[Ludu1]

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Playing standard, what do you think the last double mean? What would you bid now?

[nigel_k]

I would bid 4♣. Maybe partner is 1336 but I don't really need to know what the double means when I hold this hand, especially since I would have bid 4♣ last time.

[akwoo]

What's the form of scoring?

At MPs, partner should rarely let 3♠ go unpassed since you've indicated you have most of the points, so I would take the double as just showing a belief that the auction is well above total trick count. At IMPs, I'm not so sure.

In either case, though, I bid 4♣, and like nigel_k I would have bid 4♣ the last time since I can't imagine wanting to defend 3♠.

[Trinidad]

Partner says that nobody is going to make any contract. He probably has a 5♣332 distribution and even a 3334♣ (or a (23)44 if you open those with 1♣) is possible. At MPs, he is protecting the score that we might have gotten in 3♣. At IMPs he is simply saying that he expects to take 500 here.

Keep in mind that partner has never shown any desire to compete. You forced him to bid 3♣. He didn't want to bid 3♣ (otherwise he would have done it the round before, or he would have voluntarily bid 4♣). Partner's bidding consisted of the most negative signals that you could possibly get for moving forward (except that partner could have passed the previous double). You have told partner twice that we want to play the hand. Partner has said three times (Pass, 3♣ and double): "No, we don't.".

Rik

[Zelandakh]

In Standard the last double is penalty, since taking the second double out to 3♣ set our suit (for this purpose) and was not forcing. I disagree that partner might have 3334 though - with that shape I think it would have beeen normal to bid hearts rather than repeat clubs. On the other hand, I could envisage 4135 and the opps in a 5-2 fit. 3235 is the most likely shape though.

[Ludu1]

Thanks for replies
In fact the bidding went

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Any blame/sympathy for south?

[ArtK78]

I got into this thread a little late, and the hand is already posted, but I have to say that I agree with Rik (and Z). How many times can we make a takeout double? That time is past. The last double says that they aren't making.

[Lord Molyb]

this thread should be renamed to "the mysterious redouble" (of 3NT)

[mycroft]

South's pass limits his hand. Having done so, I'm very confused by his bidding:

• His first double says he's not broke and has four hearts
  
• His second double says "we don't let them play 2-of-a-fit"
  
• His pass of 3♠ tends to limit his hand further ("we can't make game, pd")
  
• and then he not only bids game after partner says "hey, we should defend", he sends the double back.

I wouldn't be happy with my pass of 3♠, but having chosen to give my partner the final decision, I'd accept it gratefully. If it turns out that we're +500 (or +300!) into +600, I'll apologize for not bidding my hand more strongly; in this case, I'll happily bask in my plus from guessing right (especially if we pick up the second undertrick).