[andy_h]

You're in 2nd seat as South holding:

Scoring: IMP

---

What's your choice when:
1) East opens a) 1♥, b ) 2♥

2) If your choice is 1♠/2♠, what would you change for you to X

[JLOL]

I would never double 1H with 5044, I would double 2H only if my spades were very poor. With this hand I would bid 1S/2S. I start doubling with 5044 a lot more when they open 3H.

[whereagles]

just bid spades. Dbl with one spade less.

[effervesce]

Ditto Justin. If the opps raise hearts, its easier to make a takeout double later than show your 5th spade if you double first.

[mtvesuvius]

I bid spades both times. As Justin said, 5044 is not a winning takeout X of 1/2♥. Move my Spade anywhere else and this looks like a t/o X.

[Trinidad]

I would bid 1♠, since I expect to be able to double the next round. That would show 5044 or 51(43).

With ♠A9753 ♥- ♦J743 ♣AJ53 I would double since I get only one chance to bid.

The fact that I have five spades makes an overcall more interesting, but far from mandatory. If I have three suits, I would rather show three than just one.

Rik

[andy_h]

I too also thought this would be an easy 1/2♠, and over 3+♥ it would be a takeout double.

I guess we just got really unlucky on this board:
(hands are transposed. The given hand is now in West's hand and South is the dealer)

Scoring: IMP

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Our auction was:
(1♥)-1♠-(2♥)-Pass
(3♣)-Pass-(3♦)-Pass
(3♥)-All pass

3♣ = nat game try, 3♦ = nothing in clubs, but still have a bit of interest.
I guess East could find a double of 3♦..

[Fluffy]

I would normally double 2♥ with 5044 or 5134, but can't say I ahve much experience doing so.

[whereagles]

Maybe pard could dbl 2♥ with his 1363? Not obvious, though. The 5♦ game is pretty hard to find anyway.

[Phil]

1♠ for me too. I have an easy double of a 2 or 3♥ heart raise.

My hand would have to be an Ace more to double first.

If my hand didn't have the ♠A, I'd double and pass what partner bid.

[andy_h]

Maybe the X of 3♣ should be like a takeout of their major showing the overcall-1♠-then-takeout type of hand. On my given auction, would you still have doubled 3♥ after a game try then a reject-but-still-interested of 3♣-3♦-3♥?

This was against Brogeland/Erichsen and I was planning to double 2/3♥, but after 3♣-3♦-3♥ I wasn't so sure anymore. I ended up passing and that was 11imps out as at the other table, Groetheim also overcalled 1♠ and their auction was:
1♥-1♠-2♥-Pass
4♥-

At this point Groetheim X'ed and Tundal easily removed it to 5♦ making as our teamies didn't find the sac.

[PeterGill]

A very good pair should have agreements about auctions like:

(1H) X (4H) X
(P) ?

Is the first doubler expected to bid a 4 card spade suit here?

What does the 2nd X mean?
Does the 2nd X tend to deny 4 spades or to show 4 spades?

Does (1H) X (4H) 4S tend to suggest 5 or 4 spades?

It's much more important to get these sort of situations right, in the
common S versus H auctions, than to add extra gadgetry to one's system.

Depending on how each partnership answers such questions, one fits
one's personal bidding style into the partnership style for these high level decisions.

I strongly believe that Doubling with many 5440 shapes is much better
than bidding the 5 card suit. It is only when the 5 card suit is the boss suit
spades that the decision (Double or overcall 1S) becomes close.

If I had a much weaker 5044, i.e. not enough strength to reopen with X
after (1H) 1S (4H), then I would Dbl 1H, because 5-3 spade fits with the
long suit being forcied by heart leads often play 1, 2 or even 3 tricks
worse than a 4-5 fit in a minor when I have a void. That is, if I was able to
make only one bid, I would Dbl, which describes more of my hand than 1S does.

On Andy's actual hand, I think the 5044 has to Dbl 3C for take-out, with 3D
over 3C as 2nd choice. Having a void in the opponent's suit makes all sorts
of aggro actions the best actions. You need to get in over 3C, not over 3H,
as over 3C the safety level of 3D is still available.

As for responder bidding after (1H) 1S (2H) on the actual hand,
surely you jest. I think Pass is automatic.

Peter Gill.

[FrancesHinden]

The difference of results on this hand at the two tables wasn't really down to whether you think it's a 1S overcall or a double. At your table, you elected to act once, and not act again over either 3C or 3H. At the other table, Grotheim acted again at the 4-level.