[Adam1105]

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With Negative Double on my CC, is this double at the 3 level considered a negative double?

Thank you very much.

[mikeh]

at least in NA, when putting neg doubles on the CC, you indicate through what level. It is normal to play them through at least 3♦ and so I would expect this to be a neg double.

1♠ [5♣] x...is this a neg double? Well, it depends on your agreements but it is commom to play that the higher the double the more it shows 'cards'....so that opener passes with most hands but bids with extra shape. However, many would play doubles at the 5 level or higher as penalty....it is a matter for agreement....'how high do we play negative doubles?' is a very useful question when filling out a CC

[mycroft]

Specifically (because this is BBO), if you have agreed "SAYC", the card says "negative doubles through 2♠". It's really old-fashioned, and that's the one that trips up more players who have "sort of read" the card than anything else. Of course, it frequently trips up both players in the so-called "SAYC partnership", so they get away with it!

[SteveMoe]

...to add only slightly to what mikeh has already offered, the higher the level the less likely the shape requirements for the double are met, while the strength requirements of the double are always met (aka "cards"). Relaxing shape happens strongly as interference from 3♠ goes higher, and slightly over 3♣-3♥. In 1A-3B auctions, double might be the only bid available to allow our side to reach 3N when OPENER stops the overcall suit (Marty Bergen popularized the Thrump Double). Modern approach simply acknowledges this double of 3-level interference might or might not have a 4-card Major. Likewise when the auction goes 1M-5m-Double, no one expects the other 3 players to have a trump stack, and 4 cards in the other major is not definite, but possible.

[hirowla]

Adam1105, on 2013-December-21, 08:38, said:

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With Negative Double on my CC, is this double at the 3 level considered a negative double?

Thank you very much.

Depends on the format of your convention card. In my jurisdiction you specify how high it's active to. I tend to have it at 3♠ - some people try to go lower (like 2♠) but most won't go higher which is what I would do.

So with your sequence, I'd be bidding over it almost all the time.

[Zelandakh]

hirowla, on 2013-December-25, 19:44, said:

Depends on the format of your convention card. In my jurisdiction you specify how high it's active to. I tend to have it at 3♠ - some people try to go lower (like 2♠) but most won't go higher which is what I would do.

The last time I checked high level convention cards the most popular level was 4♦ or 4♥, with the next being (I think) 7♠. It is true that most beginners learn either 2♠ or 3♠ but to say that most will not go higher is rather missing the point.

[steve2005]

I try for 4♥ if opponents are bidding that high odds are you wont have a true pen double so best pen come when you show you have values and opener leaves in with defense

the people who put 7♥/7♠ are just making a point

[Zelandakh]

I am not sure that pairs like Allfrey-Robson, Kranyak-Wolpert or Duboin-Sementa really need to "score points". Perhaps they actually play this because they believe it to be best.

[helene_t]

This double can't possibly be penalty. Even if you have the (unusual) agreement that 3♥ or 3♠ can be bid on a 4-card suit, you would still have to double with something like
♠KJx
♥KJx
♦xxx
♣Kxxx

If that is the most "offensive" hand doubler can have, it is a card-showing double which means that opener will generally take it out with shortness in diamonds and long clubs but pass with balanced hands that can't bid 3NT.

But with normal agreements, 3M would show a 5-card suit, which means that doubler can have
♠KJxx
♥KJxx
♦x
♣Kxxx

Opener can still pass the double with four diamonds or sometimes with three small ones, but with a hand like
♠AQxx
♥Qxx
♦xx
♣Axxx
opener bids his 4-card major.