[twcho]

You hold: 109xx Q AKQ9 Q109x, white vs red, imp
The bidding go: Pass - (4♥) - ?
Will you double? Will your decision change if vul changes?

[ArtK78]

Double. It does not take much to make a game (or to have a profitable sacrifice) in any of the other three suits, and if partner can pass 4♥x, I expect to beat it (but I would not be shocked to have it make).

Opposite as little as:

QJxxx xxx xxx Kx

you will make 9 tricks in 4♠. Whether you beat 4♥ or not is going to be very close. If partner has a bit more, say:

KQxxx xxx xxx Kx

You are likely to make 4♠, and you may not beat 4♥.

This is somewhat dangerous, since partner is a passed hand and LHO is an unknown quantity. But there is so much to gain by doubling that you must try.

Same decision at other vuls. If anything, the decision is clearer red vs. white (but also more dangerous).

[jdonn]

Partner is a passed hand which makes this an easy pass. Whether partner passes a double or bids over it, that could so easily be a disaster. Frankly if he passed the double there are times they would make 7.

If partner weren't a passed hand I would consider this a close pass.

[Apollo81]

Pass since partner is a passed hand. Double otherwise.

[Free]

Apollo81, on Mar 11 2009, 06:51 PM, said:

Pass since partner is a passed hand. Double otherwise.

agree

[whereagles]

agree with the abovers.

[mtvesuvius]

Partner is a passed hand, I will pass. If partner is unpassed, depending on my opponents I will Double or Pass.

[655321]

Double for me

[twcho]

So far no one mentions about whether one's decision will be different under different vulnerability. Any input for that?

[the hog]

whereagles, on Mar 12 2009, 02:46 AM, said:

agree with the abovers.

Ditto

[peachy]

Pass. Second seat vul versus not-vul is never crazy unless the bidder is crazy. I expect them to make so the only reason to act is to look for a sac but I am not that desperate.

[Apollo81]

twcho, on Mar 12 2009, 12:54 AM, said:

So far no one mentions about whether one's decision will be different under different vulnerability. Any input for that?

I don't think it matters.

[hanp]

I think we need more to double in direct seat, especially when partner is a balanced hand.

Let me preempt those that claim it doesn't matter whether we are in direct seat or balancing seat, I think it does. The point is not that we should keep the bidding open in the balancing seat. The point is that our values are better placed if we have a decent hand with heart shortness in balancing seat.

For example, suppose we hold short hearts and partner holds KJx. If we are in direct seat then we likely have no heart tricks, if we are in balancing seat then we likely have 2 heart tricks.

Another example: if we have KJxx x AQxx KJxx then all possible side suit finesses are likely to be onside. (of course this is a clear double anyway.)

On the actual hand it doesn't matter too much, I just think the hand has too little potential, both on offense and defense.

[jmcw]

Double for me. We may make something, or we may not, or the ops may guess wrong. 2 ways to win and maybe 1 to lose. It's not quite that simple, but it seems right to act.

[petergreat]

Give me another K and I will double.

As it is I'll pass for sure.

[Edmunte1]

Easy pass for me. Just consider an average 7 hcp hand for partner with fit (let's consider for example ♠ fit) and see what happens. We simply usually don't have enough for making, double may work only in finding a sacrifice.