[jillybean]

If you look at this auction, partner knows I have ♥'s.

[jillybean]

han, on 2010-November-19, 16:42, said:

The alternative is defining more precisely what a double of 2H is.

The two usual meanings of a double of a (partly) natural 2H are "penalty" and "takeout". Maybe there is a better way to use the double, something complicated that I have never heard off. But I would certainly recommend playing only one of these, not both at the same time.

Playing 'standard' I think I would find a number of hands where I could not bid with invitational values. On this hand I can only double if I am playing double as penalty.
I haven't had a lot of experience playing invitational doubles but I also haven't had any disasters. On this hand after I double I am happy if partner leaves it in, if he bids 2♠ I will bid 2N.

[TimG]

jillybean, on 2010-November-20, 09:51, said:

I haven't had a lot of experience playing invitational doubles but I also haven't had any disasters.

Didn't you end up -730 on this deal?

[the hog]

TimG, on 2010-November-19, 08:20, said:

I agree, but this does not sound like such an auction to me. I think it is typical for intervenor to have extra shape on this auction; I don't find the actual 5602 to be at all unexpected. I still double too often at the table, perhaps a few more cases of opponents making and then diving for the 3♠ card to look up their 730 will cure me.

I agree with Tim. I am not surprised at all that this contract made. I certainly would not double with this hand.
You are likely to get a S lead, so 3NT is cold.

[jillybean]

TimG, on 2010-November-20, 18:38, said:

Didn't you end up -730 on this deal?

Yes, I should have said I haven't had any disasters until now although, I think it would likely end
in 3♠X no matter what we were playing.

[1eyedjack]

I have been caught out many times in the past getting intto double-happy mode when we have balance of power, only for them to settle in a big fit. I think the key on this hand is that the double of 2H showed your hand, under which circumstance there is no need to show it again unless you are in the pass-out seat, which in this case you are not. OK, so the double showed either major (I think this is unplayable but let's run with it). In that case a pass of 3S would show that your initial double was based on Hearts but not Spades. So by passing here you have confirmed your entire hand, and can leave the final decision to your partner, who may yet make the wrong choice but there is a fair chance that he will do right.

All that said and done, it would not surprise me if at the table I would have done the same thing, and then gone away at the end shaking my head ruefully and repeating the mantra "double-happy, double-happy".

By the way I agree with the 1N opener.

[jillybean]

Ok. I like them but I will talk with my pard about how we are playing these invitational doubles.

[1eyedjack]

I think that the problem with them is that advancer will pass over the double a high proportion of the time, and on that occasion he may (1) be in a misfit, but the best misfit available (when doubler has that suit), or (2) may be in a big fit (when doubler has the other major). This does not leave 1N opener well placed to decide whether to stand partner's double (correct in case 1) or pull (correct in case 2).

Incidentally, on the OP hand, if you pass I don't think opener should double (earlier in the thread you seemed to think that the end result was inevitable). Hindsight is great, I know.