[csban]

RHO opens 1C or 1D; you have opening hand, with 5S/4H or 4S/5H. Is it best to bid
a takeout double (looking for partner to have a 4-card major), or to overcall with your 5-card major?

[awm]

It depends on several things. With 5♠/4♥ it tends to be fairly easy to bid the spades first and the hearts later, so usually I would do this. With 4♠/5♥ it depends a bit on the minor suit holding (after all, takeout double is supposed to show support for all unbid suits; obviously sometimes you fudge it a bit but I'd be much more likely to double with 3 cards in the unbid minor than with 1) and also depends a bit on the suit quality (if the hearts are very good and the spades sort of ratty I'd be more likely to bid the hearts, if the hearts are not so strong more likely to double).

[han]

What Adam said.

[skjaeran]

I'm 'always' overcalling in my 5-card major. My holding in the unbid minor is a very minor issue, if an issue at all.

[karlson]

Agreeing with what Adam said, I think it also depends on the overall strength -- if it seems reasonable to overcall 1M and double back in if the opponents bid 2m or 3m, then that can be the best option.

[Echognome]

Pretty much agreeing with the others. If I'm only worth one call (which is a pretty narrow range) and I'm generally a 3-suiter (perhaps I have Hx in the other minor, but typically at least xxx), then I will double. Otherwise, I'm generally overcalling and doubling back in.

[pclayton]

awm, on Sep 22 2008, 10:38 AM, said:

It depends on several things. With 5♠/4♥ it tends to be fairly easy to bid the spades first and the hearts later, so usually I would do this. With 4♠/5♥ it depends a bit on the minor suit holding (after all, takeout double is supposed to show support for all unbid suits; obviously sometimes you fudge it a bit but I'd be much more likely to double with 3 cards in the unbid minor than with 1) and also depends a bit on the suit quality (if the hearts are very good and the spades sort of ratty I'd be more likely to bid the hearts, if the hearts are not so strong more likely to double).

This is dead-on, but I would also add that the stronger my hand, the more apt I would be to make a double instead of overcall if it is close.

Just because I have the proper shape for a double, doesn't mean that I have the right strength.

[ochinko]

skaeran, on Sep 22 2008, 10:45 PM, said:

I'm 'always' overcalling in my 5-card major. My holding in the unbid minor is a very minor issue, if an issue at all.

That's my style too. Majors are more important for games and part scores. If I am stronger than an opening hand with 5440, only then I would double as we might have a slam in the other minor.

[neilkaz]

pclayton, on Sep 22 2008, 04:36 PM, said:

awm, on Sep 22 2008, 10:38 AM, said:

It depends on several things. With 5♠/4♥ it tends to be fairly easy to bid the spades first and the hearts later, so usually I would do this. With 4♠/5♥ it depends a bit on the minor suit holding (after all, takeout double is supposed to show support for all unbid suits; obviously sometimes you fudge it a bit but I'd be much more likely to double with 3 cards in the unbid minor than with 1) and also depends a bit on the suit quality (if the hearts are very good and the spades sort of ratty I'd be more likely to bid the hearts, if the hearts are not so strong more likely to double).

This is dead-on, but I would also add that the stronger my hand, the more apt I would be to make a double instead of overcall if it is close.

Just because I have the proper shape for a double, doesn't mean that I have the right strength.

Yes agreed completely and I strongly feel that suit quality matters and if doubling it is nice to have a decent 3 cards in the unbid minor just in case.