[dealmegold]

or just a matter of system?

I know some people use a redouble to show a genuine limit raise or better after 1M-X-, but with my regular partner we use it for another purpose (following Max Hardy).

Still, surely redouble followed by a raise could be used, leaving a direct raise to three as a pre-empt?

Online pick-up partner took this as invitational, and bid to 4S.

[mich-b]

Preemptive.
For inviting it is common to use the otherwise idle bid of 2NT , since you would definetly prefer XX with a good balanced hand and no fit.

[helene_t]

Redouble denies a 4-card fit (some people don't redouble with 3-card support either).

Beginners are probably taught to ignore the dbl, so 3M would still be a limit raise. With an intermediate+ partner I would assume 2NT to show limit raise or better, while 3M would be preemptive.

In the Netherlands, most people play Truscott, meaning that 3NT is the GF raise so 2NT is either invitational raise or (rarely after the double) a slammish raise (16+ points).

[kenberg]

Pick-up, you are on your own of course. But I think pre-emptive is standard enough to be the expected meaning when not discussed. With discussion, me preferred methods are that with LR values and three trump, you re-double and then support. With four trump you bid 2NT. At least in the US I regard this as common enough that I would expect someone who is intermediate or better to treat it that way, where "expect" means that I would do it and hope for the best.

[Double !]

hi all

This is a matter of partnership agreement, and I believe that the meaning should depend on the vulnerability.

First of all, most people I know play 1M - X - 2NT as being a limit raise or better with at least 4 card trump support.

Not vulnerable, a jump to 3S is played by many as being pre-emptive, less than a constructive raise, with 4+card spade support. However, the requirements for the 3S bid vary somewhat. Some people play that it shows some hcp, 4-6/7, while others play that it could be bid holding very little than just 4 trumps. The partnership needs to make a decision about this because, without an agreement, the 3S can put a lot of pressure on opener as to whether to bid game, to X the opps, or to pass.

Vulnerable, It a somewhat different situation. You DO want to try to avoid -200 playing in a partscore. My feeling is that the 3S bid should have 4 trumps and some values, but not enough for a limit raise.

As for the meaning of a redouble: so many partnership agreements are needed if you just play that it shows 10+ hcp with little else being clarfied at first. My preference is to NOT play it that way, and to NOT let the opp's t/o X disrupt my system. This is especially true if you have some suits to bid. If you XX first, you might find yourself trying to introduce your suit or suits at a higher level than may be comfortable, especially if the opps pre-empt. Better to bid your suit/ suits first and then X to show extra values or to offer to defend, doubled. At least, this way, opener/ partner will have a much better idea of your hand and will be in a better situation to make an informed decision in competition.

My preference is to just ignore the X and bid my hand. However, I prefer to play that a redouble here shows a limit raise in partner's major (in this case, spades) with exactly 3-card trump support. This way, you have described your hand to a reasonable degree in one bid, and you've put partner in a position to make better decisions if the bidding becomes competitive.

This specific meaning for a redouble is not commonly played, but I strongly recommend it. At least I know what my wife has when she XX's. Yeah, you occasionally might be giving up a big penalty, but have you and your partner discussed the meanings of follow-up bids by opener and partner after a redouble?
Unless you are an established and polished partnership, my suggestion is to keep situations as clear as possible, especially in potentially competitive situations.

Caveat: Many expert players will not agree with my style. But, at least I usually avoid misunderstandings this way and lose out on very little.

DHL

[fromageGB]

My partnership agreement is to ignore the double and bid the hand as you would with no double, so for me 3♠ is preemptive. In a pickup I would expect 3♠ to be preemptive in the absence of discussion, and an invitation to go via XX then 3♠, while an initial 2NT would be natural.

[inquiry]

Without discussion with anyone above beginner, I would assume this was preemptive. Even with beginners I would tend to play it as preemptive. With my mother, who is 88 and has been playing for 60+ years, I would play it as forcing....