[helene_t]

Ken, in your second example, dbl is clearly t/o in direct seat and penalty in balancing seat.

Your first example I am not sure about, my guess is that most but not all play it as penalty.

[kenberg]

The second seems clear to me as well. I have run into more than a few people who play the first example as take-out. My strong preference is penalty. Same for (1m)-pass-(1NT)-pass-(pass)-X. Good hand with m cards. But experience shows that not everyone treats it that way.

[Jlall]

Agree with everything kenberg said.

[Tcyk]

P_Marlowe, on Oct 30 2009, 12:50 PM, said:

We play X as t/o, which to a certain degree is aquivalent to a supp X,
since it will usually promise 3 card support.
We also play 2NT in this seq. as artifical (Good Bad), hence big hands
not suitable for a t/o have a bid as well.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: Another factor, which is also important is, if you happen to play Walsh,
i.e. you open 1C, and partner responds 1H, can he have a longer diamond
suit? Or if he has 4 diamonds, does this imply, that hearts is a 5 card suit?

Takeout double with only 1 unbid suit seems a bit strange. I assume 2S was preemptive so a support double seems to be the proper call even with a near minimum hand. The preempt has done its job. You win some and you lose some.