[MarkDean]

aguahombre, on Feb 28 2010, 11:06 AM, said:

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.

Well, you know what they say: if your opponents never make any redoubled overtricks against you, you aren't doubling enough.

[whereagles]

redoubled overtricks? ouch that hurts

you go on and double them then

[benlessard]

Ill double except against the stronger pairs.

[peachy]

rogerclee, on Feb 27 2010, 10:14 PM, said:

Looks like two people in this thread have suggested x = hearts. Why?

I heard this about 20 years ago and was made to believe it is expert standard (a reliable expert said it). It rarely comes up, but "something" agreed for the X is better than "nothing", IMO.

[jdonn]

I think there was a recent article in the ACBL's Bridge Bulletin where a well-known author suggested double as hearts, on reasoning something like "it should mean to lead something specific so why not hearts, it's as good as anything else!"

[gwnn]

Sometimes you are a passed hand after this auction and then it's more likely that you have a good heart suit than a good spade suit since you'd stretch just a bit to bid spades than hearts. After considering this and for sake of consistency, it may then safely be concluded that if you want x to mean one specific suit, it should be hearts.

There is only one more thing, maybe you like to open good 5 carders on the 2 level sometimes except if the suit is ♣. So maybe ♣ also makes sense but of course when you have good clubs they usually don't bid 1NT-3NT but show diamonds or some major.

but I think I prefer unspecified major better. seems like it's going to work almost always (I mean partner will be able to find my major almost always).

[aguahombre]

Yeh, that is our thing. If they show diamonds or some major, the double is for clubs unless a double of 2C was available. If a double of 2C was available the double asks for a diamond lead. Otherwise we have chosen hearts. The short major-lead ask is workable, but could be disasterous if leader can't guess right.

[mich-b]

I think assigning a specific suit (spades?) to the lead directing double , has merit when the bidding is something like 1NT-6NT , because in this case you dont need length in the suit you want led , so partner can't just lead his shorter suit.
Against 1NT-3NT however, a double shows not only strength in some suit, but obviously also length, so it makes sense for the double to just ask the leader to "guess" which is doubler's suit, often choosing the leader's short major.

[OleBerg]

aguahombre, on Mar 2 2010, 03:11 AM, said:

The short major-lead ask is workable, but could be disasterous if leader can't guess right.

The short heart-lead ask is workable, but could be disasterous if another lead is required.

[Fluffy]

gwnn, on Mar 2 2010, 12:57 AM, said:

Sometimes you are a passed hand after this auction and then it's more likely that you have a good heart suit than a good spade suit since you'd stretch just a bit to bid spades than hearts.

I pass with spades more than with hearts, with hearts I need to act ASAP, with spades you someties can wait and compete a trick cheaper later.



Back to the hand I have doubled with ♠AKxxx and out in the past, partner had singleton, but they still had only 8 tricks!. I'd double.