[el mister]

I'm not that familiar with lead directing doubles, but made one on the following hand last night:

Scoring: IMP

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2♣ P 2♦ X
2♥ P 4♥ all pass

Do you need the ace for this sort of double to be worthwhile? Also, would you bid some number of diamonds in the direct seat over 2♣ with this hand? Thanks.

[Phil]

You don't need the Ace to make this double effective, but w/r I would bid 3♦. It won't have much immediate effect, but over 3 of a major, pard may be able to preempt the auction further. Even if pard passes, RHO now has to act at the four level.

In the direct seat I would bid 3♦ w/r. Preempting and interfering with their 2♣ opening can be very effective.

[pooltuna]

Phil, on Oct 7 2009, 10:13 AM, said:

You don't need the Ace to make this double effective, but w/r I would bid 3♦. It won't have much immediate effect, but over 3 of a major, pard may be able to preempt the auction further. Even if pard passes, RHO now has to act at the four level.

In the direct seat I would bid 3♦ w/r. Preempting and interfering with their 2♣ opening can be very effective.

I agree w/Phil's comments. Additionally you need to ask yourself how much do you want a non ♦ small card opening lead from partner. That should enable you to answer the question about whether double is a worthwhile call

[Codo]

No, you do not need the ace, your suit is more then sufficent.

But actually, a 3 ♦ bid would be much better. If they stole my 3♦ card from the bidding box, I would prefer 4 ♦ to X or any other bid.

[effervesce]

Put me down for bidding 3♦, also prefer 4♦ to X, and X over pass.

[maggieb]

I would bid 4♦ anyway. I think it's really important to preempt in these kinds of auctions. You don't get penalized a ton (sometimes even when you should), and this gives them a really nasty guess sometimes, especially when the 2♣ opener is heavy and/or shapely.

[655321]

Agree with maggieb, I think 3♦ here is almost as futile as double.

4♦ (over 2♣ opening or over 2♣-2♦) may cause problems for the opponents.