[Simplicity]

Scoring: IMP

1NT-(P)-3NT-?

---

The opposition play a weak NT, you are playing a 9 board match which you will be scoring up with 3 different sets of team mates.

Double?

[aguahombre]

Nah, I don't particularly want a heart lead.

[olliebol]

Oh well i'm game, auction goes double pass pass redouble...

[dake50]

Let's take this from a 1 IMP/push into a 6-10 IMP swing hand!
They are in 3NT on 23-30 with likely clubs for tricks.
Even if I were sure a Spade lead would set this, why high IMP risk? Swashbuckler image to uphold?

[rogerclee]

Light em up, not close.

[OleBerg]

Double.

Spades is highly likely to be the right lead. Even if it doesn't set up the suit, it might still defeat the contract.

Responders spade-holding is likely to keep him from redoubling.

[PhantomSac]

I would double but it's definitely close since they could make 2 overtricks, and they could redouble also (if LHO has a max with both majors stopped he should redouble...or do they play DOUBT redoubles? ).

On the other hand, it's good to have some semibluff doubles in your range, because you might induce RHO to run even if they're making. If you only have lock doubles then they can always run, of course they might not know this especially if they haven't played often vs you. Then you have the added equity that you cause them to go down with your double, either via taking 5 spade tricks, or 4 + a trick based on the lead, or even 2 spade tricks + you can shift or whatever. Even if they successfully run, it's quite possible that they would have made had you not doubled, so it's still a gain.

[lmilne]

dake50, on Feb 27 2010, 12:48 PM, said:

Even if I were sure a Spade lead would set this, why high IMP risk? Swashbuckler image to uphold?

What risk?

Also, the reason is to set the contract and win IMPs, if that makes sense.

Even here where the spade lead isn't a guaranteed set, I think the equity is good enough to double.

[aguahombre]

and maybe they will run to their spade fit, if partner doesn't have one to lead.

[peachy]

Some play that in a blind auction, Dbl asks for a heart lead. That agreement mildly helps partner find a spade lead when there is no double, better than nothing. If no agreements for the Dbl, then I would expect partner to lead his shorter major; again, likely that it is spades. Ar IMP scoring the Dbl could cost a little but the upside is worth the risk. Keep them guessing and test their nerves a little:)

[lmilne]

aguahombre, on Feb 27 2010, 04:46 PM, said:

and maybe they will run to their spade fit, if partner doesn't have one to lead.

lol

[cloa513]

How do you know the spade Queen is in North? Are you psychic? North could even have Q xxx with a flat hand. Your partner could have nothing unless North has a running minor suit only.

[pooltuna]

Simplicity, on Feb 27 2010, 11:03 AM, said:

Scoring: IMP

1NT-(P)-3NT-?

---

The opposition play a weak NT, you are playing a 9 board match which you will be scoring up with 3 different sets of team mates.

Double?

not me. Partner will striving to figure out which major to lead anyway

[lmilne]

cloa513, on Feb 27 2010, 07:46 PM, said:

How do you know the spade Queen is in North? Are you psychic? North could even have Q xxx with a flat hand. Your partner could have nothing unless North has a running minor suit only.

Thats the chance we take... we don't need the spade queen with north though, Qxx/Qx in dummy is fine as long as partner doesn't have a singleton/doubleton (even then stiff ten or Tx is fine). Qx in declarer's hand is also fine as long as dummy doesn't have Txxx.

Even if spades don't work, we can try spades then switch through declarer depending on dummy - even though this is a remote chance (that we can do this and it works) it's still something extra.

To people who say partner is going to lead the wrong thing, with my previous partner this double was spades pure and simple. You can play it as hearts if you like, doesn't make much difference. Either way there is a small negative inference available to opening leader with a very poor hand that partner has cards in the suit that he couldn't double for.

[rogerclee]

Looks like two people in this thread have suggested x = hearts. Why? I guess this is good when you have everything and partner is looking at equal length and nothing in both majors, but on a ton of hands partner will know which major you want or can at least guess it right (I bet he gets it right at least 50% of the time!). And it's not like your partner will automatically try to hit your suit if you don't double, he could easily have something like xxx xxx JT9x xxx and have a clear diamond lead.

Also it's been stated before but the main benefit of doubling is not because you think they're going down, it's converting -600 into +200 or better. This happens very often! The downside is that your opps are unlimited and could easily be making a lot of tricks! Sometimes this will happen, but if you do the math, you really only need this to "work" around half the time, not to mention all the times it shouldn't work but your opponents misjudge (yes this is a common bridge theme, the more decisions you give your opponents the more they will get wrong, even if in theory they should get all of them right).

[cloa513]

So why does double =spades lead in nondescript NT bids? Its all up to partnership lead convention. Surely partner can't be thinking he can set up his own suit- he has little to no points?

[whereagles]

If dbl calls for a spade lead, I'll do it if I need a swing. Else pass.

[Simplicity]

Thanks for the responses, I thought the risk of conceeding 2 overtricks made this a close call. I doubled and was rather happy when partner had ♠Qx. At the other tables a normal looking heart was led for 12 tricks.

[MarkDean]

I like to play double is lead your shorter major, and I would double. Obviously it has its risks, but I am pretty aggressive with these types of doubles, and so far, while I have had them make it, I have no redoubles and overtrick like swings against.

[aguahombre]

MarkDean, on Feb 28 2010, 11:02 AM, said:

I like to play double is lead your shorter major, and I would double. Obviously it has its risks, but I am pretty aggressive with these types of doubles, and so far, while I have had them make it, I have no redoubles and overtrick like swings against.

It is nice for one to know there are new experiences yet to come.