[straube]

imps but forgot the vulnerability. say it's all white.

xxxx void KJTxxx QJx

We only play responsive through 4D. I obviously want them now. First question is how high we should play responsive doubles. Second question is what do I bid here?

[billw55]

Spade losers will be a problem no matter what the contract is, so might as well play for 10 tricks instead of 11. 4♠

[nige1]

straube, on 2013-May-14, 07:59, said:

imps but forgot the vulnerability. say it's all white.
♠ x x x x ♥- ♦ K J T x x x ♣ Q J x
(1♥) _X (4♥) ??
We only play responsive through 4D. I obviously want them now. First question is how high we should play responsive doubles. Second question is what do I bid here?

IMO 4♠ = 10, 5♦ = 9, Pass = 4, Double (even if responsive) = 3.
5♦ is likely to work better than 4♠ if opponents compete further. Even if you play responsive doubles, they're dangerous with a void in opponent's suit.

[aguahombre]

Who made the takeout double? Sitting opposite some BBF doublers or some BBF preemptors, I find it quite difficult to figure out how or when to continue.

IMO, the responsive double at this level is really needed if playing with the above. And since we don't have that, I would choose 5D.

If RespX were available, I would use it with 4 spades and a place to run..even though at lower levels we deny 4 of the focus major.

[gwnn]

If you mean non-responsive X=penalty, you should make responsive doubles until at least 1D-x-5D, methinks.

[gszes]

I have seen players use these "negative" type doubles thru 7s. The theory is
sound but frequency of use is so tiny that using them that high seems
wrong somehow. I personally prefer to use them no higher than 5s. The
main advantage of the "negative" double here is being able to differentiate
between 4 and 5+ spades in advancers hand. Let's face it how often is
advancer going to have a trump stack that is solid enough in front of
opener to make a penalty x a worthwhile consideration.

we all know p will not always have 4 spades for their bidding and being able
to x here to show 4 spades has a huge benefit over those that have to guess.
There is another route you can take (which you would do after 1s x 4s)
and that is to bid 4n and convert 5c to 5d which should show long dia and 4
of the other major. The downside of this is you lose out on a possible last best
game shot of 4s.

It is IMPS and I do not want the opps to start xing me so on this hand I will try for
what should be far less dangerous

5d

but I am not happy with having to "guess"

[JLOGIC]

4S, no other option imo. Even if you played X is responsive you cannot make that bid with a void in hearts and almost no defense, something like Axx xx Kxxx Kxxx is more the expected hand. This is obviously a far cry from that.