[firmit]

1♠-(p)-1NT-(2♥)
p - (p) - X

what does responder have?
does this depend on imps/mp?

[pclayton]

Takeout, as is Opener's double of 2♥, but this is a matter of agreement.

[Cascade]

I play takeout too.

[Yogeshdg]

firmit, on Feb 20 2008, 04:40 PM, said:

1♠-(p)-1NT-(2♥)
p - (p) - X

what does responder have?
does this depend on imps/mp?

X should be t/o in some minor.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

for simplicity reason, I would assume t/o,
i.e. responder has at most 4 cards in the
mayors, and at least 4-4 in the minors.

Since a double by opener should be t/o as
well, opener has to pass with lots of hearts,
so this would fit.

But this is a matter of partnership agreement,
you could play penalty double as well.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[whereagles]

Meta-rule of Robson/Segal is "dbl = takeout until fit established or it's clear there's no better fit available than the one already found".

The 1st half clearly says "takeout", the 2nd half is a bit muddy. But, since it's more or less clear that

1NT pass pass 2♥
pass pass dbl

is takeout, the original hand should also be takeout. E.g. something like

Qx
xxx
Axxx
Kxxx

[firmit]

I held, as responder,
J
xx
K10xxx
KQxxx

Should I've bid 3minor or is t/o the correct bid? I felt a bid of 3minor would be kind of denying the other. With x xxx KQJxxx Qxx I feel 3♦ is correct. But 3♣ with the above...

[helene_t]

BWS is, surprisingly, asymmetric on this one, I think dbl by opener would be penalties and by responder it is t/o (or maybe conversely, lol).

[MFA]

firmit, on Feb 21 2008, 05:29 AM, said:

I held, as responder,
J
xx
K10xxx
KQxxx

Should I've bid 3minor or is t/o the correct bid? I felt a bid of 3minor would be kind of denying the other. With x xxx KQJxxx Qxx I feel 3♦ is correct. But 3♣ with the above...

I think a T/O double was perfect with your cards.

[P_Marlowe]

firmit, on Feb 21 2008, 05:29 AM, said:

I held, as responder,
J
xx
K10xxx
KQxxx

Should I've bid 3minor or is t/o the correct bid? I felt a bid of 3minor would be kind of denying the other. With x xxx KQJxxx Qxx I feel 3♦ is correct. But 3♣ with the above...

If double is t/o, than you have a t/o,
3m should show a 6 carder.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[whereagles]

firmit, on Feb 21 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

I held, as responder,
J
xx
K10xxx
KQxxx

Should I've bid 3minor or is t/o the correct bid? I felt a bid of 3minor would be kind of denying the other. With x xxx KQJxxx Qxx I feel 3♦ is correct. But 3♣ with the above...

Pard doesn't have a 4 card heart suit, so opps are guaranteed to have a heart fit. Now, if opener happens to have, say, an uninteresing 5332 or 5323 with a heart trick, he might consider passing for penalties (gambling you have another heart trick) and that's probably going to be bad.

Since 2NT over 2♥ would be a bit muddy, I might consider to gamble a 3♣ bid instead of doubling. This wins when pard is 5233 or 5323 and might also make even when pard is 5332.

[MFA]

whereagles, on Feb 21 2008, 09:39 AM, said:

firmit, on Feb 21 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

I held, as responder,
J
xx
K10xxx
KQxxx

Should I've bid 3minor or is t/o the correct bid? I felt a bid of 3minor would be kind of denying the other. With x xxx KQJxxx Qxx I feel 3♦ is correct. But 3♣ with the above...

Pard doesn't have a 4 card heart suit, so opps are guaranteed to have a heart fit. Now, if opener happens to have, say, an uninteresing 5332 or 5323 with a heart trick, he might consider passing for penalties (gambling you have another heart trick) and that's probably going to be bad.

Since 2NT over 2♥ would be a bit muddy, I might consider to gamble a 3♣ bid instead of doubling. This wins when pard is 5233 or 5323 and might also make even when pard is 5332.

Why doesn't partner have 4 hearts?

I strongly object to his making some random, speculative penalty pass with a 5332 hand without a very good reason. This is the 2-level, so partner should have something close to a penalty double of his own to convert, or things will too often get much too scary for us.

[whereagles]

MFA, on Feb 21 2008, 02:52 PM, said:

1. Why doesn't partner have 4 hearts?

2. I strongly object to his making some random, speculative penalty pass with a 5332 hand without a very good reason. This is the 2-level, so partner should have something close to a penalty double of his own to convert, or things will too often get much too scary for us.

1. Because if he had them, it would have gone

1♠ 1NT
2♥

2. You might object and might be right. But reality is pards pass often on unsuitable hands, hoping for some goodies from you, which you know you DONT have. It depends on your pard's style, of course, but playing a trigger-happy pard, I would seriously consider 3♣.

[MFA]

whereagles, on Feb 21 2008, 10:03 AM, said:

MFA, on Feb 21 2008, 02:52 PM, said:

1. Why doesn't partner have 4 hearts?

2. I strongly object to his making some random, speculative penalty pass with a 5332 hand without a very good reason. This is the 2-level, so partner should have something close to a penalty double of his own to convert, or things will too often get much too scary for us.

1. Because if he had them, it would have gone

1♠ 1NT
2♥

2. You might object and might be right. But reality is pards pass often on unsuitable hands, hoping for some goodies from you, which you know you DONT have. It depends on your pard's style, of course, but playing a trigger-happy pard, I would seriously consider 3♣.

1. Note that the opponent overcalled 2♥ before partner had a second chance.
2. I find that "trigger-happy" style losing bridge. When can we ever take-out double with perfectly normal hands, if we always have to cater to these blackouts? I have 9 hcp and a singleton spade - nothing to be ashamed of about my defense.

[whereagles]

You're right. I was seeing the auction wrong. Dbl is normal, of course.