite hard, but with balanced yarboroughs look at the vul!

[Walddk]

Miron, on Mar 7 2007, 11:25 PM, said:

Just one further question:
What if you know that this double is penalty. Do you pass or bid 4♥?

Then I will give them both 100% for having that agreement. It's all a matter of frequency. The opponents have at least nine spades between them, so what is more likely: North has a penalty or a take-out of 3♠? It's rhetorical, no need to reply.

If this is indeed your agreement, Miron, then tell us what North would do with a much more frequent hand like ...

♠
♥ AKJxx
♦ AJxx
♣ Axxx

Yes, it would be nice to penalise them when you have ...

♠ AKQ10
♥ AKxxx
♦ Kx
♣ xx

but you never have that hand on this auction.

Roland

[Miron]

We have no agreement for this bidding.
The closest meaning is probably penalty oriented double (but not strictly penalty).
IMHO, I think that there is no difference for South bidding against t/o or penalty double (Actually North - with high probability - cannot have hand that defeats 3♠ when South has fit and both five cards in minor).

[jdeegan]

I don't care for North's bidding. He has, IMO, a 2♣ opener. His T.O. double is not a good constructive call. What is he supposed to bid over partner's 4♦ response? A 3NT bid would have been MUCH better.

That said, the blame is South's. He has an easy 4♥ call.

[nik1998]

South 100% because this pass is ..... so stupped