[gwnn]

(1x)-dbl-p-2y, y>x

I'd like this to show 5 cards. Is there some structure out there that can accommodate this?

[Cascade]

I play very heavy one-level responses:

(1x) DBL (Pass) 1y up to 9(10) HCP with only four cards (can be very weak with 5+-cards)

(1x) DBL (Pass) 2y 5+ cards 6-9 HCP

After a 1-level response we raise very freely to the two-level with 4-card support and then advancer can invite game with a good maximum.

Otherwise if 2y is to be five then with four and traditional values for jumping you need either to bid more heavily at the one level or cue-bid more freely or some combination of these two.

[blahonga]

You could play Herbert negatives/positives over the double were the first step consists of all weak hands and all game forcing hands. We basically play what is described here, except that we use a Herbert relay plus jump as a game force.

/Mattias

[kenrexford]

Second Herbert neg's. When I played them a lot, the jump showed a positive with five cards, "positive" meaning about 5-6 useful HCP or so.

[JLOL]

I think any "fix" is worse than the "problem."

[benlessard]

I prefer to stay away from offshapes doubles and make 4 card overcall. Matter of style i guess. Bidding at the 1 level with 9 pts because you have a 4 card suit is just putting too much pressure on the doubler.

I like to play that

(1C)----X-----(P)------1S
(2C)----2S

2S may show slight extras with 4 trumps

but

(1C)----X-----(P)-------1S
(P)------2S

show the real stuff.

I agree 100% with JLOL.

[Gerben42]

Many Polish players play that after 1♣ Dbl Pass, responses are similar to after we have opened 1♣, i.e. 1♦ can be a negative. In this context, jumps can show 5 cards.

Not in any other situation, though.

[cicus]

gwnn, on May 27 2009, 10:04 AM, said:

(1x)-dbl-p-2y, y>x

I'd like this to show 5 cards. Is there some structure out there that can accommodate this?

You could play that the single jump shows 4 cards and use the double jump to show 5.

[whereagles]

Here's an idea.

With 5 cards you bid:
simple bid = 0-4
jump = 5-7
dbl jump = 8-10
game jump = 11-14

With 4 cards you bid:
simple bid = 0-7
cue + 2M = 8-10, non forcing
cue + 3M = 11-14, forcing
jump cue = 44 majors, 8-10

This scheme has a problem only if it goes

(1m) dbl (pass) 2m
(pass) 2♠

and now you have 4 hearts and 8-10. You'd have to bid 2NT here, which may be too high. (Passing 2♠ with 3 spades would only solve part of the problem and would create others.)

[dake50]

I use power double with xfer responses. The lowest xfer may be bust 'joker'. The joker xfer acts just like Herbert neg. to free other xfers for 5+ useful. And joker takes no space from double on 'too big for overcall'. Worst case is ambiguous scramble to escape maximum penalty but knowing nothing is forward going.